Tivo Series3: Availability 9/17/2006 @ $799 MSRP?

[bkdtv]

First posted on AVS Forum by MK153...

I work at Best Buy and it popped up in our system today - its "In-Stock" date is 9/17/2006 with a Best Buy SKU of 7974418 (UPC of 400079744186 and Model TCD648250B).

The price is $799.99

Thought all of you would like to know - That "In-Stock" date is for our warehouses - the "Street Date" field is left blank - but I am guessing "Coming Soon" is really damn soon.

If there is a rebate, it's not accounted for in the $799 price. We can hope.

Keep in mind this is MSRP. Very few products sell for full MSRP once they are available from the likes of Amazon.com and Buy.com.

Update #1: Best Buy's cost for the Series3 is about $500, so discounts off $799 are definitely possible.

Update #2: Pictures of shipping Series3 and Series3 Retail Box

Update #3: Customers will be able to transfer lifetime subscriptions from their S1/S2 to the Series3 for $199. This offer also includes a free year of service on the old Tivo. Limited time offer -- only valid on Series3 purchases made through December 31, 2006.

[ZeoTiVo]

any word on rebates ? I actually doubt there will be one at first anyhow though.

[matthewwhite]

The UPC is a dummy range that is never assigned to products but for internal use only.

My guess is that it's a fake.

[TiVo Troll]

Maybe it's close to the time when an official TiVo guy says hi, and spills the beans!

If Series 3 is going to be offered from TiVo with TiVo's usual 30 day return for a full refund policy I'm going to get one just to personally evaluate it firsthand!

I'll be out of town until September 20, so there's a good possibility that I'll have to wait until Series 3's initial orders get taken care of first.

[jfh3]

Originally Posted by matthewwhite

The UPC is a dummy range that is never assigned to products but for internal use only.

My guess is that it's a fake.

Yes, it's a fake. By design.

From the UPC code database:

"Dummy (number system 4) UPCs are for private use. This means anybody (typically a retailer) that needs to assign a UPC to an item that doesn't already have one, can use any number system 4 UPC it chooses. Most importantly, they can know that by doing so, they won't pick one that may already be used. So, such a UPC can and does mean something different depending on who you ask, and there's no reason to try to keep track of what products these correspond to."

All that means to me is that Best Buy may have entered a SKU for the Series 3 with a dummy UPC code until they get the real thing ...

[dylanursula]

WOW! $800..... that prob $300 more then i am willing to pay
Oh well, Comcast Tivo it is

[Toeside]

$799 is too much for us, too. Here's hoping the real price is much less.

[Stanley Rohner]

Why are you WOW! about it costing $800 ?

The High-Def DIRECTiVo was about $999 when it first came out.

$799 sounds like a bargain to me considering what it will do.

[Turtleboy]

Anyone remember how much the original 14 hour Tivo cost?

[Bierboy]

I agree that $799 is right in the range I expected.

[TiVotion]

Well, if MSRP is $799, that would likely make the "street price" somewhat lower. But if Best Buy's inventory price is actually $799 and that IS the actual retail price, I'd have to say I'd be unwilling to shell out $800 for this thing. That amount of cash would go a long way towards purchasing an entire new TV. $500 I'd probably do with little reservation, but that's just too much out of the box.

I was short sighted enough to lay out $800 for the Pioneer DVD recorder with TiVo when that first came out, and in retrospect that device simply hasn't turned out to be worth it.

[jfh3]

Originally Posted by TiVotion

I was short sighted enough to lay out $800 for the Pioneer DVD recorder with TiVo when that first came out, and in retrospect that device simply hasn't turned out to be worth it.

Early adoptors always pay a premium price.

$799, if true, is a little disappointing, but not totally surprising or unexpected.

[dig_duggler]

It's going to be tough to make a dent at the price. I love tivo and have introduced it to many people, but that's too much for an average consumer. Especially when you consider the cable company (however inferior they might be) alternatives.

Maybe it will get to under $600 after rebates, but honestly who wants to screw with those Tivo rebates anymore...

[jfh3]

Originally Posted by dig_duggler

It's going to be tough to make a dent at the price. I love tivo and have introduced it to many people, but that's too much for an average consumer.

Don't forget that the Series 3 wasn't designed with the "average consumer" in mind.

