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New Cust. Wanted HR24, Got HR23, Told can't get HR24

9K views 107 replies 30 participants last post by  Shades228 
#1 ·
I guess I should have done my research a little better. I am a brand new customer. Had everything installed yesterday. When the tech brought out the HD DVR I noticed it was the HR23 model. I told him I noticed it wasn't the latest model and he said he didn't have any HR24s, but if I call DirecTV after everything was setup, they could send me out an HR24. I took his word for it and let him proceed. I called this morning and was told numerous times that they had no way of sending out an HR24. They could try sending a new HD DVR and we could hope and see what I get, but that's it. I explained I was expecting the latest equipment since I'm brand new on a two year agreement. I then asked if I could cancel. I was told I could before midnight tonight, however, the $215 I paid up front for the equipment would not be refunded because it was already activated. I was on the phone for 54 minutes and 53 seconds trying to get this resolved.

I have been told I have tow options. 1) live with what I got or 2) cancel before midnight and lose the $215 I spent on equipment fees.

I realize the difference between the HR23 and HR24 is minor (I've seen the YouTube video showing the speed). At this point, I feel as if the installer lied to me so he could complete the job and move on. I know, they are just installers, but I feel they represent DirecTV and hence, DirecTV should be responsible for their actions/words.

Does anyone know of another option I might have? I like the fact I can have a single DVR in the house and two TVs can access the one list (I have an H24 upstairs). That's the main reason I went with DirecTV over Dish Network...but now I'm feeling like I should cancel while I can and try something else. (shoot we don't even watch that much TV...for the $200 I am going to lose I should have just gotten a Tivo).
 
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#27 ·
poppin_fresh said:
I just turned my installer away a couple minutes ago. I specified hr24, he knew I wanted it, but the warehouse was out and gave him hr21 refurbs to give me. I told him i didn't want three year old equipment and he understood. They can't tell me when they will have them back in stock.

So much for all whole house installs getting the 24s only. Guess I have some phone calls to make.
If you want to make demands for specific equipment, acquire it yourself.
 
#28 ·
I don't think it's unreasonable for a new customer to ask for NEW equipment when signing up for new service. I asked for it when I ordered the service and was told by customer service i was getting newest equipment when they confirmed the install. Even the installer said he wouldn't take old equipment either.
 
#29 ·
poppin_fresh said:
I don't think it's unreasonable for a new customer to ask for NEW equipment when signing up for new service. I asked for it when I ordered the service and was told by customer service i was getting newest equipment when they confirmed the install. Even the installer said he wouldn't take old equipment either.
A lot of people seem to think leasing a receiver is like leasing a car. So following that, if I go and lease a car and have the chance to lease a brand new car fast car with a big engine or an old, loud, slow, small engine (hard drive) beat up car that smells like cat pee for the same price, I'm going to wait until the dealership has the new ones in.

NEW customers should get NEW equipment. Now, I do realize that a new HR23 is still new, and that's fine. New but not newest I should say, but newest would be ideal. These old refurb boxes for new customers are a joke and almost a slap in the face with the shape some of them are in.
 
#30 ·
I'll say again, that until/unless DIRECTV adopts tiered pricing for its products, all DVRs are considered the same and you get what you get. There is a way to make sure that if you have an HR24, you'll get another one if it's replaced under the protection plan. Beyond that, I've yet to see them give a pathway to getting the DVR of your choice. I was told it was in the works but it hasn't shown up.
 
#31 ·
Hoosier205 said:
If you want to make demands for specific equipment, acquire it yourself.
So you should have to pay for everything out of pocket & install it yourself if your a new customer? That makes no sense at all. Maybe the idiots that came up with the "luck of the draw" policy should rethink the situation a little bit.

So when you go lease a new car from the dealership you should just get whatever they want to give you? Well sir I understand you would like a GT(HR24), but we only have a 4 cylinder so that is what you get.

You are signing a 2 year lease with them, you should be able to pick out what equipment you want. What other company has such an outrageous policy?
 
#32 ·
Sim-X said:
What other company has such an outrageous policy?
1) Cable TV companies all across the country.
2) Car rental companies which promise you a mid sized sedan and give you whatever is on the lot.
3) Most public schools where, in general, you don't get to pick your teachers.

I'm not saying that a subscriber shouldn't jawbone the system to get the gear they want, or a parent shouldn't move their kid to another classroom if they don't like their teacher, but this is not quite as unusual a situation as you make it, Sim-X.
 
#33 ·
Sim-X said:
So you should have to pay for everything out of pocket & install it yourself if your a new customer? That makes no sense at all. Maybe the idiots that came up with the "luck of the draw" policy should rethink the situation a little bit.
Long timers going back to before the leasing model always had to buy the equipment. I personally remembering paying $800 for an HR10 that I still own. The same used to be true with Dish - don't know if it still is.

