Should I get lifetime subscriptions on all of my Tivos?

[peterm1]

I just upgraded my Series 2 to a TivoHD, and already have another TivoHD and a Series 3 HD as well, so I am running 3 Tivos. I just signed up for lifetime service for the new TivoHD starting next month (for $299), and I have to decide what to do about the service on the other two Tivo boxes, which are now on a month-to-month MSD plan.

I was thinking of getting the $99 yearly plan for each of them, but then I was wondering whether it makes more sense to get the lifetime plans for these as well at $299 each. I hate to spend $900 at once for lifetime service on these three boxes when technology can change so much over the next three years.

It is also not too late to switch the lifetime service I just ordered to something cheaper if that makes sense. In a way I feel that if I am going to get lifetime service on one box, why wouldn't it make sense to get it on all of my boxes?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Peter

[sdzc]

I have five Tivo's with 1 on Lifetime.

I only pay $6.95 per month for the other 4, so it did not make sense to me to pay that much up front and then wait 40+ months to recoup the value.

Not sure what you pay per month right now, but you are right that the tech change possibility has to play into things. How many months would it take before you are ahead of the curve?


I am debating another HD unit, but am not a big fan of giving Comcast more money for another cablecard.

Need a real good deal to do that...

[steve614]

I bought lifetime for all my Tivos. Mostly because I didn't want monthly charges.
Also because I wanted the boxes to have some value attached if I ever sell or give them away.
I'm the type of person who tends to hold on to things until they break. I don't need the latest and greatest technology.
I hope my two HD's see the arrival of a series 5.
If you're the type of person to get next generation Tivo as soon as it comes out, I would leave at least 1 box on a monthly plan and just switch service numbers when you get the new one.

[cowboydren]

If you're absolutely certain that you're not going to buy another TiVo for at least four years, lifetime subscription makes sense. Recent announcements by Broadcom (the people who make the chip inside a TiVo) lead me to believe that a much superior product is just around the corner, though, and I wouldn't pull the trigger.

Broadcom's new DVR chip could make all our dreams come true

"It of course supports tru2way and CableCARD, but more interestingly; MoCA 1.1, DLNA, Flash (as in video streaming), DOCSIS 3.0, and a 3D graphics engine. This means that little little guy could be the key to a multi-room DVR without running wires, that will play Hulu directly from the internet as well as stream content from PlayOn, all via a great looking user interface."

[ThAbtO]

The only benefit of lifetime over a yearly or over a monthly plan for Tivo Service is Saving money. The dis-benefit is Lifetime cannot be moved from 1 tivo to another.

[moonscape]

All my boxes are lifetimed. I wouldn't do anything else because even if I choose an upgrade before it has paid for itself, I can sell it. At least it has some value - which can be applied to another lifetimed box.

[HerronScott]

We purchased lifetime on our original Series 1 units in 2000 and 2002 at $199 and $249 which definitely paid for itself when we did the upgrade and lifetime transfer to 2 Series 3 in January 2007 for $199 which has also already paid for itself.

I definitely believe in purchasing lifetime as I expected to use each model for at least 5 years (and hopefully longer!).

Scott

Scott

[innocentfreak]

I would stay month to month till CES in January to see what if anything Tivo announces. We know there is supposed to be a Best Buy Tivo but no idea what if anything will be different. Since it is due in 2010 I would expect to see something about it at CES along with info on the Directivo. It is only 2 months off so worst case as a result lifetime cost you $20 extra per unit.

[NJ_HB]

There is another factor to consider; LT may not always be available.
When I bought first S2 TiVo in 2004 I also bought LT. When I bought my S2DT TiVo in 2006, LT was not being offered. I pre-paid for three years. When I bought the TiVoHD in 2008, I again went with lifetime.

[steve614]

Originally Posted by NJ_HB

There is another factor to consider; LT may not always be available.

Yep, the fact that lifetime was not available when the original S3 came out is what kept me from buying one.

[SpiritualPoet]

Buy the lifetime on each machine especially if it is a series 3 type (HD machine). The resell value of lifetime plans on a machine is much higher than without. Furthermore, TiVo may at its discretion discontinue lifetime service plan options and you don't want to face that possibility after the fact.

[SNJpage1]

I went for the lifetime incase a newer type of Tivo comes out and they run a special like they did with the S3 where you could transfer the lifetime to the new unit.

[TivoCentral]

Originally Posted by SpiritualPoet

Buy the lifetime on each machine especially if it is a series 3 type (HD machine). The resell value of lifetime plans on a machine is much higher than without.

