A Pricing Word Problem

[bmgoodman]

Let's assume I've gone through the five stages of dying, so far as the new pricing structure. I'm now at "acceptance".

I have 1 S1 with lifetime and 2 S2 going month-to-month at $6.95/mo each. Let's say I turn off 1 S2 and put it into a closet. I use my rewards points and get a spiffy new S2. Q1: Can I substitute the new S2 DT in at $6.95/mo to replace the one I put into the closet, without signing a 3 year commitment?

Assuming the answer to Q1 is "No", I then sign up for 3 years of Tivo service and add the new S2 DT for $6.95/mo. Q2: In a year, if I buy a new S3, can I just add it onto my account at $6.95/mo or must I renew my commitment for 3 more years? Or does it take a separate 3 year commitment, independent of the 3 year commitment on the S2 DT?

Q3: Once I am on a 3-year commitment, and the S1 Lifetime Tivo dies, what happens to my rate? Do all my $6.95/mo Tivos stay at $6.95/mo? Does my remaining S2 ST that was going month-to-month stay at $6.95/mo?

Q4: IF all my non-lifetime Tivos are on a 3 year commitment at $6.95/mo, what happens if I sell my S1 Lifetime Tivo?

These are not merely questions posed as an exercise. I am really trying to determine where I want to go with Tivo. I'd love to hear some answers from TivoPony in particular. His answers would help me know if I still want to recommend Tivo to others.

Thanks.

[HDTiVo]

A1-n: Don't buy any more TiVoes.

Why buy anything that makes you think so much? Why commit to 3yrs on an analog DVR?

Just buy a Vista PC and some Media Extenders.

[kido]

A1-n: Don't buy any more TiVoes.

Why buy anything that makes you think so much? Why commit to 3yrs on an analog DVR?

Just buy a Vista PC and some Media Extenders.

1 Vista PC = $1000
2 Media Extenders (Xbox 360) = $600

this works out to a little over $44 per month over the next 3 years. you would have to use this setup for 60 months to break even over paying TiVo for units on 3 year contracts at $12.95 + $6.95 + $6.95 per month.

bmgoodman, i would call TiVo to ask your questions, but if I were in your shoes I would think about buying the S3 before the end of the year and transferring the S1 lifetime to it. if i was to have lifetime on any machine, i would want it on the latest and greatest.

[bmgoodman]

bmgoodman, i would call TiVo to ask your questions, but if I were in your shoes I would think about buying the S3 before the end of the year and transferring the S1 lifetime to it. if i was to have lifetime on any machine, i would want it on the latest and greatest.

But to transfer lifetime, I must buy the S3 from Tivo, right? That means I'll have to pay at least $80 more for the device, if not more. Frankly, if I can lock in the S3 for $6.95/mo for 3 years, I would probably go that route, AFTER letting the S3 price fall to around $500 sometime next year.

As for calling Tivo to ask my questions, I would much rather ask them here for two reasons. One is that I'm trying to get Tivo's response in writing. The other is that I'm betting I'm not the only one with these questions. IF that is true, an update to Tivo's FAQ would be in order. I'd really like the responses to benefit more than just me as I can tell most of us are still fuzzy even after reading the current FAQ.

Thanks!

[Gai-jin]

Let's say I turn off 1 S2 and put it into a closet. I use my rewards points and get a spiffy new S2. Q1: Can I substitute the new S2 DT in at $6.95/mo to replace the one I put into the closet, without signing a 3 year commitment?

Yes. You can Transfer service from one tivo box to another without any change to your current service agreement. However, if you were to deactivate the 1st tivo, then you've got to start all over as a new customer with the new tivo.

Q2: In a year, if I buy a new S3, can I just add it onto my account at $6.95/mo or must I renew my commitment for 3 more years? Or does it take a separate 3 year commitment, independent of the 3 year commitment on the S2 DT?
See above.


Q3: Once I am on a 3-year commitment, and the S1 Lifetime Tivo dies, what happens to my rate? Do all my $6.95/mo Tivos stay at $6.95/mo? Does my remaining S2 ST that was going month-to-month stay at $6.95/mo?

One of your 6.95 tivo's would go up in price. At this point, I don't know whether that new price would be 12.95 or 19.95, based on the new pricing scandal. I mean scheme.

Q4: IF all my non-lifetime Tivos are on a 3 year commitment at $6.95/mo, what happens if I sell my S1 Lifetime Tivo?


They will remain on a 3 year commitment, but you lose the $6 discount on one of those tivo's, so it would be 12.95/mo.

[ZeoTiVo]

Let's assume I've gone through the five stages of dying, so far as the new pricing structure. I'm now at "acceptance".

