View Full Version : Why I love (and am now staying with) DirecTV
leier911
02-24-10, 07:42 AM
OK, so I have the choice extra or whatever plan with an old dvr and have been a customer for 10 years. I wanted to save money but since my tv broke I got a new 50 in. plasma tv, and want the HD, etc. However, talking with Directv they wanted a discounted 99 bucks for the HD-DVR plus they did not have a decent package I wanted, so I started looking at DISH because of their Free HD DVR, plus their America 120 pack and free everything. It would cost 40.99 with Dish that pack, plus HD, plus DVR.
Directv was 60+ dollars plus the 99 fee for the HD DVR, etc. SO I called last night to cancel and go with Dish but I happend to get a very nice "JOE" at Directv. When I told him my situation and we talked for 50 min. he ended up saying he did not want to lose me to Dish and said here, we'll give you the SELECT program, (which I knew about from here) 120 channels and match their 24.99 price, we will give you the HD DVR for FREE, but we'll go one step further, we'll waive the 10 HD fee as well for the first year. So instead of cancelling and going with Dish for the NEW customer discount of 40.99, I am with Directv have the SELECT package, have a new HD DVR, free install, free everything and free HD for the year and will pay 36.99! Plus Starz and Showtime for 6 months. Not bad! Thanks JOE!
hilmar2k
02-24-10, 07:52 AM
Glad to hear it worked out for you.
In my short time with D*, (2 years) I have learned if you pay you bills on time, & speak to CSR's with respect, they treat you about as well as any company has ever treated their customers. They are not perfect. For me they have an awesome service I want, and a service I hope to continue to purchase. I realize they are a "For Profit" business, and also have stockholders to please. Glad to hear the OP stayed with D*.
Why I love Directv: Because Charter and DISH are my only other choices! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Makes for a pretty straight forward no brainer I would say.......
tinmanohio
02-24-10, 04:58 PM
I guess I view things differently. Its not just D*, it is most all businesses. The emphasis is on new customers and retention only comes to play, as in the case here, when the OP called to cancel. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for leier911. Its how the game is played but when I read this I feel cheated. I am helping to pay for all those great deals, we all are. I have been with D* for 15 years and have never had a free install, free equipment or discounted programming. Last year I did qualify for their loyal customer program. I think it is all back wards. Once again, not just with D*. I think long term low cost customers should receive discounted programming rates. They have made their money off of me already. They give away the bank to get a new customer that they may never see a profit from. They encourage their customers to be disloyal and threaten to cancel. Give me that new customer programming rate after a few years of paying my bill on time and tell if I leave I will loose my discount and start over. They would have to screw up pretty bad for me to leave then. Of course I understand you can't be the first or only one doing business this way.
I know, I don't get to make the rules. Just sharing my 2cents.
Bill
gopherscot
02-24-10, 05:12 PM
Why I love Directv: Because Charter and DISH are my only other choices! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Makes for a pretty straight forward no brainer I would say.......
Are you serious? ... my only choice is Mediacom, Dish or Direct. Since Dish is less expensive, has more HD, and a much better HD-DVR it really is a no brainer .. I am with Dish! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
curt8403
02-24-10, 05:19 PM
Are you serious? ... my only choice is Mediacom, Dish or Direct. Since Dish is less expensive, has more HD, and a much better HD-DVR it really is a no brainer .. I am with Dish! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
oh dear....
Hoosier205
02-24-10, 06:41 PM
Are you serious? ... my only choice is Mediacom, Dish or Direct. Since Dish is less expensive, has more HD, and a much better HD-DVR it really is a no brainer .. I am with Dish! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Sorry, we like quality over here. No HD-Lite or over-compression for us.
Sorry, we like quality over here. No HD-Lite or over-compression for us.
Really? Did you hold that view just a couple of years ago when D* was universally the worst offender of HD-lite?
jefbal99
02-24-10, 07:10 PM
Lets not turn this into a Dish vs. DirecTV thread, no need for it to get locked.
Great for leier911 on getting his deal :)
Everyone hads their reasons for the Video Service Provider they choose.
