Price for an H20

[ansky]

I will soon be upgrading my bedroom TV to an HD set and was wondering if anyone has been able to get the H20 for free. I have no need for a DVR on that TV so the H20 would suffice. Looks like the current price on the D* website is $100.

[Michael D'Angelo]

I would call DIRECTV. You should be able to get one for free or at least some program credits to make up for it.

[Homebrew101]

I have 2 H20 boxes, both were free including a new 5lnb dish install on the 1st one.

[Stuart Sweet]

Definitely look around. In the past when newer receivers came out, even brick-and-mortars like Circuit City were able to offer the previous generation for $0. I don't know when H21 is releasing but I'm sure it will be in the coming months.

[Chip Moody]

I think it's a matter of how your account stands with D*. I called them a few weeks back (in anticipation of a new HDTV) and asked about upgrading. I paid the $19-whatever "delivery" fee and wound up with an H20 and 5 LNB dish installed.

- Chip


I will soon be upgrading my bedroom TV to an HD set and was wondering if anyone has been able to get the H20 for free. I have no need for a DVR on that TV so the H20 would suffice. Looks like the current price on the D* website is $100.

[DCSholtis]

I think it's a matter of how your account stands with D*. I called them a few weeks back (in anticipation of a new HDTV) and asked about upgrading. I paid the $19-whatever "delivery" fee and wound up with an H20 and 5 LNB dish installed.

- Chip

+1

In checking my account at this point I basically can have any receiver for free based on what the info on the website.

[TriggerDeems]

I will soon be upgrading my bedroom TV to an HD set and was wondering if anyone has been able to get the H20 for free. I have no need for a DVR on that TV so the H20 would suffice. Looks like the current price on the D* website is $100.

If you are a good customer in good standing, you can get $100 off a receiver every six months without any haggling.

[capecodsooner]

Just did a D* call yesterday to do the same, "upgrade" or "replacement". I did not care which...I have protection plan as well. I already have a slimline and have been a D customer sincce 1999, HD since 2000, pay my bill by direct debit, sports packs, playboy, movies, etc........ No DVR in the house and still don't want one.

One current reciever is a Sony HD-100, MPEG2 capable only, new HD set on the way and wanted a MPEG-4 to see all the "new programming in HD" come September...as well as NESN and locals currently available in MPEG-4. Still operational but old. I purchased it for $500 at CC back in the day.

The second is an OLD SD Hughes. Still operational but a HD set on order from Buy.com for that spot in the master bedroom. Wanted another H-20.

I also wanted some SupperFan love that I hear other subs were getting.

Long story short and after having to go through 1 frontline CSR, 2 CSRs in the protection plan department, and finally someone in retention, total time of call 1:45 minutes I was able to get:

1. SuperFan "free"
2. Sony replaced for 19.95 shipping.
3. Huges replacement cost of 99 plus shipping but a 99 credit to my D* bill

Superfan came easy. They gave that up straight away.

Geting the recievers was like pulling teeth.

They really did not want to send out any equipment unless they were going to get their 99 bucks. Their logic was that what I had was functional.....even though it would not recieve what I was paying for come mid September, or for that matter now (no MPEG-4 on the Sony).

My logic of no MPEG-4 on the Sony worked with the first level CSR after about 25 minutes and two "holds" while he talked to a supervisor. He held fast on the SD upgraded for free.

Silently, I applauded his ability to stand firm but I asked to talks to the folks in the protection dept next.

They were idiots IMHO. Did not want to budge at all. Said it worked so suck it up. I pointed out that any piece of electrical equipment could fail at any time, wink, wink. I then ask if they need me needed to word my request differently, i.e. "yeah, I think it does have a problem. It keeps locking up.........."

Finally I grew tired of their antics and asked to be transfered to retention. After a few minutes there explainin my situation and they were able to send me another reciever for "free". 99 charge with 99 credit but I did have to pay another 19.95 for shipping. This was due to it now being two separate orders but I was willing to pay it.

She wanted to have it delivered and setup by a local tech??????? but after 10 minutes of haggling about waiting all day for a now show, etc... she was able to make it a shipment.

Way too much *$$ pain to get the job done but saved me some $$. I made no threats to cancell along the way but I did let it be known dropping programming (HBO, SHO) would be financing the 99 charge for the recievers and that they would most likely not be turned on again. Besides plenty of movies on STARZ

[mjgolli]

I called up to see if I could work a deal for an HR20 and they offered me two H20s and a 5-lnb dish installed for free.

I told her that I wanted and HR20 to replace my Sony SD TiVo so I can watch all the new HDs, and wanted a good deal and already have a 5-lnb dish, and she offered two H20's shipped for $19.95.

I asked if there were no deals on the HR20, and she said no, they are $199 installed or $199 + $19.95 shipped. I asked if this was the best they could do, and she offered an additional $50 off. I told her that I would think about it, and ended the call.

Later that week, my beloved mother surprised me with an HR20 as an unexpected gift from Best Buy. So, I'm glad to have gotten one for free, but I hate that ma had to spend $299 for it. But I am keeping it! (I paid for and installed their entire DirecTV experience way back when you had to do it yourself, so I don't feel too awful bad...)

I guess it depends on what CSR you get and how forceful you are. I did not want to have anything bad noted in my account by even asking. Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Elaine gets "noted" in her medical file for being difficult... :)

- Mike


I will soon be upgrading my bedroom TV to an HD set and was wondering if anyone has been able to get the H20 for free. I have no need for a DVR on that TV so the H20 would suffice. Looks like the current price on the D* website is $100.

[msmith198025]

Yes, i called them yesterday and said i wanted to get an extra H-20 for my bedroom also and haggled a little. End result, a free box. I was going to try to get another HR-20 but they seemed pretty firm on them for the time being, may be because i just got one or may be that they just arent giving them away at this time.

[JLucPicard]

I'm not a business person at all, but I would guess knowing that demand is going to be quite high for a while, why give them away when people will be willing to pay full price for them? That would be my guess why the deals have gotten a lot tighter lately.

[msmith198025]

I'm not a business person at all, but I would guess knowing that demand is going to be quite high for a while, why give them away when people will be willing to pay full price for them? That would be my guess why the deals have gotten a lot tighter lately.

Oh i agree with you 100%, but i am almost positive that the woman i talked to, had i really pushed it would have given me a HR-20 also. Most of them wont now, or even cant, but there are still a few that will. The only reason i didnt angle for it harder is, it would have taken me alot more time, and I really didnt need the DVR in the bedroom.