TiVo Community Forums Archives - Question regarding DIRECTV/Sony T-60 offer

TiVoCommunity.com
(c)opyright 1995-2005 All rights reserved
indexcheckTC
This area is a static history of posts in the TiVo Community Forum Archive.
This archive history was made for the simple indexing of search sites like Google.

Pages:1

Question regarding DIRECTV/Sony T-60 offer
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: toneman

From reading the various posts regarding people who've ordered the Sony T-60 DirecTivo package from Directv, I've gathered that quite a few people who are doing so are existing Directv customers--isn't the DVRO code offer for "existing customers", as at least one person (don't remember the user name) has stated? In any case, I was wondering about this because when I go to the page where I can purchase the T-60 package (technically, the package doesn't explicitly mention the T-60 although it appears to be a given that the equipment being sold is a T-60) and click on the "Terms and Conditions" link, the very first condition listed is, "You are a new residential DIRECTV customer." So, can/will Directv hold that particular condition against you? The scenario I'm thinking is that Directv will allow an existing customer, who is currently serving out an existing contract, to purchase the T-60 package as a "new" customer, then make him sign a new 1-year contract to run concurrently with his existing contract, at least until his existing one expires--rather than allowing said customer to just extend his current contract by an additional year.

Yes--others have commented on purchasing the T-60, renewing the 1-yr commitment (or actually, extending their current contract for another year), then deactivating the T-60 for whatever reason without penalty, as long as they haven't unsubscribed to whatever Total Choice package they signed up for. However, I was wondering if Directv can technically/legally get an existing customer to sign a "new" contract to run alongside an existing one since he is technically supposed to be a "new" customer per the Terms and Conditions as a requirement for purchasing the T-60 package.

Just wondering, given that the DTVO code offer was offered to existing customers, yet when you click on the Terms and Conditions on the T-60 package offer page, it says that you have to be a new Directv customer...a paradox, if you ask me.

Oh yeah, and it appears that you can no longer order it online, at least as of this very moment--you have to call their 1-888 number to order it, assuming that they still have it in stock...:(

Posted by: spartanstew

I think the terms and conditions link is the same one they use for new customers (getting other deals), but it's not accurate. If you look it also says that there will be a handling fee of $14.95 as well, but on the first page outlining the offer it says handling will be $24.95 and when you actually check out the price is indeed $24.95.

I just think they didn't proof read their link very well.

Stew

Posted by: JLWINE

quote:
Originally posted by spartanstew
I think the terms and conditions link is the same one they use for new customers (getting other deals), but it's not accurate. If you look it also says that there will be a handling fee of $14.95 as well, but on the first page outlining the offer it says handling will be $24.95 and when you actually check out the price is indeed $24.95.

I just think they didn't proof read their link very well.

Stew

Ditto

Posted by: BlankMan

Got my T60 from this promotion a week ago yesterday. Had it installed a week ago today. Today I got a letter from DTV telling me what I've agreed to when my T60 arrives...

It says and I quote:

"You agreed to pay for any Total Choice ..... Programming package at $31.99/month or above plus the $4.99 programming mirroring fee for each additional receiver for 12 consecutive months." (See quotes) :) (Notice past tense)

"You agree to subscribe to DVR service at a monthly cost of $4.99 per month (FREE for TOTAL CHOICE PREMIER customers in non-NRTC areas.)" (Notice present tense)

"If your account is downgraded, disconnected or terminated before you meet your one-year service commitment, you agree to pay a pro-rated cancellation fee of up to $150.00, which will be charged to your credit card or your DIRECTV(r) account." (Notice future tense)

Also says I agree to pay them $150.00 if I don't activate it within 30 days, but it does not say I have to keep it activated for any length of time. This is what a lot of people around here have been saying.

Says nothing to the affect that I must keep this particular DTiVo active, just that I must keep the account active and keep paying.

I didn't get charged the $14.95 handling fee, but they nailed me for Wisconsin sales tax.

I think they have a promotion going for existing DTV customers and one for new customers also. Guess it just makes us existing customers feel important. :D

Posted by: Lehigh

Could someone please post a link to the offer on the site?
I tried to find it on there but had no luck.

Thanks

Posted by: NiteOwl

http://www.directv.com/see/landing/dvroffer.html

Posted by: Lehigh

Oh, ok. I didn't realize this was just for the T60 without satelite, installation, etc. I need all that stuff too. I'll keep looking for a good package.

