View Full Version : New install today
Should I get a call before the installer shows or will the installer just show up?
BattleZone
10-30-08, 12:11 PM
It could go either way, though they are supposed to call you. It may be the tech who calls you, or the tech's dispatch office. Different offices have different proceedures.
No show #2:mad:
I guess it's time to cancel and give up. 2 wasted vacations days is enough.
joe diamond
10-30-08, 05:57 PM
I used to get work orders in groups of about six to ten installs in my area.
I called each customer and got their times of availability.
We made an appointment..........often I would call them at their work as I was leaving a job near their home.....I would install the equipment and they would go back to work. I never had a no call / no show.
DTV has bypassed the companies that work that way and provided the system you have.
I am sure the HSP guys will get to you. They are very busy. Check your answering machine often for the recorded message.
Joe
I am sure the HSP guys will get to you. They are very busy. Check your answering machine often for the recorded message.
Joe
HSP guys??
joe diamond
10-30-08, 06:32 PM
HSP guys??
HSP = Home Service Provider These are the companies authorized to do installations for DTV. It is impossible to generalize about their effectiveness.
My own experience has been that I won't work for the money offered. The companies and people I worked with left the "industry".
My personal view is that there has always been much too much organization working in circles above the installer level. I have suggested a local based model that teaches installation as a course in local high school industrial arts classes............it builds from there
Anybody can provide excellent service with well trained, properly motivated and led individuals. The know their compensation is based on good customer service and they support the goals of the company..........I think DTV has elected to do a cheaper and less perfect job with a new group of beginners each week.
AFTERTHOUGHT......DTV is buying some of these HSPs...maybe something is in the wind.
Joe
Well, I managed to get the cell# of the manager for the HSP. He can't get a hold of the installer and he isn't returning his calls. I know he tried, because the first time I was on the line in a 3 way call and got voice mail.
He guarenteed me an install tomorrow morning and he would call me in the morning.
Justin23
10-30-08, 07:01 PM
You should also call D* and explain you had a missed appointment. Should get a $100 credit for that missed appt.
J
You should also call D* and explain you had a missed appointment. Should get a $100 credit for that missed appt.
J
I tried calling D and they said the couldn't do anything. Something about the installer had them locked out of my account.
joe diamond
10-30-08, 08:36 PM
I tried calling D and they said the couldn't do anything. Something about the installer had them locked out of my account.
= HSP has not reported anything!
They report what has been done and not how or why. DTV tries to keep tabs on what is a possible number of jobs to send...these guys just misrepresent what their status is. There is one thing worse than being too busy and that is having no work and a shop full of techs lined up.
I received almost daily requests for "ETAs" for about six weeks after an AFS sub (HSP wannabe) stopped paying me. He had just assigned my tech number to another tech (who had not yet passed a drug or background screen) my guess! Everybody quits but the tech numbers are still out there.
Again, DTV has bought some of these companies. The balance between low cost / don't ask & if not now at least say when has swung.
Report success.
Joe
Manager called this morning and told me they were checking out my equipment and the installer would be on his way. I guess I'll cross my fingers.
rudeney
10-31-08, 09:22 AM
Once you get the installation completed, call D* and demand the credits for the two missed appointments. Your time is valuable, and unless D* feels the pain of their flawed business model, nothing will change.
AFTERTHOUGHT......DTV is buying some of these HSPs...maybe something is in the wind.The acquisitions happened some time ago. Surely DIRECTV is in control and doing their magic by now. It is notable that DIRECTV traded some of its existing HSP talent away as part of the 180Connect deal.
joe diamond
10-31-08, 10:13 AM
The acquisitions happened some time ago. Surely DIRECTV is in control and doing their magic by now. It is notable that DIRECTV traded some of its existing HSP talent away as part of the 180Connect deal.
I just hear rumors.........no changes here. This place is a backwater. We can see Baltimore, Annapolis, Dover, DE and Washington D.C. is just down the road. Because we are not a big population center things are pretty much SOS.
If you apply to work for DTV on their website you still end up getting a call or e mail from MASTEC.
Joe
BattleZone
10-31-08, 12:12 PM
The acquisitions happened some time ago. Surely DIRECTV is in control and doing their magic by now. It is notable that DIRECTV traded some of its existing HSP talent away as part of the 180Connect deal.
A FEW acquisitions have already happened, yes. A number of other large HSP companies are apparently negotiating. As for those who have already been bought, DirecTV hasn't made any real changes, other than people are getting paid the money they are supposed to (HSPs often found ways not to pay subs). Working conditions, pay, and other issues haven't changed much if at all. My guess is that DirecTV won't really do anything until sometime next year, once they've had a chance to figure out what they're doing.