DodgerKing
02-24-10, 07:32 PM
Are you serious? ... my only choice is Mediacom, Dish or Direct. Since Dish is less expensive, has more HD, and a much better HD-DVR it really is a no brainer .. I am with Dish! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
And Dish has a lot more to offer on their EI and ST packages as well. I also love watching MLBNet on Dish too. :sure:
Hoosier205
02-24-10, 07:34 PM
OK, so I have the choice extra or whatever plan with an old dvr and have been a customer for 10 years. I wanted to save money but since my tv broke I got a new 50 in. plasma tv, and want the HD, etc. However, talking with Directv they wanted a discounted 99 bucks for the HD-DVR plus they did not have a decent package I wanted, so I started looking at DISH because of their Free HD DVR, plus their America 120 pack and free everything. It would cost 40.99 with Dish that pack, plus HD, plus DVR.
Directv was 60+ dollars plus the 99 fee for the HD DVR, etc. SO I called last night to cancel and go with Dish but I happend to get a very nice "JOE" at Directv. When I told him my situation and we talked for 50 min. he ended up saying he did not want to lose me to Dish and said here, we'll give you the SELECT program, (which I knew about from here) 120 channels and match their 24.99 price, we will give you the HD DVR for FREE, but we'll go one step further, we'll waive the 10 HD fee as well for the first year. So instead of cancelling and going with Dish for the NEW customer discount of 40.99, I am with Directv have the SELECT package, have a new HD DVR, free install, free everything and free HD for the year and will pay 36.99! Plus Starz and Showtime for 6 months. Not bad! Thanks JOE!
Congatulations! I'm glad you were able to stay with the winning team. :)
Really? Did you hold that view just a couple of years ago when D* was universally the worst offender of HD-lite?
I actually had Dish back then, but the 129 satellite never worked reliably and they never could make it reliable even after a good half dozen service calls. Was a complete circus act, clowns included. Then they charged me an ETF when I was forced to cancel. Felt like dealing with the mob basically.
Not that I ever actually dealt with the mob, you get the picture though.....
In my short time with D*, (2 years) I have learned if you pay you bills on time, & speak to CSR's with respect, they treat you about as well as any company has ever treated their customers. They are not perfect. For me they have an awesome service I want, and a service I hope to continue to purchase. I realize they are a "For Profit" business, and also have stockholders to please. Glad to hear the OP stayed with D*.
The respect is a key issue here. Just think if you were in their shoes and you received a call from an unhappy subscriber who just goes off on you about the service or whatever. You would most likely not do anything special for them especially since the customer was being disrespectful. But if you are respectful and talked nicely as you would a friend, they often will work with you. So respect is a strong key no matter how bad things might be on your system.
Are you serious? ... my only choice is Mediacom, Dish or Direct. Since Dish is less expensive, has more HD, and a much better HD-DVR it really is a no brainer .. I am with Dish! :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Oh my....someone has drunk the Kool-Aid again...
gopherscot
02-25-10, 05:48 AM
And Dish has a lot more to offer on their EI and ST packages as well. I also love watching MLBNet on Dish too. :sure:
And Travel, WGN, Versus (the one you dropped), MSNBC, E!, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Channel, BBC America, HBO's ... and the list goes on! I would like MLBNet. My favorite part is the 12.95 multi sports pack vs 5.95 for Dish (yes I need it for my three RSN's I get). You can have your overpriced Football package and I will keep my better, quicker 722. Hoosier .... HD Lite? .. what a joke (is that the best you can do?) :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
skyviewmark1
02-25-10, 05:49 AM
Sorry, we like quality over here. No HD-Lite or over-compression for us.
How did that quality work out for the hockey on MSNBC? :)
njblackberry
02-25-10, 06:08 AM
I am trying to find the NFL Sunday ticket on Dish - can you tell me where that is (oh, BTW, after Sunday, no one will care about MSNBC HD again)...
Hoosier205
02-25-10, 06:55 AM
And Travel, WGN, Versus (the one you dropped), MSNBC, E!, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Channel, BBC America, HBO's ... and the list goes on! I would like MLBNet. My favorite part is the 12.95 multi sports pack vs 5.95 for Dish (yes I need it for my three RSN's I get). You can have your overpriced Football package and I will keep my better, quicker 722. Hoosier .... HD Lite? .. what a joke (is that the best you can do?) :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
How did that quality work out for the hockey on MSNBC? :)
This is the last I will say anything to either of you in this thread and on this topic:
Dish Network
Launch a satellite into an unusable orbit.
