Dish HDTV Package may not be a good deal

[Scott Greczkowski]

As we have reported here at DBSTalk.COM, this October Dish Network will be introducing an new HDTV / 811 combo package See this link for Specs (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=17647)

I have said in the past that the $1499 didn't sound like too bad of a deal, however reading around and visiting my electronics stores, I think Echostar could make the deal a better deal.

One of the big things that hurts the $1499 package deal is that Echostar is charging its dealers $129 just to deliver the TV to them, thats not including the charge for the dealer to deliver it to you.

In shopping around this weekend, I found some very good buys on HDTV's including WalMart who had HDTV's starting at $849! Stores like Best Buy and Circuit City also had some very good low priced HDTV's which makes the Echostar TV price look high.

Lets hope Dish Decides to lower the price or better yet find a way to bring their transportation costs downs so that consumers will want this exciting package.

[GreyGhost00]

Does this really surprise anyone? Unlike the receiver technology, which Charlie refuses to license to CE manufacturers, folks can get HDTVs just about anywhere (even WalMart !). Charlie can afford to give away low-end receivers b/c they're not usable with any other service. A TV is a different story. One can use it with cable, D*, BEV, etc. It's too expensive an item to be a loss-leader. And we all know that Charlie wouldn't do something if it didn't make him money somehow.

[Scott Greczkowski]

The sad part about this is it IS a nice package, however when a dealer figures in shipping costs and delivery costs plus installation costs for the SuperDish it is going to cost the customer a LOT more then $1499.

Let's face it the dealers are selling equipment to make money, you can't really blame them for charging for their time to deliver and install the TV and its components.

I see the prices of HDTV's going down a lot for this Christmas season.

[Peluso]

You will eventually see a $999 deal, and my guess is that it will probably be by christmas.

Don't forget that not only does the dealer have to pay the $129.00 delivery fee, they also may have to send a 2nd technician out to the house to handle the TV's because of the massive size and weight. A local dealer of mine has already discussed this with me.

I can say that i'm a little surprised that DISH also doesn't offer a Flat panel display. Even if they don't move many of them, it would flesh out the offerings, and it would look good in Dish's one and two page ad's. It's also easier for one person to deliver and install.

[jcase]

I believe flat panel displays are heavier then a tube TV.

My wife and I were looking at them over the weekend and were told that we needed special supports on the wall to handle all the weight.

[Jacob S]

What size is the HD tv for $849 at Wal-Mart?

[Dustin_Moore]

I believe flat panel displays are heavier then a tube TV.

My wife and I were looking at them over the weekend and were told that we needed special supports on the wall to handle all the weight.


A plasma is not heavier than a tube or RPTV, although they are heavy enough to pull your basic drywall anchors out of a wall. I don't know why somebody would spend thousands on a TV and not anchor it to a stud at least. let alone a "plasma TV" table.

[JStanton]

I believe flat panel displays are heavier then a tube TV.

My wife and I were looking at them over the weekend and were told that we needed special supports on the wall to handle all the weight.

Joking, right? You'd not only need supports, you'd need a whole new wall if you tried to mount a tube TV on it.

42' Plasma = ~70lbs
30' Tube = ~130lbs

- Jim

[Scott Greczkowski 2]

Perhaps this could have been what he ment by needing special brackets.

I believe Plasma sets have a way to go, to me they look like your looking through a screen door.

My wife really wants one though

[gpflepsen]

RCA D40W20 $1,186 @ Walmart
811HD $299
Superdish (?)$100

Total $1,585

Charlie's still making money off the $1499 deal.

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/03/49/09/21/0003490921132_500X500.jpg

[Peluso]

I see the prices of HDTV's going down a lot for this Christmas season.

You may see the prices falling, but I don't think it will be by that much. To me, when I see a 30" HD set at Wal-Mart for approximately $300 then I will know the technology has arrived at the mass consumer level. That being said, I’m not sure if we will ever get to that point at least not with the current CRT technology. I think Joe Sixpack doesn't get as excited with picture quality of an HD set as he does with the idea of hanging his flat panel TV on the wall. I think you'll eventually see very inexpensive 480P flat panel displays in the 30 - 40 inch range being the top sellers in the near future. It all depends on how quickly the flat panel manufacturers can ramp up production, and lower costs.

With this in mind and knowing that entrepreneurs become ultra-successful by giving something to the world, I know the secret to success with the DISH HDTV promotion.

