Tempted and Hooked

[Senior Old-timer]

Hi, last night I saw in Best buy what I thought a good deal. So I bought an 80 Hour Dual Tivo.
I only have the regular Los Angeles area over the air TV Stations that come by Cable into my home. I also have the Verizon Fiber Optics Tel Line/Cable system that brings internet to me. I can afford out of curiosity to subscribe to Tivo for 2 or 3 months. I have these questions:

1> Does Tivo Offer any discounts for Over 65 Senior Citizens?

2> Is TiVo easy to install?

3> I understand it would work with either Tel line or Cable FIOS line...

4> If after 2 or 3 months I quit the TiVo service, can I still use somehow the box, for example, manually just to record one channel off the cable that feeds the TV, or to tarnsfer DVD, CD, Video or Sounds, or Cassette Tapes music. Or in effect, the TiVo Box (80 Hr Dual), will it then be obsolete?

I thank you in advance for your comments and answers.

Senior Old-timer

[funtoupgrade]

1) no
2) yes
3) not sure about fibre optic cable, no such input
4) no, also there is a hefty cancellation fee if canceled before end of 12 month committment

[stevel]

With FIOS, there is a box provided by the telephone company that acts like a cable box. This is what connects to the TiVo. There are many people who use this combination.

If you get TiVo, I recommend a book called "TiVo for Dummies". Don't be put off by the name, it's a helpful and easy to understand introduction to hooking up and using your TiVo. The manual that comes with TiVo is good, but you may find your enjoyment of TiVo better with the tips from the book.

[alansplace]

Hi, last night I saw in Best buy what I thought a good deal. So I bought an 80 Hour Dual Tivo.
I only have the regular Los Angeles area over the air TV Stations that come by Cable into my home. I also have the Verizon Fiber Optics Tel Line/Cable system that brings internet to me. I can afford out of curiosity to subscribe to Tivo for 2 or 3 months. I have these questions:to the best of my knowledge the dual 80 comes with a full year of tivo service as part of the purchase and all you should need to do is activate <https://www3.tivo.com/tivo-mma/activate/activate.do> the service.
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Alan :D

[stevel]

Not necessarily - most retailers, including BestBuy, sell the box outright, and you must subscribe to the service and pay $12.95/mo. There is a one year commitment.

One can also get TiVo boxes from tivo.com where there is a reduced or no up front cost and you pay a higher monthly fee.

[alansplace]

Not necessarily - most retailers, including BestBuy, sell the box outright, and you must subscribe to the service and pay $12.95/mo. There is a one year commitment.

One can also get TiVo boxes from tivo.com where there is a reduced or no up front cost and you pay a higher monthly fee.steve....really!! i was going by this ad on the tivo website <http://tivo.com/0.11.offer.DT.asp>. if the cost of that box w/o the 1 year service being included is anywhere near the $254 charged by tivo for that same box including the 1 year service then i'd have to say that the best buy deal is not a very good one. :mad:
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Alan :D

[Einselen]

steve....really!! i was going by this ad on the tivo website <http://tivo.com/0.11.offer.DT.asp>. if the cost of that box w/o the 1 year service being included is anywhere near the $254 charged by tivo for that same box including the 1 year service then i'd have to say that the best buy deal is not a very good one. :mad:
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Alan :D

When doing the math the Best Buy deal also has a $150 main in rebate. Compairing buying from tivo.com or doing the retail deal and activating service in 1 year prepaid they are the same price. If you do two or three years prepaid the tivo.com deal becomes better. This is of course if you DO NOT qualify for the MSD. If you do qualify then the best deal is to buy retail, get the rebate and then the MSD.

[stevel]

Well, that's interesting. BestBuy asks $249.99 before a $150 rebate, with service extra. So a year's cost is $99.99 + (12*12.95) or $255.40. Or you can pay $254 to TiVo plus shipping (it would seem) for the same thing. Rebate hassle on one hand, having to remember to ask to switch to the lower rate on the other.

As for the MSD, you can get the MSD for any other monthly box you have in service if you get the "service included" price on another.

[Einselen]

Well, that's interesting. BestBuy asks $249.99 before a $150 rebate, with service extra. So a year's cost is $99.99 + (12*12.95) or $255.40. Or you can pay $254 to TiVo plus shipping (it would seem) for the same thing. Rebate hassle on one hand, having to remember to ask to switch to the lower rate on the other.

As for the MSD, you can get the MSD for any other monthly box you have in service if you get the "service included" price on another.

