Tivo Rewards Program is going to end soon...

[tivorepo]

I did a search and found no information on this but I was just told over the phone by a Tivo representative that Tivo is going to end the Rewards program due to "abuse". She said a few bad apples have ruined it for everyone. She stated that Feb. 28th would be the last day to send referrals.

I was surprised by this since I hadn't heard anything about it but was even more surprised that it was being terminated so soon. She even implied that whoever had points left needed to "use or lose 'em".

I called back to confirm just in case the original rep I spoke to was delusional but another rep confirmed most of what I stated above.

Have I missed 50 other posts on this subject somehow? What's the story? Anyone?

UPDATE:
Dave Zatz at Zatz Not Funny! did some digging. He was told that "the last day to earn referral points will be April 28th and the last day to redeem points will be May 28th".

UPDATE 2:
Here is what Tivo posted on their website today, February 28th. I apologize for the caps but it's theirs not mine:

NOTICE DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 2008
THE TIVO® REWARDS PROGRAM WILL OFFICIALLY TERMINATE ON MAY 28, 2008 AT 11:59PM ET. NO NEW ENROLLMENTS IN THE TIVO REWARDS PROGRAM WILL BE PERMITTED AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2008 AT 11:59PM ET. ALL CURRENT TIVO REWARDS PARTICIPANTS HAVE UNTIL APRIL 28, 2008 AT 11:59PM ET TO EARN AND ACCRUE TIVO POINTS. IF YOU ARE A TIVO REWARDS CREDIT CARD HOLDER, YOUR LAST DAY TO EARN TIVO POINTS THROUGH THE TIVO REWARDS CREDIT CARD WILL BE THE CLOSING DATE OF YOUR APRIL 2008 TIVO REWARDS CREDIT CARD BILLING STATEMENT. ALL TIVO REWARDS PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE UNTIL MAY 28, 2008 TO REDEEM THEIR TIVO POINTS. THE TIVO REWARDS PROGRAM WILL TERMINATE AT 11:59PM ET ON MAY 28, 2008 AT WHICH TIME ALL UNUSED TIVO POINTS WILL EXPIRE AND THE TIVO REWARDS PROGRAM WILL TERMINATE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE SEE THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE PROGRAM CHANGES.

[greg_burns]

Originally Posted by tivorepo

Have I missed 50 other posts on this subject somehow? What's the story? Anyone?

There was a thread hinting at this...
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=384853

[cjw2001]

Originally Posted by tivorepo

I did a search and found no information on this but I was just told over the phone by a Tivo representative that Tivo is going to end the Rewards program due to "abuse". She said a few bad apples have ruined it for everyone. She stated that Feb. 28th would be the last day to send referrals.

I was surprised by this since I hadn't heard anything about it but was even more surprised that it was being terminated so soon. She even implied that whoever had points left needed to "use or lose 'em".

I called back to confirm just in case the original rep I spoke to was delusional but another rep confirmed most of what I stated above.

Have I missed 50 other posts on this subject somehow? What's the story? Anyone?

From the TiVo rewards terms and conditions:

• TiVo may terminate TiVo Rewards at any time. In such an event, TiVo shall give conspicuous notice at least ninety (90) days prior to the date that such termination becomes effective, during which time you may still accrue and redeem TiVo Rewards points unless otherwise determined by TiVo in its sole discretion.

So very unlikely that Feb 28th would be the last day since there hasn't been any 90 day notice.

[tivorepo]

Originally Posted by cjw2001

From the TiVo rewards terms and conditions:
So very unlikely that Feb 28th would be the last day since there hasn't been any 90 day notice.

That 90 day notice may be how much time we will all be given to use our points but any new referrals may very well end in four days (this coming Thursday).

[jayfest]

I can understand that the referrals program is subject to abuse, but I don't understand why this should affect people who have been getting their points through the credit card. Why can't they just get rid of the referral points and keep the rest?

And have they given the actual 90-day notice on the whole program yet?

