TiVo.com/vip not so VIP

[MediaLivingRoom]

TiVo wants us to only buy S3 from TiVo.com/vip to get the Lifetime Transfer option!!!

"Hey loyal customers, pay full retail from us and we'll allow you to pay $199 and free second year on you old system. Yeah we know that you may get it cheaper from and online source or local store between now and Dec 31, but who cares, we want to make you feel special. see we even made a special web page and product code just for you (suckers), I mean "loyal customers" wink, wink"

[rainwater]

I really don't know what to think about that page other than its just confusing. Why is that page only for lifetime subscribers?

[DrDravenStone]

Yeah! What's up with that.

TiVo reported Aug. 30 that it lost $6.45 million on revenue of $59.2 million in the quarter ending July 31. And in the current quarter, TiVo said it expects to lose $12 million to $17 million on revenue of $54 million to $56 million

Oh, I see.

[Dan203]

The purpose of that page is so people with lifetime subs on their S1 or S2 units have a way to transfer that lifetime sub to a S3. It sucks that the unit has to be bought directly from TiVo for full MSRP to gain access to that option, but that's the way they decided to handle it.

If you just want the S3 without the lifetime transfer option then simply buy it directly from the link on the fornt page.

Dan

[echodave]

TiVo wants us to only buy S3 from TiVo.com/vip to get the Lifetime Transfer option!!!

"Hey loyal customers, pay full retail from us and we'll allow you to pay $199 and free second year on you old system. Yeah we know that you may get it cheaper from and online source between now and Dec 31, but who cares, we want to make you feel special. see we even made a special web page and product code just for you (suckers), I mean "loyal customers" wink, wink"

Yeah, I've got to admit that I'm pretty torqued off about the whole thing. I've got five tivos, all with lifetime subscriptions, the most recent one picked up on March 13th when they announced that the lifetime subscription model was going away.

All things being equal, I've probably sunk at least $5,000 into the systems just in purchase price and the lifetime subscriptions since June of 2003 when I got my first unit, and when I first saw the "VIP" commercial come streaming down, I honestly thought they were going to be doing something "special" for customers like myself that have been steady, loyal customers that always were willing to spend the money to help them grow their business. I wasn't expecting them to be giving them away or anything, but a discount of some sort really would've been a nice gesture on their part.

At this point, given the ridiculousness of the $800 pricetag combined with the $200 transfer fee, the removal of features that I consider essential in a multi-tivo home like my own, and just general annoyance at this point, they're just going to have to carry on without me in the future. I'm perfectly content with my five series 2 units and their functionality, at least until there's a serious price reduction...and even then I may hold out because of the lifetime subscription issue.

The whole situation sucks, and it's really turned my attitude towards Tivo 180 degrees around to the negative. Over the six months between the elimination of the lifetime subscription (one of the best features and selling points they offered that put them, IMNSHO, head and shoulders above the competition) and now not even having the courtesy of using lubricant with the Series 3 release...I'm no longer spending at least an hour a day telling someone to buy a Tivo, hyping the advantages of Tivo over the other units out there, nor will I be in the future.

I hope you're happy, Tivo peeps. Really hope it turns out to be worth it for you in the long run to alienate people like me. :mad:

[Bierboy]

I know I'm not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but I went completely through their odering process thinking I could just get the box....then realized it was the ordering process for lifetime subscribers who want to transfer to the S3 for another $199. So I had to call TiVo CS within 15 minutes of my online order to cancel. I will say they were very cooperative.

[Dennis Wilkinson]

Don't know why you would have expected any different -- this is exactly how the last "special" lifetime transfer from non-grandfathered Series 1's to Series 2 worked. (Plus the fee and the year of service on the old box, which is new.)

[bidger]

Squeaky wheel strategy, MLR?

[Bierboy]

Don't know why you would have expected any different...As I said....I'm not the brightest bulb... :rolleyes: I was rushing to order it (gee, anyone else doing that right now?)....and just blew right by that piece of info.

[echodave]

Don't know why you would have expected any different -- this is exactly how the last "special" lifetime transfer from non-grandfathered Series 1's to Series 2 worked. (Plus the fee and the year of service on the old box, which is new.)

Know what? It's not even the $200 pricetag on the transfer that pisses me off as much as the $800 tag on the box itself plus the removal of MRV and other features that I've come to use on a daily basis with my systems. I can understand the $200 to "transfer" a lifetime subscription from one piece of hardware to another...it's no different than getting license keys to software that are tied to machine names rather than allowing you to install it anywhere you want. Seriously, I get that, and I'm cool with it.

If it had MRV, if it wasn't $800, and if I didn't feel like I was getting raked over the coals, I'd probably be all over it and ordering multiple units today. It's not like I don't have the coin to blow on toys...it's the simple fact that I feel like it's a ripoff at this point.

It just seems like the only "VIP" offering is the joy of allowing me the privilege of paying full MSRP for the box *plus* the $200 transfer fee.

Thanks, but no thanks.

[cap]

I know I'm not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but I went completely through their odering process thinking I could just get the box....then realized it was the ordering process for lifetime subscribers who want to transfer to the S3 for another $199. So I had to call TiVo CS within 15 minutes of my online order to cancel. I will say they were very cooperative.

Are you sure about this?
Since they didn't take the $199 from me when I ordered I figured I could choose when I get it. Either transfer or activate for the $6.95 MSD.

[Adam1115]

TiVo wants us to only buy S3 from TiVo.com/vip to get the Lifetime Transfer option!!!

"Hey loyal customers, pay full retail from us and we'll allow you to pay $199 and free second year on you old system. Yeah we know that you may get it cheaper from and online source between now and Dec 31, but who cares, we want to make you feel special. see we even made a special web page and product code just for you (suckers), I mean "loyal customers" wink, wink"

I really don't think you're getting screwed. I bet if you buy it for $799, plus the $199 transfer, you'd fetch WELL OVER $1,000 on ebay.