[dig_duggler]

Don't forget that the Series 3 wasn't designed with the "average consumer" in mind.

Maybe that's why the company is doing so well....

[Bierboy]

Originally Posted by dig_duggler

...that's too much for an average consumer....

TiVo has been VERY clear in its target audience for this product. It's NOT the average consumer; it's the high end clientele they have in their sights.

EDIT -- Ooops, double smeek !

[Bierboy]

BTW, I'd be REAL careful assuming this guy is, indeed, a BB employee. He only has eight posts listed in the AVSForum. And I'm sure some folks would LOVE to have the rumor mill swing into overdrive.

[TiVotion]

I'm taking that he could be an actual BB employee with a grain of salt, but of course this "news" will now spread like wildfire.

The price tag still wouldn't surprise me, though. I'm disappointed if it's true, but it still wouldn't surprise me.

What sucks in my case is that I have a Pioneer 810H unit hooked up to a 42" HDTV, and frankly the picture quality sucks (on standard channels). When I switch to direct HDTV input bypassing the Pioneer, the picture looks great. I'd been assuming that the S3 would alleviate this problem, but at that price point I'll just have to wait.

[jsmeeker]

If it IS true, the price is in the ball park of what I was expecting. Sadly, I can't afford to enter that park at this time.

[mfogarty5]

MK153 has updated his post over there.

"I know all of you want more details... so here is all the random crap you could want.

The dimensions of the box are 15.6inX19.4inX6.75in and it is a whopping 15.4lbs (This is the package - not the Tivo).

Its Out Of Stock date (when we are scheduled to clearance it out) is 9/17/2020

Here is an intresting tid-bit - the warranty is 1yr parts and 90 days labor.

Not a single Best Buy warehouse has one."

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...&&#post8300149

[c3]

The current rebate program ends 9/16, so release date of 9/17 makes sense.

[Dan203]

Originally Posted by Turtleboy

Anyone remember how much the original 14 hour Tivo cost?

When TiVos first hit the market they were $999 for a 14 hour unit and $1299 for a 30 hour unit. They quickly dropped to $699 and $999 respectively. Then $499 and $699, and then at the one year after release mark came down to $299 and $399. That's when I finally broke down and bought one.

I plan to buy a Seires 3 on day one, even if I do have to pay $800. If I can get it for a slight discount at Amazon.com, plus the $150 rebate, then I'll buy two right away. If not I might wait a few weeks for the second one.

Dan

[skanter]

I plan to be a -late adaptor- to the S3.



Price will have to come way down before I trade-in my free SA 8300HD box.

[Lenonn]

I'd consider spending the $800 if it got me a free year of service with it. But, if that price is true, I'll need to think about it quite a bit. I want, I need one, with the new HD tv, but - it's a little much for my wallet.

However, that's what credit cards are for.

[Dan203]

A years worth of service, at $12.95, is only $155.40. So if they have the normal $150 rebate then that's just like getting a years worth of free service.

Dan

[drew2k]

Originally Posted by Dan203

A years worth of service, at $12.95, is only $155.40. So if they have the normal $150 rebate then that's just like getting a years worth of free service.

Dan

I usually rationalize making large purchases by looking at the monthly cost as if I had a year to pay it off with no interest.

At $799.99 plus tax, the S3 would be around $73/month for me, excluding any rebate. With $150 rebate, it's $60/month.

After I add on the service cost, that's either $85/month or $72/month.

I would turn in my Cablevision SA8300HD box, saving $15/month and bringing my monthly cost to $70 or $58 month for the first year.

That's borderline on my personal scale, so I'll probably wait a couple of months to read reviews, and then be a "slightly-later-than-early" adopter.

If reviews are positive and there are no issues receiving QAM HD channels without a cable card, I may "adopt" a littler earlier ...

[jb007]

Wonder how much the add-on external hard drive is going to run?

[Dan203]

If they allow any drive to be used then you'll be able to get an eSATA enclosure for about $30 and a decent size hard drive on sale for about $100. If they require a specific brand, or their own, I'm guessing it'll be a $200+ add-on.

Dan

[maki]

What I want to know is if there'll be a package deal and how much that'll run...

[jfh3]

pvrblog is also reporting an announcement date the previous Tuesday, with first availability on tivo.com:

http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2006/08/wild_rumor_seri.html

Seems reasonable, if the Best Buy info is true.