But certainly it is the case that any cable company hands you whatever they happen to have. I don't like the current "luck of the draw" system either and I think it is a bit ridiculous that DTV's system apparently doesn't even give them the capability to specify which DVR model to ship, even in extraordinary circumstances. That might be OK if all the DVRs really were functionally equivalent, but they are not. Following Stuart's approach, I would even be willing to pay extra for what I want. Thankfully there are still third party retailers like SolidSignal that can provide specific models.

With all that said, I can see huge operational advantages to DTV in treating all the DVRs as equals. There are also advantages to customers, among them much lower up-front costs and easy, no hassle, low/no cost replacement if a DVR dies.
 
#34 ·
Actually when I had Comcast, the new DCX3400 boxes came out I got 2 of them swapped out no questions asked, no charges.

As far as the teacher example, no you don't get to pick your teachers. However if you had a valid reason to switch, I promise you that you could make it happen.

There is rental car places that let you walk out on the lot and pick the car you want. I assure you a car rental place would charge you more for a "GT" model vs a non-GT.

Not to mention the fact there is such a small amount of customer who care about what model IRD they get, so let them pick.

Do you understand how bad your customer satisfaction has to be in order to get an "F" rating from the BBB? I understand they are big company, but the BBB still factors that in and an "F" rating is outrageous.

Not sure how you could side with DTV on their policy when they have an "F" rating they are clearly doing something wrong and I promise you the way they run their leasing operation has something to do with it.

Can DirecTV run things however they want? They sure can and if I have a problem with it I can leave at anypoint. All I am saying is the policy they have in place right now is an absolute joke because I do like DirecTV and I think they have a great product but they really need to shape up with this leasing business.

Maybe I will open a pizza delivery restaurant and when someone orders a pizza they get whatever kind of pizza I decide to make. So if I have too much sausage in stock they get all sausage or if if I have too much pepperoni I will send them that. That would make people happy.

If DirecTV wants to charge a little extra for a newer model, fine but at least make it an OPTION. You shouldn't have to just get lucky.
 
#35 ·
Sim-X said:
...
Do you understand how bad your customer satisfaction has to be in order to get an "F" rating from the BBB? I understand they are big company, but the BBB still factors that in and an "F" rating is outrageous.

Not sure how you could side with DTV on their policy when they have an "F" rating they are clearly doing something wrong and I promise you the way they run their leasing operation has something to do with it.
...
The BBB ratings are worthless, but we've beat that horse enough here. You seem to bring it up a lot...Do some research.

Ironically, Directv has ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction in J.D. Power and Associates, for 7 years in a row, DIRECTV scored higher in customer satisfaction than every cable company measured in the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
 
#37 ·
gfrang said:
Even the first HDdvr HR20 is light years ahead of Comcrap's dvr,i myself would not do that:nono:
I agree the Comcast DVRs (at least the motorolas that I've used) don't compare to Directv's HR line. A lot of that can be blamed on Comcast, because their software makes the boxes even worse than they could be.
Unless you live in an Xfinity area and plan on getting a TIVO (you will lose Comcast's ondemand access unless you also keep a comcast STB) I'd stick with Directv and the HR-23. Or do as others have suggested , get an HR-24 from an online retailer then send the HR-23 back to Directv and see if they will credit the $199.
 
#38 ·
sigma1914 said:
The BBB ratings are worthless, but we've beat that horse enough here. You seem to bring it up a lot...Do some research.

Ironically, Directv has ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction in J.D. Power and Associates, for 7 years in a row, DIRECTV scored higher in customer satisfaction than every cable company measured in the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
I only bring it up when people sit there and try to defend DTV & their stupid policies that make no sense at all. I never said comcast DVR was better, I'm saying when a new model came out and I wanted a new one they said ok here you go. Thanks for buying our best programming package and hsi. We would love to swap a box for you and keep you happy.

They just will give my old box to someone that doesn't care what model they get, I on the other hand do care.

I wouldn't say the BBB ratings are worthless. The BBB knows you can't make everyone happy. Are you trying to justify an "F" rating as acceptable because it's not.

All I am saying is DTV's policy on equipment is total BS and no other company I know runs such an awful operation when it comes to leasing equipment. If you think DTV has such a wonderful policy then you can keep the old models and refurbs and I'll fight a little harder for HR24's.

Look at our poor OP here, he gets lied to by a tech and now he is SOL. You guys sit there and defend dtv and dtv is the ones in the wrong here.
 
#39 ·
Sim-X said:
I only bring it up when people sit there and try to defend DTV & their stupid policies that make no sense at all. I never said comcast DVR was better, I'm saying when a new model came out and I wanted a new one they said ok here you go. Thanks for buying our best programming package and hsi. We would love to swap a box for you and keep you happy.

