Series3 page up at BestBuy.com

[BriGuy20]

:: Chef ::

GATHER ROUND, CHIL'REN!

:: /Chef ::

Here you go....

EDIT: This link has been taken down due to the hideous customer service given to Best Buy customers (including the author). In the meantime, please visit Circuit City or another retailer instead.

Circuit City link (http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/TiVo-Series-3-HD-Digital-Media-Recorder-TCD648250B/sem/rpsm/oid/159824/catOid/-12883/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do)

[DCIFRTHS]

Interesting note: The Best Buy page has a note on the bottom stating that the S3 is available at select Best Buy stores only, and suggests checking availability near you. (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcat17006&type=page&sourceId=&sourceType=product&skuId=7974418&productId=1155071436440) According to the results, all six stores in my area have it in stock :eek: :)

[zfalcon]

True, but I added it to my cart for store pickup, and all the stores went unavailable.

Had a glimmer of hope of getting it tomorrow.

[DCIFRTHS]

I added it to my cart before making my post, and it brought me to checkout. I went back before posting this post, clicked checkout, and then continue on the resulting page - I stopped short of actually paying for it. Yet... :D

[BriGuy20]

Shows availability at all local stores. There goes any hope of me getting back to bed. I feel like a kid on the night before christmas! :p

[zfalcon]

I was able to almost check out if I wanted it shipped. It wouldn't let me pick any local stores though.

[bkdtv]

When you actually click check out, it says backordered. They aren't in stock quite yet...at least not here in DC/VA.

[zfalcon]

Now I was able to pick my local store, but clicking continue just loads the same page. Guess I'll have to wait until it's fully working in their system.

[BriGuy20]

BK:

YOU BETTER NOT TAKE MY SERIES 3!!

(I'm a Northern VA native too) :p

I'll be at my local Best Buy at 10AM sharp to see if they have it.

[bkdtv]

Odd...

Now my local stores are listing the Series3 as in stock. Could have sworn they said backordered when I checked 15 minutes ago.

Tysons Corner, here I come!

[BriGuy20]

WAIT!

Aren't you the same guy that was bashing the TiVo for being no better than a :: shudder :: Motorola DVR box in another thread?

[vman41]

Odd...

Now my local stores are listing the Series3 as in stock. Could have sworn they said backordered when I checked 15 minutes ago.


If you actually try to buy one online for store pickup, they become unavailable during the checkout process.

[bkdtv]

Aren't you the same guy that was bashing the TiVo for being no better than a :: shudder :: Motorola DVR box in another thread?
Comcast doesn't offer Motorola DVRs in N. Virginia. They offer....Scientific Atlanta 8300HD boxes with outdated 1.87 SARA software. Junk.

I now have FiOS and their Motorola DVR, but they've given no indication that they intend to use the Tivo software.

What alternative do I have? :(

[BriGuy20]

The family has a Scientific Atlanta 8300 HD box in the family room, so I know what you're talking about.

http://z.about.com/d/animatedtv/1/0/l/cbg.jpg
WORST...INTERFACE...EVER!!!

[GoHokies!]

If you actually try to buy one online for store pickup, they become unavailable during the checkout process.

Yep.... I sure hope they work the bugs out and are selling today!!! Good thing I didn't have any plans tonight!!!

[jeffrypennock]

:: Chef ::

GATHER ROUND, CHIL'REN!

:: /Chef ::

Here you go....

Series3 at BestBuy.com (http://www.bestbuy.com/site//olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat100400050020&type=category)
With the exception of your much appreciated link, how does one get to this page...starting at www.bestbuy.com

[windracer]

They show available at my local stores in St. Pete as well. :D

[aaronwt]

I hope they're available before the end of the week. With the current financing promotion you can get 36 months no interest for combined HT purchases over $1k. I'll go ahead and pick up 3 if that's the case. I just hope I can still use this 12% off coupon for one of the units. So leave me a few units in NorthernVA.

[BriGuy20]

With the exception of your much appreciated link, how does one get to this page...starting at www.bestbuy.com

Go to Electronics > Tivo DVRs/Digital Video Recorders > Tivo Brand Store. Then click the Tivo Series 3 picture.

[Bierboy]

If you actually try to buy one online for store pickup, they become unavailable during the checkout process.I can't get beyond the page where it figures your sales tax....it then goes back to the page before figuring the tax. I can't "checkout".

[kmp14]

Same here, can't checkout.

[Sixto]

same here. was going to go pick it up. doesn't go forward after hitting "continue".

