TiVo Community Forums Archives - TiVoPony... why didn't you TELL us Series 3 was a couple months away??

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TiVoPony... why didn't you TELL us Series 3 was a couple months away??
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Posted by: Kaokulk

Went to Worst Buy today (to buy a second TiVo Series 2), and the Best Buy (I called it by that so this would show up in a search) rep was trying to sell me an extended warranty.

He told me that if something goes wrong with the TiVo, that it would be replaced with the newest hardware, "and this TiVo technology is pretty old. They'll be releasing the Series III in the next few months."

I am very upset that this Worst Buy rep knew about this, and we devoted Tivotees were left out on this important information. </sarcasm>

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Actually, he started by trying to sell me a Replay. "The Replay allows you to watch one show while taping another."
:confused:
After a few minutes, I began to understand that he meant that you could record a LiveTV show while watching a LiveTV channel. My response? "Why would you want to watch commercials?"

Then I told him about the new features that were going to be included in the new software.

"See? A new TiVo IS coming out soon!" <slap head> I explain that the new features are in the software on the new TiVo 2, so why would they upgrade software only to dump the hardware? I know, I know, it's like talking to a stump.

-=-=-=-=

Earlier in the day, I was at Best Buy, and a woman was buying a DirecTiVo Series 2 for her husband. The WB sales droid faithfully told her about the $13/month service charge. :confused: I leaned over and informed them both that it was only $5, since DirecTV was collecting it on top of their monthly service fee. No, the rep told me, he was sure it was $13. After they left, I looked at the brochure RIGHT NEXT to the DirecTiVo, and yes, there is a "$4.99 DVR service charge."

Posted by: phone1

Yes, Best Buy sales people are well known as the most knowledgable and best informed sources for information about new TiVo products and services. I understand that Phillip Swann quotes them as "usually reliable sources."

Posted by: Want1394

Ahhh, you really do know how (where) to spend your days, don't you. :)

Posted by: alansh

Tsk... the press release for the Series3 came out last July.

Posted by: FF Steve

Is series 3 really imminent? If so, does anyone know what additional features it will offer?

Posted by: Jerry Keller

quote:
Originally posted by FF Steve
Is series 3 really imminent? If so, does anyone know what additional features it will offer?

Steve, WOW .

Posted by: FF Steve

<blush> well...just checking...didn't mean to tempt the wrath of the tivo gods. Of course, best buy did cut their series 2 prices today and there is quite a bit of talk about HMO, HD tivos, etc...no clue what these will be called, but just thought that I would check.

cheers,
Steve

1 Tivo Box...it's black...I think...and has some sort of hard drive

Posted by: RyanPlante

I will agree that most Best Buy employees do not know of what they speak. I can say this because I work there part time. I will say this, however, about the 4 year extended service that they offer for TiVos. I had a customer come in on Saturday with a Phillips 20 hour (same one I have) that no longer worked. He had a service plan, purchased about 3 years ago for 80 bucks. He left the store with a new 80 hour series 2. He did not have lifetime service, but if he did and your machine is replaced under the Best Buy service, it gets transfered over.

Just thought you would like to know.

But for the record, I generally get pissed off every time I am working by the complete lack of knowledge of my coworkers. They don't even try to know anything and they work there full time. I work about 15 hours a week.

ryan

Posted by: 1776 Patriot

Im not buying another Tivo until they come with dual tuners and have HD as an option......

Posted by: jcthorne

quote:
Originally posted by RyanPlante
I will agree that most Best Buy employees do not know of what they speak. I can say this because I work there part time. I will say this, however, about the 4 year extended service that they offer for TiVos. I had a customer come in on Saturday with a Phillips 20 hour (same one I have) that no longer worked. He had a service plan, purchased about 3 years ago for 80 bucks. He left the store with a new 80 hour series 2. He did not have lifetime service, but if he did and your machine is replaced under the Best Buy service, it gets transfered over.

Just thought you would like to know.

But for the record, I generally get pissed off every time I am working by the complete lack of knowledge of my coworkers. They don't even try to know anything and they work there full time. I work about 15 hours a week.

ryan

Unfortunatly, BB does not apply this to ALL series one Tivos. A Sony will be sent off to the far corners of the country to return some 6 WEEKS later. Might work then, might not. You takes your chances. The real problem is that BB employees do NOT know how the extended warranty is admisistered and do NOT correctly explain that to customers. Quite the opposite is true and used to BB's advantange in a fraudulant way, ie promise one thing and deliver another. This whole thing is going to land BB in court some day.

