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.
Ok, I'm a 15+ year customer with $225.00+ monthly bill (Premiere with HD pack, locals, MLS, 4 HD receivers including a HR20). We probably drop another $50.00/mo on PPV movies. I'm not under contract and haven't upgraded in at least 5 or more years (when the HR20 was new).
I really don't have the time or patience to play games with CSR or retention specialists. I figure with what I spend with these guys, I ought to be able to get this upgrade without a bunch of games. I'm the type guy that if I call up and have to play games, I really will cancel the service and I would probably regret that.
Pay for the equipment and do it yourself. . I'm the same demographic as you, customer since 1995, Premiere, ST, MLBEI, 225 a month. I don't call Directv except to activate a receiver. Don't need the hassle, so i spend the money and I do it myself.
Well, one way to get a good deal is to actually go through with it and cancel. This is what I got:
I've been away from DirecTV for about two years or so. I've been getting offers to come back since about 6 months after I cancelled DTV. This month's offer was a free Genie, up to 4 rooms connected to the Genie free, plus the standard free HBO/Cinemax/Starz/Showtime for 3 months + $5 off for 12 months, plus no HD fee for autopay/email sign up, $30 off for first 12 months, $10 off for second 12 months, $10 discount for 24 months on the advanced receiver fee (normally $20). Oh, and they are also going to give me up to $200 cash rebate to pay my ETF with charter.
When I left DirecTV, I had been a customer for about 3 years and had one HD DVR and two HD non DVR boxes. I had choice xtra and no premiums. I never in my life bought a PPV movie. Some of the stories here of people spending half their paychecks with DirecTV and not getting a single penny is kind of insane.
Worked for me as well with an install yesterday. Called last weekend to see about replacing my OLD HR20 with a Genie and ended up getting my whole system updated. New Genie and 4 clients with install for free. Install was straightforward and working great so far. Really like having DVR abilities from clients and having central management of all recordings.
Told my father about it and he called, got retentions, was quoted high, spoke to a manager and got new Genie with install (no clients, keeping existing boxes), MRV install, etc. for only $20.
Usually just being nice goes far with them. BTW, both of us had CSR's in Utah ironically.
People have been getting them since the first of this year. But I think they are still in short supply. I have a feeling you will see it show as available on the web site when they are more plentiful in supply, which is what has been the case for other past hardware, like the HR24.
Lol well i had to call back and take em up on the offer! There coming friday to install the genie. And the wifi deca. Im keeping the two hr24s and the hr21. So hopefully they will all work together!
Lol well i had to call back and take em up on the offer! There coming friday to install the genie. And the wifi deca. Im keeping the two hr24s and the hr21. So hopefully they will all work together!
Lol well i had to call back and take em up on the offer! There coming friday to install the genie. And the wifi deca. Im keeping the two hr24s and the hr21. So hopefully they will all work together!
Is there a time of day or day of the week that is best to call DTV (retension) to try and get a deal on a HR34? I wouldn't mind a $99 deal some are getting but others seem to get a somewhat better offer while others are getting far worse deals.
Is there a time of day or day of the week that is best to call DTV (retension) to try and get a deal on a HR34? I wouldn't mind a $99 deal some are getting but others seem to get a somewhat better offer while others are getting far worse deals.
I just kept asking about the genie and the guy kep saying 299. I ask him how long i had left in my contract and he told me and came back with the 99 dollar and free install offer.
I called using the "cancel, cancel" approach and got a free upgrade to a HR34 Genie. No hardware costs and no install costs. Only thing was I had to agree to renew my 2 year commitment (which had long expired).
Just got me one through retention for $148.00 installed, she quoted $348.00 at first and I asked if that was the best she could do. Then $200 discount...install is tomorrow
Thats wild it looks like they would have a set price all around the board on these things. I guess it all works out for them some people get em free and some people pay more i guess it balances out in the end.
Aren't they offering it for free to new subscribers, including Whole Home DVR installation and multiple rooms?
There's no way I'm going to pay even $99 for leased equipment. I'd rather spend several times that to buy the equipment and apply that money towards the purchase.
If I can find good promo pricing on Comcast, I'd rather take that. Yes the picture quality and number of HBO channels may not be the same but I'd rather go with Tivo or a WMC HTPC. I'd get a big upgrade in Internet speeds over U-Verse data at least.
I may or may not come out ahead on the bottom line but if they are going to charge longtime customers while giving it away to new subscribers, I might as well leave, at least for a year or two. Then when the promo deal on another service runs out, I could get back on D* if they offer a promo deal.
I tried to get the HR34 earlier this year and they were offering a couple of hundred dollars. Went back and forth a couple of times and they wouldn't budge, even though people here and elsewhere were reporting free equipment and installation and even programming credits on top. When you mention that to them, they say I'm lying or the people on the forums are lying.
I haven't called retention. When I call to cancel, I will probably cancel.
I just got the genie and the install for $0 along with $25 off a month for 12 months.
Am I better off keeping the HR20s I have for the other TVs or get the C31 for the TVs to connect to the genie? I don't really have a need for more than 5 tuners. Also, I don't currently have a SWM switch. Do I need that? The CSR on the phone said I didn't but from reading this forum, it looks like I do. Can that work with my current dish or will it require a new dish also?
I personally love having the extra tuners (9 total) and even more the extra terabyte of storage with my HR34 Genie + 2 HR 24's. Managing the 5 Olympics channels recordings with all my others would have been a challenge. More tuners and storage, what's not to like?
I just got the genie and the install for $0 along with $25 off a month for 12 months.
Am I better off keeping the HR20s I have for the other TVs or get the C31 for the TVs to connect to the genie? I don't really have a need for more than 5 tuners. Also, I don't currently have a SWM switch. Do I need that? The CSR on the phone said I didn't but from reading this forum, it looks like I do. Can that work with my current dish or will it require a new dish also?
SWM is required. If you keep your HR20's, they will keep your current dish and LNBs, and install a SWM16. If you get C31s, and have only the HR34, they'll swap out the LNB.
Keep in mind, if you watch live TV on a C31, each one takes a tuner from the HR34. If they are off or watching something recorded, they don't take a tuner.
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