How to hire third party installers?

[jasonblair]

Here's the deal. I moved to Maryland in February, and got a short term lease until I found a house. I have now found a house, but when I called DirecTV, they said I can't do the mover's connection more than once in a year. Since I did the mover's connection when I moved to Maryland in February, they can't help me unless I pay them $200 PLUS pay full price for a new Slimline.

I told them that my slimline was on a tripod on my balcony, so I didn't need to order a new one. She said they can't do it unless I buy a new one from them. Her suggestion was to call a third party installer. She said to check the yellow pages.

So I went to the yellow pages, and called a few of the places that said they were DirecTV installers. Well, when I called them, they all told me that they can't help me because I already have DirecTV, and they only install for new customers.

So what do I do? Anyone know who I can call? I don't have the skills to climb up on the roof and properly dial in the Ka and Ku signals. (I am in Frederick, MD... 21704 zip.)

[boba]

Look for an independent "dealer" not a third party installer. Offer to pay for the install $200 is about right and you will probably find some takers. If you sound like you are looking for a free dish move you are not going to find anyone interested they know D* isn't going to pay them.

[jasonblair]

I did offer to pay! They said they can't do it without a Directv work order.

I said, "Look... are you installers?"

They said "Yes."

I said, "So I have money, and am willing to pay for installation services, and you can't do anything?"
They said, "Yes. Not without a new DirecTV account or a DirecTV work order."

What kind of world do we live in when I have money to pay, and the people who do that work won't take it?!?!?

[aim2pls]

I did offer to pay! They said they can't do it without a Directv work order.

I said, "Look... are you installers?"

They said "Yes."

I said, "So I have money, and am willing to pay for installation services, and you can't do anything?"
They said, "Yes. Not without a new DirecTV account or a DirecTV work order."

What kind of world do we live in when I have money to pay, and the people who do that work won't take it?!?!?


sounds silly as hell ..... i don't understand either .. i do commercial installs without a D* work order

[FlyeagsFly]

I did offer to pay! They said they can't do it without a Directv work order.

I said, "Look... are you installers?"

They said "Yes."

I said, "So I have money, and am willing to pay for installation services, and you can't do anything?"
They said, "Yes. Not without a new DirecTV account or a DirecTV work order."

What kind of world do we live in when I have money to pay, and the people who do that work won't take it?!?!?

That seems crazy. Not to piggyback with you on this, but if anyone knows the name of an installer or two in this area (I live in Mount Airy, 21771) that does a good job it would definitely be appreciated. I'm assuming if I place a new order with D*, I can choose who I want to do the installation.

[vollmey]

Jason, I went third party and never talked to D*. They set up my account and I paid them $199 for the HR-20, they brought everything just like the D* installer would. They even printed out all the rebates and sent them in for me. It was was unreal the type of service they provided compared to the horror story's I've seen here.

[vernonator]

Come on - its not all THAT hard to do it yourself. I did my first install (the old 2 LNB dish)....I would pocket the $200, roll up your sleaves and get to it!!!!!

[aim2pls]

Come on - its not all THAT hard to do it yourself. I did my first install (the old 2 LNB dish)....I would pocket the $200, roll up your sleaves and get to it!!!!!


yah .. even the "professional" installers can't do it right

[n3ntj]

Here's the deal. I moved to Maryland in February, and got a short term lease until I found a house. I have now found a house, but when I called DirecTV, they said I can't do the mover's connection more than once in a year. Since I did the mover's connection when I moved to Maryland in February, they can't help me unless I pay them $200 PLUS pay full price for a new Slimline.

I told them that my slimline was on a tripod on my balcony, so I didn't need to order a new one. She said they can't do it unless I buy a new one from them. Her suggestion was to call a third party installer. She said to check the yellow pages.

So I went to the yellow pages, and called a few of the places that said they were DirecTV installers. Well, when I called them, they all told me that they can't help me because I already have DirecTV, and they only install for new customers.

So what do I do? Anyone know who I can call? I don't have the skills to climb up on the roof and properly dial in the Ka and Ku signals. (I am in Frederick, MD... 21704 zip.)

