Do you have to buy the S3 from TiVo to transfer Lifetime

[prisk]

Forgive me if this is redundant but numerous searchs did not provide an answer:

Do you have to purchase the S3 from TiVo (at $799) in order to be able to transfer Lifetime from a S2, or can it be purchased from someplace else (Weaknees, Best Buy, etc.)?

The Tivo VIP page does not specify.

Follow-Up: I called the TiVo VIP number. Got a very, um, intellectually-challenged-sounding invididual on the phone, who initially said No, then put me on hold, then came back and said Yes.

[Georgia Guy]

No

[Leo_N]

When the S3 originally came out, yes you had to buy them from Tivo. Almost immediately they changed their mind and since then, you can buy them anywhere and are allowed to transfer your lifetime.

[Jerry_K]

I just transferred Saturday and it went fine on a unit I bought on the web.

[ashu]

Xferred to a Best Buy-sourced unit last week.

They took away the restriction almost instantly after announcing it.

[hackysak]

I bought my S3 from Tivo Community store and I have successfully transferred my lifetime from my S2 to the new S3.

[ScottUrman]

Just transferred ours (bought at Best Buy) this morning. The CSR said that "our lifetime customers love their Tivos". :)

[cptodd]

Do you get a month (or however long. . . I can't really remember) free like the old days or do you immediately have to pay upfront? I hope I get a bit of time because the unit I want to transfer my lifetime from is with some friends. I want to get it back from them and then sell it and then transfer the lifetime so that the 12 months on the old unit starts when the new person gets the machine. Hence, I want to sell the unit for the 12 months of free service (whatever that might be). Do you folks suggest I sell it for 12 months at the new price or the old price or a slight discount from the new price (which I believe is near $20 per month now right?)?

What price point is attractive do you think?

Chris

[greg_burns]

Do you get a month (or however long. . . I can't really remember) free like the old days or do you immediately have to pay upfront?

I believe you get only 1 week. Others, myself included, went monthly (@ MSD rate) at first and then transferred later. They gave me some grief on the phone about it, but did it anyways and refunded my 1 month of $6.95 I paid. Not sure what would have happened had a let 30 days slip by though.

[mattack]

the unit you are transferring lifetime from needs to remain on your account for the full 12 months.

[flyersfan]

I can't address a price point but I can tell you that selling it will prove problematic. The old TiVo with the 12-month subscription must remain on your account. No big deal if it's just a family member, but whoever you sell it to will not be able to manage the account for the box in any way. And frankly, as a buyer, that would turn me off immediately.

To quote from their T&C for the lifetime transfer: "The 1-year contract is not transferable to another party."

The S3 box will work for 7 days after you start Guided Setup. I set it up and let it run for 5 days before transferring the lifetime.

[cptodd]

the unit you are transferring lifetime from needs to remain on your account for the full 12 months.

Well damn! This will be my third TiVo. I only have one TV. SIGH!

[Dr_Zoidberg]

Does anyone know when the lifetime transfer offer will expire?

[TydalForce]

According to the Terms and Conditions, you have until December 31 to purchase the S3, and until January 31 2007 to transfer lifetime.

http://www.tivo.com/vip

Now, I'm curious. If I were to purchase a S3 from someone else (Weaknees, store.tivocommunity, anywhere else) on .. lets say January 5 -- how would they know? Do they want a copy of the receipt?

[Dr_Zoidberg]

According to the Terms and Conditions, you have until December 31 to purchase the S3, and until January 31 2007 to transfer lifetime.


Ah yes, the tiny text. I skimmed it, looking for "expire".

How likely does anything think it will be that they extend the offer? If these units were retailing for something like $399, I'd be all over this deal.

[cwoody222]

I bought mine from a local Best Buy and transferred just fine.