James

Posted by: captain_video

I think Best Buy gets their employees from the rejects that fail the Civil Service exam when applying for work at the Motor Vehicles Administration (no offense meant to MVA workers). I went into a Best Buy one day to check out the latest series 2 DTivos and a BB sales rep came over to talk with me. I asked him when the new DTivos would be coming out. He told me that they would be coming out soon but that they were no longer being called Tivos. They were now being called UltimateTVs! This was well after UTVs demise so I was doing me best not to bust a gut in front of this poor, ignorant fool. I tried explaining the difference between Tivo and UTV but he insisted that he was knowledgable on the subject so I left it at that.

Posted by: Kaokulk

Maybe Ryan can answer this question, since he works there...

During the whole high-pressure "you need to buy an extended warranty or your dog will develop cancer" thing, they emphasize at least 27 times that they do not work on commission, they are just looking out for my best interests.

So does the staff get a bonus if they meet their quota of warranties within a certain period? I find it hard to believe that they are so pushy and get NOTHING out of it.

Or are they punished if they do not meet a quota?

Posted by: mac65

Another great moment in Best Buy sales history:

As I was browsing the TiVo section in BB, a customer and a BB salesman walked up and starting looking at the TiVo units. The customer said he wanted a TiVo system to use with his existing D* setup. The salesman proceeded to show him a SA series 2 TiVo without mentioning the HDVR2. The customer had the salesman open the box to make sure everything was there, and they both starting looking for the D* access card and slot. The customer kept insisting that he would not buy a receiver without the access card, and the salesman kept saying "it has to be here somewhere". While trying to find the slot for the access card, they almost had the front IR plate forced off before I couldn't take it anymore and informed the BB salesman about the differences between the SA units and D* with built-in TiVo. In my experience, the CC salesman in the local stores around here are much better informed.

Posted by: dwynne

My boss's son did work at BB - and he was the rare informed employee. He quit to devote more time to his college studies. He (and all the other workers) do not work on commission. I think they do get paid a bonus on how well the store does - so I assume selling service contracts adds to the bottom line. It is in theory nice to not have them pushing some hunk of junk to the customer because the commission is high on that model.

I have had friends in the past who worked at CC, they had codes on the stickers to tell the salesfolks the commission on the item. They also had "specials" to encourage them to push certain items and brands. I was in the store many times listening to them sell someone a cheap brand or something when it made no sense - I am sure due to high commission.

Just like week, CC fired all their commission sales folks here (I don't know about everywhere else) and offered to hire them back at $7 or so per hour flat rate.

Dennis

Posted by: mtmra70

i can tell you that corperate pushes us to sell extended warrantys for no reason really. they say if we dont then we get written up. they say we should "inform the person"....well frankly i dont buy that crap. i offer extended warranties on like xboxes, but for the PS2 or gamecube i will do a rare offer. also, if i notice the person doesnt have a lot of cash i dont bother.

i get pissed at the corp attitude of "if you dont do it you are going to get in trouble". doesnt bother me though, i just still do it when i want...i dont care if they fire me...but they wont, been there almost 5 years. they want us to offer this stupid "game informer" magazine subscription to everyone that buys a game, yet it only works on used games....so i only ask people that are buying used games and only then offer if i see they arnt scrapping for cash.

i also give my opinion on stuff and dont tell lies. if a game sucks, i tell them. i dont stop people from buying stuff, but i dont push stuff on them either.

Posted by: TiVoPony

I was asked to make it absolutely clear that TiVo has NOT announced a 'Series3' platform.

I know, I know. It should be obvious. But I was asked, and thus I post. :)

Cheers,
Pony

Posted by: Turtleboy

quote:
Originally posted by TiVoPony
I was asked to make it absolutely clear that TiVo has NOT announced a 'Series3' platform.

I know, I know. It should be obvious. But I was asked, and thus I post. :)

Cheers,
Pony

[just kidding mode]So wait a minute. You're saying that Tivo as not "announced" a Series3 platform. What exactly do you mean by announced? Are you saying that they may have hinted at it? Are you saying that you are about to announce it? Isn't this like when Bill Clinton said "There is no sexual realtionship?" Why are you doing this to us? Why are you trying to screw us? What exactly are you trying to hide? Replay wouldn't have done this to their customers. Is this why RB left?That's it. I'm calling a lawyer, and am going to file a class action lawsuit. Wait. Forget that. I am a lawyer. I'll file the suit myself and keep all of the fees. Yeah. That's it. [/just kidding mode]

:)

(and for those who may not have gotten the joke, this was not a slam at TiVo or Pony, but at some of the comments I've seen around here recently).