[jfh3]

Ditto. And, although it shows stock in stores, if you select "pick up at store" as an option, all the stores show "unavailable".

And, since you can't get past the initial checkout screen to actually place the order, it doesn't matter anyway ...

[Bierboy]

Well, their problems cost them a sale...I ordered it through CC online, and estimated delivery is this Friday.

[windracer]

I wonder if those BB coupons I get now and then (like the 10% off ones) will work on an S3? I know they used to work on the older TiVo boxes.

[mickeymammoth]

I called the local Best Buy (I have a gift certificate I wanted to use) and they did NOT have them in stock even though the web site lists them as in stock. So, I guess when they don't let you finish checking out with in store pickup selected, that's why. He also said he had "no clue" when they would be coming in. Guess I'll have to order from Tivo.

[MichaelK]

when you use the "choose store" in the cart checkout it seems to give real availibility. That first screen is full of it

[BriGuy20]

when you use the "choose store" in the cart checkout it seems to give real availibility. That first screen is full of it

Yep, MichaelK appears to be correct. And I REALLY wanted one today. :rolleyes:

[ihatecable]

You can also go to tivo.com and get it

[BriGuy20]

[Kiddie temper tantrum] BUT I WANTED ONE NOW!!!!! :: Stomps feet ::

NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW!!!![/Kiddie temper tantrum]

[TiVoToo]

BB lost the opportunity to sell one to me because of the web ordering goof. Went to CC Web site and was able to order S3 with delivery on 9/13 (2 days sooner than BB), and the Express shipping was $25 less. Have already received shipping confirmation, so I will have this baby waiting for me when I get home from work tomorrow. Am kicking myself that I forgot to use the CC online 10% discount coupon (which I just used last month when I purchased my 60A2000 HDTV). Oh well, in the past, I have sometimes been able to get them to price match a coupon. Hopefully I'll be able to curtail my excitement long enought to get some work done tomorrow!

[Bierboy]

BB lost the opportunity to sell one to me because of the web ordering goof. Went to CC Web site and was able to order S3 with delivery on 9/13 (2 days sooner than BB), and the Express shipping was $25 less. Have already received shipping confirmation, so I will have this baby waiting for me when I get home from work tomorrow. Am kicking myself that I forgot to use the CC online 10% discount coupon (which I just used last month when I purchased my 60A2000 HDTV). Oh well, in the past, I have sometimes been able to get them to price match a coupon. Hopefully I'll be able to curtail my excitement long enought to get some work done tomorrow!The initial delivery date on mine from CC was Friday, but now they say estimated delivery tomorrow. I'll believe it when I have it in my grubby little hands.

Best Buy REALLY screwed up on this, especially for full MSRP...but....then, that's really nothing new.

[Spiff]

I know it's been said before, but don't buy at retail if you're planning on transferring a lifetime subscription:

From http://www.tivo.com/vip

TiVo® Series3TM HD DVR purchase required by 12/31/2006 and activation of the DVR is required by 01/31/2007. Series3 HD DVR must be purchased through TiVo.com. DVRs purchased through retail channels are not eligible.

[proudpapa]

I went thru the same thing on the web site - was "available' until I tried to purchase it. ..insterestingly - now it won't come up at all. I called Best Buy here in Henderson, NV. They said they will have them Sept. 17th

[PatMcNJ]

You answered my question, I need to buy online for the lifetime service extension.......

I REALLY want this, but its alot of $$.......

I think I will buy it anyway. I just love the TIVO.

[TiVangelist]

How much is it at Best Buy? Cheaper than online at tivo.com?

[Krellis]

How much is it at Best Buy? Cheaper than online at tivo.com?
Nope, $799.99, just like every other retailer that has it listed so far. I would expect that to remain the case for at least a month or two, though someone like Amazon could surprise us (and coupons / gift certificates can always change the equation too).

[landrvr1]

Best Buy Tivo Series3 page is all buggy at this point. Once you to try add to cart, it returns an error page.

Anyone else experience this?

[TiVangelist]

Best Buy Tivo Series3 page is all buggy at this point. Once you to try add to cart, it returns an error page.

Anyone else experience this?

Yes, I got the same problem, that's why I had to ask how much it cost!

[DCIFRTHS]

I visited one of the local BB stores this evening, and there were no S3s to be seen. They checked the computer for me, and said the earliest they would have them is the 17th.

[BriGuy20]

I talked to a Best Buy employee, he said they were in transit at the moment and that the truck would come Thursday (best day to check again). No guarantees that it will be there Thursday, though, and no indication that this particular Best Buy employee knows what the hell he's talking about.