They just will give my old box to someone that doesn't care what model they get, I on the other hand do care.

I wouldn't say the BBB ratings are worthless. The BBB knows you can't make everyone happy. Are you trying to justify an "F" rating as acceptable because it's not.

All I am saying is DTV's policy on equipment is total BS and no other company I know runs such an awful operation when it comes to leasing equipment. If you think DTV has such a wonderful policy then you can keep the old models and refurbs and I'll fight a little harder for HR24's.

Look at our poor OP here, he gets lied to by a tech and now he is SOL. You guys sit there and defend dtv and dtv is the ones in the wrong here.
BBB ratings are both worthless and pointless. Everyone seems to be aware of that...but you. Apparently, you are not aware of what it takes to get a positive or negative rating with them. If you, or anyone else, demands to have a specific model then you have ability to go and get one. This is all very simple. You do not have the right to demand specific equipment. You do have the right to acquire specific equipment yourself. Get over it.
 
#40 ·
My parents are big on the BBB, or as I call them, the UN of consumer affairs. :grin:

I just laugh when the mention it :)
 
#41 ·
Hoosier205 said:
BBB ratings are both worthless and pointless. Everyone seems to be aware of that...but you. Apparently, you are not aware of what it takes to get a positive or negative rating with them. If you, or anyone else, demands to have a specific model then you have ability to go and get one. This is all very simple. You do not have the right to demand specific equipment. You do have the right to acquire specific equipment yourself. Get over it.
I suppose you think eBay feedback is pretty worthless as well. eBay should just do away with that all together. It's not like a company pays a fee to be a member of the BBB :rolleyes: How about when you browse through the yellow pages and see all the huge companies PAYING to carry the BBB logo? Obviously it means something or companies wouldn't be dishing out there own cash to pay for it or working hard to carrying a good reputation.

I suppose you think Angie's list is pointless as well. Is that why people are willing to pay a membership fee to join?

Look I agree with you a lot of people are stupid and complain for no reason at all. I deal with BBB complaints for the company I work for and if you send in your rebuttal and were fair to the customer they will find your answer an reasonable and close the case.

You don't get an "F" rating being reasonable to customers.

I sure hope you are not a business owner the way you think. You would drive a business right into the ground.
 
#42 ·
Sim-X said:
I suppose you think eBay feedback is pretty worthless as well. eBay should just do away with that all together. It's not like a company pays a fee to be a member of the BBB :rolleyes: How about when you browse through the yellow pages and see all the huge companies PAYING to carry the BBB logo? Obviously it means something or companies wouldn't be dishing out there own cash to pay for it or working hard to carrying a good reputation.

I suppose you think Angie's list is pointless as well. Is that why people are willing to pay a membership fee to join?

Look I agree with you a lot of people are stupid and complain for no reason at all. I deal with BBB complaints for the company I work for and if you send in your rebuttal and were fair to the customer they will find your answer an reasonable and close the case.

You don't get an "F" rating being reasonable to customers.

I sure hope you are not a business owner the way you think. You would drive a business right into the ground.
Thank you for proving my point...you have no idea what companies actually do to acquire a good BBB rating. You have to pay off the BBB like the mob.
 
#43 ·
I'm not sticking up for the BBB's system of ratings but, many average consumers or would be customers do rely on it as a valid source of consumer opinion and advice. Not everyone in America has tech aware friends who can help them make well informed decisions about DTV,Cable etc....
What about big companies like DTV that have great BBB ratings what are they doing that DTV is not?
As for the whole equipment thing, as a new customer I feel like i've been put through the wringer and it's only a month I've been a DTV customer. It's been a lot of work to get things sorted out so i'm semi-happy with my service. I am not so sure how the average non-DBS'er would fare with such issues. Just sayin.....
 
#44 ·
Hoosier205 said:
Thank you for proving my point...you have no idea what companies actually do to acquire a good BBB rating. You have to pay off the BBB like the mob.
A lot of people still look at BBB records, regardless if they are fair or not. All I'm saying you really have to run a craptastic operation to have an "F" rating. Part of that operation is how there policy on equipment works. Obviously DTV doesn't care that much or they would change it.
 
#45 ·
Hoosier205 said:
Thank you for proving my point...you have no idea what companies actually do to acquire a good BBB rating. You have to pay off the BBB like the mob.
I'm not doubting or calling you out or anything, I too think the BBB is useless anymore, but I would like to know exactly what goes into the ratings please.
 
#47 ·
Sim-X said:
A lot of people still look at BBB records, regardless if they are fair or not. All I'm saying you really have to run a craptastic operation to have an "F" rating. Part of that operation is how there policy on equipment works. Obviously DTV doesn't care that much or they would change it.
If you don't pay the BBB dues = F
 
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