Let me explain: If we are to take a snap shot at the current market, an HDTV at the size/quality level dish is selling is approximately $1000, current satellite receivers for HD are in the $400 to $600 range. This makes for a competitive price approximately $1400 to $1600 which is right in the ballpark that Charlie is trying for. To really make an impression, Charlie should sell his system complete for half that, or maybe as low as $499. Granted it could only be sold with a credit check and a multi year commitment to AEP or some other high dollar package to make it a profitable outing. Figure the AEP is approximately $75.00 per month, which calculates to $900.00 per year. If you get a three-year commitment, then you get approximately $2700 per customer. Is their enough profit to cover hardware, install, and service enough to break even, then you have a hit. Charlie would get to offer something that would truly generate interest with the common man. It would definitely create a buzz, and be an offering without peer. It would also allow for revenue streams over the term of commitment from PPV’s and potentially Internet service or upgraded hardware purchases like the 921. Any subscribers who stay on after the initial commitment period are serious profit centers for the company, and any who wish to leave early can be assessed a penalty fee that makes it worth their while to stick around. This model was successfully used back when all of the dialup Internet service providers were offering $400 gift cards or free computers for three and four year commitments to the online service.

[Scott Greczkowski 2]

What you guys are failing to understand is that this $1499.00 package will cost you about $1899.00 when its all signed sealed delivered and installed.

[Peluso]

Perhaps this could have been what he ment by needing special brackets. I believe Plasma sets have a way to go, to me they look like your looking through a screen door. My wife really wants one though


I agree completely and totally. 480P EDTV flat screens all have that screen door look. You can get the really expensive screens that look nice but their is a very serious price preformance issue.

Ultimately this conutry has proven time and time again that quality is always trounced by quantity.

Dish sells more systems with greater channel selection rather than better picture quality advertisements.

Consumers flock to MP3's rather than pay any attention to DVD-Audio or SACD.

More interest is generated by larger flat pannels with crappy resolution than by smaller HDTV's that look better.

The list goes on and on... it's everywhere. We don't have Ruth's Chris steak houses on every corner, but we sure have McDonalds.

More for less always beats out paying for quality. At least in mass market situations.

[AndyMon]

Perhaps this could have been what he ment by needing special brackets.

I believe Plasma sets have a way to go, to me they look like your looking through a screen door.

My wife really wants one though
Scott, I can assure you that there's no screen door effect on my Fujitsu 50 inch PDP from any legitimate viewing distance. In fact, the picture is absolutely mind boggling. Now, if only E* could get that damned SuperDish out already......(sigh)

[Mike Russell]

Yes HDTV prices are getting down there. I walked out of BB last thursday with a 30" Samsung for 449.00. Yes it was an open box and it didn't have a book and it was scratched a little on top but the picture looks great.They had a new 27" 4:3 APEX I believe for 437.00. I decided to go with the widescreen.Now I have two HDTV'S and no way to get HD.I'm afraid I am to far down the list at dish depot to get my 921 in the first go around.Maybe I can get the 811 for my new Samsung while I'm waiting.

[Peluso]

I wish i caught that deal. Even in my current financial state, with the whole new wife toy approval process I have to go through now, i'd still get it.

[Richard King]

Dish has attempted to lead the market with other products in the past that never appeared in the real world. The reason the products never appeared is very similar to what is happening with HDTV. Lowered pricing beat them to the market and made their products not profitable to bring out. The product that comes to mind is a combination satellite receiver/DVD player. They showed this product at a dealer show about 3 years ago. By the time the product was completed prices had dropped so far and fast on DVD players that the product was not practical. I hope this kind of thing doesn't happen again.

[Peluso]

Dish isn't developing the HDTV's in house, they are purchasing them. That means they will be able to stay in constant negotiations to keep the price lower than the market because of the volume dish will purchase.

If the market falls as much as we think it will fall, then Dish has an automatic winner on their hands as they can keep reducing the package price.

[normang]

I personally don't see anything at Walmart or anywhere else, even if you add things up that beat the Dish Deal, and Scott's numbers are heresay to me..Prove its going be $300 more when installed, when its not even shipping yet..

[boba]

DISH is shipping the TV sets from its warehouses and dealers on dealer forums are complaining about $100-130 shipping charges for them to get the TV sets. Now the dealer has to get the TV to your house. 34-40inch TV sets can't be tucked under your arm so that means two people to do the delivery and install. We are talking a ballpark figure of $150-200 and that is only the TV not the separate shipping charges for Super Dish and the receiver. You are not going to get the 811,Super Dish and 40" HDTV delivered and installed for $1499 unless a dealer wants to sell it for less than it costs him.

[normang]

I guess the question is then, how much are the margins that we don't hear about routinely that perhaps would negate those issues.

[fslove]

As a Dish dealer I am one of the lucky ones as my shop is near a Echosphere (Dish's warehouse) in the Chicagoland area, so I would not have to deal with ANY shipping costs at all! The only problem I still have with this whole HDTV deal is the fact that these are RCA HDTV's! I have yet to see a RCA TV that is of any decent quality and their quality control is attrocious as well!