I'm hopeful, though. :)

[TiVoToo]

I know it's been said before, but don't buy at retail if you're planning on transferring a lifetime subscription:

From http://www.tivo.com/vip

TiVo® Series3TM HD DVR purchase required by 12/31/2006 and activation of the DVR is required by 01/31/2007. Series3 HD DVR must be purchased through TiVo.com. DVRs purchased through retail channels are not eligible.

I have a S1 and a S2 with lifetime. I had considered transferring the S1 Life to the S3 so my daughter could take the S1 with her to college. Since I would still have 2 TiVos with Life subs, I figured after the 'free' year was up on the S1, I would pay the MSD fee until the S1 box eventually expired. However, when reading the fine print on the MSD, I discovered that the S1 would not be eligible as it would not be physically located or calling in from same address as the Life'd boxes (even though I would still own it). This meant I would pay the full sub price on the S1 after the 'free' year. This changed the economics since there is no such restriction on a S1 with life sub. So my daughter will take the S1 with Life, and I'll just pay the MSD sub on the S3. The $199 I save on the transfer fee will pay for 29 months of MSD sub. Plus, I expect a local retailer will sell the S3 for under MSRP during the next 30 days and I'll price match for additional savings. In the end, I expect to be able to pay for 3-4 years of MSD sub with the total savings.

[TiVangelist]

I figured after the 'free' year was up on the S1, I would pay the MSD fee until the S1 box eventually expired. .......This meant I would pay the full sub price on the S1 after the 'free' year.

I'm confused....under your first scenario (swapping the lifetime sub from S1 to S3), you say that after the 'free' year was up on the S1, you would pay the monthly sub fee. I get that one. But then later after you found out the S1, after moving to campus, would not be eligible, you say again that you would have to pay the monthly sub fee after the "free" year. So, what's the difference? Can you please clarify?

[Krellis]

However, when reading the fine print on the MSD, I discovered that the S1 would not be eligible as it would not be physically located or calling in from same address as the Life'd boxes (even though I would still own it).
Don't hold me to it, but I'm pretty sure I remember hearing that, while this restriction does exist, it is not actually implemented, technically, on TiVo's side, so that any boxes in your account, regardless of ZIP code, will receive the MSD as long as there's one qualifying subscription. I can confirm from my own experience that this was the case a year or so ago, though I haven't been in that situation since then, so I don't know if it's still the case.

[ah30k]

Just because they don't check it, doesn't make it OK. The policy is "Same residence".

[Krellis]

Just because they don't check it, doesn't make it OK. The policy is "Same residence".
I understand that, but how exactly do you propose one should self-enforce it if TiVo is choosing not to do so? I was simply providing the information that it was not enforced last I knew. I acknowledged what the actual policy is. I imagine that at some point it will be enforced, but there's nothing wrong with pointing out that it currently is not (or was not, last time I knew).

[ah30k]

I understand that, but how exactly do you propose one should self-enforce it if TiVo is choosing not to do so? I was simply providing the information that it was not enforced last I knew. I acknowledged what the actual policy is. I imagine that at some point it will be enforced, but there's nothing wrong with pointing out that it currently is not (or was not, last time I knew).You said any box will "qualify" regardless of address. This is not true. You may get away with it, but it doesn't qualify.

[ehardman]

You said any box will "qualify" regardless of address. This is not true. You may get away with it, but it doesn't qualify.

Why don't you start your own thread instead of hijacking this one.

[albrandwood]

Don't hold me to it, but I'm pretty sure I remember hearing that, while this restriction does exist, it is not actually implemented, technically, on TiVo's side, so that any boxes in your account, regardless of ZIP code, will qualify for the MSD as long as there's one qualifying subscription. I can confirm from my own experience that this was the case a year or so ago, though I haven't been in that situation since then, so I don't know if it's still the case.

Errr ... yeah ... technically, this is true, you can't ... but as far as I am concerned, and the IRS is concerned, and my health and car insurance carriers, and everyone else that I can think of, off... Kids at college are considered part of the household ...

The restriction is only impletemented if/when you call the customer service line, and they bother to investigate what boxes are claiming to be from where ... there is currently NOTHING automated about this. It was only when they were resolving a double-billing issue (I moved house - change of zip - and their system managed to create a new account rather than move the existing account) ... I just said, I'd fix the problem, and the CSR was happy
@

[teddyk]

After spending several hours in DC area Best Buy stores voicemail system (it seems after you go through the menus on the phone system, no one actually ever answers the phone resulting in a prolonged stay in "voicemail jail," as I call it), I finally talked to the Tyson's Corner store. While they did not have any, but thought they would have it in the next several days, they said Fredrickburg, Tenley and Laurel had them right now.