Add new HD channels to a satellite that most of your customers aren't even setup to receive signals from.
Rather than increase capacity to allow for new HD channels...use HD-Lite and great amounts of over-compression to cram them in there while sacrificing quality.
Countless and recurring carriage disputes. One of which was OLN (now Versus). Those in glass houses...
We will enjoy our new satellite and new HD channels in the coming weeks. Not to mention HD with the proper resolution and a higher bitrate. I hope you guys can manage to get your sat in the correct orbit next time and actually use it. Good luck with that and enjoy the macro-blocking.
I'm done here. You stay in your (http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=92) section and we'll stay in ours. No reason to stir up trouble where there need not be any.
DodgerKing
02-25-10, 07:08 AM
And Travel, WGN, Versus (the one you dropped), MSNBC, E!, Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Channel, BBC America, HBO's ... and the list goes on! I would like MLBNet. My favorite part is the 12.95 multi sports pack vs 5.95 for Dish (yes I need it for my three RSN's I get). You can have your overpriced Football package and I will keep my better, quicker 722. Hoosier .... HD Lite? .. what a joke (is that the best you can do?) :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:Frankly I don't care about any of those channels you listed as I never watch them (I don't even have those SD channels saved in my guide). And I do not need to sub to a sports pack to get both of my RSNs in HD full-time on all of their packages. And within a couple of months, those channels and more will be in HD on Direct as well (I still won't have them programmed into my guide).
I am not trying to turn this into the D vs E thread. My point was simply to show that both providers have differences and that is a good thing. This allows different people to choose based on those different options and pick what is best for them. E is better and less expensive for you and most subs, while D is better and, yes, less expensive for me (trust me, for me to get the channels I want with two HD DVRs, Direct is less expensive).
gopherscot
02-25-10, 07:14 AM
This is the last I will say anything to either of you in this thread and on this topic:
Dish Network
Launch a satellite into an unusable orbit.
Add new HD channels to a satellite that most of your customers aren't even setup to receive signals from.
Rather than increase capacity to allow for new HD channels...use HD-Lite and great amounts of over-compression to cram them in there while sacrificing quality.
Countless and recurring carriage disputes. One of which was OLN (now Versus). Those in glass houses...
We will enjoy our new satellite and new HD channels in the coming weeks. Not to mention HD with the proper resolution and a higher bitrate. I hope you guys can manage to get your sat in the correct orbit next time and actually use it. Good luck with that and enjoy the macro-blocking.
I'm done here. You stay in your (http://www.dbstalk.com/forumdisplay.php?f=92) section and we'll stay in ours. No reason to stir up trouble where there need not be any.
Whatever you say Hoosier ... bottom line is Dish has better rates, more national HD and a better HD receiver. I will go to whatever site I want as I am always curious to see what the other service is offering. For a year and a half I have seen very little out of D*. When/if and until D*puts up new HD channels and improves their receivers I will stay where I am ... but always keeping my options open.
SPACEMAKER
02-25-10, 07:52 AM
The "HD" that I have seen on Dish just plain sucks. I'd rather wait for quality HD that D12 will offer than have a few extra channels of what Dish calls "HD" right now.
Also D*'s bonus channels (Masters, US Open, Hotpass etc) make D* a no-brainer for me and my family.
sigma1914
02-25-10, 08:42 AM
When someone offers all of the following, I'll consider switching.
NFL-ST+SF, NBA-LP, NHL-CI, & MLB-EI
No provider has them all, except Directv. Now, where's my blue kool-aid? Baseball season starts soon, right Dish subs? Heck, Dish subs in NY's market can't even see the Yankees on YES!
JeffBowser
02-25-10, 08:45 AM
Not directed at anyone in particular up here, but why do people get so emotionally invested in their provider of choice? Does one somehow derive a portion of self-worth from it?
amorse2183
02-25-10, 08:52 AM
Not directed at anyone in particular up here, but why do people get so emotionally invested in their provider of choice? Does one somehow derive a portion of self-worth from it?
