[jyafink]

I've seen recent posts where people are saying they are getting things like free Superfan, four months free DVR service, four months free HD service, coupon books, 2 free HD DVRs, a free year of Showtime, etc… all at the same time for being a new customer!

I called tonight and all I asked for at first was free Superfan if I signed up and figured I'd take it from there. I was told no. I basically asked what else they could offer me for being a new customer. The response was what's on their website – the 74.99 for four months, a free HD DVR upgrade and free delivery and handling. I said are you sure you can't give me at least Superfan? The guy then put me on hold and came back and said he asked his supervisor and confirmed that the best anyone there could offer is what's on their website. I said a friend of mine recently signed up and was given free Superfan and some other items mentioned above. He said it was impossible and my friend was giving me false information. The call basically ended there.

So, I figured I'd call again like people suggest and talk to another CSR. I used a different phone in case they recorded notes about my first number and called a half hour later. In a nutshell, the second lady also refused to give me Superfan or anything else other than what's on their website – the exact same thing the first guy told me!

I was extremely polite, asked a lot of questions, and made it sound like I really wanted to be a new customer but only if I got a little more. They were both real business like and basically had the attitude of what you see is what you get – take it or leave it. So much for wanting new subscribers! What's going on? I only have two phones and they probably tracked them with notes on me. What do I have to do? How many times do I have to call? Are people lying about their supposed deals up? Arrrgggh!!!!

 

[Tom Robertson]

Some of the new deals changed this week, about the normal time for the monthly change.

They are probably right, best new customer deals are on the website.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[JLucPicard]

They were both real business like and basically had the attitude of what you see is what you get - take it or leave it. So much for wanting new subscribers! What's going on? Arrrgggh!!!!

I understand what you're saying and it's not easy to see all these deals and not be able to get something similar, but I don't think DirecTV is out of line at all for offering a new customer - wait for it - their current New Customer deal! As Tom mentioned, they run promotions for a given period of time. Your timing just seems to be not so good.

 

[betterdan]

If we told you then it wouldn't be a secret now would it?

 

[kroche22]

Don't forget the AAA offer but you have to call the AAA phone number to get the offer, 800-242-9114. I think you speak with a DTV rep who handles the AAA offer, $10 off for 24 months. I didn't do anything special when I called, I was just polite like you said, I just mentioned all the offers and they were given. My fault I never asked for Superfan so I never got it. Keep trying good luck.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I don't think he's referring to things like the advertised new customer deals or the AAA discount-type stuff that's just a matter of calling a certain number at all, but rather the "extra" stuff that a lot of people seem to get thrown in for free as something to sweeten the deal and close on the new customer.

I went through this same issue last year when I was trying to sign up and ended up just giving up. I saw lots of people posting about all this extra stuff (the 4 months of HD and DVR service, extra boxes, a free year of showtime, etc) they got thrown in for free, and I must've called in 15 times and couldn't get a thing out of them. I tried every strategy I can think of. A few other guys on the boards were going through the same issue as well.

I'm going to try again this year, today.

If anyone has a referral code they want used, just PM me.

 

[feeth]

I don't think he's referring to things like the advertised new customer deals or the AAA discount-type stuff that's just a matter of calling a certain number at all, but rather the "extra" stuff that a lot of people seem to get thrown in for free as something to sweeten the deal and close on the new customer.

I went through this same issue last year when I was trying to sign up and ended up just giving up. I saw lots of people posting about all this extra stuff (the 4 months of HD and DVR service, extra boxes, a free year of showtime, etc) they got thrown in for free, and I must've called in 15 times and couldn't get a thing out of them. I tried every strategy I can think of. A few other guys on the boards were going through the same issue as well.

I'm going to try again this year, today.

If anyone has a referral code they want used, just PM me.

PM sent.

 

[RobertE]

Depending on the market, some areas get the pot sweetened a bit depending on the competition level. In an area that has heavy Dish and/or Fios penetration your going to see more thrown in than say an area with little to no competition.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Yep, I dunno how you guys do it.

Just called in a couple times and no luck. They had no problem giving away the year of Showtime, but as soon as I mentioned getting Superfan for free she said no way. I told her a friend had gotten for free, she said it never happened, they've never given it away for free, she could get her supervisor on the phone to verify it, she's been there 5 years, etc. "Superfan is the pride and join of our ST package, for real sports fans, we'd never give that away for free".

So, I tried getting the second HD receiver for free instead of the $99 cost, and still no sale.

So basically I had the pre-determined offer of Premiere package + Sunday Ticket + AAA Discount + Free HD DVR, and was able to get only a year of Showtime added on top of that. No Superfan, no 2nd receiver for free, no free DVR service for 4 months, no free HD service for 4 months. I'm gonna keep trying...

Do any of you know the names/extensions of people that are willing to give a little?

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Well, I finally got a hold of someone that could help me. Still wouldn't budge on Superfan, but made up for it with some other free stuff. Here's what I got:

Premiere Package + Sunday Ticket
AAA discount $24/mo for 10 months
Free HD DVR
Free HD Receiver
Free Standard Receiver
Free DVR Service for 4 months
Free HD Service for 4 months
Referral discount $10/mo for 5 months
Free Showtime for 1 year
Free Nascar Hot-pass

Still paid the $99 for Superfan (again, he said they have zero wiggle room on that), and he said they didn't have any more coupon books. He made it sound like the free DVR service and HD service, as well as the free 2nd receiver were all part of the ST deal, whereas the previous CSRs all said they could not include any of them.

 

[jyafink]

Much better experience today. I got the following:

1 Free HD-DVR
3 free standard receivers
$50 for using American Express
$50 for a referral
$64.99 for 4 months for the current Sunday Ticket/Premier deal (instead of the stated $74.99)
1 year free showtime
Go Green discount
4 months for remaining Nascar season
1 month free game lounge.
Free shipping & handling, install, slimline dish, etc…
4 months free HD-DVR fee

The one thing she insisted was that absolutely no new customer will get superfan for free under the current offer. She said new customers were getting it free during the last offer if they signed up for the 81.99 Premier deal for four months along with the regular $299 Sunday Ticket fee (or whatever it was), because even with them throwing in superfan the customer was still not getting nearly as good of a deal as the current offer. As far as websites offering superfan free through 7/31, she said that is not from DirecTV themselves and she can guarantee that the customer would be paying that $100 fee to whoever offered it in some other way and would not be getting nearly what I got. Since I no longer care about wheeling and dealing, I'll trust her on that one.

Anyway, the unscientific secrets from my experience are 1.) avoid the night CSRs – either it was a coincidence or they are really nasty to deal with, and 2.) ask every little stupid question you can think of to keep them on the line. My entire call was 1 hr. 15 min. and it took a while before she started adding things such as the reduced $64.99 and some of the other stuff. Maybe they figure after spending so much time with you they better do something to get you to sign up! It's also true what other posters say about persistence. If they knock you down don't give up and keep calling for more until you get someone nice to deal with.