TiVo Community Forums Archives - Purchase Lifetime Subscription without Tivo Service Number

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Purchase Lifetime Subscription without Tivo Service Number
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Posted by: Blonde

I want to order a new Tivo from a vendor, but I'm not sure if it will get to me fast enough so I can get the lifetime subscription for the current price. Does anyone know if I can purchase the lifetime subscription now, and give them my service number when my unit comes?

-Blonde

Posted by: biker

They will need the service number.

Posted by: TiVoOpsMgr

Blonde, I'm sorry, but there's no way we can help you on that issue. Our systems require an unused TiVo Service Number in order to process an order. Can you get the vendor to find out the TiVo Service Number before March 3?

Posted by: Blonde

I ordered it tonight, and I guess they're not open now. I'm going to call them as soon as I can tomorrow, but I'm afraid it'll be shipped out already. I really don't want to lose the $50. Could I buy another one and return it or something? I have no problem paying for it now. I just don't know what to do if I can't get the number in time.

-Blonde

Posted by: Blonde

Just an update: I emailed the place, and they said it should only take a day to get here since they're only an hour away. (fingers crossed) They were very nice. Psyched now to get it.

-Blonde

Posted by: cwerdna

What if someone orders a unit directly from tivo.com this weekend? Can they get the lifetime sub immediately and not wait for the unit to show up?

I'm hoping I can convince some of my friends to join the Tivolution before time is up...

Posted by: phone1

IIRC, someone else here who ordered from TiVo was able to get the SN in advance when he placed the order. Remember though, I believe the actual order is taken by a fulfilment service, they're not TiVo employees.

Posted by: MighTiVo

quote:
Originally posted by TiVoOpsMgr
Blonde, I'm sorry, but there's no way we can help you on that issue. Our systems require an unused TiVo Service Number in order to process an order. Can you get the vendor to find out the TiVo Service Number before March 3?

Looks like a missed opportunity here.

Buy lifetime now at the lower price and use it later when you purchase a TiVo.

Cash for services not yet rendered, how much better could it be?

Perhaps you could assign a set of unused service numbers specifically for Lifetime service reservations. These could be used in this instance or in case someone wants to give a gift of a lifetime sub.

Posted by: TiVoOpsMgr

MighTiVo, it is a good idea and it is on a huge list of things we'd like to implement someday. But it is not a frequently-requested item. In the short-term, there is nothing we can do to help Blonde or others in this boat.

Posted by: phone1

quote:
Originally posted by MighTiVo
Perhaps you could assign a set of unused service numbers specifically for Lifetime service reservations. These could be used in this instance or in case someone wants to give a gift of a lifetime sub.

TiVo doesn't assign the number. The service number is hardcoded onto a chip on the motherboard during manufacture. That's the only way TiVo servers know what type of machine it is and what type of sub it has.

They'd have to setup some kind of account pending status, where they debit you're credit card, but don't activate the account until you contact them with the SN. That doesn't sound too hard, and that would work for gifts also.

Posted by: Blonde

Seems like they could just assign you a bogus number in their system when you pay for it, and then you could just call up with the real SN once you get it and they could sub it in.

Hopefully won't be a problem for me at least since they "said" it will get here in one day. Makes sense since UPS guarantees one day ground delivery from there to here. Just wish I got a tracking number, I'm nervous!

-Blonde

Posted by: MighTiVo

Phone1, you are missing the point. Ops said they had to have an unused service number to sell lifetime.
I was suggesting a range of service numbers could be used that would never be on a real system, virtual service numbers. These could be used to assign to lifetime services purchased without a system and these lifetimes would be eligible to be transfered to a real system at a later date.

I thinks Ops understood, and like he said a bit late to do anything for this instance....

Posted by: phone1

We're all saying the same thing - just need to be able to set up an account, accept payment and hold it until the real SN is known.

If the SN is being used as the account number, I can see why this may be harder to do than it sounds. In order to function efficiently you'd have to add the "bogus" numbers to the database and also have an available one assigned by the SW for this type of account. Something it was never designed to do. You'd also have to create a new customer account type. AND you'd have to redesign the web interface to accomodate this. Sounds like a major and costly undertaking.

Posted by: Crrink

Or TiVo could simply issue a gift certificate good for lifetime service on any S1 or S2 unit.
They could even use something as complex and costly as an Excel spreadsheet to keep track of the GC numbers and purchase details.
:D

This isn't a difficult problem to solve *IF* TiVo wants to.

Posted by: Blonde

Just in case anyone was wondering, I got it and it's going through setup now. Only problem so far was I had to enter in 4 area codes till I found a local number; I was scared for a moment.

I like the Gift Certificate idea.

-Blonde

Posted by: Crrink

Glad you got in under the wire!

Posted by: alansh

It's really only an issue because of the price change right now. I doubt TiVo would want to put a lot of effort into something that would only be used for one week before a price increase.

Anyone that wants to be sure they have a local number before they buy can check here. TiVo uses the UUNet/Worldcom dialup points.