Waiting for Tivo.com's second wave

[ctakim]

So I took a bit of time to debate getting the series 3, but I decided to pull the trigger because I really want more HD content for my JVC 1080p DILA RP LCoS set. So I ordered from Tivo.com on 9/17/06 at 830am (order #559###). I ordered UPS ground shipping. Got a confirmation email on the order two hours later, but now, one week later I'm still waiting to hear more. My credit card has not been charged.

So how long will I wait? :rolleyes:

[Innerloop]

Last time I checked "abtelectronics" still had some and they shipped it in 24 hours as promised.

[ctakim]

I forgot to add that I got itchy fingers today so I visited my nearest BB in north San Antonio. No Series 3 units to sell and none expected until October. Interestingly the sales guy said the price would be $600?? That would be a quick price dip. So I pretty much have to wait for Tivo.com.

[Ames]

I ordered from CC on the same day. I've had my S3 since Tuesday. It's probably too late to cancel.

[jfh3]

I forgot to add that I got itchy fingers today so I visited my nearest BB in north San Antonio. No Series 3 units to sell and none expected until October. Interestingly the sales guy said the price would be $600?? That would be a quick price dip. So I pretty much have to wait for Tivo.com.

$600? In October? No chance. If your sales guy is so sure of the price, have him sell one to you at that price and you can pick it up in October. See how fast that price goes up. ;)

I've seen the Series 3 screen in a number of Best Buy stores - all say $799.

[ctakim]

I did not question him in detail and I was skeptical about the price. But the BB's guys get such bad press in the AVS Forum that I did not press it.

[ctakim]

Ahhemm. Correction, ordered 9/17 delivered 9/20!! Why the discrepancy with the date of starting this post? It's a long story, business trip, birthday on the weekend, wife and kids wanted to surprise Dad. Anyway, thanks to TiVo for great service from my order on TiVo.com.

Now if I can just get the cable company to stop refusing to provide cable cards so I can get some HD content into this box... :)

[vman41]

Now if I can just get the cable company to stop refusing to provide cable cards so I can get some HD content into this box... :)

Technically, all that is required to get some HD on the box is an appropriate antenna.

[davecramer74]

$600? In October? No chance.

theyll be 499 come xmas time.

[rainwater]

theyll be 499 come xmas time.

Keep dreaming. They most likely will not drop the price before 12/31/2006 because thats when the lifetime transfer deal ends.

[loubob57]

Now if I can just get the cable company to stop refusing to provide cable cards so I can get some HD content into this box... :)
Have you reported this to TiVo yet? They'll get it fixed.

[rainwater]

Have you reported this to TiVo yet? They'll get it fixed.

Not if they cable company is exempt from providing cable cards.

[bilbo]

Keep dreaming. They most likely will not drop the price before 12/31/2006 because thats when the lifetime transfer deal ends.

Price will drop if demand is not there.

Best Buy, Circuit City, and Tivo won't let their boxes sit idlely if the demand isn't there.

If BB & CC are buying the S3's from Tivo for $499, they will probably renogotiate a lower price from Tivo if the retail price drops below $600. If Tivo can sell S3's to customers direct for $599 versus $399 to Best Buy, they will do that and allow a $199 transfer before the end of the year if market conditions warrant a reduction of the MSRP to $599 before 12/31/06.

Tivo doesn't have the luxury of sitting on boxes priced too high for the rest of year (after the initial two to three weeks of the release -- starting approximately October 2nd) due to their financial situation.

[ChuckyBox]

Tivo doesn't have the luxury of sitting on boxes priced too high for the rest of year (after the initial two to three weeks of the release -- starting approximately October 2nd) due to their financial situation.
I don't think there will ever be enough unsold S3 boxes sitting around to significantly affect TiVo's financial situation. They just don't expect sales to be that high. But heavily discounting them during the period of greatest demand doesn't make a lot of sense. You sell what you can at Christmas, then clear out excess inventory with discounts in January.

[HDTiVo]

I don't think there will ever be enough unsold S3 boxes sitting around to significantly affect TiVo's financial situation. They just don't expect sales to be that high. But heavily discounting them during the period of greatest demand doesn't make a lot of sense. You sell what you can at Christmas, then clear out excess inventory with discounts in January.
That's about as good a plan as any other TiVo has come up with.

[Stanley Rohner]

If it's any comparison the DIRECTV/HDTV/TIVO was $1000 for the whole first year it was out.

I thought new products came out high priced and the price dropped after xx units were sold once they had sold enough units to cover the development costs.

[Tom5040]

Not if they cable company is exempt from providing cable cards.

I guess it depnds on whether your CC is classified as a "major" CC. It's an FCC regulation - not up for interpretation and there are no exemptions. As posted elsewhere on this forum,

"All major cable companies (MSOs) are required by the FCC's 'Plug-and-Play' order to provide CableCARDs to any customer using any UDCR (Uni-Directional Cable Receiver) device on CableLabs list of certified, verified or self- verified cable products. The TiVo Series3 HD DVR product is on this list."

Also posted elsewhere on this forum by a Tivo representative:

"If you contact your cable company, and they say they won't give you the cards you want...call us.

When you call, explain that you need help getting cable cards from your cable company, and would like to speak to the HD Team.

They'll get on the line with you while you call your cable company, and they'll help explain everything to the cable representative."

Hope this helps.