[Einselen]

Originally Posted by tivorepo

That 90 day notice may be how much time we will all be given to use our points but any new referrals may very well end in four days (this coming Thursday).

during the 90 days you can still accrue points, so the 28th could maybe be the start of the 90 days. There is though a clause at the very end that TiVo could forget the 90 days but they have to have a really good reason. As long as I am given good notice (and I know I will from both the rewards e-mail list they have as well as the TiVo staff here, Stephen, Pony, Jerry) if they gotta get rid of it so be it, sad that people abuse such things.

[JPA2825]

I was recently surprised that the TiVo HD $199 transfer was not eligible for referral points. Once I thought about it (i.e., you have to have an existing unit w/ lifetime to transfer from) it made more sense even though we did buy the TiVo HD for the father-in-law for Xmas.

[speedz]

Anyone have a link to the details specs of the products listed for current rewards? Many of them are quite vague product descriptions on the tivo referral site. I did a few searches on the forum before posting assuming there would be a recent one around...but came up empty.

[cjw2001]

more information here....

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2008-02/...erral-program/

[Einselen]

Originally Posted by cjw2001

more information here....

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2008-02/...erral-program/

As always should check with Dave or Megazone to see what they know.

[cjw2001]

Originally Posted by speedz

Anyone have a link to the details specs of the products listed for current rewards? Many of them are quite vague product descriptions on the tivo referral site. I did a few searches on the forum before posting assuming there would be a recent one around...but came up empty.

Most of the items are standard available retail products. I got an ipod shuffle a while back with no issues, fast turnaround. Is there a particular item that you need more info on? Someone else that ordered that item could probably comment.

[lessd]

Originally Posted by jayfest

I can understand that the referrals program is subject to abuse, but I don't understand why this should affect people who have been getting their points through the credit card. Why can't they just get rid of the referral points and keep the rest?

And have they given the actual 90-day notice on the whole program yet?

There someone on Amazon.com selling new TiVo-HD TiVos at $235+ $10 S&H, a friend ordered one guess where it came from, TiVo reward center, so this seller does not even have to pay shipping, just tells the TiVo reward center to drop ship to his customer..is this abuse ??? (The seller also asked for a referral when you activate)

[painkiller]

"... a few bad apples have ruined it for everyone ..."

How? Any specifics on this?? Anybody know, willing to share??

On the surface, this would tell me that Tivo has some 'splainin' to do - if someone was able to 'game' the referral/points system, then they should pay a high price for it.

But the rest of us??

Tivo is not helping their reputation if this is the case.

[Einselen]

Originally Posted by lessd

There someone on Amazon.com selling new TiVo-HD TiVos at $235+ $10 S&H, a friend ordered one guess where it came from, TiVo reward center, so this seller does not even have to pay shipping, just tells the TiVo reward center to drop ship to his customer..is this abuse ??? (The seller also asked for a referral when you activate)

Abuse of rewards points or of Amazon marketplace? I am not sure the terms of Amazon marketplace but I believe on eBay you can drop ship as long as you say it in the auction (or those used to be the rules). As far as cashing in on the rewards points I would say eh... not really abuse, who says I can't do the same and then sell it on craigslist? They got those referral by getting people to TiVo and Tivo has them at least a year now. Asking for them to use as a referral when they in turn just take those points and regurgitate to earn money and more referrals I think is a little too much, but whatever.

[Einselen]

Originally Posted by painkiller

"... a few bad apples have ruined it for everyone ..."

How? Any specifics on this?? Anybody know, willing to share??

I think it really came down to the selling and buying of referrals. People would get on eBay and buy referrals or tell people how to get the "special deals" in exchange for referral credit and that was not helping TiVo and the referral program. The program is meant for you to go tell family, friend and co-workers about TiVo and to get you to pass the word on for TiVo and in exchange they gave you a nice reward. Those people on eBay that were buying referrals and all probably didn't tell the people getting the TiVo about TiVo or how to get it. The person buying the TiVo was probably doing so on their self (otherwise they have a true referral) and just getting extra money from the person buying the referral so TiVo was getting screwed in the deal as they had still gained the same customer as before but then also is giving out 1/5 of an iPod at the same time.

[painkiller]

Didn't think of that.

Thanks.

[jkalnin]

Yeah, I just tried to join when I got my TivoHD + Lifetime deal. I was unable to apply for the credit card, they rep on the phone told me that there was no "Tivo" CC program. Ah well, I'll have to live without those sweet Tivo slippers.

