[ProfLonghair]

Seriously, I will hunt down and put all D* employees through some diabolical evil device. I've had this receiver for 20 minutes now, and it doesn't receive OTA, attract women, or even julianne fries! I need this to make my flux capicator work to further my plans for world domination! And, on top of all that, yes, I have the gall to spend my life complaining about a machine that I paid a whopping $22 for shipping for and otherwise got for free! I want everything, I want it now, and I want it for free! I wannawannawannawanna!

Enjoy your days, people!

 

[slaz55]

Boy, I only payed 19.00 for shipping.

 

[tstarn]

Seriously, I will hunt down and put all D* employees through some diabolical evil device. I've had this receiver for 20 minutes now, and it doesn't receive OTA, attract women, or even julianne fries! I need this to make my flux capicator work to further my plans for world domination! And, on top of all that, yes, I have the gall to spend my life complaining about a machine that I paid a whopping $22 for shipping for and otherwise got for free! I want everything, I want it now, and I want it for free! I wannawannawannawanna!

Enjoy your days, people!

Wow, that's really funny. You must be a professional comedy writer, huh? Excuse me while I go "julianne" some fries. Or go play with my flux "capicator"?

 

[LameLefty]

I didn't pay a cent for mine, including a new dish and installation. And mine DOES have the Julienne fries option enabled.

 

[lbostons]

I wish that mine could change dirty diapers!

 

[tstarn]

I didn't pay a cent for mine, including a new dish and installation. And mine DOES have the Julienne fries option enabled.

Well spelled.

 

[slaz55]

I didn't pay a cent for mine, including a new dish and installation. And mine DOES have the Julienne fries option enabled.

Mine didn't come with that enabled.... Hmmmmm I wonder if they'll knock off some cash for that!

 

[tstarn]

Seriously, I will hunt down and put all D* employees through some diabolical evil device. I've had this receiver for 20 minutes now, and it doesn't receive OTA, attract women, or even julianne fries! I need this to make my flux capicator work to further my plans for world domination! And, on top of all that, yes, I have the gall to spend my life complaining about a machine that I paid a whopping $22 for shipping for and otherwise got for free! I want everything, I want it now, and I want it for free! I wannawannawannawanna!

Enjoy your days, people!

One other thing. Most of us who got a great deal on the HR20 also agreed to a two-year commitment, which has penalties if you decide to leave D*. So while the gear is free (give D* some credit for smart business acumen here, but they really had no choice but to give away the box to long-time customers or risk losing same), they will be collecting a couple thousand dollars from anyone who has a decent sub package within those two years. There is no such thing as a free lunch, in other words. I just feel especially sorry for anyone who paid the full freight on this.

 

[LameLefty]

they will be collecting a couple thousand dollars from anyone who has a decent sub package within those two years.

All I agreed to was the HD package at $10 a month for two years. That's only $240 over what I was spending anyway.

 

[tstarn]

All I agreed to was the HD package at $10 a month for two years. That's only $240 over what I was spending anyway.

So you think D*'s motivation to give away the HR20 was altruistic?

 

[tstarn]

All I agreed to was the HD package at $10 a month for two years. That's only $240 over what I was spending anyway.

So they gave you a new dish and the HR20 without a two-year commitment? Good for you. I'd double check though, just to be sure.

 

[LameLefty]

So they gave you a new dish and the HR20 without a two-year commitment? Good for you. I'd double check though, just to be sure.

Did you actually READ my comment?

 

[tstarn]

Did you actually READ my comment?

Yeah, you said no commitment. I said good for you. The problem?

 

[tstarn]

Did you actually READ my comment?

Of course, I meant commitment to be a subscriber, not to just the HD package. When I got my dish/receiver, they clearly said two-year programming commitment, not HD package.

 

[hasan]

So you think D*'s motivation to give away the HR20 was altruistic?

I'm not sure that is the salient point. We are consumers, we got (many of us) units free or near free. I was going to continue my sub with or without a free receiver, so in practical terms, the receiver was free. I already was an HD subscriber and I paid good money for my Sammy T360. Getting the HR20 for twenty bucks made my day.

The issue isn't altruism, it's having a good business model. As you have noted, they know what they are doing and it's SMART. When the HR20 gets the big bugs out and the big features in, it will sell itself...and they will SELL plenty of them. Then, as you noted, they will collect sub fees for years and make even more money.

I don't see anything wrong or "tainted" in what they are doing. They certainly took care of me.

The one thing I see to object to is how you are treated is, to some extent, determined by what you know. If you know enough to call CR and put the screws to them, you get great deals and considerations. If you don't, you pay, and sometimes pay way too much. Something about that approach doesn't sit well with me. I knew who to call and what to say (which, I might add was completely true, I did not lie to them), so I did really well and am extremely happy with their service and the HR20 in its early stages. Lots of work to be done, to be sure, but I have every reason to believe D* will get there.