Posted by: toneman

Well, I went ahead and ordered the T-60 package over the phone; if I am to believe everything the CS rep told me, then: no, I don't have to be a new customer to qualify for the offer; 1-year renewal begins upon activation of T-60--meaning, it voids the original/previous contract regardless of how much time remaining; and I can just swap the T-60 with any existing receiver if I elect to do so--I reckon that the free installation doesn't by default explicitly guarantee a relocation/hookup of an existing receiver to another room if you had planned to hook up the T-60 in its place, but the rep stated that the installer will do so as a courtesy if requested.

So...the wait begins; I wish I had jumped on this offer sooner so that I'd be up and running by Thanksgiving...oh well, no biggie.

Posted by: chadbear

What number did you call, or what group did you talk to? I have an operator telling me right now that the offer is expired.

The stupid web site isn't working properly, either. I can't get logged in to purchase it that way.

Posted by: merr14

I took advantage of this offer and had my T60 installed last week. My understanding is that they will relocate your existing receiver to another room. I had them leave my current receiver where it is and plan to replace it with the Hughes series II when CC gets it. Actually the guys that came had to do quite a bit since I live in an older house and it was pretty tricky getting those cables to my home office where I wanted the T60. But they did a great job and I now have 2 cables in my den ready for the new unit to put there.

Now I see what all the fuss was about on this TIVO... I can't believe I didn't get on to this sooner. I have to say this board has been a great help and I've learned a lot in the last couple of weeks.

Posted by: chadbear

Just cancelled my series II preorder... I'm going to go with the sat-t60

Chad

Posted by: mcb

chadbear, call (877) 453-1431. That's the special direct line for T-60s for existing customers. When asked, quote the offer code "DVRO". That's the magic password. I was told they were out of stock yesterday by a Customer Retention agent, but got the number from Harbingar in another thread.

Just did this now over the phone, install sched. for 12/4.

Posted by: jhiter

I am going to be a new subscriber. What is the best way to get in on this deal if I don't have DTV? I had preordered HDVR2 from CC but am tired of waiting. Thanks for any help

Posted by: BlankMan

quote:
Originally posted by toneman
I reckon that the free installation doesn't by default explicitly guarantee a relocation/hookup of an existing receiver to another room

Yep it does. The CSR told me that when I ordered mine. However the contract installer knew nothing of that when I asked him about it. I didn't need it done but I wanted to know if DTV informed the installers of that and sure enough they didn't. Had I needed it, we would have been on the phone with DTV.

But, here comes the caveat, it is true, they are suppose to move the existing receiver to another room as part of the package deal. I got the letter yesterday, a week to the day after it was installed, and right there in the letter it said so. So, when the installer shows up, if he baulks, get DTV on the phone.

Posted by: toneman

Blankman--what I meant by "explicitly" was that unless the phone rep told you so, there is no documentation on DTV's website relating to the T-60 offer that mentions anything about relocating any existing receiver--unless I'm just flat-out blind.

Regarding your caveat--well, if the installer insists, he's more than welcome to do so as long as he isn't deterred by the fact that it would be relocated to a room/outlet that has no TV. Besides, I'll just cancel the charge on said relocated receiver since there is nothing that says that I cannot deactivate an existing receiver without penalty if I activate the T-60.

Jhiter--morals aside, if you know a buddy who is a current DTV subscriber, plans to remain one for at least another year, and is willing to go through the hassle of dealing with activating and deactivating various receivers--you can have him sign up for the T-60 offer (with you paying any and all related costs, of course), get it installed at his place, wait 30 days after the T-60 is activated (not sure if it's a given on the 30-day part), have him deactivate the T-60 (and reactivate his old receiver if he had it deactivated so as to not pay the $4.99 additional receiver charge) and give it (and the multiswitch, if you need/want it) to you. The one minor caveat to all of this is that you would be responsible--whether you do it yourself or pay to have someone else do it--for having one or both cable lines run to whereever you plan on hooking up the receiver.

Posted by: BlankMan

toneman I guess I misunderstood your post, my statement was that they have to do it if you want them to do it and not that you have to do it if they want to do it.

Posted by: toneman

Blankman--okay, we both more or less meant the same thing, just said it in different ways. In any case, unless DTV informs you that the installer can relocate an existing receiver, "as a courtesy" (her words), one may not know that he (the customer) can request the installer to do so at no additional charge. Of course, the installer may offer to do so, but like I said, the customer may not know that in advance.