[funtoupgrade]

Originally Posted by Einselen

during the 90 days you can still accrue points, so the 28th could maybe be the start of the 90 days. There is though a clause at the very end that TiVo could forget the 90 days but they have to have a really good reason. As long as I am given good notice (and I know I will from both the rewards e-mail list they have as well as the TiVo staff here, Stephen, Pony, Jerry) if they gotta get rid of it so be it, sad that people abuse such things.

Why do you suppose we have not heard from one of the TiVo staff mentioned above in this thread?

[davezatz]

Originally Posted by Einselen

As always should check with Dave or Megazone to see what they know.

Yah, I'm pretty confident this program is concluding.

Originally Posted by funtoupgrade

Why do you suppose we have not heard from one of the TiVo staff mentioned above in this thread?

If the policy says 90 days notice will be given, and the date I was quoted for termination will be 5/28, then perhaps we'll be offered more details on/near 2/28.

Though I'm not sure why everyone is assuming this is the end of referrals - it's entirely possible this program will ultimately be replaced with a different one. The current one is crazy in how it appears to be manually managed - TiVo buys a bunch of gadgets that get outdated before people can cash in their points (see: old iPod, XM receiver, out-of-production digital photo frame), the linking of the Mastercard and Reward points often seemed problematic, etc. Perhaps, TiVo is just coming up with something more efficient... [Though, I have no insider info at this point.]

[jlb]

Time to order my TiVo Slippers!

[windracer]

Just cashed the rest of mine in ... I'll finally have a TiVo plushie!

[jlb]

BTW, I have 2 spare Window Clings if anyone wants to trade for those.

[Einselen]

Originally Posted by jlb

BTW, I have 2 spare Window Clings if anyone wants to trade for those.

ooo I like this idea. Take your rewards points, buy stuff and then we can do a whole bunch of trading. It is like that whole red paperclip story in which by the end he had a house or whatever.

[jkalnin]

I have 5700 imaginary reward points thanks to the inability to obtain the Tivo cc. Does that get me some invisible slippers???

[funtoupgrade]

If rewards end tomorrow on the 28th, why is the web-site still accepting new applications for Rewards? It would seem that many parts of the web-site will need revising since the rewards are mentioned all over the place. As of today I can confirm the rewards still work. I also stopped using the TiVo credit card today, but am reluctant to spend the points until I hear or read something official from TiVo itself. Remember the big hoopla over price increases right after the super bowl? Never happened. Just wondering if the lame CSR's (of which there seem to be many) heard a rumor or were officially notified.

[Welshdog]

I have been in the rewards program for years and have zero points. I have never once been able to convince anyone to convert to Tivo. They generally have digital cable and would lose features if they went to Tivo. Or they have satellite and don't have Direct TV. Besides I don't want to push someone to Tivo and then have them get mad at me later because they have a problem. Seems like the program was a dumb idea in the first place.

[davezatz]

Originally Posted by funtoupgrade

Just wondering if the lame CSR's (of which there seem to be many) heard a rumor or were officially notified.

It's official - the woman I spoke to put me on hold while she made sure she got the details right. The program ends May 28th, not 2/28. Why not call in and verify for yourself instead of speculating?

[windracer]

Originally Posted by jkalnin

I have 5700 imaginary reward points thanks to the inability to obtain the Tivo cc. Does that get me some invisible slippers???

All of the invisible merchandise is on sale for free.

[Rebate_King]

Originally Posted by davezatz

It's official - the woman I spoke to put me on hold while she made sure she got the details right. The program ends May 28th, not 2/28. Why not call in and verify for yourself instead of speculating?

he is just bitter because he counted on referrals as part of his revenue stream from performing upgrades.

[DancnDude]

I wonder what will happen to the TiVo CC. Will they cancel it? It would suck to have to change card numbers on all my stuff.

I'll also be hope for (but not really expect) some way to cash in all your points for a TiVo Gift Certificate. It's annoying if you're saving up for a prize and they cancel the whole program before you can earn it. At least let us use the points we have and pay a bit extra to get it.