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Official: HR34 pricing as of 2/9/2012

248K views 1K replies 353 participants last post by  Stuart Sweet 
#1 ·
Since a lot of people have been experiencing confusing from DIRECTV CSRs today, here is the official word on HR34 pricing from someone who really knows.

  • The HR34 box is $399 and is available starting today for existing customers
  • There is a $300 rebate for NEW customers only.
  • Select customers may be eligible for a lower price. This varies depending on your history with DIRECTV.

There is no rebate program for existing customers.
 
#1,152 ·
FWIW, I've been with D* forever and I haven't asked Customer Retention for anything for a long time. My SDTV in my playroom died last month and I bought a 60" Panny to replace it and when I called and asked CR they sent me an HR34 for free w/free installation and the contract extension w/$30 a month bill credit for a year. I was pleased enough with that. After reading about the C31 I stated thinking about my small kitchen flat panel that was connected with RCA's and after calling CR again and they scheduled me for for a free install of a C31 for the kitchen panel for the $6.00 per month with no contract extension. I've been with D* for almost 15 years so YMMV but it might be worth a call to Customer Retention to see what they'll cough up.
 
#1,153 ·
I wonder why they make you go through the retention process? Everyone knows this trick. I just called customer service hoping I would not have to go through the fake "dropping service" routine, but the best she could do was $299 for the Genie. I have been patiently waiting and have been a D* customer for over 5 years with the full package and Sunday Ticket. I am on auto pay with no late payments and have only called once in 5 years to ask about the slow response on my current DVR. If it was $299 for everyone, I would gladly pay it, but giving deals to some customers and not others isn't a good business model. I can even understand lower costs for new subscribers. But to have your current customers get a varying degree of pricing makes no sense.
 
#1,154 ·
I agree. I'm a longtime customer of DirecTV--15+ years--and when I called to inquire about their Genie based on an Email I received, I was told I qualify for a special price of $299 + $50 shipping, for a total of $349! I actually replied, "You've got to be kidding me! That's an insult, and I'm not interested." I politely said my good-byes and hung up the phone.

$349??? Seriously?
 
#1,156 ·
"Lord Vader" said:
I agree. I'm a longtime customer of DirecTV--15+ years--and when I called to inquire about their Genie based on an Email I received, I was told I qualify for a special price of $299 + $50 shipping, for a total of $349! I actually replied, "You've got to be kidding me! That's an insult, and I'm not interested." I politely said my good-byes and hung up the phone.

$349??? Seriously?
Since when did they start shipping them?
 
#1,165 ·
"wco81" said:
In that case, you might as well get a DVR instead of an extender, if you can get D* to give one to you without costs.
Debatable. If you record everything's you watch and only need five tuners total I think you are better off with clients because they give you full access to everything including series manager and so on of the genie. Allows for one series manager list and one to do list or everything. Simple.
 
#1,166 ·
I am among DTV's first 100,000 customers, with a 5-digit account number, and haven't had any equipment upgrades since 2007.

Here is my experience - current system 1 HR20-100 with 2TB external array connected to 2007-vintage 58" Panasonic plasma; 1 RCA DRD 480 RE legacy receiver connected to 25" tube TV in bedroom; disconnected Tivo R15 was connected to 35" Proscan tube TV in rec room. (Tivo died, never bothered replacing it.)

New system - HR34 Genie connected to plasma TV, CAT 5e connection to 30 MB high speed internet service/ CCK/ DECA on all; move HR20-100 to rec room 35" Proscan; decommission RCA DRD 480 RE (so long, old friend) replace with C-31 client on bedroom TV; new dish to accomodate whole home.

Cost - After significant bill credits, $148 for hardware and installation; offset by $10/mo bill credit for 12 months, starz/showtime for 3 months free, extended $10/mo credit for HD service for another 6 months (that's all they'll do now...you have to ask for it every 6 months now, I guess).

I'm a pleased customer for another 2 years! I wonder if they will offer something to customers on their 20-year anniversary?? :lol:

I remember when they were just hoping they could get to a million customers!
 
#1,167 ·
I just called today to see what I could get. I've been out-of-contract about 4 months now. Been a D* customer for about 8 years.

I was offered two credits of $20 and $8 per month for 12 months. On top of that, I got an HR34 to replace my HR23. $99 for the HR34. Installation cost was cut from $50 to $25. So, total one-time charge was $130.67 including tax.

