just found the motherload!

[cwoody222]

So I've been checking my local BB and CC stores' inventories online for the past few weeks.

Our BB had 2 in stock a few weeks ago. I know the guy who bought 1 of them and the other is gone too. Another BB over an hour away just got more in this week (according to what I see when I check every day).

Well, I just found out one of the 2 new BBs they're building here opened on Friday so I headed over to check it out.

They had at least 12, probably more! And a demo! Actually they had a whole nice table w/ 2 plasmas set up just for the Series 3. It was a VERY NICE demo area, all for TiVo!

(unfortunately it's not facing the main area of the store and I walked right by it twice!)

I was SO tempted to use my 10-12% off coupon but I resisted for now. I just don't have the cash. Here's what I may end up doing on Monday (since the coupon expires).

$799 - 12% (open BB credit for 12mo no interest) = about $699
$200 to transfer lifetime from a busted S1 I have

= $900

Sell my current S2 w/ lifetime on eBay for at least $450 hopefully.
Sell an old ReplayTV 2020 on eBay for at least $200 hopefully.
Maybe sell 2 broken S1s on eBay for parts? Both are able to run as "TiVo Basic" and probably only need basic parts like power supply. Maybe get $100 total?

That'll bring my total payment for the S3 to $150 if I'm lucky!

[jakerock]

I was in Best Buy at lunch today trying to use my 12% coupon and they don't have any in New England but a store in western NY showed 10 or 12 in stock. I don't remember which one, but I will bet that it is the one near you.

Darn your eyes! :eek:

[Chester_Lampwick]

Is that Greece?

[cwoody222]

You stay away from my stash! :)

[Chester_Lampwick]

Maybe sell 2 broken S1s on eBay for parts? Both are able to run as "TiVo Basic" and probably only need basic parts like power supply. Maybe get $100 total?


I think you mean "boat anchor" not "TiVo Basic". As in using it with no guide at all? TiVo basic only exists on Pioneer and Toshiba Series 2 units, I think....

[cwoody222]

[QUOTE=cwoody222]
Maybe sell 2 broken S1s on eBay for parts? Both are able to run as "TiVo Basic" and probably only need basic parts like power supply. Maybe get $100 total?
QUOTE]

I think you mean "boat anchor" not "TiVo Basic". As in using it with no guide at all? TiVo basic only exists on Pioneer and Toshiba Series 2 units, I think....

True, that's what I meant.

The S1's I have, if fixed, would let you use it as a digital VCR only.

My bad.

PS Chester - check your PMs

[Chester_Lampwick]

You stay away from my stash! :)

I heading towards the border as we speak :-)

[HDTiVo]

Gee, think of that, more evidence that there isn't a shortage. :p

[shady]

$799 - 12% (open BB credit for 12mo no interest) = about $699
$200 to transfer lifetime from a busted S1 I have


That's assuming that they will still let you transfer lifetime to a box bought at retail.

[cwoody222]

They've officially removed the stipulation that the purchase is from tivo.com from the VIP website.

[Cormode]

Don't want to rain on your parade, but if you're making this a public discussion then ...



$799 - 12% (open BB credit for 12mo no interest) = about $699
$200 to transfer lifetime from a busted S1 I have

= $900

Sell my current S2 w/ lifetime on eBay for at least $450 hopefully.
Sell an old ReplayTV 2020 on eBay for at least $200 hopefully.
Maybe sell 2 broken S1s on eBay for parts? Both are able to run as "TiVo Basic" and probably only need basic parts like power supply. Maybe get $100 total?

That'll bring my total payment for the S3 to $150 if I'm lucky!

$799 - 12% + Buffalo Sales tax = $764.64

S1 without sub? eBay value = $1
S2 = $400 take home after ebay + paypal fees
RP = $200

Net cost = $360. More than double your projection.

[g808]

Seems like more are hitting stores. I saw a stack of them at my local Fry's yesterday plus a demo setup.

[gastrof]

I think you mean "boat anchor" not "TiVo Basic". As in using it with no guide at all? TiVo basic only exists on Pioneer and Toshiba Series 2 units, I think....


Hey, CL!

My two unsubbed machines work very nicely, and there's no way they can be called boat anchors.

I may not have all the fancy stuff like the names of the shows stored along with episode descriptions, but the machine does its job and that's what counts.

I'm at this moment watching the series finale to STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE which ran well over a year ago. I've had it stored on the machine all this time, and never bothered to delete it.