Posted by: Polcamilla

quote:
Originally posted by TiVoPony
I was asked to make it absolutely clear that TiVo has NOT announced a 'Series3' platform.

Whoa.....your higher-ups lurk here on the forum? Do they read whole threads or just skim the subjects?

Posted by: LiveBlues

quote:
Originally posted by Polcamilla
Whoa.....your higher-ups lurk here on the forum? Do they read whole threads or just skim the subjects?

That was my first thought when I read Pony's response. Now I'm wondering if the whole company reads us. :)

Posted by: David Platt

quote:
Originally posted by TiVoPony
I was asked to make it absolutely clear that TiVo has NOT announced a 'Series3' platform.

I know, I know. It should be obvious. But I was asked, and thus I post. :)

QUIT YER DANG DOUBLESPEAK!!!!

Just answer the dern question... ;)

Posted by: FUBAR

Actually, only the supervisors and MGRs at best buy get bonuses. The regular sales people just get to keep their jobs. Being a service tech at best buy, i have to deal with all the mis-informed customers :-( Then again, i've been yelled at by employees when i told them i had to send their units out to be serviced. We sell REPLACMENT PLANS and we sell SERVICE PLANS. Don't be surprised if we have to service a product that we sold a service plan on. Technically we are supposed to service any item outside of MFG's warrenty. But the turn over rate, and employees that just don't care never seem to get this into their head (there are a few exceptions, but TiVos are not one of them) If your TiVo is outside of MFG's parts warrenty, then it may have to be serviced.

Posted by: jasonl99

quote:
Originally posted by TiVoPony
I was asked to make it absolutely clear that TiVo has NOT announced a 'Series3' platform.

I know, I know. It should be obvious. But I was asked, and thus I post. :)

Cheers,
Pony

HEY! Wow! He was NOT ASKED TO DENY THE $10,000 CHECK TIVO IS SENDING TO EVERY SUBSCRIBER!!! Whoo hoo! :D

Posted by: sschwart

Those tricky TiVo folk... Always trying to hide their product marketing from us. It's like they don't want us to buy things by announcing that they're going to be selling things....

:D

-Steve

Posted by: Polcamilla

quote:
Originally posted by jasonl99
HEY! Wow! He was NOT ASKED TO DENY THE $10,000 CHECK TIVO IS SENDING TO EVERY SUBSCRIBER!!! Whoo hoo! :D

Score! Let's start a thread announcing that TiVo, Inc. will be sending every customer a new car. Anyone want anything else, as long as we're posting?

At last, we've figured out how to control the suits at TiVo!

Posted by: Dennis Wilkinson

quote:
Originally posted by Polcamilla
Whoa.....your higher-ups lurk here on the forum? Do they read whole threads or just skim the subjects?

I know that at my place of employment, the number of folks who read the discussion forums on our products FAR outnumber the employees whose job it is to post info to those forums. I suspect that's true at most high tech places -- even us engineer-types want to know what "the field" thinks or is going through, hopefully to make things better.

Posted by: TiVo_Ted

Let me reinforce what Pony already said, since he does have a tendency to tease a bit. :-)

TiVo announced at CES that we are working on a couple of new products this year, including new DirecTV combos from Philips and Samsung, a DVD/DVR combo with Toshiba and we showed two HD platforms. All of these products are based on our Series2 architecture and will still be based on Series2 when they ship.

There is no Series3 on it's way anytime soon. The lifetime transfer program we announced is to help people get from Series1 to Series2 so that they can enjoy some of the new broadband features, etc. There is no conspiracy here. This entire thread is about how difficult it is to find and/or retain knowledgeable people in the retail environment, nothing more.

Posted by: Dafaso

quote:
Originally posted by TiVoPony
I was asked to make it absolutely clear that TiVo has NOT announced a 'Series3' platform.

I know, I know. It should be obvious. But I was asked, and thus I post. :)

Cheers,
Pony

They're skipping directly to Series 4??!??! Yeah, Baby! :D

Posted by: mtmra70

quote:
Originally posted by TiVo_Ted
Let me reinforce what Pony already said, since he does have a tendency to tease a bit. :-)

TiVo announced at CES that we are working on a couple of new products this year, including new DirecTV combos from Philips and Samsung, a DVD/DVR combo with Toshiba and we showed two HD platforms. All of these products are based on our Series2 architecture and will still be based on Series2 when they ship.

