Best Buy ripoff for wireless adaptor

[Bierboy]

I know this won't be news to many folks, but I was in BB this past weekend and noticed the TiVo-branded wireless adaptor being sold for $65...fully five bucks more than TiVo itself sells it for. Then, today on BB's Website, they list it as "on sale" for $61.74.

[supasta]

Most manufacturers set a MSRP for items, and 99.9 percent of retailers go along with that price. The fact that TiVO sells the same adapter directly from their store could mean that they set their MSRP to retailers $5 higher. Or, it could be that BestBuy raised the price by $5 in order to profit off the item.

Thing is, there are SO many options out there for wireless networking - I would not pay that much for any wireless adapter!

[cap]

Wow, when did the Tivo network adapter go up on the Tivo site?

I was looking at it about a month ago and it was only $49.99 on the Tivo site.
And I noticed BestBuy had it for $65. I couldn't figure why the difference.
Maybe Tivo just hadn't upped their price on the site yet.

[Bierboy]

Wow, when did the Tivo network adapter go up on the Tivo site?

I was looking at it about a month ago and it was only $49.99 on the Tivo site.
And I noticed BestBuy had it for $65. I couldn't figure why the difference.
Maybe Tivo just hadn't upped their price on the site yet.Hmm...I never had noticed that it was $49.99, but then, I had never really closely checked. If that's true, then it is, indeed, unfortunate TiVo decided to increase its price.

[terpfan1980]

Best Buy isn't always the cheapest. As another example you can get an Xbox Live Marketplace card with 1600 points on it. Anywhere else that card is $20, but at Best Buy it's $25.

That "anywhere else" includes just buying that many points from Microsoft directly.

Even Circuit City (some would say an arch enemy of Best Buy) has the card for $20. I'm sure some people pay for the card at Best Buy, perhaps to get Reward Zone points or something similar, but why anyone would pay more for the same thing is beyond me.

[Bierboy]

CompUSA has the TiVo adaptor for $49.99.

[cap]

Really? Maybe I need to swing over and get one before they go up as well.

[supasta]

The adapter is also only $49.99 on Amazon with FREE SHIPPING.

[cap]

Well I ran to my local compusa and they are also $59, maybe I'll just run more cat5....

[jfh3]

CompUSA has the TiVo adaptor for $49.99.

This weekend they raised the price to $59.99.

Had some nice new Tivo brochures too ... included info on the DT and KidZone.

CompUSA also has a promotion where you get a free Tivo and Tivo wireless G adapter with the purchase of a PC or Notebook.

As for Best Buy - Best Buy routinely has higher regular prices on accessories than Circuit City / CompUSA, but will always price match.

[jlpoulin]

I bought mine directly from TIVO for $49.99 back when the new dual tuner units came out. Maybe that was a special to bring the dual tuner units online.

[ellinj]

Its not a ripoff if you willingly pay for it and get the correct item. Best Buy would only be ripping you off if you paid what they requested and got some other product or no product at all in return. If you don't like Best Buy's prices just buy it somewhere else.

[petew]

Well I ran to my local compusa and they are also $59, maybe I'll just run more cat5....

If that's an option go for it. Wired will always have the edge on reliability and speed.

[cap]

It's an option, just not as easy.

But for $59, I think it might be worth it.

Still it would be nice to have a Tivo branded adapter.
It looked pretty nice at Compusa. Bigger than I was expecting...

[Bierboy]

This weekend they raised the price to $59.99....Online, it's still $49.99. (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=cat3&product_code=338694&Pn=TiVo_Wireless_G_USB_Network_Adapter)

[Atomike]

Its not a ripoff if you willingly pay for it and get the correct item. Best Buy would only be ripping you off if you paid what they requested and got some other product or no product at all in return. If you don't like Best Buy's prices just buy it somewhere else.

If you're dying of thirst, and some guy sells you a glass of water for $5,000, you willingly pay for it and you get what you wanted.
But the guy is clearly ripping you off.

I think charging significantly over market value for an item would be a better definition of "ripping off", and therefore I think that often Best Buy does some ripping.

[mick66]

I know this won't be news to many folks, but I was in BB this past weekend and noticed the TiVo-branded wireless adaptor being sold for $65...fully five bucks more than TiVo itself sells it for. Then, today on BB's Website, they list it as "on sale" for $61.74.

So?
Are you new? or just naive enough to think that everyone that sells a particular retail item will sell it for the same price as everyone else?

[mick66]

I bought mine directly from TIVO for $49.99 back when the new dual tuner units came out. Maybe that was a special to bring the dual tuner units online.

No, the original price of a Tivo wireless G adapter from tivo.com was $49.99 but it just recently went up to $59.99.

[ellinj]

If you're dying of thirst, and some guy sells you a glass of water for $5,000, you willingly pay for it and you get what you wanted.
But the guy is clearly ripping you off.

I think charging significantly over market value for an item would be a better definition of "ripping off", and therefore I think that often Best Buy does some ripping.

He may be taking advantage of you but he's not ripping you off.

