Directv Was Great...BUT

[Gregg Lengling]

Just got off the phone with Directv to cancel my service after 10 years.  I must say the girl was very pleasant and tried everything to save me.  I told her I don't think she could as she couldn't offer me phone service (with free long distance) or Real High Speed internet.  I explained the math of it when compared to TWC and she finally understood and explained she could help but not enough as I'd have to pay for a DVR and with the added cost of even DirectWay there was no way she could compete.  

So in closing she thanked me for my business and should I ever want to come back they would be very happy to assist me and reauthorize my boxes for free.

It almost makes me sad to go as I've never been treated so well.  Oh by the way she did offer me some discounts and credits which would help me for the next year but after that I'd be back to where I'm paying way too much.

Anyhow I'm still keeping my 2 Directv HD boxes hooked up as they are great OTA receivers for backup when TWC might fail...plus I need them if I want to receive WB or UPN HD programming.

[Mrtanner]

A co-worker recently purchased an HD television.  He also bought an upconverting DVD player and HDMI cable.  He is underwhelmed.  He doesn't know if it'll be worth it to go to HDTV.   He is a long-time D*TV subscriber ($90/month).

What incentives does D*TV offer?  He'd rather not switch to TWC just to discover HD isn't for him, nor does he want to shell out big bucks for a new dish, receiver, and DVR.  Is there a "customer retention" department he can call?  I'm guessing he'll be hooked once he sees real HD.

(I thought I saw these answers here awhile back, but my seach came up empty.)

TIA

[AndrewP]

Tell him, if he wants 40 HD chanells, 137 SD chanells + local OTA HD for $1 install for three receivers and $90/month - VOOM is the solution.

If he wants NFL Sunday ticket - then he should stay with DirecTV and pay ~$300 for one HD receiver.

[Chinatown]

1-800-695-9251..........Tell them you want to switch from cable...........You will get  at least $150.00 off the cost of the reciever & dish.........& Yes, HD is worth it...

A co-worker recently purchased an HD television.  He also bought an upconverting DVD player and HDMI cable.  He is underwhelmed.  He doesn't know if it'll be worth it to go to HDTV.   He is a long-time D*TV subscriber ($90/month).

What incentives does D*TV offer?  He'd rather not switch to TWC just to discover HD isn't for him, nor does he want to shell out big bucks for a new dish, receiver, and DVR.  Is there a "customer retention" department he can call?  I'm guessing he'll be hooked once he sees real HD.

(I thought I saw these answers here awhile back, but my seach came up empty.)

TIA

[tothemax]

HD being worth it is not even a question worth asking. I find myself watching things I never would have before just because their in HD. It is the catsass :eek:

[mhz40]

1-800-695-9251..........Tell them you want to switch from cable...........You will get  at least $150.00 off the cost of the reciever & dish.........& Yes, HD is worth it...

If the guy's co-worker isn't sure he even thinks HD is worth it, why are you suggesting D* and some kind of year-long contract?  Go with cable.  If he doesn't like it, drop it.  No hassle.  If he likes what HD has to offer but hates cable, a long term commitment to D* is always an option.

[Chinatown]

............& because I hate cable............Service is awful, 1st 90 channels........analog..........nuff said

If the guy's co-worker isn't sure he even thinks HD is worth it, why are you suggesting D* and some kind of year-long contract?  Go with cable.  If he doesn't like it, drop it.  No hassle.  If he likes what HD has to offer but hates cable, a long term commitment to D* is always an option.

[Mark Strube]

............& because I hate cable............Service is awful, 1st 90 channels........analog..........nuff said

Yeah, 90 analog channels is really worth buying all that equipment when he's not even sure if he likes HD or not.  :rolleyes:

We're suggesting try it out with cable, so he's not stuck into a commitment with a bunch of equipment he had to buy. If he decides he loves HD but isn't happy with the cable, he can go with D*, no money down the drain. We like to be on the side of logic here.  

[tothemax]

I am a huge cable hater, but there is a valid point. HD is all but free with cable. But if he likes it, goto D*. I guess :hug:

[gparris]

Many times, after the HDTV set, DVD player, surround receiver and speakers and setup is decided upon and purchased I get the question of what to get HD from and I give them OTA, satellite and cable.
Usually cable wins, not because I sell it better, just there is nothing else to do except add or exchange a box since they either have standard cable or a digital box - probably the SD DVR, which is very popular with analogue set customers.