As to those who paid good money for the HR20, or got it thinking "mission critical" performance, I have great empathy for them. It's been a tough ride, and it ain't over yet.

 

[slaz55]

So you think D*'s motivation to give away the HR20 was altruistic?

Of course not! But I do think it was a smart business move by D*. I believe if they take care of me I will show my loyalty to them, and any cancellation fee really doesn't scare me.

 

[tstarn]

I'm not sure that is the salient point. We are consumers, we got (many of us) units free or near free. I was going to continue my sub with or without a free receiver, so in practical terms, the receiver was free. I already was an HD subscriber and I paid good money for my Sammy T360. Getting the HR20 for twenty bucks made my day.

The issue isn't altruism, it's having a good business model. As you have noted, they know what they are doing and it's SMART. When the HR20 gets the big bugs out and the big features in, it will sell itself...and they will SELL plenty of them. Then, as you noted, they will collect sub fees for years and make even more money.

I don't see anything wrong or "tainted" in what they are doing. They certainly took care of me.

The one thing I see to object to is how you are treated is, to some extent, determined by what you know. If you know enough to call CR and put the screws to them, you get great deals and considerations. If you don't, you pay, and sometimes pay way too much. Something about that approach doesn't sit well with me. I knew who to call and what to say (which, I might add was completely true, I did not lie to them), so I did really well and am extremely happy with their service and the HR20 in its early stages. Lots of work to be done, to be sure, but I have every reason to believe D* will get there.

As to those who paid good money for the HR20, or got it thinking "mission critical" performance, I have great empathy for them. It's been a tough ride, and it ain't over yet.

I agree, smart business was the motivator for free HR20. But there are some people who might have gone searching for an alternative if they had to fork over $299 for the box, no?

And I also agree it's weird how they discount things based on someone getting the right CSR, in the right mood. Very loose, and sure to leave a bad taste in someone's mouth.

I guess the idea that someone getting the box "free" negates their right to complain when it doesn't work properly rubs me the wrong way. But you and I have been over that. We agree on most issues.

 

[tstarn]

Of course not! But I do think it was a smart business move by D*. I believe if they take care of me I will show my loyalty to them, and any cancellation fee really doesn't scare me.

Smart, maybe. Based on the owner's comments of how the company is performing (Murdoch calling D* a "turd"), maybe not so smart. But in my view, they had no real choice in many cases (late to the playing field, etc.). Just an opinion, guess we can agree to disagree.

 

[hasan]

I agree, smart business was the motivator for free HR20. But there are some people who might have gone searching for an alternative if they had to fork over $299 for the box, no?

And I also agree it's weird how they discount things based on someone getting the right CSR, in the right mood. Very loose, and sure to leave a bad taste in someone's mouth.

I guess the idea that someone getting the box "free" negates their right to complain when it doesn't work properly rubs me the wrong way. But you and I have been over that. We agree on most issues.

I actually think we agree, even on this one. I don't think getting it free negates their right to complain. Perhaps the degree and manner of the complaining should be ameliorated...but even that is dependent on what assumptions they made going in. Early adopters "should" know what they are in for. Those that don't are bound to be VERY disappointed if they have a significant number of issues, any of which might be severe.

On one side we have "consumer cluelessness", on the other side we have a "not ready for prime time box". The only remaining question is how we respond to our relative level of disappointment.

You are being kind calling the CR business "weird", where your deal is dependent on how well you "play" the system. I think it's borderline unethical, taking advantage of the uninformed. Obviously, I'm being a bit hypocritical here, because I was one who did use the system (and my knowledge of it), to my advantage.

Mea Culpa...

 

[tstarn]

I actually think we agree, even on this one. I don't think getting it free negates their right to complain. Perhaps the degree and manner of the complaining should be ameliorated...but even that is dependent on what assumptions they made going in. Early adopters "should" know what they are in for. Those that don't are bound to be VERY disappointed if they have a significant number of issues, any of which might be severe.

On one side we have "consumer cluelessness", on the other side we have a "not ready for prime time box". The only remaining question is how we respond to our relative level of disappointment.

You are being kind calling the CR business "weird", where your deal is dependent on how well you "play" the system. I think it's borderline unethical, taking advantage of the uninformed. Obviously, I'm being a bit hypocritical here, because I was one who did use the system (and my knowledge of it), to my advantage.

Mea Culpa...

Your assessment of D*'s "the smart ones get the payoff" is on target. As a consumer, I've never had that experience with any other company. I've gotten credits/refunds, but usually only after there is a problem, and it causes hassle/stress. Their business model allows for a lot of giveaways, no doubt. Similar to cell phone providers (they subsidize the cost of the gear), I guess. But most of those customers get the same deal.