You have been a member here for more than 3 years, so I'm sure it isn't the first time you've seen this. Any time someone makes a slightly derogatory comment about D* and 30 posts immediately defend it. It seems to be more like a religion issue than anything else.
sigma1914
02-25-10, 09:03 AM
Not directed at anyone in particular up here, but why do people get so emotionally invested in their provider of choice? Does one somehow derive a portion of self-worth from it?
Personally, I do it out of fun. In all honesty, I always suggest to find the best provider for your situation. Sports are my number 1, so I got Directv. If movies & archiving tons of them were my thing, then I'd have gotten Dish.
Always wondered the same. I'm thrilled to have choices. Competition good. Monopoly bad.
JeffBowser
02-25-10, 09:05 AM
Nope, not the first time, nor will it be the last. And I will continue to point it out for my own amusement, if nothing else. And yes, it does approach religious fervor, but no, it is not limited to D*
And, true to form, as I stated in a past (now deleted) thread - someone brought up the consumption of artificially flavored non-carbonated beverages. I swear, it's like a law that that has to enter any pro-con argument.
You have been a member here for more than 3 years, so I'm sure it isn't the first time you've seen this. Any time someone makes a slightly derogatory comment about D* and 30 posts immediately defend it. It seems to be more like a religion issue than anything else.
Not directed at anyone in particular up here, but why do people get so emotionally invested in their provider of choice? Does one somehow derive a portion of self-worth from it?
It is bizarre and somewhat creepy. But don't you dare criticize my electrical utility! Them's fighting words! :lol:
sigma1914
02-25-10, 09:10 AM
Nope, not the first time, nor will it be the last. And I will continue to point it out for my own amusement, if nothing else. And yes, it does approach religious fervor, but no, it is not limited to D*
And, true to form, as I stated in a past (now deleted) thread - someone brought up the consumption of artificially flavored non-carbonated beverages. I swear, it's like a law that that has to enter any pro-con argument.
The worst part is that I like the red "artificially flavored non-carbonated beverages" better than the blue. But, I have to drink blue while here. ;)
susanandmark
02-25-10, 09:14 AM
I guess I view things differently. Its not just D*, it is most all businesses. The emphasis is on new customers and retention only comes to play, as in the case here, when the OP called to cancel. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for leier911. Its how the game is played but when I read this I feel cheated. I am helping to pay for all those great deals, we all are. I have been with D* for 15 years and have never had a free install, free equipment or discounted programming. Last year I did qualify for their loyal customer program. I think it is all back wards. Once again, not just with D*. I think long term low cost customers should receive discounted programming rates. They have made their money off of me already. They give away the bank to get a new customer that they may never see a profit from. They encourage their customers to be disloyal and threaten to cancel. Give me that new customer programming rate after a few years of paying my bill on time and tell if I leave I will loose my discount and start over. They would have to screw up pretty bad for me to leave then. Of course I understand you can't be the first or only one doing business this way.
I know, I don't get to make the rules. Just sharing my 2cents.
Bill
I agree with this 100 percent. As I head into my 12th year as a DirecTV customer, always at the highest level of service, and never having had a late payment, it is annoying to see. (Not that I begrudge anyone their deal.) I've had a few "special offers" (a free receiver or two, of the 20+ I've bought over the years; the $20 off for six months) but all were five-plus years ago and since then, even when having genuine problems, have basically gotten the cold shoulder from DirecTV, who has made it pretty clear they value new customers over old. In a big way. (I've also been a customer long enough to pay big up front fees for install, etc., which no longer exist.)
I'm always reading about special offers here that existing customers say they received, but the few times I've called and tried to get them too (I'd say 3-4 or most, over the past five years), DirecTV acknowledges I'm a "very valuable customer" (we pay them almost $200/month, so I would think so), but always insist that neither I, nor any existing customer, is eligible for whatever offer someone else (usually multiple someones) received. I hate that the rules are different based on what person you talk to. It should be the same, across the board. It's a basic sense of fairness and it leaves customers--whom DirecTV claims are "valuable"--feeling angry and cheated. The term "shortsighted" doesn't even begin to cover it.
