plenzmd1 Posted July 13, 2013 Posted July 13, 2013 I'm just guessing that they are really overcharging everyone on their basic bill. How can they give everyone such huge discounts? I haven't paid list price on my bill in years. CodeMonkey...missed your post but I have same thoughts. DTV pays a ton for each new subscriber acquisition, something in the neighborhood of $800. Also, they tend to have higher income and better paying customers than DISH, and do not want to lose those steading paying customers to cable on all in deals that include cable, voice and Internet . If you have a good credit history with them ( I have been with them since 95) and have more than the basic package....you fuel their stock growth and they desperately do not want to lose you and your ability to keep buying other premium offers as well as eat the price increase every year. That being said , I have had the genie I guess for a year( n/c monthly or install)not sure what a mini genie is. I do not believe I have paid for ST Foe several years, but I pay for Center Ice and loads of other crap. My monthly about $120 now...staggering number when you think about it....$120 a month to watch TV!
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted July 13, 2013 Author Posted July 13, 2013 So after calling the other night, being a hold for 45 minutes, best offer I got was $180 for ST max, so canceled the other night. So called back today, got offered $148 for ST Max, plus asked for a mini Genie which I wanted. To the above post the Mini Genie is used if you have a second outlet/TV it gives full DVR function and the ability to pause or rewind live TV whereas currently I had a HD receiver on the 2nd TV so couldn't rewind etc and there's also some limitations in the recording process like deleting or recording a series. The mini should be better I hope! I did have to agree to a new two year commitment which extended my contact by around 15 months longer than I originally had so for doing that they also gave me a $20 credit for 12 months and a $15 credit for 15 months. She then offered instead of sending me the mini Genie she'd send me another HD DVR which is better as the mini uses one of the five tuners in the Genie, so now instead will have a total of seven tuners in the house and an extra 20 hours of recording space or so. I'm guessing the mini's are in high demand so she'd prefer sending me the DVR. I often was using four of the Genie tuners at once, so this will assure I never run out of tuners. Probably could have maybe got something better, but I'm happy with this. At least until next summer when I have to do this all over again! I do think dealing with these guys can sometimes be more aggravating than buying a car! I hate this game of playing "Lets make a deal"!! PS Does anyone know what the recording capacity of the HD DVR is, assuming all HD recordings??
Mike in Horseheads Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 I just used my lunch break to call. Here's my story; Mildly, firmly, yet politely complained about the auto renewal note and how I've been a loyal customer for 14 yrs. Stated my love for Sunday Tix, but my disdain for the ever-increasing fees and rising package costs. She put me on hold for 2 minutes (while she filed her fingernails..) and then gave me two options but only one included ST for free... so I took the Sunday Tix for free with a one year renewal/commitment on my account. She also threw in two genies, or a genie and mini-genie. However, I declined when she said there were additional recording fees associated with it. I'm happy, and I will see every game my beloved Bills play this year. GO BILLS!!! How much are those additional fees did they say? I really wanted to get the Genie when I call for my annual.
eball Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 How much are those additional fees did they say? I really wanted to get the Genie when I call for my annual. The only "recording fees" I'm aware of are the whole home DVR service which runs $3/month if I recall.
HurlyBurly51 Posted July 14, 2013 Posted July 14, 2013 PS Does anyone know what the recording capacity of the HD DVR is, assuming all HD recordings?? I want to say 1TB should equal about 220 hours of HD satellite programming.
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted July 15, 2013 Author Posted July 15, 2013 The genie is 1TB, but whats the plain Jane HD DVR hard drive size? I want to say 1TB should equal about 220 hours of HD satellite programming.
Dante Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 Question for the people getting monthly credits and getting ST free or discounted....are you guys out of contract? My contract is up in January.....when you guys are getting these things are they making ou re-up on the contract? I'm wondering how I should go about it in my situation being 5 months away from contract expiring. Thanks I had to reup for 2 years because of the genie. Don't plan to cancel in that time so it doesn't matter
Fezmid Posted July 15, 2013 Posted July 15, 2013 The genie is 1TB, but whats the plain Jane HD DVR hard drive size? Used to be 250GB -- I don't know if they've upped it recently or not. I popped the case and plugged in a 1TB drive into mine though. (note that this violates your warranty, blah blah blah).
Beebes Bubble Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 For everyone who ends up getting Sunday Ticket Max "for free", I would highly advise logging into your online account with DirecTV and verifying it. I spoke with a rep in Retention yesterday morning who gave me ST Max for free, but when I checked my account last night they had only given me the regular ST. So, after one more call to them and calling them on their bait and switch, the second rep gave me ST Max for free (verified it!), as well as $23 off per month for 12 months in addition to $10 off our premium movie channels for 6 months. The opening salvo I have used the past few years is to mention seeing all the football forums light up with people getting ST Max for free this time of year and that I refuse to be one of the suckers who subsidizes it for everyone else. Then mention canceling if I don't get it for free. No negotiations are necessary after that, which shortens the amount of time you have to spend on the call. I only wish that line worked with the IRS!