Remember that DirecTV has never "owned" the installation business before, so they don't really know how it works. Until now, they've left all that up to the HSPs.
BattleZone
10-31-08, 12:15 PM
The acquisitions happened some time ago. Surely DIRECTV is in control and doing their magic by now. It is notable that DIRECTV traded some of its existing HSP talent away as part of the 180Connect deal.
A FEW acquisitions have already happened, yes. A number of other large HSP companies are apparently negotiating. As for those who have already been bought, DirecTV hasn't made any real changes, other than people are getting paid the money they are supposed to (HSPs often found ways not to pay subs). Working conditions, pay, and other issues haven't changed much if at all. My guess is that DirecTV won't really do anything until sometime next year, once they've had a chance to figure out what they're doing.
Remember that DirecTV has never "owned" the installation business before, so they don't really know how it works. Until now, they've left all that up to the HSPs.
I'm finally up and running. Took him longer than it should have considering I had the cables 90% taken care of. No new complete runs had to be done.
I got Superfan for free for the missed installs.
Canis Lupus
10-31-08, 03:21 PM
good news tsduke. glad you're up and running. if you have any probs, let us know ;)
firefighter4evr
10-31-08, 03:24 PM
I just hear rumors.........no changes here. This place is a backwater. We can see Baltimore, Annapolis, Dover, DE and Washington D.C. is just down the road. Because we are not a big population center things are pretty much SOS.
If you apply to work for DTV on their website you still end up getting a call or e mail from MASTEC.
Joe
Well, i applied to work for DTV and someone from Ironwood called me.... asked if i had any background doing installations.. i told him that a have a degree as an electrician and also went to vo-tech and learn about sat and cable systems. also mentioned that i installed my own and many family members D* systems as a hobby... man sounded really excited to find me and stated that he would talk to the hiring manager right away and he would be calling me the next day from a interview and a drug screen.... that was 9 months ago and still waiting on a call:nono2:
joe diamond
10-31-08, 03:34 PM
Well, i applied to work for DTV and someone from Ironwood called me.... asked if i had any background doing installations.. i told him that a have a degree as an electrician and also went to vo-tech and learn about sat and cable systems. also mentioned that i installed my own and many family members D* systems as a hobby... man sounded really excited to find me and stated that he would talk to the hiring manager right away and he would be calling me the next day from a interview and a drug screen.... that was 9 months ago and still waiting on a call:nono2:
Ah!
Ironwood.........the guy you spoke with realized you were over qualified and in a position to become his boss. He probably lost your number AND did you a favor.
Try again if you arn't doing anything.......see if they offer a slot as a DTV employee.
Joe
firefighter4evr
10-31-08, 03:41 PM
Ah!
Ironwood.........the guy you spoke with realized you were over qualified and in a position to become his boss. He probably lost your number AND did you a favor.
Try again if you arn't doing anything.......see if they offer a slot as a DTV employee.
Joe
From what i understand.. this Ironwood was bought by DTV and the position was to be a DTV employee:lol:
vikefan
10-31-08, 04:19 PM
Congrats on superfan. You will love seeing the Vikings in HD. Maybe they will turn the corner and win some games now that you have them every week.
I'm looking forward to seeing the Vikes. Being in the Packers and Bears market took games away from me before. I've only seen one game on tv(local) besides the 2 MNF games.
joe diamond
10-31-08, 07:10 PM
From what i understand.. this Ironwood was bought by DTV and the position was to be a DTV employee:lol:
Correct,
"White man speak with forked tongue!" I have considered walking in the gate at the local HSP myself. However.........I see a truck owned by a guy I had to sue to get paid. I know he is technically competent but............ I'm too tired to play.
I would recommend just reapply. My smart ass comment is biased. They get applicants all the time. In fact they need many indians and not too many chiefs. Keep your skills under wraps, get into the village and decide who to scalp and who to throw over the fence when the long knives attack.
Maybe too much Western Channel for this scout!
Joe
BattleZone
10-31-08, 07:52 PM
Joe is correct; the HSP folks are big-time threatened by people who actually know what they are doing. They like to be the only ones who know what's going on, the better to maintain control over their area. They want everyone who works for them, whether in-house or subcontractor, to do just good enough to afford to come into work the next day, and no better. If you were actually making real money, you could grow a company and someday be a threat to them. They can't have that.