[Bierboy]

So?
Are you new? or just naive enough to think that everyone that sells a particular retail item will sell it for the same price as everyone else?Nope, not new. And nope, not naive either. When a place charges more for a branded item than the company that brands the item, then, yes, it's a ripoff. And calm down... :rolleyes:...life's too short.

[JasonRossSmith]

If you're dying of thirst, and some guy sells you a glass of water for $5,000, you willingly pay for it and you get what you wanted.
But the guy is clearly ripping you off.

I think charging significantly over market value for an item would be a better definition of "ripping off", and therefore I think that often Best Buy does some ripping.

That's not really an accurate analogy. More expensive yes, and I've got no Loyalty to Best Buy here.

However it is really a matter of personal decision, and choice on cost Vs Convenience. For example, I knowingly paid more for this unit at BBY when I knew that the Tivo web site (at least used to) sold them for less. Why?

I wanted it that very day, had $15 in reward zone coupons, and $25 in gift cards, with nothing else on my shopping list. So, even though the shelf price was higher, it represented a better value to me in that situation.

So, they aren't ripping people off, they're just trying to charge more where they think they can. Then folks like you, me and everyone else choose whether or not to buy it.

That, in essence, is the free market.

(But I'm gonna go take advantage of the 30 price guarantee though!!!!! :p )

[ellinj]

Ever tried to buy a box of sugar at 7-11, its twice expensive as the grocery store. They are charging for the "convenience" of buying in a convenience store. I used to get this argument about the price of cables at Radio Shack while working there. I would always be told that they could get xyz at some place online for cheaper. My response is "but your here" If you can wait then go ahead and order it. 9 times out of ten they would buy it anway because they didn't want to wait. Same goes for a tivo adapter. If I needed one TODAY I would go down to best buy and take it home. If I could wait I would order it online. Best Buy is selling it for what they feel then can get. For the same reason hotels in Las Vegas were charging almost $3 for a bottle of Dansani last week. Because they can get it. I wanted the water and paid for it. They didn't make me pay for it and not deliver, Perhaps they were taking advantage of my thirst but I don't think they ripped me off.

[Turtleboy]

You got ripped off Ellinj.

You should have walked 3 miles in the Vegas sun to a supermarket to get the water cheaper.

Shame on you.

[ellinj]

You got ripped off Ellinj.

You should have walked 3 miles in the Vegas sun to a supermarket to get the water cheaper.

Shame on you.


I had a rental car, I could have driven to a grocery store, I just chose not to. :cool:

[Bierboy]

I had a rental car, I could have driven to a grocery store, I just chose not to. :cool:And, if you'd driven that rental car, you would have paid the "ripoff" prices for gasoline in Vegas.

[jfh3]

If that's an option go for it. Wired will always have the edge on reliability and speed.

Wired may be more reliable, but with the Tivo wireless G, I'm pretty much getting "wired" speeds.

[ellinj]

And, if you'd driven that rental car, you would have paid the "ripoff" prices for gasoline in Vegas.


Not really gas in Vegas was less expensive then it is here in CT. I guess CT having one of the highest gas taxes in country is a "ripoff"

[buddhawood]

Dell has it for $39.95 +$8.00 shipping +tax
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0622581

[restart88]

Don't even get me started on BB!

[mick66]

...life's too short.

Then what's with the "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" approach to a miniscule price difference?

[Bierboy]

Then what's with the "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" approach to a miniscule price difference? :p

min·us·cule Pronunciation Key (mn-skyl, m-nskyl) also min·is·cule (mn-skyl)
adj.

1. Very small; tiny.

[bighurt1b]

One word.

EBAY.

I bought a refurbished Linksys wireless adapter off of there for a total cost of around 22 bucks. Works perfectly!

[jsmeeker]

If it's really only $5 difference, it's not a big deal. If I had a Series 2 TiVo and wanted the adapater, I'd probably buy it from Best Buy. Why? I'd go there and walk out with it and I'd go home and hook it up. No waiting. The time savings has some value.

I DID get ripped off on water in Las Vegas. I went downstairs to one of the gift shops and bought a bottle so I could have something to drink as I wandered the casion looking for friends. When I went back to the room, I saw the vendign machine sold the same water for the same price. I could have avoided that stop at the gift shop. :)

[JustAllie]

I just installed TiVo wireless adapters on all three of my TiVos at home. You can really see the difference in transfer speeds compared to the non-TiVo adapters. :up:

Anyone on the market for three non-TiVo wireless adapters? :D

[ZeoTiVo]

I just installed TiVo wireless adapters on all three of my TiVos at home. You can really see the difference in transfer speeds compared to the non-TiVo adapters. :up:

Anyone on the market for three non-TiVo wireless adapters? :D

well with a high recommendation like that ............. ;)

[supasta]

I just installed TiVo wireless adapters on all three of my TiVos at home. You can really see the difference in transfer speeds compared to the non-TiVo adapters. :up:

Anyone on the market for three non-TiVo wireless adapters? :D

Did that upgrade also include the move from B to G?

That would simply explain the increased speeds.