Jukester Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 I'm just starting year 2 of my contract. Regular rep had little to offer so asked to be transferred. Best retentions could offer was $180 for ST and $15 off 12 mos and $10 off 6 months. I took the package discounts but passed on ST for now. Will call back at end of July. Update - called back today because i got charged the first installment for ST on my latest bill (even thought i'd been assured after the last calll i wouldn't be charged). Used that angle to ask to talk to a cancellations. And then i heard the magic words: "What can i do to make you a happy Directv customer today." I was honest. I told them the only reason i signed up for directv was ST. He said the best they could do was half off...so $112.50 for ST. I then proceeded to press my luck and asked for the ST Max at the ST discount price which he said he couldn't do but did offer me the same hald off deal at $150. Then i mentioned that i had friends (you guys) that were getting ST Max for free. He said that was impossible and the only free offers were for brand new customers. He hemmed and hawed but eventually offered me an additional $20 off the Max. At that point, I had to bite. I'm more than happy to pay $130 for ST Max - that works out to less than $8 a week for 17 weeks of football, including RedZone, mobile/tablet/pc, and short cuts (replay games in 30 minutes). The call took 39 minutes. Thank you to everyone here for their stories and advice.
Stl Bills Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) Just got my Sunday Ticket for FREE! and $45 off my bill for the next year. Just made the annual "wife wants us to switch to Charter and bundle our TV and Internet" speal and acted like I wanted to cancel my DirectTV (I'm still under contract until next May). I've been with DirectTV about 10 years and I don't think I've ever paid full price for Sunday Ticket....I've gotten it for free a few times now. Edited July 16, 2013 by Stl Bills
26CornerBlitz Posted July 16, 2013 Posted July 16, 2013 (edited) Just got Sunday Ticket Max for free, $15 credit for 15 months, Four $5 dollar credits for 6 months, a $75 credit, and Free Genie 5 Tuner HD-DVR. Had to pay $99 for the Genie Go Box and renew my contract for 24 months because of the Free Genie. Thanks DirecTV. EDIT: I called back to ask for the AM21 OTA Tuner to pair with the Genie and they are providing it at no cost. Edited July 17, 2013 by 26CornerBlitz
FluffHead Posted July 17, 2013 Posted July 17, 2013 So last year I ordered the regular Sunday ticket, not the max package. I noticed I was unable to DVR any game that was on the Sunday ticket. The games on the local broadcast DVR fine. What would happen is the game would DVR, show up in my playlist, but then when I would play it, it would be a blank screen. Every time. Anyone else have this issue? Does the regular ticket package not allow you to DVR or was this just a problem on my end?
BuffBill Posted July 17, 2013 Posted July 17, 2013 (edited) So last year I ordered the regular Sunday ticket, not the max package. I noticed I was unable to DVR any game that was on the Sunday ticket. The games on the local broadcast DVR fine. What would happen is the game would DVR, show up in my playlist, but then when I would play it, it would be a blank screen. Every time. Anyone else have this issue? Does the regular ticket package not allow you to DVR or was this just a problem on my end? I had the Max one year and really only used it if I had to make an emergency trip to the restroom and used my phone. I only get the regular S/T and DVR every game, have for years. If you are in the Buffalo area and try to DVR it on the 700ish channel when it is on the local channel, it won't be on both. Edited July 17, 2013 by BuffBill
peterlaw Posted July 17, 2013 Posted July 17, 2013 Ordered mine to watch in the UK. Bills games only. GBP £89 as the International version. That's about USD150-. Its a lot cheaper than crossing the Atlantic. May be tempted by a trip to Florida later in the season for some live action.
FluffHead Posted July 17, 2013 Posted July 17, 2013 I had no problems with DVR-ing games off ST. Thanks. Will have to give them a call this year. It wasn't a problem as I am home to watch the games, but I like to DVR them especially if I am going to the game in person
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted July 18, 2013 Author Posted July 18, 2013 I liked using it watch an extra game, would have the TV on with maybe the Bills game, but then on computer would have a second one on. I had the Max one year and really only used it if I had to make an emergency trip to the restroom and used my phone. I only get the regular S/T and DVR every game, have for years. If you are in the Buffalo area and try to DVR it on the 700ish channel when it is on the local channel, it won't be on both.
bills_fan_in_raleigh Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 I always have bills on in living room, colts or other team in sun room so I can sneak a peak over every so often and than another game running on the iPad. Sunday ticket is worth whatever you end up paying for it even if full price. I may go for a free genie but have four dvrs already so to add a genie need to change something else out.
Jerry Christ Posted July 18, 2013 Posted July 18, 2013 For some odd reason I don't think I want it this year.......like others I seem to get it for free or a great deal but I think I want to be outside more on sundays with my kiddo than in the house yelling at the tv in front of him =)
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