Sorry forgot to add the MSD stipulation in there. It is better to buy retail and get MSD if you have only lifetime boxes or packaged boxes. If you have a tivo and paying monthly 12.95 then I personally think it is better to buy prepaid from tivo.com. No need to wait for the rebate check and when your prepaid time is up you will remember to call in because your guide data will no longer be available. Might mess up your season passes for a day or two, but if you check your to do list at least weekly you will see it shrunk when it no longer gets the guide data.

[alansplace]

When doing the math the Best Buy deal also has a $150 main in rebate. Compairing buying from tivo.com or doing the retail deal and activating service in 1 year prepaid they are the same price. If you do two or three years prepaid the tivo.com deal becomes better. This is of course if you DO NOT qualify for the MSD. If you do qualify then the best deal is to buy retail, get the rebate and then the MSD.hmmmm....after reviewing everything i agree with you and also apologise to Senior Old-timer for posting innaccurate information. :mad:
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Alan :D

[stevel]

...when your prepaid time is up you will remember to call in because your guide data will no longer be available.
Oh no it won't. Your service will continue and you'll be billed at the higher rate until you call in and ask to be switched. That's what Pony said.

[alansplace]

Sorry forgot to add the MSD stipulation in there.according to what i just found (depends on the interpretation) on the tivo website, the MSD may not be valid in this case. :( see below (the last item in the list):

TiVo® Package Details

TiVo® Series2™ DT DVR

* Includes 1 year of TiVo® service prepaid and an 80-Hour TiVo® Series2™ DT DVR
* Money Back Guarantee applies only to initial activations if canceled within 30 days and DVR is returned for a full refund.
* No refunds for cancellations, except as permitted under 30 day Money Back Guarantee.
* After the prepaid service period is complete, your TiVo Package will continue at the then-applicable monthly rate for the 1 year TiVo Package that was chosen.
* Subject to full terms and conditions for TiVo Payment Plans.
* Not Eligible for Multi-Service Discount.

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Alan :D

[stevel]

This was also explained in the long discussion on the new pricing (see sticky thread in Coffee House.)

While you can't apply MSD pricing to the "no upfront cost" box, if you have another box you're currently paying $12.95/month for, you CAN switch that box to the MSD price. If your other box has lifetime, though, it makes much more sense to pay retail and then get the MSD discount on the second box.

[Einselen]

according to what i just found (depends on the interpretation) on the tivo website, the MSD may not be valid in this case. :( see below (the last item in the list):

TiVo® Package Details

TiVo® Series2™ DT DVR

* Includes 1 year of TiVo® service prepaid and an 80-Hour TiVo® Series2™ DT DVR
* Money Back Guarantee applies only to initial activations if canceled within 30 days and DVR is returned for a full refund.
* No refunds for cancellations, except as permitted under 30 day Money Back Guarantee.
* After the prepaid service period is complete, your TiVo Package will continue at the then-applicable monthly rate for the 1 year TiVo Package that was chosen.
* Subject to full terms and conditions for TiVo Payment Plans.
* Not Eligible for Multi-Service Discount.

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Alan :D


This is correct, the DT package from Tivo.com is not eligible for MSD however you have a Tivo and currently paying 12.95/month on that Tivo and then buy the DT package form Tivo your original tivo will drop to 6.95/month and get the MSD.

[Einselen]

Oh no it won't. Your service will continue and you'll be billed at the higher rate until you call in and ask to be switched. That's what Pony said.

I stand corrected, some simple resaerch pulled up the following from the Terms and Conditions:

12. After the end of your monthly or prepaid commitment period, as applicable, your TiVo Package Payment Plan will continue on a monthly basis at the then-applicable rate for a one (1), two (2), or three (3) year monthly TiVo Package based on whether your TiVo Package was for one (1), two (2), or three (3) years. After the end of your monthly or prepaid commitment period, you may also have the option to sign up for a lower monthly TiVo Service Only Payment Plan price for a longer commitment term or purchase a prepaid TiVo Service Only Payment Plan.

Hmm I guess they do keep your card on file and try to charge it again. After 2 or 3 years prepaid for me though my card will not be valid anymore so then I would lose service.

Another workaround is to get a temp card number just for the amount of prepaid and then when Tivo tries to charge that again it will be rejected and then your Tivo box will not update.

[stevel]

I don't think you want to take the temp-card approach. If TiVo cancels your service you may end up with another 1-year commitment to reinstate it.

Just set a calendar reminder.

