Need new receiver(s), not yet eligible, tips?

[ZBoomer]

Been a Dish customer, and happily so for quite a few years. I subscribe to the top package you can get (AEP + Platinum HD), and pay on time, so Dish considers me a "top customer", but I've ran into a problem I want to ask advice on.

About 6 weeks or so ago, my VIP722 went out on me (hard drive died). I called to have it replaced, but ended up upgrading to a VIP922 in the process. Even as a good customer, and replacing a blown receiver, I had to pay well over $200 when all is said and done for that 922 (plus technician visit, plus OTA tuner, etc).

Well, literally two weeks prior, I had deactivated a 2nd DVR and sent back to Dish. A VIP622 I'd had for 3-4 years, and had no problems with. (My wife and I had separated, she moved out, and I only needed a single DVR now.)

Well (thankfully), my wife and I are working it out, and she moved back in this weekend. :hurah:

I contacted Dish today to order a 2nd DVR for her system, and lo and behold, even though I was replacing a blown-up 722 with the 922, it used up my annual "dish it up" qualification, so I'm not eligible to lease another receiver for a YEAR after I got the 922, just a few weeks back.

Obviously had I known the wife and I were going to get back together, I would have kept the 622 I'd had for over three years, but since I sent it back, I lose it, and now the only option they give me is to BUY a receiver. They quoted me $449 for just a VIP612, much less a 722 or something. (I actually need to add one HD, and one SD outlet for her son, so a single 722 would do it.)

I'm pretty frustrated that I now have no reasonably affordable options to add even a 2nd outlet, even though I've been a good customer for years, have their top package, and top DVR currently. Kinda lame I had to use up my annual "dish it up" option when replacing a blown up receiver.

I do have an old PVR510 SD DVR sitting around I can activate for my step-son, but need something HD for the wife's TV.

Is there any way I could get them to make an exception to lease me a 2nd box without waiting a year? The rep I was talking to wouldn't budge or offer any options. If not I guess I'll have to buy a 722 or 612 on Ebay, dammit. Not cool at all, I can't believe I sent that perfectly working 622 back just a few weeks ago.

Any advice appreciated, thanks.

[Dave]

If you can not get Dish to come up off a another deal for a lease. Then you can purchase your own for a lot cheaper. Go to www.solidsignal.com

They do have some pretty good deals to purchase a 211K or different receivers.
The 211K is a HD receiver and you can add your own hard drive if you so desire.
The 211K from them is $ 115 plus $ 14 for shipping.

[ZBoomer]

Thanks for the tip man, I'll check it out.

[thomasjk]

Check out http://www.dishstore.net/ also.

[bnborg]

http://www.dishdepot.com/

[BattleZone]

Is there any way I could get them to make an exception to lease me a 2nd box without waiting a year? The rep I was talking to wouldn't budge or offer any options.

The lease upgrade rules (i.e., Dish'n It Up) have been around a long time, and the only time I'm aware of that Dish broke them was when Dish made a chain of mistakes with one particular customer and wanted to save the account. In your case, there isn't much chance of them changing the rules for you, since they aren't at fault.

[ZBoomer]

I am aware this is my fault, but I'm also finding it interesting that I have no way to add outlets to my setup more than once a year without buying a receiver, which frankly, given my time with them, and status, ridiculous. I just sent back a leased receiver I'd had for well over 3 years, it was way more than fully vested.

Not only that, the 622 I kept for over 3 years never had a working HDMI outlet, and I kept using it in this crippled state.

If I had cable I could change, add outlets 20 times a year of I wanted, without buying a receiver.

I've been happy with dish since I had them, I guess it was just a matter of time till I had the same negative experience I keep reading about on these forums.

I guess I'll buy a receiver, then sell it in a year when I can get a leased one. With current rates they charge the same for an owned receiver as a leased one, so makes no sense at all to own one.

[ZBoomer]

I am happy to report that Dish made an exception for me, and is sending me a VIP722 to lease as a 2nd receiver, even though I am technically not eligible yet. They agreed that given my set of circumstances, it was the right thing to do, even though technically the situation was my fault.

All it's costing me is the $15 tech visit fee (which they now require for all HD receivers.) Of course I had to re-up my 24 mo commitment, but given I just re-upped two months ago to get the 922, not a big deal.

Thanks Dish, really appreciate someone having the brains and balls to do the right thing for a good customer! It did take a while to pull off due to the rep and me missing each other's calls a few times, but being patient, polite and persistent did pay off.