Not having any ability to delay gratification, I -- of course -- immediately went to purchase at Tenley, which was another fiasco, the store is under construction and it took them an hour to find one of the the two that were supposedly in stock.

The bottom line is that one Best Buy can check on the other local stores' stock. Get one store on the phone and get them to check the others. Unfortunately, the Tyson's store was the fourth store I called and the first that offered that option. Pentagon City denied they even had that capability.

Good luck!

[ah30k]

Why don't you start your own thread instead of hijacking this one.Why don't you go $^%$##? I was simply responding to someone who was suggesting an unethical activity.

[DCIFRTHS]

... Not having any ability to delay gratification, I -- of course -- immediately went to purchase at Tenley, ...

:D :D :D

... which was another fiasco, the store is under construction and it took them an hour to find one of the the two that were supposedly in stock. ...

Cool! At least your trip wasn't in vain. Enjoy it.

[Dssturbo1]

not unusual for best buy to have items in store and not out for sale. or listed as in inventory and not actually in store. happened with the samsung bluray release.

[BriGuy20]

Best Buy horror story:

After hearing that it was in stock (at least earlier today) at Tenleytown and reportedly in stock at Laurel, I tried calling the locations to see if I could determine availability.

After about 25 minutes playing phone tag on the Best Buy phone system (and being hung up on 3 times), I finally was able to speak to a Laurel customer service representative saying they had one left in the back.

I printed directions for both, but found out Laurel is about 20 minutes further from me than Tenleytown. I tried to call the Tenleytown location to see if they had the one supposedly left in stock (from the story on here). I was unable to connect with a representative after about 6 MINUTES on hold.

I left, thinking that I would be able to get in touch with somone from Tenley before I passed the exit I'd need to take to get there. This was about an hour before both stores closed, so I knew I'd only get the opportunity to go to one of the two stores.

I WAS ON HOLD FOR ABOUT 40 MORE MINUTES IN THE CAR DRIVING UP THERE. I was able to speak to an actual employee twice. The first time, the employee informed me that things were too busy in his department for him to check on the product, and he tried transferring me over to customer service. This call got dropped after about 5 minutes of waiting on hold for the customer service rep.

The second time, I managed to get an employee from another department, who transfered me over before I could get a chance to tell him I HAD ALREADY WAITED ABOUT AN HOUR TRYING TO GET ONE OF THOSE DOLTS FROM THE VIDEO DEPARTMENT.

I ended up going past the exit to Tenleytown while still on hold, so I gave up and headed to Laurel.

I got to Laurel right at 9, but they had already closed the gates. I tried pleading with the employee letting people out ("I drove an hour to get here!"), but to no avail. I probably should have told him that I wanted to just walk in, buy an $800 dollar product, and walk out, but I was too frustrated to add anything else. If he wasn't the loss prevention guy, I very well might have walked up to him and punched him in the face.

Bear in mind that I would have had PLENTY of time if it didn't take such a long time to get ahold of an employee, or even if the Tenley employee TOOK THE 5 SECONDS NEEDED TO CHECK ON A PRODUCT.

Needless to say, I won't be buying a Series 3 at a Best Buy.

I think this serves as an indication of how much Best Buy values their big ticket customers.

[cotton168]

I actually purchased one at the BB in City of Industry, CA 91745. I talked to the guy in charge of the video department and told him that I saw that they had the S3 in stock online. He tried forever trying to find out, but when he did, he tried looking for the SKU which was not available because the S3 BB site was buggy.

When he went to his computer to actually locate one, he found the SKU and went to look for it. To my surprise, they actually had 2 in stock and the guy found both of them high on a metal rack where they store the overstock stuff. 2 lonely ones and he asked me if I wanted both of them, but I told him that one was most definitely enough. I guess each BB location is different. I did try to call them earlier today, but couldn't get anyone to help. He explained that the reason why was because he usually doesn't have much staff in the morning and if they are serving customers on the floor, then they can't bother with the phone calls. :rolleyes:

Anyhow, now I have to go and try to cancel the S3 I ordered at Tivo.com. Anyone know whether or not that is still possible? I ordered mine on Tuesday and asked for overnight, but it still has not shipped out. :( Oh well...