And, yes, if DirecTV can't see that their new customer bias basically incentivizes churn they're deaf, dumb and blind.
EDITED TO ADD: I do not expect special treatment from DirecTV, or any other company. My argument is that treatment, for myself and customers across the board, should be equal and fair.
JeffBowser
02-25-10, 09:18 AM
Better get back to our regularly scheduled programming, I don't want to set a new personal record for participation in threads closed in a week.
OP - you got a good deal, and that's a fair reason for staying. Good for you. I stay with DirecTV because my cable provider blows, and I'm not ambitious enough to go through the hassle of swapping to the leading sat provider du-jour every time someone leap-frogs someone else.
Stuart Sweet
02-25-10, 09:20 AM
I hardly think DIRECTV is alone in this. Practically every tech service provider does the same thing. Cable, cell phones, whatever, they pay a ton for acquisition and then skimp on retention. I actually think DIRECTV is better than most on this. Try getting some sympathy from your cell phone provider when you leave your 1-month-old cell phone in your pocket and wash it.
Hoosier205
02-25-10, 09:24 AM
I hardly think DIRECTV is alone in this. Practically every tech service provider does the same thing. Cable, cell phones, whatever, they pay a ton for acquisition and then skimp on retention. I actually think DIRECTV is better than most on this. Try getting some sympathy from your cell phone provider when you leave your 1-month-old cell phone in your pocket and wash it.
Ain't that the truth!
bobnielsen
02-25-10, 09:57 AM
I've been a Directv customer for 7 years (after having been with Dish) and have been pretty happy with how I have been treated, without ever needing to threaten to quit. I have even been offered a discount when calling to add programming. I have never subscribed to any of the overpriced sports programming (some of which would be nice, but I am not a fanatic).
At the time I switched, I compared the available packages and found that I got more channels that I actually wanted to watch for my money with Directv. If I made that comparison today, it might tilt the other way (only because of HD), but in about two months I expect it would change back again.
Not directed at anyone in particular up here, but why do people get so emotionally invested in their provider of choice? Does one somehow derive a portion of self-worth from it?
It's the same as the Ford Chevy thing I think. :D
DodgerKing
02-25-10, 12:05 PM
It's the same as the Ford Chevy thing I think. :D
No...
MOPAR is much better. :p
JeffBowser
02-25-10, 12:11 PM
My dad is 40 year retired GM. I drive what was once a Chrysler. My wife drives a Toyota, my daughter drives a Chevy. :lol:
Really? Did you hold that view just a couple of years ago when D* was universally the worst offender of HD-lite?
There were plenty of complaints here about that. But D* did something about it, didn't they?
pappy97
02-25-10, 05:27 PM
I guess I view things differently. Its not just D*, it is most all businesses. The emphasis is on new customers and retention only comes to play, as in the case here, when the OP called to cancel. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for leier911. Its how the game is played but when I read this I feel cheated. I am helping to pay for all those great deals, we all are. I have been with D* for 15 years and have never had a free install, free equipment or discounted programming. Last year I did qualify for their loyal customer program. I think it is all back wards.
Okay the system sucks, but you know how it is played. Many money experts in various articles and such say to play this game to get your bill lowered. The fact that you don't means you are cheating yourself, because you aren't even trying.
You could get a discount tonight or tomorrow if you applied yourself. Yes the system sucks, but if you really want a discount, and you know how it works, why not seek it?
There were plenty of complaints here about that. But D* did something about it, didn't they?
I was specifically asking the guy with the dish HD-lite avatar who claimed "No HD-Lite or over compression for us". Hence why I quoted him.
The fact is D*'s HD-Lite went on for years.
SPACEMAKER
02-25-10, 06:16 PM
I was specifically asking the guy with the dish HD-lite avatar who claimed "No HD-Lite or over compression for us". Hence why I quoted him.
The fact is D*'s HD-Lite went on for years.
No one liked the HD Lite. D* fixed it. Dish still has not. The fact that D* broadcasted HD Lite in the past is completely irrelevant to any current discussion.
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