It’s been a while since I’ve installed the package comparison tool? To date I have received no feedback on it. I’m curious as to what you think. Does it need work? How could it be improved. Please leave a comment below to let me know your thoughts.
I was browsing my DIRECTV account online this morning and noticed that I was eligible for various free upgrades. My first though was, “man, I could have had another DVR all this time… for free?”
But then I read the fine print
Offer for existing residential customers only and requires a two-year programming commitment to any DIRECTV base package or DIRECTV Spanish-language® package, and activation of DIRECTV® DVR service.
So I would have to renew my contract for two years, but I would also have to activate DVR service. What if it is already activated?
In any case, after comparing apples to apples the pricing and channels available of various packages, I think I’ll be switching to Dish Network next month anyway.
One thing that really irks me is how most companies treat existing clients. This would include both Dish Network and DIRECTV.
They don’t seem to really care about you unless 1. you are a potential customer, or 2. you ask to leave. In either one of these scenarios you seem to hold more cards.
I’ve owned both Dish Network and DIRECTV. Honestly, I can’t say one is better than the other - hence this website. They both have their pros and cons.
It seems quite easy to continue to jump back and forth though. I’m currently with DIRECTV, but I have a game plan as follows:
When August rolls around, my 2 year contract ends. I’m a free man. I plan on calling them asking them to quit. Once you call in to you quit to get transferred to an account specialist. I’ll see what they have to offer. If it is better than whatever the latest promotion with Dish Network is then I will likely stay with them. I think that would include getting a free DVR upgrade on one of our TVs and sending out a tech to put another cable to that TV.
If I don’t like the deal and if it doesn’t even compare to what they offer to their new customers I will likely quit just out of principle.
I will then get the latest deal from Dish Network. For the channels that we get their package may be about $10.00 cheaper per month. I will sign up in my wife’s name this time though.
After 2 yeas with Dish (I think their contract is only for one year, but that’s ok) I’ll go through the same process. Each time I do, I will change the name on the account, or do both our names. I think they keep track of former users so you can’t get new customer deals again - which I think is stupid really. Absurd!
So if I follow this pattern, I will get a new deal and new equipment every two years. It’s really win-win-win-win. I win because I get new equipment & promotion specials every two years. Dealers such as Expert Satellite and DishPronto get commission on the “new” sale. Installers get paid to come out and install the system at my house. DIRECTV and Dish Network still get to have me as a customer every two years, and despite them paying commission and for my new equipment every two years, I still believe the are pulling in a profit.
Hey maybe someday they will learn the value of existing customers (much like State Farm insurance) and give incentives to stick around longer than two years!
I’ve been a DIRECTV customer for a year and a half now. Overall I am happy, but everyone once in a while I remember what I miss about my old Dish Network account.
First of all there was the DVR. I think with time all DVR systems continue to improve, but what I miss most about my Dish DVR is the ability to skip ahead 30 seconds. This allowed me to press the skip button approximately 4 times and jump through all the commercials. With my current DVR, I have not other option but to fast forward through them. Even at the fastest speed it is not as fast as pressing the “jump ahead” button 4 times. Also, at the fastest speed I have to pay close attention to the scenes or I can easily go past the point I wanted to start watching again.
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A while back DIRECTV starting selling their own DVR rather than using TiVo. I really haven’t used it. I have the TiVo version. My mom recently switched to DIRECTV and said she didn’t have the same features that mine did - which really dissappointed her. I think it had to do with her not being about to record something and watch something else, or record two shows at once. I can’t remember for sure.
I’m curious though, has anyone here tried both? What do you like and dislike about the two?
