Lifetime clarification (3/2011)

From the TiVo Payment Plans, 2.1.1.ii:

 

I'm pretty sure all of the sub-$100 Tivos are not considered "full MSRP". The price is low because of "instant savings", and it is locked into the $19.99/month rate. So even though you're not paying as much up front, you're eventually making up for it by paying an extra $7/month. Because of this, I'm pretty sure they're not available for lifetime service at all.

The only other option is to buy a refurbished one. I'm pretty sure you can get lifetime on them, and they're cheaper than the standard ones on tivo.com

 

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You can buy a full price Premiere and get lifetime, but you have to call. I've seen no way to get to that at Tivo.com.

As for the upgrade offer, $269.99 is the MSRP of the Premiere. $200 off Lifetime is a pretty good deal for a new unit.
Otherwise, get a refurb that qualifies for the standard rate and you can get MSD lifetime on it, same as any other Tivo. *

* With the refurb Premieres that were recently sold by Woot.com, lifetime was not availble upon initial activation online. You first had to activate with a monthy subscription, but you could go back within 30 days and "change the plan options" to lifetime.

 

Think of it as being like cell phones..

(BTW, I don't like it with cell phones either, but most people seem to like that model.)

 

I'm betting you could ask three of them and get 4 or 5 different answers, maybe more.

 

I think the big wheel picks out the CSR you get to talk to and that determines the info you get.


Does TiVo have the term "CSR Roulette" trademarked yet?

 

A couple of years ago when I got a Replaytv went to Tivo's site researching. Seemed like a much happier and friendly place back then. Had past refurbished models for sale and info on which model would suit your needs etc.

 

TiVo service pricing maybe confusing to some but there really is a preset amount for various situations. They just have lots of options that are dependent on lots of variables. Where the "big spinning wheel" comes into play is when you want a CR Rep. to give you a deal that is outside of the current standard offers.

This is the same for many services, I have a co-worker that can negotiate the paints off any CR Rep I have seen her come up against. Kind of like the price of a new car, I remember the first time I saw someone really push a car dealer (a friends mother no less) just amazing what some people can negotiate.

All that said if you factor in buying from TiVo directly, normal vendors, & ebay vendors the number of various hardware and service pricing options for existing customers must be at an all time high.

If you are a new customer and are just looking at what is offered on TiVo's web site the through normal vendors, the options are very limited and straight forward. Just not what many people maybe looking for

Thanks,

 

Would you rather tivo sell you the Premiere unit at $169.99 and sell you product lifetime service for $299?

That deal sounds reasonable.

The deal tivo is currently offering is a new Premier unit for under $100 but with a $20/month subscription fee. 24 montsh=$480 + whatever you paid for the unit.

The $469 deal looks reasonable

The sub $100 pricing is subsidized by higher monthly subscription fees.

 

You're (deliberately?) missing the point. New subscribers don't get to buy a Premier for less then $100. They get to buy a new Premier for under $100 + a "surcharge" on top of the monthly subscription price.

A new subscriber pays $100 ($75) plus $20 /month. Two year total is $580 ($555) An existing subscriber can buy a tivo with lifetime service for $469. $100 savings over 2 years with additional savings for every month they keep the unit.

Tivo has decided to offer lower the cost of hardware but increase the service charge.

 

Why don't you just say you don't want to pay what TiVo is charging and be done with it.

It is pretty clear that:

1. If you want to purchase a sub $100 box being sold below cost you have to pay $20/mo for service.
2. If you want a lifetime box you can use your $469 upgrade offer.
3. If you want a box with a lower monthly fee you can pay $269 for the box and $10/mo for service with your upgrade offer (assumes you keep your qualifying TiVo on your accout)

If you think all of the above are to expensive wait around and see if some better deal comes around or get something else.

 

I think the Premiere with lifetime service for $470 is a great deal and if I didn't already have 2 lifetime HD TiVos would buy one now since it sounds like the Premiere is working well enough to be the best product. I think the $100 Premiere requiring $20 per month is a terrible deal and wouldn't touch it no matter how much I wanted a Premiere.

 

I just don't get how people get confused by TiVo's subscription rates. They're spelled out plain as day.

Interesting that you can't understand the simple rates they have now and you want them to add even more rates based on account longevity into the equation simply because you think it makes you special somehow.

 

The subscription plans are very simple. I don't see any mention of an annual, three year or lifetime product service plan. I guess it's confusing to existing customers who may not realize tivo (seems to) have simplified their subscription plans.

 

From Amazon:

Can you find a single vendor selling a tivo, without the $200 instant discount, for less then $269.99

The pricing doesn't change every 5 seconds. It is that simple.