It's too early to tell if that attitude will go away as DirecTV slowly assumes more direct control of the HSPs they've bought out so far, but there's still a bunch that remain independent, and certainly nothing has changed there.
firefighter4evr
10-31-08, 08:52 PM
Joe is correct; the HSP folks are big-time threatened by people who actually know what they are doing. They like to be the only ones who know what's going on, the better to maintain control over their area. They want everyone who works for them, whether in-house or subcontractor, to do just good enough to afford to come into work the next day, and no better. If you were actually making real money, you could grow a company and someday be a threat to them. They can't have that.
It's too early to tell if that attitude will go away as DirecTV slowly assumes more direct control of the HSPs they've bought out so far, but there's still a bunch that remain independent, and certainly nothing has changed there.
well, lets hope for the sake of DTV that it goes away. i have honestly thought about starting up my own company and doing installs but, never was really sure how to go about it... of all the people i know that had installs just this year alone they all where slam bam thank you ma'am installs so i know that i could do better. maybe il just wait a year or two and apply again... or just take the offer at concast.:eek2:
vikefan
11-01-08, 03:59 AM
I'm looking forward to seeing the Vikes. Being in the Packers and Bears market took games away from me before. I've only seen one game on tv(local) besides the 2 MNF games.
I know how you feel. I live in northern Illinois. If it isn't the Bears on it's always the Packers as the next option. Been with DTV and NFLST sinse 1996. I love sundays. When the Vikings game is over I would check out the red zone channel. 703-1. You will enjoy that. New head coach next year? :)
Richierich
11-01-08, 06:11 AM
Well, my installer didn't show up so I got his number and he finally called me back. I then had to change my order after I explained to him what I needed and he said that my order did not include everything I needed such as an MPEG-4 multiswitch and to fish another line down my wall in my guest bedroom.
We rescheduled for Friday but he was busy so now he has PROMISED me that his guy will be here for certain on Monday afternoon!!! I will have to pay $50 to have the extra line fished down my wall but that is no big deal as long as I can get it down and finished!!!
I know how you feel. I live in northern Illinois. If it isn't the Bears on it's always the Packers as the next option. Been with DTV and NFLST sinse 1996. I love sundays. When the Vikings game is over I would check out the red zone channel. 703-1. You will enjoy that. New head coach next year? :)
If Childress stays, we better at least get a new offensive coordinator. If Chridress does keep his job, I hope his infatuation for Jackson as the Vikes franchise QB is over. Jackson sucks!
BattleZone
11-01-08, 11:25 AM
well, lets hope for the sake of DTV that it goes away. i have honestly thought about starting up my own company and doing installs but, never was really sure how to go about it... of all the people i know that had installs just this year alone they all where slam bam thank you ma'am installs so i know that i could do better. maybe il just wait a year or two and apply again... or just take the offer at concast.:eek2:
The reason for the "Slam Bam" installs is because that's the only way you make any money (though SWM is going to change that to some degree). Without SWM, you end up running dual cable all over the place, and on a job that pays an installer $120, you might spend $50-60 or more in supplies (500' of dual solid copper cable is $75-80). That means the other $60 has to pay for your vehicle costs (gas, insurance, maintenance), business costs (insurance), and make you a profit. If you do the job in 2 hours (good luck!), you make $30/hour. If it takes you 4 hours (more likely), you make $15/hour. If it takes you 6 hours, you make $10/hour.
Let me give you a common scenario:
Existing customer, has 3 SD receivers and an 18" dish pointed at 101. They want an upgrade: an HD-DVR, an SD-DVR, and a relocate of one of their existing receivers to a 4th room. You get there, and find that the location of the existing dish isn't suitable for the Slimline. Maybe it's on a tiny fascia board, maybe the dish is sighted right along the wall, maybe there's a tree blocking the other sats. Anyway, now you need to move the dish, which means you also need to replace all the lines (very often, the dish has to be moved to the far side of the house).
You can't use a SWM here, because there are legacy receivers. Instead, you get to install the new dish, run 4 lines from the dish to the WB68 switch, and a total of 6 lines to 4 different locations. Then there's the 45-60+ minutes to setup, activate, go over things with the customer, and call to close the job. Pay for this "upgrade"? $70-90, depending on region. Materials cost? Let's be kind and say $40. Time to do this job? Typically 4 hours.
Customers will love you if you take the time to do everything right, but it won't be long before you can no longer afford gas to get to work if you do it that way. You'll be forced to decide: take shortcuts whenever I can, or quit.
That's the sad truth.
vBulletin® v3.7.6, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.