lifetime for a new subscriber Tivo HD

[lew]

I'm going from DTV to FiOS. I'm looking to buy a Tivo HD (would prefer from COSTCO) and am interested in lifetime. Is tivo still insisting only existing subscribers can purchase a new unit and also purchase lifetime?

Seems restrictive when I can:

1) Use an existing subscribers number and order from the website,
2) Order from a company like Weaknees or ebay which is selling the unit with lifetime
3) Purchase the unit, have a friend activate it with Lifetime service then transfer the unit to me.
4) Purchase a series 1 unit (with lifetime) on ebay and then pay to transfer the lifetime subscription.

I know I can do what I want but I'm wondering if there is a way to do it without having to play games or making extra work for tivo.

[classicsat]

Currently, there is no absolute way to purchase Product Lifetime for an HD model without playing the games you don't want to play.

[Trox]

#3 was my route.

[20TIL6]

I have been on both ends of #3. Worked out fine in all cases. You will really enjoy the features on the standalone vs. the provider integrated unit.

[scandia101]

Yes, there are many options to get lifetime when you're not a current subscriber, but believe it or not, there's a whole lot of people not smart enough to figure it out. For whatever reason Tivo wants to limit the number of new lifetime purchases and this is a good way of doing it. If they so chose, they could be restrictive enough to not allow those 4 methods you've listed.

and as far as # 4 goes - you could probably get by a lot cheaper by buying a broken tivo on ebay and subscribing it than buying lifetime for the Tivo HD and than canceling the other sub before 30 days to get a refund. I'd give you the TSN of a working but not currently subscribed tivo so that you could do this w/o having to buy another tivo.

[djenkins]

Anybody got any schemes for this? New user, wants lifetime. Series 3 coming mid-January, must receive before 1/26, must activate before 2/26, must have 30 days of active service so I can send in rebate form by 3/26. I can't see that there's TIME to buy and register an old machine, and my Tivo-owning neighbor can't register and transfer to me in this short time, right? Is Tivo'ing as complicated as this AFTER you get started?

[sieglinde]

I got lifetime. I had originally ordered the HD with a mind to transfer my lifetime from a Series 2 but later found out that you could just buy lifetime for about $400. So I did. Both my boxes have lifetime so if the cable company takes forever to get me cards I am OK. Then once my HD is all hooked up to the cable company, I can sell or give away my other box. My series 2 is pretty old and has a replacement hard drive and a replacement power supply so it may have a limited life span.

[djenkins]

But the question was for a new user...you were able to just buy Lifetime straight-up as if you never had Tivo?

>I got lifetime. I had originally ordered the HD with a mind to transfer my lifetime from a Series 2 but later found out that you could just buy lifetime for about $400. So I did.

[dortega]

But the question was for a new user...you were able to just buy Lifetime straight-up as if you never had Tivo?

>I got lifetime. I had originally ordered the HD with a mind to transfer my lifetime from a Series 2 but later found out that you could just buy lifetime for about $400. So I did.

I am a new S3 owner (no other Tivos). Bought the box from Amazon. Activated through Tivo for a 3yr prepay. Noticed the lifetime option during the 30 day cancellation window. Called Tivo and upgraded to Lifetime for an extra $100.

[gastrof]

I am a new S3 owner (no other Tivos). Bought the box from Amazon. Activated through Tivo for a 3yr prepay. Noticed the lifetime option during the 30 day cancellation window. Called Tivo and upgraded to Lifetime for an extra $100.

Why am I so sure that if I tried this the option would be gone after I make the purchase?

[scandia101]

Why am I so sure that if I tried this the option would be gone after I make the purchase?

You wouldn't need to. You could just sub one of your S1 Tivos, get the S3 or HD Tivo with lifetime and than cancel the S1 sub and get your money back.

[Rockett0]

Also new here, just ordered TIVO hd from amazon.

Any reason I shouldn't buy a lifetime gift card off of ebay for ~$400.00?

[guitardude5]

I had Tivo service through DirecTv. I wanted HD and Tivo service, so I dropped D* service to get a HD Tivo. I wanted lifetime service. Here is what I did.

I went to a large local box store and purchased a Tivo (ANY will do) and activated online. I used the TSN on the outside of the box and didn't even open it. I signed up for a monthly subscription. Then I had an existing account and activated the TSN of the HD Tivo. The lifetime option was there and I didn't have any problems at all.

A couple days go by, and I call Tivo to cancel the service of the first activated box while still leaving the HD w/ lifetime. I returned the unopened box to the local store, and the only thing I'm out is a little of my time and fuel to and from the store.

[scandia101]

I went to a large local box store and purchased a Tivo (ANY will do) and activated online. I used the TSN on the outside of the box and didn't even open it.

It's one thing to screw over a retailer or even Tivo, but now you're screwing over the next guy that comes along and buys that box believing that it's new and eligible for a rebate.

[dalesd]

How much longer is this Lifetime offer going to be around? Is it a limited time offer?

[magnus]

Yep, that's not even cool.

It's one thing to screw over a retailer or even Tivo, but now you're screwing over the next guy that comes along and buys that box believing that it's new and eligible for a rebate.

[fallingwater]

Actually all these shenanigan's go directly to TiVo and their often absurdly convoluted policies regarding TiVo Service in general and Lifetime Service in particular. Too bad! :(

[JYoung]

Actually all these shenanigan's go directly to TiVo and their often absurdly convoluted policies regarding TiVo Service in general and Lifetime Service in particular. Too bad! :(

So it's TiVo's fault that people can't be honest?

[magnus]

Not sure why it's such a big deal to follow the rules.

Actually all these shenanigan's go directly to TiVo and their often absurdly convoluted policies regarding TiVo Service in general and Lifetime Service in particular. Too bad! :(

[GoHokies!]

It's one thing to screw over a retailer or even Tivo, but now you're screwing over the next guy that comes along and buys that box believing that it's new and eligible for a rebate.I would hope that Tivo's computers were smart enough to recognize that a box that was subbed less than 30 days and canceled is still eligible for a rebate.

Even if not, if the rebate gets denied, a phone call to Tivo and a proof of purchase should (hopefully) clear the situation up.

[fallingwater]

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5888099#post5888099

"So it's TiVo's fault that people can't be honest?"

"Not sure why it's such a big deal to follow the rules."

It's advantageous for both TiVo and its customers to have easily understood, uncomplicated (as far as possible), rules and policies that discourage fraud.

[JYoung]

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5888099#post5888099

"So it's TiVo's fault that people can't be honest?"

"Not sure why it's such a big deal to follow the rules."

It's advantageous for both TiVo and its customers to have easily understood, uncomplicated (as far as possible), rules and policies that discourage fraud.

Sorry, whatever TiVo does or doesn't do still doesn't give people to license to be dishonest.

Don't like the rules, don't buy the service.
Simple.

[dalesd]

Who's being dishonest? What's guitardude did is within the rules. Maybe not in the spirit of the rules, but the letter of the rules.

* IANAL and haven't red all the fine print.

[heisman]

Just last month, here is what I did. CC had the Tivo HD on their website for $250. I had a $100 BB GC, so I went to BB and had them match CC's price, which after tax and my GC only came to $160. Then, I bought lifetime service from ebay for $420, and the tivo wireless adapter from amazon for only $8, after $30 discount for credit card application. So, all in all, just under $590 for Tivo HD with lifetime service. Should pay for itself in under 3 years with Comcast.

[fallingwater]

Sorry, whatever TiVo does or doesn't do still doesn't give people to license to be dishonest.

True.

Don't like the rules, don't buy the service.
Simple.

It's not quite that simple. It's primarily up to TiVo to enforce the corollary; "Don't like the rules, don't steal the service".

[mattack]

Just last month, here is what I did. CC had the Tivo HD on their website for $250. I had a $100 BB GC, so I went to BB and had them match CC's price, which after tax and my GC only came to $160. Then, I bought lifetime service from ebay for $420

How do you buy lifetime service on eBay? Was it one of those lifetime gift cards many of us were scrambling for a while ago?

[JYoung]

It's not quite that simple. It's primarily up to TiVo to enforce the corollary; "Don't like the rules, don't steal the service".

Great.

Your TV looks really nice.
Please leave your front door open so I can come get it.

[heisman]

How do you buy lifetime service on eBay? Was it one of those lifetime gift cards many of us were scrambling for a while ago?

They're all over the place on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TIVO-PRODUCT-LIFETIME-SERIES-2-OR-3-HARD-TO-FIND-AVE_W0QQitemZ150206702185QQihZ005QQcategoryZ79865QQssPageNam eZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[djenkins]

I am a new S3 owner (no other Tivos). Bought the box from Amazon. Activated through Tivo for a 3yr prepay. Noticed the lifetime option during the 30 day cancellation window. Called Tivo and upgraded to Lifetime for an extra $100.

Where did you notice this option? Did Tivo send you something, or you saw it in your account info, or what?

[mp11]

Let me get this straight. I could buy a lifetime giftcard on Ebay, and then choose to activate it at a later time, such as on a Series 4 maybe? :) With no expiration, that is my understanding. Is this correct?

[weaknees]

As far as we all know, that's correct.