YES, it's not just about the value that YOU get out of the lifetime... if you can use eBay or Craigslist, Lifetime machines have huge resale value, so you can enjoy lifetime now and later, upgrade guilt-free!

Example: In (I think) 1999, I bought my first S1, the Sony, on a promotion where I paid $199 for lifetime and got the box for free (I think for being a "charter subscriber." Years later, when S2 came out, I sold it on eBay for... I forget, but it was a lot more than $199... maybe $279 or $300...?

At one point I had up to 4 S2s (all with lifetime), and by the time S3 came out, the S2s with lifetime sold for $300+ each on eBay.

Of course, the longer you hold onto them after a new model comes out, the less they're worth. Now that S3 has been out for over 3 years, lifetime S2s are selling for around $200 (still not bad!).

Bottom line, I have gotten my lifetime sub expense back, and then some, by selling the unit when new ones come out... whereas no-lifetime units sell for practically nothing (a few months ago at a flea market I bought a like-new S2 in box, for parts, for $5).

Enjoy!

[cowboydren]

Originally Posted by moonscape

All my boxes are lifetimed. I wouldn't do anything else because even if I choose an upgrade before it has paid for itself, I can sell it. At least it has some value - which can be applied to another lifetimed box.

Looking on eBay, I see a handful of unmodded HD's for $500-550, and a few modded ones and genuine XLs for $700 or so. Buying a "previously loved" HD from Tivo ($200) plus a lifetime subscription ($350 on eBay) only adds up to the cost of the unmodded but subscribed used (no warranty) TiVos cost. I'm calling that one false investment; more like a low-risk gamble.

Originally Posted by NJ_HB

There is another factor to consider; LT may not always be available.

Now that is something to consider.

[SNJpage1]

To do away with lifetime after selling it for these many years they would have to go out of business. To come out and say we are not honoring it any more would cause a really nasty class action suit agaisnt them which they couldnt win.

[SpiritualPoet]

No one said TiVo could or would dishonor existing lifetime plans. It can, however, refuse to sell future lifetime plans at any time at its discretion.

[lessd]

Originally Posted by TivoCentral

YES, it's not just about the value that YOU get out of the lifetime... if you can use eBay or Craigslist, Lifetime machines have huge resale value, so you can enjoy lifetime now and later, upgrade guilt-free!

Example: In (I think) 1999, I bought my first S1, the Sony, on a promotion where I paid $199 for lifetime and got the box for free (I think for being a "charter subscriber." Years later, when S2 came out, I sold it on eBay for... I forget, but it was a lot more than $199... maybe $279 or $300...?

At one point I had up to 4 S2s (all with lifetime), and by the time S3 came out, the S2s with lifetime sold for $300+ each on eBay.

Of course, the longer you hold onto them after a new model comes out, the less they're worth. Now that S3 has been out for over 3 years, lifetime S2s are selling for around $200 (still not bad!).

Bottom line, I have gotten my lifetime sub expense back, and then some, by selling the unit when new ones come out... whereas no-lifetime units sell for practically nothing (a few months ago at a flea market I bought a like-new S2 in box, for parts, for $5).

Enjoy!

Also no state tax or rate increase when you have lifetime..good deal

[lrhorer]

There are lots of ways to slice and dice this issue, and fundamentally it is a personal decision based upon personal perspectives. The bottom line is this, however:

1. Lifetime service requires an up-front investment which may or may not ever pay off. That said, one is not risking a huge amount, either way. Few people will buy lifetime service and then dump the TiVo one month later. Even after only two years at full price, one is only "wasting" $89 compared to a month-month contract if the TiVo burns up in a house fire.

2. Monthly plans are less expensive unless one keeps the TiVo a significant amount of time. If one assumes the investment terminates when one upgrades, the break-even comes at about 2 1/2 years. With the MSD, it's more like 3 1/2 years. This does not, however, take into account the resale value of the lifetime sub, which reduces both time spans considerably.

3. Assuming the TiVo doesn't just croak or isn't stolen, the lifetime service adds resale value to the TiVo when one does wish to upgrade.

4. One does not have to worry about monthly fees with lifetime service.

5. The multi-service discount makes monthly service more attractive on additional units.

The rest is up to the user, his crystal ball, and his wallet. Personally, I have 1 S3 with LT, 1 THD with LT, 1 S3 on a 3 year monthly for $6.95, and 1 unsubbed S1.

[TiVoEvan74]

I like the advice here about waiting until CES... you could also phase your units in after that so that the financial hit doesn't seem as great! (Irrational at one level, but psychologically pleasing at another! )

Are you using all 3? You could also mothball one or give it to family?

That link to the story about the Broadcomm is intriguing... I know I'd really like a Tivo type box that could stream free internet shows.

