Deals on Tivo?

[DrewTivo]

Any particularly good deals on Tivo right now? I'm looking to give one as a gift. 80 hr S2 ST is fine, plus one year service.

Also, on the tivo website, they offer a refurb box. First question is whether refurb is okay. Second question is why is the 1 year prepay for the refurb about $25 less (155) than the usual one-year prepay (179)?

[classicX]

Refurbs are OK, but I believe they don't have a warranty, which could be why the prepay is cheaper as well.

[steve614]

Personally, I like to buy brand spanking new.
But that's just me.
:)

[Stanley Rohner]

I've seen a lot of postings here about people getting refurbs that were dead and having to swap back-forth with TiVo 2-3 times till a good one was finally sent out.

They do have a warranty. They don't just send you a refurb and tell you you're SOL if it doesn't work.

[lastdeadcat]

I got a refurb Series 2 80 hour TiVo in July 2004 and it is still running fine. It's my main box networked with a 40 hour new one I got the 2003. No problems with the refurb'ed box yet.

I say that and tonight when I fire it up the hard drive dies, but that might be expected to come with old age. It came with a full warranty which it out lived.

Both are 240 models.

[wolflord11]

The refurb models on Tivo's site come with the same Warranty as a brand New unit.

The prepay on the ST Model is cheaper as Tivo has moved onto the DT model, so wants to get the ST models out as quickly as possible.

[c3]

The prepay on the ST Model is cheaper as Tivo has moved onto the DT model, so wants to get the ST models out as quickly as possible.

There is no refurbished ST available now, just S2DT and S3. The monthly or prepaid rates are lower simply because they're promotional rates for refurbished units.

I have purchased many refurbished units in the past few years. Not a single problem. A brand new unit can be DOA as well.

[Soapm]

Only moving part is the harddrive and I would replace that anyway. I'd go for it.

[rambler]

The fan should move too.

[wolflord11]

There is no refurbished ST available now, just S2DT and S3. The monthly or prepaid rates are lower simply because they're promotional rates for refurbished units.

I have purchased many refurbished units in the past few years. Not a single problem. A brand new unit can be DOA as well.

Watch the site. About a Week ago they had some ST models available too. But I guess they are becoming harder to find.

[wolflord11]

Moving Parts:

Hard Drive. Well the platters etc move. Hopefully the actual unit does not. Otherwise you could be in trouble :D

[ZeoTiVo]

Moving Parts:

Hard Drive. Well the platters etc move. Hopefully the actual unit does not. Otherwise you could be in trouble :D
wont anyone think of the cute electrons doing all that hard work ;)


I have a new DT and a refurb DT. If you had just the two boxes side by side on a table I would be hard pressed to tell them apart. Both have worked fine.

[DrewTivo]

Based on all this, is there any reason to buy from a source other than Tivo.com? The price on the units is the same (after rebate), without the hassle of submitting a rebate form.

And the plans are no worse/better, right?

[lessd]

Based on all this, is there any reason to buy from a source other than Tivo.com? The price on the units is the same (after rebate), without the hassle of submitting a rebate form.

And the plans are no worse/better, right?

If you have a TiVo now on Lifetime the best deal is NOT to buy from TiVo as you can get $6.95/month (three year commitment) without up-front cost, the best TiVo has is $299 for three years all up front, $6.95/month is $250 over three years, I would guess with the cost of money that the present value is about $25 less so you are talking about $225 buying from a non TiVo store to $299 from TiVo directly. (Approx. present value on both) (Don't give me a hard time on the $25 as i did not take the time to use a PV calculator).