Monthly fee on 2nd S2

[Cori]

I've been reading the forum but I'm not clear on this issue. If some kind soul would enlighten me I'd be greatful. I currently have one S2 with lifetime on it. I'm looking to add a dual tuner S2 to the household. My understanding was that the second box would be discounted to $6.95 a month, but from all I've read today this doesn't seem to be the case anymore? Could someone clarify for me how much a second S2 will end up costing me monthly? I've looked at the website and see no mention of discounts. Thanks

[pdhenry]

What you get now is $6 off of the regular subscription rate. The regular rate depends on how long you're willing to commit - for a 3-year committment you can still get the $6.95 rate on a second (etc.) box.

I think it's a fluke in the program, but you have to buy a box at retail (e.g., somewehere other than TiVo.com) to get a multi-system discount during the initial committment period. This means you'll have to pay more upfront for the box and submit for a rebate.

Edit: Here (http://www.tivo.com/5.11.4.asp)'s the page with the multi-service discount policy.

[Cori]

What you get now is $6 off of the regular subscription rate. The regular rate depends on how long you're willing to commit - for a 3-year committment you can still get the $6.95 rate on a second (etc.) box.

I think it's a fluke in the program, but you have to buy a box at retail (e.g., somewehere other than TiVo.com) to get a multi-system discount during the initial committment period. This means you'll have to pay more upfront for the box and submit for a rebate.

Thank you so much PDHenry...That clarifies things nicely. I guess I'll be adding my second box shortly. Thanks again :)

[colforbin13]

Or, you can buy the box as a gift for yourself from here - http://www.tivo.com/2.9.asp and not worry about the rebate. As long as you commit to 3 years, you'll still get the $6.95/month pricing.

[pdhenry]

How strange. When is a package deal not a package deal?

If you go to the regular service plan terms (http://www.tivo.com/5.11.6.asp) you find the clause stating13. Prepaid and monthly TiVo Package Payment Plans, including any Promotional Pricing, are not eligible for the Multi-Service Discount. See full terms of the Multi-Service Discount for details. I'd want to see a more clear acknowlegement from TiVo that a gift sub is not a package deal per the above clause. Since the same product and service pricing (after rebates) applies no matter where you get your TiVo now, the same MSD deals should be available. Based on my read of the Ts&Cs that's not (yet) the case.

[colforbin13]

According to this (I'd posted it in another thread), MSD is applicable from Gift cards.

http://www.tivo.com/2.9.3.asp#12

[pdhenry]

MSD is applicable from Gift cards.That's good to know, but hopefully TiVo will eventually realize that any restrictions on MSD just don't make sense with the way that hardware and subscriptions are currently priced. Particularly when a savvy buyer can work around the restrictions. There shouldn't be a quiz built into the system to getting the discounts for which one might be otherwise entitled.

[Cori]

Thanks to all for the help. I picked up a Dual Tuner S2 via retail outlet today.

Got it activated and saw the option for the $6.95 a month. I was prepared to prepay for 3 years, but the way it stands, you don't get the discount by doing it that way so ended up selecting monthly instead. The pricing structure seems a bit backwards to me. If I prepay for 3 yrs I would end up paying more than electing to pay monthly. I think Tivo should address this...I'd much rather pay up front and be done with this.

At any rate, all is well thanks to you guys. :)

[supersportsfan]

Thanks to all for the help. I picked up a Dual Tuner S2 via retail outlet today.

Got it activated and saw the option for the $6.95 a month. I was prepared to prepay for 3 years, but the way it stands, you don't get the discount by doing it that way so ended up selecting monthly instead. The pricing structure seems a bit backwards to me. If I prepay for 3 yrs I would end up paying more than electing to pay monthly. I think Tivo should address this...I'd much rather pay up front and be done with this.

At any rate, all is well thanks to you guys. :)

I think the issue there, is that they don't allow you to "prepay" for an MSD box. From what I understand, you have to "sign" a 3 year contract, not prepay, to get the $6.95 MSD price.

[restart88]

Thanks to all for the help. I picked up a Dual Tuner S2 via retail outlet today.

Got it activated and saw the option for the $6.95 a month. I was prepared to prepay for 3 years, but the way it stands, you don't get the discount by doing it that way so ended up selecting monthly instead. The pricing structure seems a bit backwards to me. If I prepay for 3 yrs I would end up paying more than electing to pay monthly. I think Tivo should address this...I'd much rather pay up front and be done with this.

At any rate, all is well thanks to you guys. :)


Ok now I'm ALL CONFUSED!

I have a 540 which has a grandfathered in CSR discount so I only pay $6.95 now.

I bought an S2DT and was basically told I had to pay according to the new rates on it. And since the multi discount would be applied to my 540 I effectively lose my grandfathered discount.

So my personal options would only have been to commit to $12.95/ month 3-years or prepay. But I was told after the committment you effectively continue at that rate.

Long story short (meaning that's not the ONLY reason) the new unit is sitting in the box all packed up to be returned.