[jsmeeker]

Did that upgrade also include the move from B to G?

That would simply explain the increased speeds.

The increase in speeds is due to the TiVo branded adapter taking on some of the processing tasks involved in transferring a show. It's more than just a USB WiFi adapter. It's got extra "stuff" in it dedicated to TiVo.

[supasta]

Ahhhh....this I did not know, as it is not in any text or description that I have read anywhere. (at least that I've seen)

Good to know, this may change my mind on getting one.

[jfh3]

The increase in speeds is due to the TiVo branded adapter taking on some of the processing tasks involved in transferring a show. It's more than just a USB WiFi adapter. It's got extra "stuff" in it dedicated to TiVo.

And for many, myself included, it's a significant difference. I went from wireless B to wireless G and saw some increase in performance (though not what I expected).

When I went from wireless G to Tivo wireless G, I thought stuff was broken and not transferring the full programs because it was so much faster (both TTG and MRV).

If you don't use MRV or TTG often, it might be worth it to save $20-$30 and go the non-TivoG route. But I went the other route and replaced two Netgear wireless G adapters that were working well with two Tivo adapters that are working great. In the few tests I've run, very small difference between performance of wired vs. TivoG.

Getting cables to my Tivos is a bigger project than I'd like, so the Tivo wireless adapters are worth every penny I paid (and knowing what I know now, I'd even pay $60 for them).

[supasta]

Well, with another TiVo DT in the mail to me as we speak, this is good news to me. I am very much in need of a wireless adapter but am not ready (read: can't afford) to upgrade my entire network to G (It would set me back about $500!). I would really like to just run a cable if possible, but that may not be.

I ordered a Linksys Wireless WUSB11 from Ebay for $20. I will start with that. If the MRV transfers are not incredibly horrible, I will stick with that.

The WHOLE POINT of my purchasing a second DT unit is simply for the MRV, nothing more. So, I must have good performance with that in this case.

[jfh3]

Well, with another TiVo DT in the mail to me as we speak, this is good news to me. I am very much in need of a wireless adapter but am not ready (read: can't afford) to upgrade my entire network to G (It would set me back about $500!). I would really like to just run a cable if possible, but that may not be.

I ordered a Linksys Wireless WUSB11 from Ebay for $20. I will start with that. If the MRV transfers are not incredibly horrible, I will stick with that.

The WHOLE POINT of my purchasing a second DT unit is simply for the MRV, nothing more. So, I must have good performance with that in this case.

I had good luck with the Linksys, but you may be very disappointed with Tivo MRV using wireless B. Get at least one of the boxes wired directly, if you can.

[supasta]

My current box is wired. The second unit is planned to use the Wireless B WUSB11. If that is not to my liking, I may try to wire it.

[id242]

Dell has it for $39.95 +$8.00 shipping +tax
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0622581

nice find, thanks!

[Bierboy]

nice find, thanks!That Dell accessories store (as well as the Gateway accessories store) usually has very good prices. I check it often. Although I'm not sure if the Gateway store carries anything TiVo.

[Boob Tube Goober]

Just to back up what others have noted... The Dell store still has the TiVo adapters for $40. I got 3 of them there in the last few months, and delivery was pretty quick. I run 4 boxes, 1 wired and 3 wireless. When I upgraded to the TiVo adapters from other G adapters, the speed increase was immediately noticeable and impressive. :up:

[Stu_Bee]

Was gonna run the cable from the living room to the office (under the house). Been putting it off....hmmm.....tivo wireless for $40.

My prior PC2Tivo transfer benchmarks were:
1)Tivo Wired/PC Wireless-G..........900k-940k/sec
2)Tivo Wireless-B/PC Wireless-G...250k-350k/sec
3)Tivo Wireless-B/PC Wired..........550k-580k/sec

Only (1) provided Real-time viewing of mpg transfer. I wonder if the TivoWireless adapter would be close to that. 'Course there's always the darn microwave stopping transfers.

[id242]

My prior PC2Tivo transfer benchmarks were:
1)Tivo Wired/PC Wireless-G..........900k-940k/sec
2)Tivo Wireless-B/PC Wireless-G...250k-350k/sec
3)Tivo Wireless-B/PC Wired..........550k-580k/sec


Were these transfer benchmarks done while you were watching LiveTV or had it paused or watching RecordedTV or had it paused... or had the benchmarks been done while your TiVo was in standby mode or while you were navigating the menus... and your benchmarks, were they of movies being sent from or sent to the TiVo box? It all makes a difference - your numbers look quite low compared to mine while having the TiVo paused in a pre-recorded show, doing a download (all my numbers are basically double of yours)

You can watch how navigating through your TiVo while making file transfers can effect it's speed by using a program such as this... http://readerror.gmxhome.de/

[Stu_Bee]

all my numbers are basically double of yours

I haven't really seen reports of numbers on this forum greater than what i was getting wired to wired.
The transfers are PC2Tivo. My tivo is a USB1.1 model, so not sure if that would affect the outcome of purchasing the Tivo wifi Adapter.