4 Words = Stay Away from Ironwood!

[boba]

Look for an independent "dealer" not a third party installer. Offer to pay for the install $200 is about right and you will probably find some takers. If you sound like you are looking for a free dish move you are not going to find anyone interested they know D* isn't going to pay them.

Jason the advice was to find a dealer not an installer. The HSP that subcontract to D* dosen't have time for you. In the yellow pages the ad that says C&M Satellite systems is the one to call not the one that says DIRECTV SAT TV.:) :) :)

[Tom Robertson]

Jason, you're only option is to move to the Salt Lake area. :) I'd be happy to install with you.

Cheers,
Tom

[bobnielsen]

There are some listed here, but I don't know how close they are to you: http://www.emantechnology.com/InstallerList.asp.

[jasonblair]

Jason, I went third party and never talked to D*. They set up my account and I paid them $199 for the HR-20, they brought everything just like the D* installer would. They even printed out all the rebates and sent them in for me. It was was unreal the type of service they provided compared to the horror story's I've seen here.I have no problem finding an installer who will set up an account and sell me new products... The problem is finding an installer who will do that WITHOUT setting up a new DirecTV account and NOT ordering new equipment.

[jasonblair]

Come on - its not all THAT hard to do it yourself. I did my first install (the old 2 LNB dish)....I would pocket the $200, roll up your sleaves and get to it!!!!!My HOA requires the dish to be on the backside of my roof. It's a townhome, and I don't have a ladder NEAR that long! Plus, setting up the old dishes was a LOT easier than the new 5lnb dishes. I want them dialed in RIGHT.

[jasonblair]

Jason the advice was to find a dealer not an installer. The HSP that subcontract to D* dosen't have time for you. In the yellow pages the ad that says C&M Satellite systems is the one to call not the one that says DIRECTV SAT TV.:) :) :)I did find a dealer. They would only do it if I ordered new equipment from them.

[VeniceDre]

I did find a dealer. They would only do it if I ordered new equipment from them.

I don't understand this at all... If you lived in Los Angeles I'd just send one of my techs over and just do the work at a hourly rate. The guy would put your dish up, run the lines if needed, and connect your pre-existing equipment.

I think the problem you're running into is that u are trying just SAT installers. Try calling some Home Theater Outfits in your area and ask if they do SAT work.

[1948GG]

Jason, I went third party and never talked to D*. They set up my account and I paid them $199 for the HR-20, they brought everything just like the D* installer would. They even printed out all the rebates and sent them in for me. It was was unreal the type of service they provided compared to the horror story's I've seen here.

Independent guys know which side of the bread the butter goes on, i.e., the one that goes into their back pocket! When I moved into my current house, way before the latest 'policies' and regional outfits like Ironwood, I had both my 3LNB dish and a full 'suite' (4 dishes) of Echostar PLUS a VHF/UHF roofmount PLUS a VHF/UHF scanner antenna, AND (for good measure) a HF boom yagi for Ham radio use, with all nessesary cables (except under the house which I did myself) for a bit under $500.

Took the guy all day. But it got done right. The Echostar stuff is still mounted, the 3LNB was swapped out (by Ironwood) 18 months ago. They 'forgot' to put in the extra braces, so they were back (no cost) a couple months later putting them in and re-tweaking the dish. The guy rolls up and pulls out a 'slimline' and proceeded to 'think' he was putting in a 5LNB dish to replace... a 5LNB dish.

That's the level of err..... 'thinking' that folks deal with, so anything I read here doesn't surprise me. There must be an independent local guy doing installs there, start letting your fingers to the walking (in the phone book).

[jasonblair]

I think the problem you're running into is that u are trying just SAT installers. Try calling some Home Theater Outfits in your area and ask if they do SAT work.Thanks! Something I hadn't thought of. I'll give it a try and keep you posted!

[trnsfrguy]

Here are 2 things that worked for me. Look in your local Craigslist or find an installer that is doing another install and offer him a few bucks.

[bdowell]

Check at local Radio Shacks and such, see who they contract with. The people they contract with would be getting some fixed amount of $$ for installs. If you are offering up around $50 - $125 (give or take) for them to mount the dish for you, it would be pure profit for them. Basically you want to speak to the contractors and see if you can get them to do your one-off install on the side, etc.