How Private is the TiVo Service Number?

[ACraigL]

Hi,

I'm selling a used Humax Series2 on ebay and a potential buyer is asking for the TiVo Service Number. Is that OK to give out? Is there any reason why I should not?

Thanks!

[Turtleboy]

I'm not sure it's a good idea.

[dylanemcgregor]

Does the unit have lifetime? Off the top of my head that's the only reason I could think that a person would want the number, so that they could verify service level before buying?

[Amnesia]

Not only that, but the buyer probably wants to make sure that the unit hasn't been reported as stolen.

If I were to buy a second-hand TiVo, I'd definitely want to verify the TSN before handing over the money...

[classicsat]

Just tell him no, but guarantee the TSN is clean (if indeed that is the case).

[stevel]

Unfortunately, it is possible to hijack your TiVo account with the knowledge of the TSN. TiVo supposedly has protections in place for this, but they are imperfect.

[lessd]

Hi,

I'm selling a used Humax Series2 on ebay and a potential buyer is asking for the TiVo Service Number. Is that OK to give out? Is there any reason why I should not?

Thanks!

They want to see if you made a error and the TiVo has lifetime Service on it, just tell any buyer that the TSN is clean and they must have some trust in you as you could give the buyer another TSN that was clean and then ship the Humax that was not clean, the buyer would not know until they got the TiVo. There is no good reason to give the TSN out, even if the unit is being sold with Lifetime Service as you could give out the TSN of a Humax with Lifetime Service and ship another, the buyer must look at your feedback and have some trust in you.

[MickeS]

I've seen auctions with the TSN listed. I don't think it's a big deal, other than that someone could, I guess, sign you up for Priority Lists for new updates. :)

I agree with lessd though.

[snickerrrrs]

And see what they say. I'd agree that it's probably not a good idea to give out your TSN, so see if there is another way for Tivo to verify for the buyer that the dvr is in "good standing" for lack of a better word. Your buyer does deserve some kind of security to know they aren't getting screwed or they might as well buy from Tivo or weaknees .

[CrashHD]

Do not disclose the TSN in the auction.

Put a note, that the winning bidder will ge given the TSN, and allowed to verify it, prior to payment, if they wish.

This way, you are not listing the TSN in your auction, for all unscrupulous masses to see, and the winner of the auction gets to verify the unit, prior to payment. Everybody wins.

[dwit]

Do not disclose the TSN in the auction.

Put a note, that the winning bidder will ge given the TSN, and allowed to verify it, prior to payment, if they wish.

This way, you are not listing the TSN in your auction, for all unscrupulous masses to see, and the winner of the auction gets to verify the unit, prior to payment. Everybody wins.

:up::up::up:

Thanks. Great advice.

[RonDawg]

I've sold two Lifetime'd TiVo's on eBay. I agree, do NOT disclose the TSN until the sale has ended and you have verified, cleared payment.

What I did in both auctions is take a photo of the screen from the Settings Menu that showed what type of service it has. This photo was posted on the auction. This will also reveal the TSN, so make sure to blur at least part of it out. Leave the first three digits exposed to show that the screen at least represents the same model TiVo that you are advertising.

Also, if you are accepting PayPal for the auction remember there is a $200 Buyer Protection Plan as well for those who pay with that method.

[lessd]

I've sold two Lifetime'd TiVo's on eBay. I agree, do NOT disclose the TSN until the sale has ended and you have verified, cleared payment.

What I did in both auctions is take a photo of the screen from the Settings Menu that showed what type of service it has. This photo was posted on the auction. This will also reveal the TSN, so make sure to blur at least part of it out. Leave the first three digits exposed to show that the screen at least represents the same model TiVo that you are advertising.

Also, if you are accepting PayPal for the auction remember there is a $200 Buyer Protection Plan as well for those who pay with that method.

Remember that if you are dealing with a dishonest seller a screen shot means nothing as the seller could ship a different TiVo than the one the screen shot was taken from, so for buyers, the reputation of the seller is the most important thing to look at. Just my 2 cents on the subject.

[RonDawg]

Remember that if you are dealing with a dishonest seller a screen shot means nothing as the seller could ship a different TiVo than the one the screen shot was taken from, so for buyers, the reputation of the seller is the most important thing to look at. Just my 2 cents on the subject.

