How to go back to dish?

[compdude93]

I was a dish customer a few years ago, but cancled do to lack of locals and dissapointment with the dishplayer and went to cable.  Now the locals are in my area and I would like to go back to dish.  I have moved since I cancled, so I don't know if that helps anything.  And I am very interested in the 508 PVR.  What is the best option to get back into the game, or am I simply stuck with paying full price for a reciever, installiation, and activation?

 

Thanks!

[Cheyenne]

Suggest you call Dish first, and see what they have to offer you.
You will then know where you stand.
(Hint....try calling Dish several times.)

[PSB]

I would also call DirecTV and see what they offer, even if you dont intend to go this route you can use the info to play the two companies off each other, its worth a try. What have you got to lose! Even if you dont get a good deal let it go for a few days and I bet you get a call from someone with an offer you cant refuse : )

[compdude93]

Thanks! I will try calling the two and see where they lead me. I was just looking around on the web and found deals on the 508 with free installation for around $100 at places like http://www.thesatelliteguy.com/TSG_DishPVR508System.html and http://www.dishusa.com/ Would I be able to just buy from them or another dealer online to own the equipment, or would I be better to try to deal with dish directly, which seems like they would be more likely to get me to lease the equipment? Thanks again.

[Mike123abc]

Yeah take a good look, if you want cheap or everything Dish has the pricing advantage. If you want a middle package Direct has the price advantage. If you want sports of course Direct, Superstations Dish. Pick the programming you want first, then compare pricing.

[jacksg35c]

go to the dish pvr forum and see discussion on 501 dying for the problems on the 508 and 501 pvr's

[firephoto]

also go to the dish pvr forum and see that there are many people that are quite happy with their 501/508.

301+508+AT150+locals=happy customer :)

I think that once dish has had you as a customer they never lose that information. They don't want to pay out the incentives twice for the same customer.

[bills976]

Well, actually, if you've moved and you're married, you can always get your wife to subscribe to DiSH and they won't know that you were a prior customer.

[Randy_B]

Also depending on how long ago, Dish started to ask for SSN in the past few years, but if they didn't when you were a subscriber, I wouldn't raise the issue of being a previous subscriber at all.

[compdude93]

I figured that they would use the SSN for a credit check, so they would have my previous address. I think they just got my name, address, and phone. Later they got my credit card and e-mail. I don't think I gave them my SSN, since I didn't get any deals the first time, I paid full price + installiation, but didn't have a contract.

If I try to sign up, do they do a check for a previous sub up front, or is it something that will come back to haunt me later?

[Cheyenne]

Compdude93, have you called dish yet?
Simply call like your a new customer.
If they do not offer what is acceptable then turn offer down and try later at different time of day. You may get a CSR that doesn't care who or what your past is. They just want your subscription.

[compdude93]

They asked if I was ever a coustomer, I didn't lie, and I got offered a 508 for $349 and installiation for $199. Guess I need to roll the dice some more.

[Cheyenne]

Ouch, I assume you turned that bogus offer down.
Bending the truth is not a lie.

[firephoto]

If they asked if you were ever a customer and you were once, wouldn't saying that you weren't a customer be more than "bending the truth"? ;)

[Jacob S]

You will have to pay full price for your equipment plus you will have to pay for the installation and maybe even a markup above the cost on the equipment seeing that the retailers make nothing on the hardware plus have to pay shipping, so it may cost a good bit more.

Most retailers dont want anything to do with someone that has already been a customer because there is not much money to be made off of the customer unless the retailer charges extra for the hardware and gets a decent amount for installation. Some that are real busy may not even talk to you or just have you call Dish to come out and do it for you in which they charge you $119 in advance with a credit card, make you wait and wait, then shipping on the hardware sometimes.

You might be better to go with DirecTv. You cannot even get the 508 promotion for $199.

[compdude93]

What are the requirements for the 508 $199 promotion?

[Jacob S]

Keep top 150 for a year with credit card autopay or pay top 150 one year in advance. You will have had to been a subscriber before a certain date last year and still be subscribed to Dish to be eligible. Otherwise it is $299 for the receiver or $349 for the system with Dish 500 but the retailer would have a markup do to their shipping costs and they want to make a profit on top of that and they probably would not make much if anything.