[Cori]

Ok now I'm ALL CONFUSED!

I have a 540 which has a grandfathered in CSR discount so I only pay $6.95 now.

I bought an S2DT and was basically told I had to pay according to the new rates on it. And since the multi discount would be applied to my 540 I effectively lose my grandfathered discount.

So my personal options would only have been to commit to $12.95/ month 3-years or prepay. But I was told after the committment you effectively continue at that rate.

Long story short (meaning that's not the ONLY reason) the new unit is sitting in the box all packed up to be returned.


What I did was sign into my Tivo account, then click to Activate another box. The option to pay $6.95 a month with a 3 yr contract comes up as well different amounts if you only want to do 1 or 2 yrs...below that is the options for prepaying..which clearly say that the MSD is not applied if you choose to prepay over 1,.2, or 3 years. So I had 6 options to choose from total. Only way to get $6.95 a month is with a 3 yr. agreement..all other options would cost you more.

I assume you were just adding another box to your account?

[restart88]

No, I did not get that $6.95 option. I just tried again and same results. $12.95/ 3 is as low as it will go for me. I guess it's probably because I get my 1st receiver for $6.95 so it won't grant me the discount.

Now that I have just got an HDTV set I'm not so sure I want to lock in to this new box for 3 years. Especially when it doesn't even have an OTA tuner and I no longer have cable. And at that, I do have the 540, the Dish 508, a DVD recorder that has a RAM disk and a PC TV tuner card (though I've not gotten it to work yet).

I bought the S2DT before I got my TV delivered. And I guess the STB is ok. I thought it would tide me over until HD Tivo became more affordable. I was hoping to at least. But I guess I can just make do with other options. I'd get the Dish HD DVR but it doesn't cover my locals in HD yet, or so I was told, plus I'd signifigantly have to increase my subscription fees from what I pay now.

I gotta say, I'm only 60% done re-connecting all my components and I have wires going out the wazzu. If the S2DT had an OTA tuner I probably would keep it just to eliminate some of the wires.

[Mikala]

I have a similar question. I have two Tivo's...a lifetime s2 and a monthly s2, the latter of which I pay $6.95 due to the multi-discount. I am thinking of transferring the lifetime from the s2 to an s3. Assuming I transfer the lifetime, I understand the no-longer lifetime will be free for a year...then I'll have to choose one of the new pricing plans? Is that right? or can i still get my (then) 2 additional tivo's at $6.95 a month?

and, aren't the new pricing plans based on your having gotten the tivo box for free, essentially?

TIA...man, normally I get this kind of stuff but I'm confused :/

[pdhenry]

then I'll have to choose one of the new pricing plans? Is that right? or can i still get my (then) 2 additional tivo's at $6.95 a month?with your S3 on Lifetime you'll be able to obtain the $6.95 rate on the other two. The one that you currently pay $6.95 for will be grandfathered month-to-month; you may need to commit to 3 years on the now-lifetime/to-be-monthly box to get the $6.95 rate on it.

[bmgoodman]

How can a company continue to allow people to be confused about pricing and return perfectly good units? Especially at Christmas? I almost picked up a DT and a Series 3, but because I can't be CERTAIN what the rates will be for each, I have bought NOTHING. Now I'm looking at using my old P4 1.5 GHz as a DVR, which 6 months ago would have been UNTHINKABLE.

I have posted my situation here, asking for clarification. I have sent PMs also. No answer.

I can only hope Comcast has given Tivo a good deal, because they look all too willing to leave money on the table during their biggest time of year. :(

(And, no offense intended, but I'm looking for an official response to my several queries.)

[classicsat]

The plans are simple when it comes down to it.

$19.95 1/yr, $14.95/2 yrs, $12.95 3/yrs for the first box, $6.00 less for the second box.

[restart88]

The plans are simple when it comes down to it.

$19.95 1/yr, $14.95/2 yrs, $12.95 3/yrs for the first box, $6.00 less for the second box.

Not always. ;)

But usually.

[megazone]

I'm confused by what is confusing people. Seems pretty clear to me.

[Cori]

I'm confused by what is confusing people. Seems pretty clear to me.

For me the confusing part was no mention of the $6.95 rate under Activate Service http://www.tivo.com/3.0.asp . I do think Tivo should put this information on this page along with the other options, otherwise you will never see it without going through the activation process on that second box.

If I was a new subscriber, looking at this page, I'd be thinking that each box is going to cost me full price.

[pdhenry]

What's confusing is that I can buy myself a gft from TiVo.com, activate it and receive MSD, but if I choose to buy it as a non-gift TiVo (paying the same upfront cost) I'm not eligible.

The retail price and TiVo.com price for the hardware (after rebate) is the same, but buying at retail qualifies me for MSD while buying from TiVo.com doesn't.

That's what's confusing to me. There are service price differentials that may once have made sense (when retail TiVos weren't free) but no longer do now that TiVo is subsidizing the hardware no matter how you get it.