When they have a dish, they balk at the Directv receiver upgrade and go to cable or do Directv and use an antenna for OTA for the HD set if it has an integrated tuner, depending of if the terrain works out for reception.

I think DishNetwork customers get a "free HD upgrade" still, so they go with that.

[beeper]

Anyhow I'm still keeping my 2 Directv HD boxes hooked up as they are great OTA receivers for backup when TWC might fail...plus I need them if I want to receive WB or UPN HD programming.

While I have been shopping for a combination satellite/DTV OTA receiver,
I have wondered if I could still use the receiver for OTA if I didn't have the unit subscribed to satellite. I had assumed that the OTA receiver would be usable separate from the unsubscribed satellite tuner.

I wanted to get a DTV OTA receiver, but not yet pay DISH $9.99 a month extra for only 5 HD channels.

I asked two Best Buy employees at differant locations about the DirectTV
box they sell, and both told me that I would need to have the receiver subscribed to satellite for the OTA tuner to be used because it was integrated. Since neither store had OTA hooked up on a display, I didn't particularly believe what they told me.

Anyone have personal experience regarding this with either service?

Thanks,
beeper

[brewtownska]

Beeper,

I thought the same thing you did about whether I could get a DirecTV HD box and use it for just OTA...and the answer is yes.  Problem with Best Buy is that they won't SELL you the receiver without the service.  The boxes they sell COULD be used for just OTA, but they won't let you buy them if that's your plan.

I went onto Ebay and found 2 different boxes for around $100 each (give or take a few bucks after shipping).  One was able to be setup right out of the box for OTA (RCA DTC-100), the other I needed to borrow someone's DirecTV card just to change the settings from sat to OTA (that was the Samsung SIR-TS160).

Keep your eyes open for used models if you don't want to spend a lot.  Otherwise, I think you're looking at around $300 for a brand new one.

Mike

[oz]

It's nice to be able to swap out your equipment for free when something new comes along (8300HD, for example). Go with cable.

[PatM]

I asked two Best Buy employees at differant locations about the DirectTV
box they sell, and both told me that I would need to have the receiver subscribed to satellite for the OTA tuner to be used because it was integrated. Since neither store had OTA hooked up on a display, I didn't particularly believe what they told me.

Anyone have personal experience regarding this with either service?

Thanks,
beeper

Over 2 years ago I wanted to buy a Toshiba HDTV box and had the same response.
The quy at Best Buy  told me this was because people were stealing the cards and reprogramming them. He said I would have to subscribe within 30 days or they would add $150 to my Charge card.

I called Direct TV and the first person told me I had to pay the extra fee.
He said "After all you are using our equipment"
I told him he was nuts as I was about to spent $700 for the box (price at that time)
He got really snotty and hung up on me.

I had in the meantime contacted Toshiba by phone and asked them about this.
I had seen the identical sets listed on the web without the fee.
I wanted to buy locally, however, in case I needed warranty work done.

I called Ditect Tv  later and got a gal who checked and said that in Milwaukee they had a exclusive agreement with Best Buy, Circuit City and Radio Shack which required the subscription.


The guy at toshiba said he had never heard about this having to subscribe to get OTA service.

Best Buy is handing people a line of BS.

They have a exclusive deal that makes them more money.

I finally got a Samsung box that only had OTA service.

You would think that these dealers would realize that all people are not going to fall for their line.

Evidently enough people do, as they are still pulling this fraud.
As for me, I will never subscribe to Direct Tv Because of their "less than honest response"
I have doubts about the other local businesses  that are in on the scheme.

 :bang:   :guns:

[smack]

Tell him, if he wants 40 HD chanells, 137 SD chanells + local OTA HD for $1 install for three receivers and $90/month - VOOM is the solution.

If he wants NFL Sunday ticket - then he should stay with DirecTV and pay ~$300 for one HD receiver.

Voom Website

Voom is Dead!!! :guns:   Up in Smoke!! {fart}