It's all cool...:D

Posted by: chadbear

You're the man, bro... I called that number, used your code, ordered a T60! I'm working on installing a second line to my living room right now. I think I'm going to run ethernet while I'm at it. I have no interest in having a moron installer touch my house. Funny, though, that DirecTV refused to waive the install and I had to schedule someone to come by... I wonder what the person will do when they show up and it's done.

Chad

quote:
Originally posted by mcb
chadbear, call (877) 453-1431. That's the special direct line for T-60s for existing customers. When asked, quote the offer code "DVRO". That's the magic password. I was told they were out of stock yesterday by a Customer Retention agent, but got the number from Harbingar in another thread.

Just did this now over the phone, install sched. for 12/4.

Posted by: jhiter

Another question. Could I get DirecTV right now and then upgrad to the sony Tivo once I get the DirecTV here. Does this make sense? Or should I just wait for my preorder at CC?

Posted by: Directv&TivoGuy

quote:
Originally posted by jhiter
Another question. Could I get DirecTV right now and then upgrad to the sony Tivo once I get the DirecTV here. Does this make sense? Or should I just wait for my preorder at CC?

You can do it either way. Just make sure to cancel the reciever you're replacing.

Posted by: mimitche

I just called DTV back to get a replacement since the SAT-T60 they sent me is D.O.A. After waiting on hold a long time, they came back and said they don't have any SAT-T60s left, so all they can do is refund my money.

As usual, take this with a grain of salt.

Posted by: rgardjr

quote:
Originally posted by chadbear
You're the man, bro... I called that number, used your code, ordered a T60! I'm working on installing a second line to my living room right now. I think I'm going to run ethernet while I'm at it. I have no interest in having a moron installer touch my house. Funny, though, that DirecTV refused to waive the install and I had to schedule someone to come by... I wonder what the person will do when they show up and it's done.

Chad

I ordered a T60 through this offer and had the installer come out to make 2 runs to other rooms that I may eventually want to put receivers in. The installer I got was a nice kid and I helped with the install because I wanted to hide the coax underneath my vinyl siding. I did the original install of the dish about 6 years ago and never bothered to ground the dish. The installer took care of grounding the dish for me. I also got a 3x8 powered multiswitch, because the 3x4 switch I had was full. So overall I was very happy that I had the installer come out-even though I had already installed the 2 lines for the T60 myself. So if for nothing else the 3x8 powered mulitswitch was worth it. Good Luck!

Posted by: psvendsen

I just ordered a Sony T60 last night by calling DirecTV so they're not sold out. She said the offer is good through December 31. She said it would be shipped 2nd day FedEx and the cost was $199 + shipping + tax, so total came to about $235. Payment options were credit card or add to your DirecTV bill. I had it billed to my DTV account.

She said it was a new unit, not a refurb. I asked what the difference was between a T60 and the new Series 2s and she said she had heard the Series 2s have a longer than 35 hour record time. I said that didn't sound right, since reviews I have seen say the Series 2s have the same (35hr) record time. She said why would anyone want to wait for a series 2 then? I said I dunno.

I asked if I could install it myself or if I had to wait for the installer. She said I could do either one, but the installer would put in a multiswitch and up to 125 feet of cable for free so I might as well let the installer do it. She said they install a 4x4 multiswitch, but I want a 3x8 powered one. Anyone know if they'll install a 3x8 instead?

Posted by: chadbear

Hrm... I have a 3x4 multiswitch, that is full at the moment, but that includes the two lines for the T60 I just ordered. Maybe I should add another line someplace as a placeholder and claim that I need a 3x8...

Chad

quote:
Originally posted by rgardjr
I ordered a T60 through this offer and had the installer come out to make 2 runs to other rooms that I may eventually want to put receivers in. The installer I got was a nice kid and I helped with the install because I wanted to hide the coax underneath my vinyl siding. I did the original install of the dish about 6 years ago and never bothered to ground the dish. The installer took care of grounding the dish for me. I also got a 3x8 powered multiswitch, because the 3x4 switch I had was full. So overall I was very happy that I had the installer come out-even though I had already installed the 2 lines for the T60 myself. So if for nothing else the 3x8 powered mulitswitch was worth it. Good Luck!