Probably more like $1,500 +....

[MediaLivingRoom]

Are you sure about this?
Since they didn't take the $199 from me when I ordered I figured I could choose when I get it. Either transfer or activate for the $6.95 MSD.

Are you sure you can get MSD for $6.95???

[Bierboy]

Are you sure about this?
Since they didn't take the $199 from me when I ordered I figured I could choose when I get it. Either transfer or activate for the $6.95 MSD.
No, I'm not sure, but when I talked to the CS rep, she didn't know what they'd do if others ordered it through the lifetime sub transfer option, then "realized" they don't have a lifetime sub.

[hawkamer]

TiVo wants us to only buy S3 from TiVo.com/vip to get the Lifetime Transfer option!!!

"Hey loyal customers, pay full retail from us and we'll allow you to pay $199 and free second year on you old system. Yeah we know that you may get it cheaper from and online source or local store between now and Dec 31, but who cares, we want to make you feel special. see we even made a special web page and product code just for you (suckers), I mean "loyal customers" wink, wink"

That's the last straw. You, sir, are on notice!

[btwyx]

TiVo wants us to only buy S3 from TiVo.com/vip to get the Lifetime Transfer option!!!

"Hey loyal customers, pay full retail from us and we'll allow you to pay $199 and free second year on you old system. Yeah we know that you may get it cheaper from and online source or local store between now and Dec 31, but who cares, we want to make you feel special. see we even made a special web page and product code just for you (suckers), I mean "loyal customers" wink, wink"Can someone tell me what the complaint is here?

He seems mad, but isn't actually making any coherent point I can see.

[Corran Horn]

I'm interested as I have a Philips Series 1 with lifetime that has been chugging away fine since the get go, and I'm looking to replace my DirecTivo. That $200 transfer fee is a little rough though.

[tunnelengineer]

he's just about worn out his welcome. he has had absolutely nothing good to say in any thread. I guess there is always the ignore option................

[GoHokies!]

Don't think there is one, since anywhere you get it you'll be paying full MSRP for a while...

Quityerbitchin', you're making yourself look like a fool.

[eric_mcgovern]

Well didn't take too long for the new Forum to turn into a whine-fest...time to get out the cheese.

[Dennis Wilkinson]

As I said....I'm not the brightest bulb... :rolleyes: I was rushing to order it (gee, anyone else doing that right now?)....and just blew right by that piece of info.

That's what I get for not quoting -- I was replying to the OP, not you.

[Stu_Bee]

Personally I think Tivo's most "loyal customers" are the ones that have been paying monthly fees for more than 2 years. That was the time after which my Tivo service has been basically free (ie lifetime)

[Jazhuis]

Don't think there is one, since anywhere you get it you'll be paying full MSRP for a while...

Actually, I think people were lining up ways to get their S3 from other retailers for less than MSRP (BB coupons, gift cards, store credit, etc), and now they're stuck going straight through Tivo.

...at least, that's what I gleaned from his comment and other threads as well.

[smak]

Wait, i'm confused. All I see for the last 6 months are complaints that Tivo doesn't offer lifetime, that even though at $6.95 a month, and lifetime was the equivalent of 43 months, people were begging Tivo to keep lifetime.

Now they offer a $200 lifetime transfer, that nobody expected, and nobody has to do, and we're being screwed?

And people are complaining because of undisclosed, potential, but unsure discounts at who knows where.

Hey, I have a $200 discount at Just Tires, and I'm pissed at Tivo for not selling the series 3 there. Friggin Tivo bastards.

-smak-

[maki]

I really don't think you're getting screwed. I bet if you buy it for $799, plus the $199 transfer, you'd fetch WELL OVER $1,000 on ebay.

Probably more like $1,500 +....

Good idea! Though it's only a $500 profit and if you want an S3 yourself it's not even enough to cover one.

[LostTivo]

Man, glad someone pointed this out. That does suck that you have to buy it from tivo.com considering you can already get the box for $720 with free shipping from Circuit City.com. Glad I found out in time to cancel my order.

[Sirshagg]

I think it's awesome that Tivo is allowing lifetime transfers, and that they are giving us 3.5 months do do it. Granted it would be nice if we could purchase the hardware anywhere but the reality is that there probably won't be many great deals on these puppies for a while (except possibly 10% off anything coupons like i've seen mantioned with BB). Even if there will be a rebate on this unit all previous rebates required NEW service to be eligable for the rebate so that wouldn't help. Plus Tivo is giving you service on the old unit for a year free which would otherwise cost $83.40 (6.95 *12).

For me personally I doubt I'll take advantage. I already have an HDTivo for sat (as well as a lifetime SA) and I think I'll wait till the price comes down and then get the S3 and MSD it.

[Royster]

I've signed up for the vip deal and I'm going to be transferring my Series 1 lifetime subscriotion to the new box.

1. I got my money's worth out of my Phillips Series 1 lifetime membership. $200 spent over 6 years ago looks well spent i retrospect.

People seem to be acting as thogh those 6 year old boxes are going to last forever. I already replaced my first HD some years ago and I suspect something else will go before

Since I have a Series 1, I've never seen/used/relied upon some of the features peole are complaining about.

Pricewise, the S3 is comparable to that of my Sony HDD which has lots of issues.

All in all, I'm pleased that TiVo has made this offer to it's longtime customers. My S1 dates back to May 2000 - *after* the grandfather date. This is an opportunity to get a new TiVo with a lifetime subscription. Why should I not be pleased? I'd rather this box had been available a *year* ago...