I didn't get any additional premium channels or anything, but I don't really need them so no big deal.

I presume the order will include an SWM16 since I will have a total of 9 tuners. I'll have to check the work order when it comes via email.

So generally, I'm a satisfied customer. I was tempted to switch to Dish since they offered me 2 hoppers and a joey for $99. Dish would have been cheaper every month also, but I'm happy with D* because they always make it worthwhile to re-up every couple of years. I was a Dish customer for a year back in 2003, and they did absolutely nothing to keep me as a customer when I called to cancel.
 
#1,168 ·
I just saw my work order.

There is no SWM16 listed.

Do I need to call D* to make sure that the tech has one the day of the install? I don't want to have to schedule a second appointment just for the SWM16.



STMS Comment for Promotional Offer Free

CMS Churn Offer Tracking Free

Genie Advanced Whole-Home HD DVR $99.00

MRV Install Free

Sales Order Credit ($25.00)

Adv WH DVR Receiver Condition Free


Delivery and Handling - $19.95 Free

Professional Installation $49.00

Tax $7.67

Order Total $130.67
 
#1,169 ·
PHL said:
I just saw my work order.

There is no SWM16 listed.

Do I need to call D* to make sure that the tech has one the day of the install? I don't want to have to schedule a second appointment just for the SWM16.
Your online account won't show the 16. You can call to confirm but also make sure when the installer shows up he has it on his order (and has it on his truck).
 
#1,170 ·
Indeed, my order did not mention the number of tuners (8 or 16) but did list everything else we discussed. I asked about the need for a new dish (yes, need a SWMx for whole home), and an adaptor cable for the C-31 to my tube TV in the Bedroom (yep, got it), and neither is listed on the order. This has been a very professional experience, just got an automated call confirming the install appointment.:)
 
#1,172 ·
I got an HR34 and 3 C31's this past week for free. I really was just calling to get a price quote, but she said since we have the protection plan we were entitled to a free upgrade.

Here's where it gets weird, she says "It look like you are all set up so we will ship the boxes to you and all you will have to do is swap them out." While I do have a SWM8, DirecTV shouldn't know that because I got it from Solidsignal and installed it myself, plus we still had 2 legacy D11's.

I did obviously had to move a few cables around since the D11's were on the legacy ports of the SWM, but the install was trouble free. At least until I called to activate the C31's. I set up the HR34 first and got it activated using the automated system. I setup 1 C31 and called in to activate it. The first CSR had no idea what we were trying to active. I said Genie client, C31, RVU box, but she wasn't finding anything. She transfered me to the protection plan tech support, and they got it up and running right away. I then set up the other 2 C31's and called back in to activate, but went straight to the protection plan support. This CSR was a little better than the first. He said he had just been trained last week on the Genie stuff, so he wasn't real solid, but we got through it.

All the CSRs I dealt with were very surprised that I was drop shipped all the equipment.
 
#1,175 ·
Parsonsbri said:
Pays to be a long time customer out of contract. Having been through the charade before, I ended up at retention. Great deal. Genie + 4 clients all free, no shipping, no install, nothing.

Happy to re-up for another 2 years.
Gee, thanks for making me feel like chopped liver.:mad:

Just kidding of course. I suppose I could have pushed for a better deal, but I'm pretty satisfied with the deal I got. Many others have gotten less.

A big part of the reason I stay with D* is that I get deals like this every couple of years. Eight years ago when I wanted to upgrade to a dual-tuner DVR, E* said they would only sell it to new customers. My only option was to buy it from third-party vendors at ~$500-600, IIRC. When I called to cancel, E* told me not to let the door hit my butt on the way out.

D* has earned my business.
 
#1,176 ·
Chop69 said:
I got an HR34 and 3 C31's this past week for free. I really was just calling to get a price quote, but she said since we have the protection plan we were entitled to a free upgrade.

Here's where it gets weird, she says "It look like you are all set up so we will ship the boxes to you and all you will have to do is swap them out."

All the CSRs I dealt with were very surprised that I was drop shipped all the equipment.
This is the first time I have seen the HR34 sent out without install. Does anybody else have any experiences like that? I have SWiM16 and would love to simply switch out my main receiver for a HR34. Maybe time to call
 
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