[peterm1]

Thanks folks. I am using all three. I switched all three to a yearly plan at $99 a year each (actually, I think it is $129/yr for one and $99 for the other two for the MSD). I would hope I would still be using these after three more years, but who knows? I still have another month to decide and can change them to lifetime, but right now I would rather not lay out all that money on my Tivos.

[CrispyCritter]

Originally Posted by peterm1

Thanks folks. I am using all three. I switched all three to a yearly plan at $99 a year each (actually, I think it is $129/yr for one and $99 for the other two for the MSD). I would hope I would still be using these after three more years, but who knows? I still have another month to decide and can change them to lifetime, but right now I would rather not lay out all that money on my Tivos.

I think that's very reasonable. I think the decision is close for anybody. With multiple TiVos, I personally prefer to have at least 1 lifetime to serve as the basis for MRV but beyond that I vary. I currently have 3 lifetime and 2 monthly at home. The one consideration not mentioned is that once my lifetime TiVos get older, I tend to give them away as presents to extended family members - it's hard to give away something with a monthly payment tied to it! So I introduce new folks to TiVo (and leave room for new models for us!)

[mahermusic]

I've got lifetime on:

Series 1 from 2001
Series 2 from 2003
Series 3 from 2007

I've only ever had to replace the hard drive on the Series 3 ($99). Best investments I've ever purchased.

[ThAbtO]

I had lifetime on:

S1 in 2000, transferred to THD in 2007
last month the S2 switch to lifetime from monthly.

[c3]

Originally Posted by ThAbtO

last month the S2 switch to lifetime from monthly.

S2??? It doesn't seem like paying $300 for it is a good idea, when a used S2 with lifetime is worth about $200.

[Chris Gerhard]

I purchased lifetime for my first TiVo, the DirecTV Philips DSR6000 and that lifetime subscription covered all DirecTV TiVos I owned over the years, quite a number of them and ultimately also covered the DirecTV DVR when the switch to MPEG-4 made my HR10-250 not worth much. I also purchased a Series 1 TiVo with lifetime way back and recently purchased the current HD TiVo new with lifetime from TiVo. I only use the HD TiVo for OTA and streaming and downloading services now having discontinued DirecTV service early this year and the Philips Series 1 with lifetime isn't being used although it works great still if I had a use for it.

I think lifetime is the best option in most circumstances but right now, I would think waiting for the new TiVo based on the new Broadcom SoC if that is going to become a reality and purchasing that with lifetime would be the smart choice. I don't know what options if any are going to be available to transfer lifetime to the new version but if I had to guess, I would say there won't be any good options for transfer.

Chris

[ThAbtO]

Originally Posted by c3

S2??? It doesn't seem like paying $300 for it is a good idea, when a used S2 with lifetime is worth about $200.

I already had the S2 for quite a few years and was originally paying monthly. When I got the THD in oct '07, lifetime from the original S1 I had was transferred to it, which was $199 with a 1 year sub on the THD and these 2 subs were switched between in 2 months time. After that happened I called TCS and had them switch the remaining 10 months of the year, to the S2 and to close the S1. When that ran out, I was back to the monthly for a year. Got tired of the monthly so I took the plunge to get the lifetime. I'm glad there will be NO MORE Tivo payments now for my 2 current Tivo boxes.

[donnoh]

I look at my Tivo in the same way I did cable Internet years ago. I could rent a cable modem for $5 a month or buy one for $75. I've paid for my cable modem almost 10 times over.
I think my HD tivos with lifetime will pay for themselves over and over by the time I get ready for new technology. They display and record HD, they handle Dolby 5.1 sound and with a 1TB drive they store more than I can watch. I very seldom use Netflix other than to watch a BluRay disk so online content isn't that important to me.
I really don't know what Tivo could offer in a new box that would make me jump out and buy one.

[rbtconsultants]

I think people worry too much about obsolescence. Assuming the TIVO doesn't stop working, don't you think you could still be enjoying a TIVO HD in 10 years?

I had 2 series 1 lifetime tivos I bought in 1999 and I finally upgraded them to HD's this year (Grandfathered, for free). So, I hope to get 20 years out of my lifetime subs :-) But still, even if I couldn't have upgraded them, 10 years of use was a pretty damn good deal.

Bob

[cowboydren]

Unless you're like me, and a TiVo HD XL is already obsolete because it doesn't have enough tuners.

[TiVoEvan74]

Well, if the company goes bankrupt... some oddity creeps in with digital TV cable, whatever, you know, e.g., something would require you to add a card to your Tivo, something far-fetched like that!