[Einselen]

I don't think you want to take the temp-card approach. If TiVo cancels your service you may end up with another 1-year commitment to reinstate it.

Just set a calendar reminder.

Never though about that. Doesn't matter to me as I have lifetime, just trying to give suggetions to others reading this thread.

[Senior Old-timer]

according to what i just found (depends on the interpretation) on the tivo website, the MSD may not be valid in this case. :( see below (the last item in the list):

TiVo® Package Details

TiVo® Series2™ DT DVR

* Includes 1 year of TiVo® service prepaid and an 80-Hour TiVo® Series2™ DT DVR
* Money Back Guarantee applies only to initial activations if canceled within 30 days and DVR is returned for a full refund.
* No refunds for cancellations, except as permitted under 30 day Money Back Guarantee.
* After the prepaid service period is complete, your TiVo Package will continue at the then-applicable monthly rate for the 1 year TiVo Package that was chosen.
* Subject to full terms and conditions for TiVo Payment Plans.
* Not Eligible for Multi-Service Discount.

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Alan :D

Thank you guys. Also, I understand monthly prices went up about $5 a month. I did get the $150 rebate plus a gift check promise from Tivo of $25. Paid $249.95 + tax for it. Maybe I can return the unopened box w/o having to pay a 15% restocking fee...
Thanks for all the new info for me. I was mostly interested in "if I cancel" was there going to be any use of the Tivo gadget? Maybe I can dissasemble it and use the hard disk in an enclosure for my computer... LOL
Senior Old-timer

[stevel]

Monthly prices have not changed in a couple of years. A new option was added where you pay a higher monthly price and get the box at no added cost.

[snevl]

Pardon if this is posted here somewhere - I searched and didn't find an answer.

I have a Series2 box and currently pay $12.95 per month. Can I buy a DT box and get the $150 rebate if I'm going to sign up for the multi-service discount of $6.95? The rebate terms talks about "new service" but I can't tell if it excludes the MSD. Thanks in advance!

Snevl

[classicsat]

In short, yes, you can buy a DT and have one of two DVRs on MSD.

In long, you have to outright buy the new DVR retail to have it be eligible for MSD, however, if you buy a bundled DVR, your existing current DVR will become the MSD box.

[Senior Old-timer]

Thanks for the input. It has been a couple of years since my 1st post. I got de Series Two and soon was stuck with a diminished funcionality. I subscribed to FIOS in Southern Calif and that model Tivo only would work with the first 50 channels, due the "digital" signals of the rest. I am now planning to buy a digital unit thru Costco.com or Costco for less than $300 and a lifetime membership for maybe 399. Think am stuck with the series 2 Dual Tivo for the bedroom. I have a 3 year prepaid membership on that one. Lately it does not receive or record Channel 34 (KMEX), tied resetting and various configurations, but no luck yet... There's a new TiVo that is coming out; that's an alternative...

Thanks again, S O-t

[Einselen]

Thanks for the input. It has been a couple of years since my 1st post. I got de Series Two and soon was stuck with a diminished funcionality. I subscribed to FIOS in Southern Calif and that model Tivo only would work with the first 50 channels, due the "digital" signals of the rest. I am now planning to buy a digital unit thru Costco.com or Costco for less than $300 and a lifetime membership for maybe 399. Think am stuck with the series 2 Dual Tivo for the bedroom. I have a 3 year prepaid membership on that one. Lately it does not receive or record Channel 34 (KMEX), tied resetting and various configurations, but no luck yet... There's a new TiVo that is coming out; that's an alternative...

Thanks again, S O-t

If you get a TiVo without a rebate (TiVOHD I believe has no rebate) you can transfer the prepaid service over from the DT (but then the DT will be fairly useless) Lifetime though is a great option, I just recently bought a S2 (single tuner) for cheap, added lifetime and then also upgraded to 500 GB, I am now in TiVo heaven recording movies, keeping complete seasons of shows, etc. If lifetime is not in the budget then the transfer option is a possibility.

[ciper]

Does no one else see the font size and style of the first post?

[stevel]

Yes, but that was two years ago.

[classicsat]

You could buy the new TiVo and move the commitment on the old one to the new one. You would have to forfeit the rebate though.

FWIW, you could use a FIOS STB with the old TiVo for it to get digital channels from FIOS, but you will be happier with the new one, since it can record two digital channels, the old TiVo can record one. If you elect to get a new service plan on the new TiVo, you can (and probably should, since FIOS will turn off analog channels) get a digital box for the DT unit.