Direct TV $99 Reciever Offer?

[krauts]

I just called today and the best I could do was the HD Reciever for $99 with installation. I can't get the antenna. It was already noted in my account for when I called in January. After saying I was a customer for awhile she did offer to throw in the showtime free for 6 months deal. So now I have to decide whether its worth it to pay to upgrade my direct tv to HD or get in on the free 811 through dish. In either case i'll have to get an antenna on my own. Has anyone gone the d* upgrade route? Did the installers do a decent job?? I've heard a few horror stories of installers just leaving etc. without everything working right.

[borghe]

my installer was alright, but not great... I get 90's on my 101 and 119. I get 80's on like 1 or 2 of my 110 transponders and like usually 60's on the third one. Out of all of my installs I have ever done (three) I am pretty sure I could get better signal strengths on all satellites on this one, but the dish is effectively 3 stories up on a steep roof, which is pretty much a no go for an acrophobic (my other installs were aeither on patios or at most two stories up and standing on a ladder).

yes I have heard horror stories of other installs, but if you have a clear view and a by the numbers install location the vast majority of the time installs go just fine.

[MathWiz579]

I just called DirecTV to see what they could offer me. Unfortunately customer retention would only offer me $50 off the price, which puts the HD receiver, dish, OTA antenna, and installation for $349.  Still not a "bad" deal, but after buying a new TV and DVD player in a week, it's hard to want to shell out another $349 right now.

I've only been a customer since July 1, 2003 and I think that's why I can't get a better offer. I may call back tomorrow and see if someone different will give me a better offer.  I have heard that some people who haven't subscribed for 2+ years are getting the system + antenna for $199 instead, which I would take in a second.

Do any of you think it would help if I also said I wanted to have two DirecTivo boxes installed at the same time as HD? I don't want to call there too many times because I know they log the calls to your account.

[borghe]

It seems to me you might want to wait two months or so... here's why.

If you have only been a customer since July 1, 2003, you are still in your 1 year contract.. you have absolutely no leverage at all right now.. you could threaten to leave, but they would get you for I believe $150 for early contract termination. Customers are generally less successful with customer retention when in the middle of an annual agreement.

If you wait past July 1st, you won't be in a contract and DirecTV would probably be more inclined to throw freebies at you. Right now they can use that $150 to keep you, but in two months they won't have that anymore.

Though to put things in perspective for you, I paid $250 for my antenna install (with all hardware also) and the price most people are getting on the boxes is $99.. So you are still doing alright...

But yeah, I would probably wait two months if you wanted the best deal. Once that contract is up DirecTV will be willing to bend over a little bit more to keep you than they are now...

Thinking about the fact that I just entered into a year contract with them for my Tivo activation.. oh well, I am a firm believer that most annual contracts on things like phones, cable, and internet are pretty meaningless... I mean it's not like the average person is going to up and switch providers every few months anyway....

[MathWiz579]

I agree with you that if I wait until July 1st, I will most likely get a better deal. Just sucks that I'll have to also wait for my Tivo until July 1st. Eh... month and a half isn't a huge deal.

[BigShooter]

Borghe hit my response right on the head.  Free yourself from your existing contract by waiting it out for 2 months, then do this all over again.  You may not get the $99 offer, but I'd bet the ranch that you will get a better offer than the one they're offering now.  Most importantly you'd have the leverage to play the "switch to cable" card.  

Wait it out.  Great advice borghe!

[borghe]

actually you technically could start the whole process rolling sometime next month if you wanted to... technically threatening to leave them in June is just as "serious" as you leaving them in July... but if you don't like the offer they give you, as you mentioned, they note your account with it.. so calling back in july will then pretty much be a lot like crying wolf...

wait it out until july and play the "well I'm switching to cable" card. don't get too greedy with it though.. you will probably get only one deal, so either go for HD receiver plus OTA antenna for $99, the $250 HD credit (preferably towards a HD Tivo), or $50 SD Tivos or whatnot... but I wouldn't try combining them. Pick one and press on in July until you get it.