HD DVR Deals Can Still Be Had

[breevesdc]

I wanted to share this story with the forum because I know that D* has really clamped down on the deals being given for HD DVR's. I've seen several posts indicating that it is near impossible now to get D* to stray from the $199 price for the HR20/HR21.

I went to CostCo today and saw a rack full of HR21-700's. I have been considering a 2nd HD DVR for months now and the price ($169.99) was pretty enticing. But I resisted... decided to call D* on the way home to see what kind of deal I could get.

I called, immediately said "Cancel" to get to Customer Retention. I mentioned that I was told a few months back that I could get a 2nd DVR for $99 if I wanted one later. He said "no problem" and started typing up the order. He mentioned that my 2-year commitment would reset to today's date. I immediately, said that this was not what I had been told before when I got my first HR20. He started making offers. After some discussion, I was able to get the following with relatively little persuasion on my part:

1 new HD DVR (model unknown) - free + 19.95 shipping charge
$10 per month credit for 6 months
free HD service for 6 months

Given that it took all of the self-control I could muster to resist the CostCo option, I was pretty happy. The new 2-year commitment is no big deal given that I am only 4 months into my current 2-year commitment.

Just thought I'd pass this on.

Brian

[bryancpa]

I got a good deal as well yesterday. I asked for customer retention and asked what my upgrade options were. Right out of the gate they offered 2 HR21's, 2 H21's, a Slimline dish upgrade and installation, all at no charge. I'm upgrading from 2 HR 10's and 2 Sony HD300's. I have been a D* customer for almost 10 years. I accepted the offer and scheduled the install in a couple weeks. I told them that I will need a Zinwell 6x8 multiswitch too but he said the installers carry these with them. I will confirm this with the installation company. I am planning on adding the AM21's to the HR21's and replacing the Zinwell with a SWM which I hope become available soon. I'm happy with their offer. I was expecting to have to negotiate at least a little.

[dyker]

Yeah, it seems to me these should be no charge if you are locked into a 24 month agreement. One could argue that on a car lease you pay up-front for the right to lease the vehicle. However, on a car lease you also have the "right" to buy the vehicle outright at the end of the lease for a significantly reduced (over brand new) price.

Good for both of you!

[Guessed]

That's great! How long have you been a customer of theirs?



I wanted to share this story with the forum because I know that D* has really clamped down on the deals being given for HD DVR's. I've seen several posts indicating that it is near impossible now to get D* to stray from the $199 price for the HR20/HR21.

I went to CostCo today and saw a rack full of HR21-700's. I have been considering a 2nd HD DVR for months now and the price ($169.99) was pretty enticing. But I resisted... decided to call D* on the way home to see what kind of deal I could get.

I called, immediately said "Cancel" to get to Customer Retention. I mentioned that I was told a few months back that I could get a 2nd DVR for $99 if I wanted one later. He said "no problem" and started typing up the order. He mentioned that my 2-year commitment would reset to today's date. I immediately, said that this was not what I had been told before when I got my first HR20. He started making offers. After some discussion, I was able to get the following with relatively little persuasion on my part:

1 new HD DVR (model unknown) - free + 19.95 shipping charge
$10 per month credit for 6 months
free HD service for 6 months

Given that it took all of the self-control I could muster to resist the CostCo option, I was pretty happy. The new 2-year commitment is no big deal given that I am only 4 months into my current 2-year commitment.

Just thought I'd pass this on.

Brian

[duck33]

I wanted to share this story with the forum because I know that D* has really clamped down on the deals being given for HD DVR's. I've seen several posts indicating that it is near impossible now to get D* to stray from the $199 price for the HR20/HR21.

I went to CostCo today and saw a rack full of HR21-700's. I have been considering a 2nd HD DVR for months now and the price ($169.99) was pretty enticing. But I resisted... decided to call D* on the way home to see what kind of deal I could get.

I called, immediately said "Cancel" to get to Customer Retention. I mentioned that I was told a few months back that I could get a 2nd DVR for $99 if I wanted one later. He said "no problem" and started typing up the order. He mentioned that my 2-year commitment would reset to today's date. I immediately, said that this was not what I had been told before when I got my first HR20. He started making offers. After some discussion, I was able to get the following with relatively little persuasion on my part:

1 new HD DVR (model unknown) - free + 19.95 shipping charge
$10 per month credit for 6 months
free HD service for 6 months

Given that it took all of the self-control I could muster to resist the CostCo option, I was pretty happy. The new 2-year commitment is no big deal given that I am only 4 months into my current 2-year commitment.

Just thought I'd pass this on.

Brian


Congrats. I hope you dont mind have a refurb unit. I called about 3 weeks before you and D* offered me the same thing. When I got my unit it was refurb and was missing all the cables. I hope your dealing will be alot easier then mine.

[breevesdc]

That's great! How long have you been a customer of theirs?

I've been with D* since 2001. But I left (briefly) for about 1 year in 2003. So I've been a customer for about 6 years in total since 2001.

Congrats. I hope you dont mind have a refurb unit. I called about 3 weeks before you and D* offered me the same thing. When I got my unit it was refurb and was missing all the cables. I hope your dealing will be alot easier then mine.

Funny you should say that. The unit arrived yesterday. And in fact, it *was* a refurb unit. This despite being assured more than once during my discussion with cust retention that it would be a new unit.

After spending 1 hour on the phone with D* trying to activate it, the tech support person determined that there was something wrong with the unit. I asked her about getting a new unit (not a refurb). She told me that the only way to get a new unit from D* is to schedule an appointment and have a tech come to my house. We set up an appointment for next Friday. And she is sending me a kit to return the refurb unit at no cost. I'd be really annoyed if I were not already planning to spend Friday at home watching NCAA games.

Brian

[glennb]

The "tech" could still bring refurb unit. No guarantees you'll get a new unit unless you go buy one from a local store.

[breevesdc]

The "tech" could still bring refurb unit. No guarantees you'll get a new unit unless you go buy one from a local store.

Got it today... It's a new HR21-700.

Brian

[bobbyv]

Hmmm, I might hafta check and see what I could get done.

I've got an H20-600 that I want to replace with an HD DVR . . .

Bestbuy sells the HR21-600 for $199. Is the HR21-700 what D* is shipping out to most folks these days?