Is converting to Lifetime service worth it for me?

[dmk1974]

Hello. I haven't logged into my account for a long time, but the TiVo website is telling me that I can convert two of my boxes to Lifetime service for $299 each. Here is my current status for my three TiVo boxes.

Box#1
Humax DRT400 with full product lifetime service (since June 2006). It's in the basement on a non-HD TV.

Box #2
TiVo S3 with MSD of $6.95/mo for 3 years (since June 2007)

Box #3
TiVo S3 with MSD of $6.95/mo for 3 years (since June 2007)

I'm hoping to use these S3's for a long time still. The MSD price will jump to at least $9.95/mo come next June. If I keep these, the sooner the flip to Lifetime the better I suppose. But I don't want to then be locked in and then miss out on the next gen (if there is one). However of course, the lifetime keeps good value if I then decide to sell the boxes.

Anyhow, for the S3's, should I hold off on making any changes or flip them to lifetime soon? Thanks!

[shwru980r]

Picture wise, the only thing the next generation could offer is 1080P vs. 1080i. That's not going to make much differnece unless you have a 50+ inch TV or a projector. TIVOs with lifetime service don't depreciate very much in value. You could probably get most of your money back if you sold it on ebay or amazon.

[fallingwater]

TiVo has some of the most confusing pricing schemes I've ever run across. Forgive me if I'm wrong; I'm sure other Forum posters will jump in then, but I thought that if you let TiVos with $6.95 MSD be, they remain grandfathered at that rate. I may be wrong.

[ZeoTiVo]

TiVo has some of the most confusing pricing schemes I've ever run across. Forgive me if I'm wrong; I'm sure other Forum posters will jump in then, but I thought that if you let TiVos with $6.95 MSD be, they remain grandfathered at that rate. I may be wrong.

mine are month to month at 6.95 but they were grandfathered at month to month. I assume the OP had a 3 year pricing plan but how that ended up at 6.05 is a slight mystery to me. I would be interested in the details on that.

That said - if the OP plans on having theS3s for more than 4 years then lifetime is attractive as even 6.95 moves over 299$ at 44th month

[GBL]

Anyhow, for the S3's, should I hold off on making any changes or flip them to lifetime soon? Thanks!

I found myself in a similar situation as I had purchased an S3 at a time when life time was not available, in June 2007. My 6.95 rate was also scheduled to increase to 9.95 in June 2010.

I purchased life time last April for 299, with a break even point of 2.5 years (at 9.95). I have TiVos I purchased as early as May 2000 still in service and I expect to keep my S3s for a comparably long period.

I'd say, if you can afford it, go life time now. It'll save you money in the long run.

[dmk1974]

I had S2's prior to my S3's which had the monthly no-strings-attached $6.95 price. When I upgraded to the S3's (which cost me $600 each) a $200 TiVo rebate was offered for each box (bringing them to $400 each). When I called TiVo to switch the service from my S2's to S3's, they said that I had two choices. I could transfer the grandfathered service but I would not be eligible for the $200 rebates OR sign up for a 3-year deal for the same $6.95 rate per box and keep my eligibility for the $200 rebates. I took the latter (I mean, $400 is a lot of coin!). No Lifetime service was offered at that time (I asked).

I know I am 2+ years into the 3-year commitment so switching to lifetime isn't as good now as say a while back. But still worth it I think as long as I use the boxes for a while. Per box, the next 11 months will cost me $76.45 to finish off this plan and then with the jump to $9.95 with a 3-year plan after that for MSD, that's $119.40 each year after that for June 2010-June 2013.

The more I look at this, I think I'm convincing myself to throw down now and pay for the Lifetime. I'm just concerned with any changes in the technology. But like you said, the value of the box should remain pretty high.

[ZeoTiVo]

The more I look at this, I think I'm convincing myself to throw down now and pay for the Lifetime. I'm just concerned with any changes in the technology. But like you said, the value of the box should remain pretty high.

I skipped the original S3 and have Tivo HD now but kept the 6.95 a month since i had no $400 in rebates decision. I am holding out for a good 2 way interactive TiVo before I throw lifetime down again. If I had 9.95 or more it would be Lifetime for sure.

[moonscape]

Since I have always lifetimed my tivos, that's my bias. Who knows when the next gen will be available, when you would want to buy it (at premium just-released price?), etc. At least with a lifetimed box you get most of your service fee back when you sell it vs zero w/ month-to-month.

[innocentfreak]

I know I am 2+ years into the 3-year commitment so switching to lifetime isn't as good now as say a while back. But still worth it I think as long as I use the boxes for a while. Per box, the next 11 months will cost me $76.45 to finish off this plan and then with the jump to $9.95 with a 3-year plan after that for MSD, that's $119.40 each year after that for June 2010-June 2013.

The more I look at this, I think I'm convincing myself to throw down now and pay for the Lifetime. I'm just concerned with any changes in the technology. But like you said, the value of the box should remain pretty high.

I go the opposite way. Personally I wouldn't do anything until June 2010 comes around. You have almost a year which is more than enough time for a series 4 to come out. The Directivo is coming out in 2010 supposedly, the same with the Best Buy model and who knows the series 4 may be around the corner.