That's very true, but I was responding to the post from the point of view as the seller. I had one guy who demanded that I provide the TSN before he bid, I told him no, and that if he had doubts there is always the $200 Buyer Protection (I only accept PayPal). He never did bid, and I still sold it anyway.

Dishonest sellers will stop at nothing to deceive, and eBay is far from the only place where this occurs. They could even provide someone else's TSN that has lifetime, so even providing it prior to sale is not a guarantee, and another reason why an honest seller should not disclose it prior to the sale being complete and the money in hand, whether real or virtual.

[CrashHD]

and another reason why an honest seller should not disclose it prior to the sale being complete and the money in hand, whether real or virtual.

There is no reason for an honest seller to withold the TSN after the sale is complete. There is no reason to not provide it to the winning bidder, prior to payment.

[magnus]

After the sale is complete and payment is made.... then you're right.... there is no reason to withhold it.


There is no reason for an honest seller to withold the TSN after the sale is complete. There is no reason to not provide it to the winning bidder, prior to payment.

[CrashHD]

Payment shouldn't have to be made first. There's no reason to deny the winning bidder the opportunity to confirm the service-status of the unit (prior to payment), and there is nothing a seller has to lose by doing so, except that payment might be delayed by a day.

[lessd]

Payment shouldn't have to be made first. There's no reason to deny the winning bidder the opportunity to confirm the service-status of the unit (prior to payment), and there is nothing a seller has to lose by doing so, except that payment might be delayed by a day.

The reason is my post #13, it provides no safety to the buyer from a dishonest seller, only when the buyer receives the TiVo will he know for sure that the seller sent what was promised.

[CrashHD]

The reason is my post #13, it provides no safety to the buyer from a dishonest seller, only when the buyer receives the TiVo will he know for sure that the seller sent what was promised.

I see no reason listed in post # 13, other than an argument to pay attention to seller reputation (which is worthless when accounts are hijacked). Giving the winning bidder the TSN of the Tivo, or the RID of the DTivo, is pretty much the same as giving a buyer the VIN so they can run a carfax.

I once won an auction for a leased DTivo unit. Because the seller sent me the RID info, and I checked on it, I discovered this. It turns out the seller didn't realize it wasn't his unit to sell. I was better off by not buying a unit that I would not be allowed to sub. The seller was better off not getting nailed for the fee for failing to return a leased unit.

Just to make sure I'm not being misunderstood...I'm not recommending putting the ID info in a screenshot, or including it in the auction. It doesn't need to be out there for every tom dick and harry, but the winning bidder has a right to confirm the serviceability of the unit.

I acknowledge the point that this does nothing to guarantee that is the unit that the seller ships. This will not prevent a bait-and-switch type of thing, but if you intend to file a buyer protection claim, and you have saved your emails, you can prove you were duped. If you don't know ahead of time what the ID number is for the unit, how can you prove that it was switched? Paypal buyer protection is the only one I have experience with, and they do require proof.

[makeinu]

Unfortunately, it is possible to hijack your TiVo account with the knowledge of the TSN. TiVo supposedly has protections in place for this, but they are imperfect.

That's interesting, considering the fact that Tivo puts them on the outside of the box of every unit on store shelves.

[RonDawg]

That's interesting, considering the fact that Tivo puts them on the outside of the box of every unit on store shelves.

But those units are unsubbed.

[makeinu]

But those units are unsubbed.

Only until they are sold.

[GoHokies!]

Only until they are sold.Typically they're removed from the store shelves at this point. ;)

Although I suppose that someone can go "dumpster diving" and get the packaging (and the TSN) of my new Tivo that way. :D

[ZeoTiVo]

Do not disclose the TSN in the auction.

Put a note, that the winning bidder will ge given the TSN, and allowed to verify it, prior to payment, if they wish.

This way, you are not listing the TSN in your auction, for all unscrupulous masses to see, and the winner of the auction gets to verify the unit, prior to payment. Everybody wins.


cool - that is the best answer I have ever seen to this vexing issue. :up:

[RonDawg]

Only until they are sold.

And if you know in advance which of those units are going to end up with Lifetime service, then I'm taking you to Vegas with me, like Tom Cruise did with Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man." :D