Refurb TivoHD Purchase Questions

[OhFiddle]

I have seen the refurb TivoHDs for $180, but it looks like they have to be purchased with a new plan? I currently have a Series2DT with an annual plan that runs out next month and can be renewed for $100. If the refurb TivoHD must be purchased with a new plan, is it possible to use the TivoHD with my current plan and give its accompanying $130 annual pre-pay plan and my old Series2DT box to someone as a gift. I'm not sure if this even possible or how to go about doing it??

Also, how would I transfer any old shows from an old box to the new HD one?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

[scandia101]

If you are paying for both subscriptions, what difference does it make?

[nigebj]

If you are paying for both subscriptions, what difference does it make?

Yep, that was going to be my question too ... That said AFAIUI - as an annual customer, you'd be entitled to 299 lifetime on a new TivoHD. If you are committed to TiVo now (why wouldn't you be??) then why not get a new TivoHD (checkout local Circuit City stores ...) and put lifetime on it - I just found one for $192 plus tax at CC. Then give the other one away, as you'd have paid the annual I assume this would be legit (would need to read the existing customer rate T's & C's).

And as for the recordings - network them before you give the old one away and use MRV to transfer them.

[OhFiddle]

So as an existing customer I am not able to activate a $299 lifetime sub on a refurbished box? If the refurb units come with the same warranty as new ones, what is the benefit of getting a new one? I don't quite understand how all the different subscription options, prices, and package deals work together. I do have a CircuitCity and CC outlet nearby, but according to their website the TivoHDs are still $300.

If I understand correctly the plans are tied to the boxes and you can't transfer a plan to someone else. Since I am an existing customer I would qualify for the cheaper plans, but the person I would give my old Tivo to would be a new customer and need a plan at the higher rate. If I got the refurb package that comes with the plan and that plan needs to be used with that box than I wouldn't be able to use the cheaper annual pre-pay or lifetime sub that I get as an existing customer with that hd box?

I was also planning on getting the refurb hd package now and making sure I can get it working with the cable cards and get all my old shows off the other box. Then I would give the old box and the subscription id for the annual plan I got with the new box as a Christmas present.

I am probably making this more complicated than it needs to be :) Just thought I would get some opinions on the boards first because it is often more helpful info than one gets speaking to a customer service rep. :)

[ZeoTiVo]

I am probably making this more complicated than it needs to be :) Just thought I would get some opinions on the boards first because it is often more helpful info than one gets speaking to a customer service rep. :)

the idea of MSD was that the second TiVo that was on your account would have a discount on the sub price. Since you are really just looking to have one TiVo when all is siad and done then it beocmes complicated for you. TiVo is not really looking to make MSD easy for two TiVo DVRs each on one account ;)

I would just get the TiVo HD with lifetime of 299$. I would look around for a good retail outlet deal. Once that is accomplished there is no take backs and you can do wahtever with the original TiVo. Bear in mind that if you ever do get another box TiVo may say you paid MSD on the TiVo HD and then lost the box that had Full pricing, thus no MSD on some other box you might buy in the future.

I personally do not understand no MSD on refurb boxes myself. You would think they would sell more refurbs to exisiting companies who no how releiable a TiVo is already. plus the lower price was supposed to be for the fact it is a refurb and not some discount price

[OhFiddle]

After that last post I finally get why I was not understanding this. I logged into my Tivo account and went to the "buy" tab where it said that because I was a qualifying customer I got a reduced rate on the plans. I thought that $99 pre-pay annual and $299 lifetime sub would be what I renewed my existing solo plan with. I just now went back I saw that it said "Multi-Service" discount. I did not even notice that or know what it was! So, to renew my existing plan I would pay the same rate as I will for activating a new plan for someone else as a gift...$129 annual or $399 lifetime.:o That is why the first response to my post said "why does it matter"....duh!

So what the last poster suggested was buying a TivoHD retail, then activating it with a lifetime sub at $299 in addition to my current box and plan which qualifies me for MSD. Then I could cancel my original subscription and give the old box away but still keep $299 lifetime service for the HD box because it is already paid for. Is this correct and possible to do, but not what Tivo intended?? This whole system seems convoluted, and is making me look really dense:rolleyes:

[nigebj]

So what the last poster suggested was buying a TivoHD retail, then activating it with a lifetime sub at $299 in addition to my current box and plan which qualifies me for MSD. Then I could cancel my original subscription and give the old box away but still keep $299 lifetime service for the HD box because it is already paid for. Is this correct and possible to do, but not what Tivo intended?? This whole system seems convoluted, and is making me look really dense:rolleyes:

From the TiVo website:

# A MSD subscription will revert to regular full-price subscription at the end of the current month, or prepaid year, as applicable, if such MSD subscription is no longer eligible for MSD (such as in the event there is no longer a Qualifying Subscription on the account).
# For full terms and conditions, please see TiVo's Multi-service discount.

From the full terms:

# TiVo Service Subscription: A Qualifying Subscription must be a current monthly, annual, prepaid, or Product Lifetime Service plan to the TiVo service, as further defined below, made directly with TiVo Inc. (as opposed to with a third party service provider such as DIRECTV) in order to qualify for the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT. For instance, DIRECTV DVRs with the TiVo service are ineligible to qualify as a Qualifying Subscription or to receive the MULTI-SERVICE DISCOUNT.

I read that as meaning that if you got rid of the machine on which you based your discounted lifetime - then they could request payment of the $100 difference for lifetime MSD. That's why I originally said you should check the details.