The only way I would buy lifetime is if I was buying a new box today and I got it extremely cheap where the cost of lifetime+the Tivo is close to a year or two with a full price Tivo. Then again I am someone who likes upgrading so I don't see myself sticking with the Tivo HD for that long of course it depends on the Tivo series 4. With that I am looking at adding a third Tivo HD and debating on going for a year or lifetime since if the series 4 does come out within the next year I would rather be able to upgrade without dealing with reselling the Tivo HD.

[aaronwt]

Hello. I haven't logged into my account for a long time, but the TiVo website is telling me that I can convert two of my boxes to Lifetime service for $299 each. Here is my current status for my three TiVo boxes.

Box#1
Humax DRT400 with full product lifetime service (since June 2006). It's in the basement on a non-HD TV.

Box #2
TiVo S3 with MSD of $6.95/mo for 3 years (since June 2007)

Box #3
TiVo S3 with MSD of $6.95/mo for 3 years (since June 2007)

I'm hoping to use these S3's for a long time still. The MSD price will jump to at least $9.95/mo come next June. If I keep these, the sooner the flip to Lifetime the better I suppose. But I don't want to then be locked in and then miss out on the next gen (if there is one). However of course, the lifetime keeps good value if I then decide to sell the boxes.

Anyhow, for the S3's, should I hold off on making any changes or flip them to lifetime soon? Thanks!

Since the boxes current plan doesn't expire until next year, you will basically be reserving lifetime service and they will charge your card the $299 when the curent service contract is up.

I have two S3 units with the 3 year $6.95 service ending in December. i signed up for the Lifetime service but it just says that I basically have a future Lifetime service plan scheduled for $299. And they aren't going to be charging my credit card until December.

When I asked about paying for Lifetime early I was told I could do it but I would have to pay the remaining balance on my current contract first for the remaining months. It made no sense to do that since it is always possible something could happen to my machines in the meantime. So I can always cancel the scheduled Lifetime service before it takes effect.

[dmk1974]

Since the boxes current plan doesn't expire until next year, you will basically be reserving lifetime service and they will charge your card the $299 when the curent service contract is up.

I have two S3 units with the 3 year $6.95 service ending in December. i signed up for the Lifetime service but it just says that I basically have a future Lifetime service plan scheduled for $299. And they aren't going to be charging my credit card until December.

When I asked about paying for Lifetime early I was told I could do it but I would have to pay the remaining balance on my current contract first for the remaining months. It made no sense to do that since it is always possible something could happen to my machines in the meantime. So I can always cancel the scheduled Lifetime service before it takes effect.

This really bothers me. I just called them and got transferred and asked about my situation and they gave me the same line as you. Funny how they can "reserve" a monthly, annual, or lifetime service on the boxes in June 2010, but when I asked if they can reserve a cancellation they supposedly don't have that in the system. Why would they not want $598 from me right now, even though they are scheduled to get another $152.90 over the next 11 months? I can leave and honestly will definitely look to do so at that time. U-Verse, DirecTV, Comcast (well, probably not Comcast)...whatever. TiVo is definitely a great interface and service, but I'm not putting lifetime on a already 3-year-old box!

[newskilz]

So you have less than a year left on a three year contract and those few months are going to make the difference for you as to changing over to lifetime? I would think if you were willing now, you would be in several months or 8 months whatever. Granted it sucks that you still have to complete your current contract, but that's what a contract does I guess. Sorry. I'd agree with others though, a lifetime TIVo HD should keep value for a while, as long as they don't go changing OTA stuff again at least. :)

[DinoBambino]

I'm in somewhat similar situation and I'm not sure what to do about my account.

I have:
- A Series 2 with Lifetime
- A Tivo HD at $6.95/month. Which I just recently upgraded with a 1TB internal drive after the WD Expander crapped out.
- A Tivo HD (no plan yet) that I just purchased from Sears for $90.

Apparently, my $6.95 rate is good indefinitely based on this info when I clicked on "Schedule a Future Plan":

Your current plan is:
Monthly service
1 yr commitment Plan rate
Multi-service discount $6.95
Effective date 8/14/2005
Commitment end date N/A

I'm not sure what to do about the Tivo HD without a plan. I know that it was a floor model at Sears so I am hesitant about doing a Lifetime plan.

I was thinking about tranferring the $6.95 rate (if possible) to the "new' Sears Tivo HD and then getting a Lifetime plan on my original Tivo HD. If I transfer the $6.95 rate will that trigger end date to be added to that plan?

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[newskilz]

No it will not trigger an end date, you can transfer the special MSD rate all you want. As long as the original qualifying sub (usually your oldest subscription) is actively calling in (I think at least every 5-6 months) you will keep that special rate, that is what you will need to be careful of. So it sounds like as long as your LT S2 is working and calling in, you will be fine there.

So yes, you can transfer the special MSD to the new HD, and then activate the HD that had the rate with lifetime, which should come in at the MSD price of $299.

If you don't know already: Have both boxes involved connected to the internet. Simply go online (easier than calling TiVo in my opinion) to Tivo.com, Log in to your account, click on "change TSN", select the MSD $6.95 rate to transfer and put in the new HD TSN number. Have the boxes do a call in to TiVo, which should update your account status appropriately, sometimes takes a few hours. (Mine too about 1 hour to transfer my MSD to the new HD) Then you should be able to click on activate new Tivo and set up lifetime on the older HD.