There is no Series3 on it's way anytime soon. The lifetime transfer program we announced is to help people get from Series1 to Series2 so that they can enjoy some of the new broadband features, etc. There is no conspiracy here. This entire thread is about how difficult it is to find and/or retain knowledgeable people in the retail environment, nothing more.

sounds like to me you are part of the conspirecy!!!!!!! ;)

Posted by: Turtleboy

quote:
Originally posted by TiVo_Ted

There is no Series3 on it's way anytime soon. .

Hmmmm..... Define soon. :p

Honestly, sometimes people parse the statements from TiVo people like their Talmudic scholars or CIA Kremlogists.

Posted by: papabrody

Maybe no Series 3, just TIVO 2003. :)

BB, ughh, bane of my existence, the viper at my breast. :(

CC, last week a sales geek tried to sell me an extended warranty on a TV. He told me "Ya know, this TV was made with spare parts, it won't last long." I told him I could not understand why a quality store like CC would sell such junk.

Posted by: WinBear

quote:
Originally posted by Dafaso
They're skipping directly to Series 4??!??! Yeah, Baby! :D

[j/k]
Skipping the 3 lets them dodge an infringement suit from Palm. They'll also have to skip 5 and 7.
[j\k]

Posted by: Polcamilla

quote:
Originally posted by WinBear
[j/k]
Skipping the 3 lets them dodge an infringement suit from Palm. They'll also have to skip 5 and 7.
[j\k]

Maybe they'll turn out like Star Trek movies and only the evens will be really good. ;)

Posted by: Otto

quote:
Originally posted by Kaokulk
So does the staff get a bonus if they meet their quota of warranties within a certain period? I find it hard to believe that they are so pushy and get NOTHING out of it.

When I worked at BB, I sold the most warrenties every single month. it wasn't hard. Hey, I'm damn convincing, and when you're trying to sell something, you look like you're working. :D

Yes, there is a reward. The best couple of sellers for the month usually get gift certificates. The first month I was there I got $150 in GCs. For very good months, they throw in bonus stuff (usually more GCs). Considering my nerdly techno tendancies, GC's to Best Buy are always good.

This was many years ago, however. Err... 8, come to think of it.

On a side note, the best warrenty sellers are *always* people working in Computers or Car Audio. So if you ever have to get a job at BB, first, seek therapy. If you still have to do it, then try to get a job in Computers or Car Audio.

Posted by: jsmeeker

quote:
Originally posted by Otto
When I worked at BB, I sold the most warrenties every single month. it wasn't hard. Hey, I'm damn convincing, and when you're trying to sell something, you look like you're working. :D

I'm thinking you got them drunk first. :D

Posted by: mtmra70

quote:
Originally posted by papabrody

CC, last week a sales geek tried to sell me an extended warranty on a TV. He told me "Ya know, this TV was made with spare parts, it won't last long." I told him I could not understand why a quality store like CC would sell such junk.

since CC is comission based, you should have said "junk eh? ok, im not buying it" and then walked out

Posted by: cbug30

quote:
Originally posted by mtmra70
since CC is commission based, you should have said "junk eh? ok, im not buying it" and then walked out

I heard a news story last week that all CC's will stop paying commission to their sales folk. How'd you like to have the rug pulled out from under you like that? I bought 2 Dtivo series 2's last November (arrived in late December). Every one at CC was very nice to me even though I called every day, sometimes several times a day to see if my goodies were in. They even gave me $50 off each unit to appease me since I was so anxious to see my beloved Tivos. I love my Tivos

Posted by: mtmra70

quote:
Originally posted by cbug30
I heard a news story last week that all CC's will stop paying commission to their sales folk. How'd you like to have the rug pulled out from under you like that? I bought 2 Dtivo series 2's last November (arrived in late December). Every one at CC was very nice to me even though I called every day, sometimes several times a day to see if my goodies were in. They even gave me $50 off each unit to appease me since I was so anxious to see my beloved Tivos. I love my Tivos

that one person said it happened to their store...doesnt mean it is nation wide...could be though. my g/f has a friend at CC, ill have to have her check with him :)

Posted by: cbug30

I did a google search for CC news and confirmed that this is nationwide. Here's a link.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...L&type=business

http://www.stereophile.com/shownews.cgi?1569

Don't know what to think of this.