I have 1 S1 with lifetime and 2 S2 going month-to-month at $6.95/mo each. Let's say I turn off 1 S2 and put it into a closet. I use my rewards points and get a spiffy new S2. Q1: Can I substitute the new S2 DT in at $6.95/mo to replace the one I put into the closet, without signing a 3 year commitment? Good question I have not seen answered directly in the FAQs here. Like Gai-jin said - The S2 would have to be currently active and you would have to ask for a transfer of service, that much I am certain of. Once you deactivate one of the S2 or it does not call in for 6 months - the service is interrupted and you have to start anew under the new plans.
Assuming the answer to Q1 is "No", I then sign up for 3 years of Tivo service and add the new S2 DT for $6.95/mo. Q2: In a year, if I buy a new S3, can I just add it onto my account at $6.95/mo or must I renew my commitment for 3 more years? Or does it take a separate 3 year commitment, independent of the 3 year commitment on the S2 DT? - that I have seen answered in the FAQ - the 3 years is definitely for service - not the specific hardware. With the new plan you can indeed buy an S3 and transfer the service to it. It is the DVRs still running under the old month to month that I am not sertain you can transfer around. PS - I aslo saw in the FAq TiVoPony posted that after the 3 years the service continues as a month to month - no need to resign for some period of time again. This does at least make the transfer of your current service possible to me, at least worth a few calls to get the final answer.
Q3: Once I am on a 3-year commitment, and the S1 Lifetime Tivo dies, what happens to my rate? Do all my $6.95/mo Tivos stay at $6.95/mo? Does my remaining S2 ST that was going month-to-month stay at $6.95/mo?

Q4: IF all my non-lifetime Tivos are on a 3 year commitment at $6.95/mo, what happens if I sell my S1 Lifetime Tivo? both of these answers are the same - one of your service agreements would go up by 6 dollars. It would not be a start of a new contract - just one goes up by 6$. No idea how they decide which one. NOTE - in the case of your S1 - it only needs to call in every 6 months to stay active on your account. You could reimage the drive if the drive went bad and it would still be recognized correctly at call in time. The motherboard would have to go bad for you to have a total problem. If it was me with the S1 - I would tyr to find teh cash to get the S3 and transfer lifetime. You can buy from anywhere and transfer the lifetime so the deal on the S3 at this board would save a good chunk of change.

These are not merely questions posed as an exercise. I am really trying to determine where I want to go with Tivo. I'd love to hear some answers from TivoPony in particular. His answers would help me know if I still want to recommend Tivo to others.

Thanks. No answer for this one ;)

[MediaLivingRoom]

1 Vista PC = $1000
2 Media Extenders (Xbox 360) = $600

this works out to a little over $44 per month over the next 3 years. you would have to use this setup for 60 months to break even over paying TiVo for units on 3 year contracts at $12.95 + $6.95 + $6.95 per month.

bmgoodman, i would call TiVo to ask your questions, but if I were in your shoes I would think about buying the S3 before the end of the year and transferring the S1 lifetime to it. if i was to have lifetime on any machine, i would want it on the latest and greatest.


Since Microsoft is releasing Vista soon, I'll see what CableCard solutions come for HP and maybe I'll pick up some of these systems for extending...


Linksys announces network ready DiVX/DVD player
http://www.hardware.info/en-US/news/ym2cmJqRwpya/Linksys_announces_network_ready_DiVXDVD_player/

[GoHokies!]

But to transfer lifetime, I must buy the S3 from Tivo, right? That means I'll have to pay at least $80 more for the device, if not more.

This part is no longer true - you can buy it anywhere and transfer the lifetime over.

Frankly, that's what I would do to get the lifetime on the newest box where it will be useful to you the longest. You'll still have a free year on the old S1 too, so you don't have to run out and grab another box right away.

[HDTiVo]

1 Vista PC = $1000 $699
2 Media Extenders (Xbox 360) = $600 $300

this works out to a little over $44 per month over the next 3 years. you would have to use this setup for 60 months to break even over paying TiVo for units on 3 year contracts at $12.95 + $6.95 + $6.95 per month.

:)

3 S3s @$680 = $2040
3-3yr svc @$299=$799.40*

Wait for MRV/TTG someday.
DOD limited to TiVoCast?

---------------

3 Vista PC @$699 = $2097
2 MediaExt @$150 = $300

---------------

1 Vista PC - 4 or 6 CC slots = $899-1299 (?)
2 MediaExt @$150 = $300

---------------

3 S2s = $0
3 svc = $799.40*

No HD

------------------

Use the XP machine you have now for TTG = $0
Dual tuner card = $?
2 MediaExt= $300

No Premium HD from Cable

------------------

Spend $799.40 more for years 4-6

Spend $0 for years 4-6

-------------------


Please add input...



* $299+$6.95*2*36=799.40 (limited time offer :rolleyes: )

[classicsat]

1: I don't know for sure, but I think you can stick a rewards TiVo in there with a service number change on one of your non Lifetime DVRs.

2: If you can service number change, you can just use it to replace one of your DVRs. To add it, will begin a commitment for it, if you go month-to-month or prepay on it. The commitment on that DVR would be independant of any other DVR's commitment, I am supposing.

3&4: As said, your price on one DVR will go up, by $6, which would be the non MSD rate for your contract, likely not renewing it, just continuing it at another rate

5: You can move the S1 Lifetime to any S3 DVR, TiVo or Retail.
The policy was originally tivo.com purchases only but has been changed.

[kido]

:)

3 Vista PC @$699 = $2097
2 MediaExt @$150 = $300



where do you find media extenders for $150? MS only mentions Xbox 360s for this option. What's your source for the price quote?