My machines may not have all the features, but they're still TiVos. :)

[gastrof]

S1 without sub? eBay value = $1...

You got a series 1 (that works without service) in operating condition and want to sell it for a dollar?

Over here, guy. Over here.

[Chester_Lampwick]

Sorry, I didn't invent the term I just borowed it, possibly from another forum. I had to operate my S1's like this for a couple years until version 7.x software came out for the Series 2. Before that I couldn't get guide data for my Canadian channel lineups....

I think smart VCR would be more appropriate.....

Maybe he said $1 because those units are broken?

[Cormode]

Ok, the $1 comment was a little low. The point was don't build a plan around getting $50 in cash for them. You've got to spend money fixing them and selling them

This is pretty typical of what I've seen lately:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Philips-Tivo-HDR212-Series-1-DVR_W0QQitemZ120037124751

there are dozens and dozens of SA1s on ebay with higher starting prices, but few stock unsubbed units being sold at higher prices. Note that many of the higher priced ones are hacked, upgraded or have free shipping.

So you take $27 subtract ebay fees and paypal fees ($4) Subtract the cost of parts to fix the power supplies ($5) and you only need 40 of them to pay for an S3.

[eisenb11]

You got a series 1 (that works without service) in operating condition and want to sell it for a dollar?

Over here, guy. Over here.

It doesn't even have to be in operating condition as far as I know.

I bought a lifetimed S1 with no remote and no power cord. I had no idea if it works... I still have no idea if it works... and I had no problem transferring the lifetime sub off of it.

[mattack]

They've officially removed the stipulation that the purchase is from tivo.com from the VIP website.

really really really??? What's the URL again??

[HDTiVo]

really really really??? What's the URL again??
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=316557

[mrmike]

They've officially removed the stipulation that the purchase is from tivo.com from the VIP website.

It does still say you have to puchase your S3 for $799, though.

[vman41]

I was in Best Buy at lunch today trying to use my 12% coupon and they don't have any in New England but a store in western NY showed 10 or 12 in stock. I don't remember which one, but I will bet that it is the one near you.


What page to you go to that shows you stock counts? When I search for store availability, I just get stores listed as available (bold) or not available (gray).

Earlier this week, 1 store in my area (Grove City) showed available. This morning all of central Ohio show available. I'm tempted to stop by a store just to see how clueless the staff is about it.

[HDTiVo]

It does still say you have to puchase your S3 for $799, though.
That seems to be just more bad writing skills. ;)

[cwoody222]

What page to you go to that shows you stock counts? When I search for store availability, I just get stores listed as available (bold) or not available (gray).

Earlier this week, 1 store in my area (Grove City) showed available. This morning all of central Ohio show available. I'm tempted to stop by a store just to see how clueless the staff is about it.

I think the previous poster was IN his local BB where they could look up actual counts for him.

[cwoody222]

The "motherload" is officially shy 1 HD TiVo :)

[DCIFRTHS]

The "motherload" is officially shy 1 HD TiVo :)

Any idea where I can get the Best Buy coupon from (hopefully online)?

EDIT: Found the coupon, but it's not in stock any any local stores :mad:

[mattack]

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=316557

With the $799 price (as other noted), and "Buy" actually being a link, that doesn't quite seem like an "official" statement that you can buy elsewhere.

But I'm still waiting closer to Dec 31 to worry about this more.

[Cormode]

I called and asked I said "do I have buy my S3 direct from tivo.com to get the vip offer"

"no"

"I can buy it at best buy or where ever"

"yes"

"if I buy one used from somebody can i get the vip"

(sighs) "yes"

So I took that as confirmation that neither does one need to buy from tivo.com nor does one need to pay $799

[cwoody222]

I transfered my service today no problem. They literally asked for my phone number, name, new TiVo account number and payment info. Whole process took less than 5 minutes.

TiVo would have no way to verify the price I paid. And the fact that "buy" is a link is no more than their obvious suggestion that they PREFER you buy from them (for obvious reasons). The VIP page used to explicitly state that purchases much be from tivo.com. They removed those statements.

[cwoody222]

Here's the post about me transferring service.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4463993&&#post4463993

[Leo_N]

To whoever was worried about the transfer: They'll never know how much you paid for it. They do not ask for any type of receipt. They just get the TSN of your old life-timed Tivo and the TSN off your S3 and take your credit card number. Takes less than 5 minutes.