E* is giving away their HD DVR--Will D* follow?

I think this is a reaction to D* already offering its DVR for very little money.

Yes, the list is $299, but many, many customers got theirs free, or nearly so. This is a protective reaction on the part of E*, IMHO, not innovation.

Part of the reason I chose D* over E* back in the summer was the low equipment cost.

You would think that they would follow this example, but I doubt it.

"A fool and his money are soon parted"

E* is just desperate to lock in new subscribers. Once DTV rolls out 100+ national HD channels later this year all new HD customers will be headed their way.

HiDefGator said:

E* is just desperate to lock in new subscribers. Once DTV rolls out 100+ national HD channels later this year all new HD customers will be headed their way.

Click to expand...

agreed.........but simultaneously some stability has to come to the hr20

jheda said:

agreed.........but simultaneously some stability has to come to the hr20

Click to expand...

You have to admit in the three (?) months it has been on the market it has made great strides already. If they can keep up the progress it will be stable enough for me to start using them shortly.

Depends on what model..

They did just announce a CES that they will be comming out with a new model.

So if they are giving away the older one for free.
No different then DirecTV having the "blowout" of the HR10 before the HR20 came out.

paulman182 said:

I think this is a reaction to D* already offering its DVR for very little money.

Yes, the list is $299, but many, many customers got theirs free, or nearly so. This is a protective reaction on the part of E*, IMHO, not innovation.

Part of the reason I chose D* over E* back in the summer was the low equipment cost.

Click to expand...

People make it seem like it's really easy to get the Hr20 for free. I had to call in a whole bunch of times to many retention reps before I ended up getting it for $99. Granted I don't spend so much but I have ordered Sunday Ticket a few times over the last few years, I have the Full court package and I always order the March Madness package. I also have had auto bill pay set up for years.

Also, there's a big difference between free and cheap. People see $99 and they think, I'll see and let me talk it over with my wife. People see free and they say why not.

I don't know, we got ours for free because the hdmi port on our out-of-warranty hr-10 did not work. We do spend a lot every month and have for 10+ years, so I am sure that plays a part in how easy it is too accomplish, but even $99 is not an unreasonable sum.

NYHeel said:

I had to call in a whole bunch of times to many retention reps before I ended up getting it for $99.

Click to expand...

It took one call for me - I just indicated that E* was offering the HD package and the DVR was going for $99. D* just matched it for me. Of course, it helps to be a subscriber in good standing for a while.

Rambler said:

It took one call for me - I just indicated that E* was offering the HD package and the DVR was going for $99. D* just matched it for me. Of course, it helps to be a subscriber in good standing for a while.

Click to expand...

Well I was under a commitment so that probably didn't help. But then again it's nearly impossible to not be on a commitment what with the 2 years and the fact that they constantly add commitments to your account when you add a receiver subsidy or no subsidy. After about 4 or 5 calls all I could get was $199, finally I got $99. The ironic thing is that my mother who has been a customer for significantly less than me, has spent significantly less than me, sometimes forgets to pay her bill right away (although she is on auto now), and I refered her to Directv got the $99 price no problem.

HiDefGator said:

E* is just desperate to lock in new subscribers. Once DTV rolls out 100+ national HD channels later this year all new HD customers will be headed their way.

Click to expand...

if they can come up with 100 hd channels that would be great... but I'm not sure where they would get them from...

ssm06 said:

See article:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070108/20070108006487.html?.v=1

Click to expand...

The sales rep I spoke to said the promotion will not be offered until February 1, 2007. The press leaked it too soon.:eek2: