$399 Lifetime Subscription Purchase Offer Extended

[Chiparoo]

I just confirmed that the $399 Lifetime Subscription Purchase Offer for existing customers has been extended to July 2, 2008. Website is not updated yet but CSRs and Supervisors confirm new date.

[ah30k]

Boy, the death of "lifetime service" has been greatly exaggerated eh? (no pun intended)

How do you think all of those folks who bought up ebay'ed lifetime gift cards for over $500 have been feeling about these continued offerings?

[jkalnin]

I think that canceling it then bringing it back temporarily was a trick to raise the price without anyone complaining about it. My original lifetime cost around $200-250.

[tluxon]

I just got into the TiVoHD game a little over a month ago and the best they would do for us is 3 years for $299 on the first unit and lifetime for $399 on the second.

Is there any way to get that first unit converted over to lifetime - on or off the "grid"?

[Resist]

This kind of behavior by Tivo seems to be the norm now, loyal customers getting screwed over.

[steve614]

I just got into the TiVoHD game a little over a month ago and the best they would do for us is 3 years for $299 on the first unit and lifetime for $399 on the second.

Is there any way to get that first unit converted over to lifetime - on or off the "grid"?

No, I don't think so.
That's where Tivo has you. You NEED the first box in order to get Lifetime on the second.

[funtoupgrade]

So much for the lame excuse that they were losing too much money on lifetime subs when they discontinued it. They quickly figured out the reason they were continuing to lose money was that too many of their customers were switching to cable TV DVRs. By reoffering lifetime subs they are getting 3 or 4 more years paid up front which helps balance the monthly accounts they are obviously losing to cable.

Unless they can come up with a "killer" TiVo model that really does some new stuff which the cable company DVRs can't then lifetime subs are probably going to be around for quite a while.

[xdroccax]

No, I don't think so.
That's where Tivo has you. You NEED the first box in order to get Lifetime on the second.

Yes, but not really. Anyone could just activate a 1-year plan, be eligible for LT and activate a LT or LT's, then turn around and cancel the 1-year plan within 30 days. They would get LT without having to committ to any contracts. Tivo is the one what would loss in this scanario; i.e. have to refurb the cancelled 1-year unit.

[lew]

I just got into the TiVoHD game a little over a month ago and the best they would do for us is 3 years for $299 on the first unit and lifetime for $399 on the second.

Is there any way to get that first unit converted over to lifetime - on or off the "grid"?


At least one poster was able to convert from a 3 year prepaid to lifetime, on his first unit, my calling back and asking.

[ZeoTiVo]

instead of loosing money on the front end in hardware subsidies they are now losing money on the back end in lifetimes that reach beyond 54 months. That is easier to deal with though as more lifetimed boxes use broadband and it is really just the guide data and maybe support calls they pay on after 54 months.

still they did manage to raise the price 100$ to help offset the longer lifetime periods.

as a Loyal customer I reward myself though as I have month to month subs at 6.95 granfathered in and lifetime at 399$ has no appeal to me at all

[DrewTivo]

So much for the lame excuse that they were losing too much money on lifetime subs when they discontinued it. They quickly figured out the reason they were continuing to lose money was that too many of their customers were switching to cable TV DVRs.

Or they figured out that they were losing money at $299 but could make it at $399.


instead of loosing money on the front end in hardware subsidies they are now losing money on the back end in lifetimes that reach beyond 54 months. That is easier to deal with though as more lifetimed boxes use broadband and it is really just the guide data and maybe support calls they pay on after 54 months.


I imagine with lifetime they also avoid the repeat equipment subsidy. It's like folks who don't take the new cell phone every two years--if you have lifetime you're not going to impose the partial cost of a new box on tivo ever (unless you get a new sub).

[mp11]

Well how does this relate to those lifetime gift cards found on ebay? Are these cards only good on the second Tivo? And at this point is it even worth buying a card on Ebay?

[ah30k]

Cards are good on any new box and will not carry some of the same restrictions that the recent offerings have. Back when everyone thought lifetimes were really gone forever, the gift cards were selling at a pretty hefty premium. Recent promotional lifetime offerings from TiVo have greatly diminished the market for gift cards.

The million dollar question remains: based on past offerings from TiVo, will they offer more in the future? How good is your crystal ball?

[gastrof]

Yes, but not really. Anyone could just activate a 1-year plan, be eligible for LT and activate a LT or LT's, then turn around and cancel the 1-year plan within 30 days. They would get LT without having to committ to any contracts. Tivo is the one what would loss in this scanario; i.e. have to refurb the cancelled 1-year unit.

Are you sure that TiVo, once the "first" machine is canceled, wouldn't turn around and cancel the LIFETIME sub on the other?

[SpiritualPoet]

Since TiVo won a lawsuit against Patent infringement by at least one or two other firms out there, isn't it likely that either those who lost out will have to recall their dvrs, cease to provide service to them, else pay royalties to TiVo for each and every patent infringing box out there? In other words, TiVo wins, no matter how one looks at it, and the bucks roll into TiVo from various sources, eh?

[ah30k]

Since TiVo won a lawsuit against Patent infringement by at least one or two other firms out there, isn't it likely that either those who lost out will have to recall their dvrs, cease to provide service to them, else pay royalties to TiVo for each and every patent infringing box out there? In other words, TiVo wins, no matter how one looks at it, and the bucks roll into TiVo from various sources, eh?What does this have to do with this thread? I'm getting a sense that there are a couple of users (or one with multiple user names) that toss the patent infringement thing into every thread they can.

[mp11]

[QUOTE]Cards are good on any new box and will not carry some of the same restrictions that the recent offerings have. Recent promotional lifetime offerings from TiVo have greatly diminished the market for gift cards.

So it sounds like it would be risky to buy a gift card without verifying with Tivo that they would honor it on the FIRST Tivo.

[ah30k]

So it sounds like it would be risky to buy a gift card without verifying with Tivo that they would honor it on the FIRST Tivo.No, I think you may have misunderstood my statement. Gift cards are much safer as they have fewer restrictions. It is the recent offers available to the general population that have the restrictions.

[buellwinkle]

For what it's worth, you can consider a DirecTivo as your 1st subscribed box. Also, if you know someone that has a Tivo sub, you can have them subscribe it as a lifetime sub and then transfer it to you. I don't think you can gift a lifetime sub to anyone anymore, only the complete $700 package which is annoying because Costco sells the Tivo HD for $150, so $549 is what mine came out to with lifetime.

[MickeS]

The million dollar question remains: based on past offerings from TiVo, will they offer more in the future? How good is your crystal ball?
I would be amazed if they don't come up with similar or better deals before the OTA analog cut-off date rolls around, for all the Series 1 and Series 2 users.

I wonder if I should call and see if I can get my Series 3 3-year commitment converted to LT.

[toy4two]

For what it's worth, you can consider a DirecTivo as your 1st subscribed box. Also, if you know someone that has a Tivo sub, you can have them subscribe it as a lifetime sub and then transfer it to you. I don't think you can gift a lifetime sub to anyone anymore, only the complete $700 package which is annoying because Costco sells the Tivo HD for $150, so $549 is what mine came out to with lifetime.

I have a Directivo and before I bought a TIVO HD I read their online policies and they said they consider Directivo's "third party" and not considered real tivos. Are you telling me they let you count your Directivo and get lifetime?

[wblynch]

I have a Directivo and before I bought a TIVO HD I read their online policies and they said they consider Directivo's "third party" and not considered real tivos. Are you telling me they let you count your Directivo and get lifetime?

Yes.

But you gotta jump through some hoops (rolling around on the customer service call) and then they tell you you have to wait 3 to 5 business days.

I don't understand their silly games.

[Arcady]

Is there still a lifetime transfer option? I just rebuilt about 5 old TiVo boxes I had acquired from Goodwill last year, and I discovered a Toshiba RS-TX20 with lifetime. I have no use for a Series2 with lifetime, but I'd love to be able to move it to one of my HD boxes...

[magnus]

I called in about a week ago and could not get them to do the transfer. They said they did not have any current offers for that.



Is there still a lifetime transfer option? I just rebuilt about 5 old TiVo boxes I had acquired from Goodwill last year, and I discovered a Toshiba RS-TX20 with lifetime. I have no use for a Series2 with lifetime, but I'd love to be able to move it to one of my HD boxes...

[Tom White]

.....Costco sells the Tivo HD for $150, so $549 is what mine came out to with lifetime.

I checked the Costco website, and all I found was the Tivo HD for $279.99. How did you find a $150.00 price from Costco?

[wblynch]

I checked the Costco website, and all I found was the Tivo HD for $279.99. How did you find a $150.00 price from Costco?

They were in-store. Previously priced at $199.97 then to $150. Costco uses the 97 cents to signify a closeout. They probably have a whole new model coming from Tivo that will make us all sorry we bought this one!

[ZeoTiVo]

They were in-store. Previously priced at $199.97 then to $150. Costco uses the 97 cents to signify a closeout. They probably have a whole new model coming from Tivo that will make us all sorry we bought this one!

not this summer. No new TiVo models on the near horizon at all

[buellwinkle]

I have a Directivo and before I bought a TIVO HD I read their online policies and they said they consider Directivo's "third party" and not considered real tivos. Are you telling me they let you count your Directivo and get lifetime?

I called customer service, told them I have Tivo through DirecTV and they took the credit card info, gave me a 5 day trial period and when they verify my account in the next 3-5 days they will charge my account for the lifetime service.

[jchapman]

FWIW, I think we're getting to the point where any lifetime gift cards that were purchased before they were removed from stores will soon expire if they haven't already; IIRC they're only good for 2 years from date of purchase. I'm not sure if TiVo enforces this, though.

[ZeoTiVo]

FWIW, I think we're getting to the point where any lifetime gift cards that were purchased before they were removed from stores will soon expire if they haven't already; IIRC they're only good for 2 years from date of purchase. I'm not sure if TiVo enforces this, though.

TiVO inc said back then they would not enforce the expiration date but MMV depending on who you talk to when getting the lifetime with the card

[scurby2]

I have a lifetime series 2 since 2003. Since the tivo rewards credit card is ending, i decided to order a Tivo HD. I called Tivo beforehand and was told by a rep that i can transfer my lifetime to the new HD with no charge. I got his name and told him to enter that info into my notes on my acct, because it sounded too good to be true.......I just got my hd tivo in the mail from rewards, called tivo to transfer the lifetime......Not only would they not transfer the subscription, there was no history of the employee notes ( from this call or a few others from last year), they wouldnt even offer the $199 offer and got hung up on by a supervisor........Tivo sucks

[ah30k]

... and got hung up on by a supervisor........I find this very hard to believe. Did you by chance say anything that might be considered rude just prior to him hanging up on you?

Not much to say on the other parts of your post except you were either given bad info, were unclear on the question or the transfer or mis-heard.

[scurby2]

I find this very hard to believe. Did you by chance say anything that might be considered rude just prior to him hanging up on you?

Not much to say on the other parts of your post except you were either given bad info, were unclear on the question or the transfer or mis-heard.

Believe it, he hung up on me. I got his name and and going to attempt to call corporate today. I was definetly given bad info by a poorly trained employee to begin with. I consider myself a good customer, I am a long time lifetime subscriber, used there Tivo credit card for around 4 years. I spoke with 2 supervisors that could do nothing for me regarding the false information that was given to me by their employee and would not offer the $199 transfer, poor service. No wonder the senior vice president of Tivo is selling their stock shares.......Tivo sucks

[tough joe]

I would love to transfer my series 2 st lifetime to a new tivoHD. Apparently they dont offer that anymore?

[philw1776]

I would love to transfer my series 2 st lifetime to a new tivoHD. Apparently they dont offer that anymore?

I'm hanging tight for the same thing. Be patient.
Actually I want a bigger HD than the HD currently offers 1st.

[greg_burns]

TiVO inc said back then they would not enforce the expiration date but MMV depending on who you talk to when getting the lifetime with the card

http://www.tivo.com/buytivo/giftcenter/terms111506.html
1. TiVo service gift subscriptions do not expire. No fees will be charged against TiVo service gift subscriptions.

I think this changed after this lawsuit...
http://davisfreeberg.com/2006/12/18/tivo-quietly-settles-gift-certificate-class-action/

I can't find the thread where I first saw this info.