Cost somparison of Lifetime vs Monthly

[BrianCT]

My S3 has been activated for 2 weeks now, so I know I only have 2 weeks left to try and get a Lifetime of of ebay. I am just doing some quick math and am trying to justify if a Lifetime purchase at $299 plus the $199 on Tivo is worth it? I am paying $12.95 monthly with Tivo now and at 3 years that adds up to $466. Wouldnt it make more sense to just pay monthly or is there something I am missing here?

[hiker]

I thought it was well worth the cost. Even if you only keep the S3 for a short time, it should be worth additionally the cost you put into the lifetime.

[TostitoBandito]

Plus, your lifetime Tivo has a lot of resale value a few years from now whereas your subscription Tivo would be worth very little (without a current subscription).

[ah30k]

You are going to see all kinds of crazy math here in this thread!

I've seen one guy post that the resale value will stay the same or go up therefore buying a lifetime was like earning 30% interest on your investment.

Bottom line is that you will reach your breakeven 1) the longer your unit lasts and 2) the more the resale value is maintained. Its hard to predict either. Some just like not having a monthly payment.

[BrianCT]

I should have added when the Tivo promotion ends (whenever that is) wont users be stuck with a non-transferrable Lifetime unit?

[sommerfeld]

My S3 has been activated for 2 weeks now, so I know I only have 2 weeks left to try and get a Lifetime of of ebay. I am just doing some quick math and am trying to justify if a Lifetime purchase at $299 plus the $199 on Tivo is worth it? I am paying $12.95 monthly with Tivo now and at 3 years that adds up to $466. Wouldnt it make more sense to just pay monthly or is there something I am missing here?
My experience has been that tivos last more than three years.

I bought my Series 1 tivo early in 2001; I bought the S3 which replaced it in late 2006 (actually, the S1 is still working..). Had I not bought lifetime, I would have paid a total of $880.60 in monthly fees during the period when it was my primary tivo.

[yunlin12]

C'mon guys, you just bought the Ferrari of the DVRs, go drive it, and don't worry about reselling it.

Besides if you bought it already, is this ~$800 really going to matter in 3 years? Did anyone take out a $800 3 year loan to get this thing, and worried about paying it back, or go starving in 3 years?

[CTLesq]

For me it is peace of mind. Its done. Do the math all you want. My merry-go round is over.

Debt free is good.

[jfh3]

I should have added when the Tivo promotion ends (whenever that is) wont users be stuck with a non-transferrable Lifetime unit?

No, lifetime stays with the box and can be easily transferred to a new owner.

[mattack]

Plus, your lifetime Tivo has a lot of resale value a few years from now whereas your subscription Tivo would be worth very little (without a current subscription).

Plus, in a couple of years a lifetimed S3 is likely going to be worth much more than a lifetimed S1 or S2...

less so if everything goes to switched digital video or some new download service that Tivo doesn't support... but you'll still have OTA HDTV..

whereas *eventually* analog cable will go away, and analog OTA will go away in ~2009.. (yeah I don't know who is using analog OTA now).

Admittedly, that's a bunch of rationalizing... but is a bit more weight towards doing lifetime than the rest of the arguments that are repeated all of the time (including by me).

I'm doing it since I will eventually have an HDTV and want to record HD/digital.. and I hate monthly fees.

[aaronwt]

You can get the TiVo service for $299 for 3 years on the first box which averages out to $8.31 a month. Then my next two S3 boxes have the monthly charge of $6.95 each per month with a three year commmitment.
Lifetime is definitely the way to go if you have that option. I never got Lifetime service on my DirecTV TiVos 5 years ago. Now I wish I had. It would definitely be cheaper in the long term.

[rufusryker]

It really depends on your age and relative health. The new TiVo Lifetime terms for the S3 state that the agreement is terminated 1 month after you die. (Read the fine print.) Afterwards, your heirs must pay $6.95 per month until they cancel the agreement, regardless of whether or not they actually use the TiVo. And no, I'm not serious.

[rmassey]

Where do you buy lifetime for an S3? Can this be purchased directly thru Tivo, or do you have to deal with ebay sellers?

[DeathRider]

Where do you buy lifetime for an S3? Can this be purchased directly thru Tivo, or do you have to deal with ebay sellers?

I'm guessing pretty much ebay or craigslist if you don't already own a a TiVo with lifetime...