Why Are There So Many DIRECTV Haters?

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Because they seem to not care or closely monitor the channels on their system.
There have been major pixelization issues with WNBC-HD for months, that have been ignored. I can not believe their "quality control" engineers cannot visually see this problem on their channel monitors. The pixelization is very obvious to anyone with access to a monitor.

Calling and reporting the problem is a waste of time. First, they will tell you that no one has heard heard of the issue, and of course will then waste your time having you reboot your satellite receiver (even though the problem exists on both of my receivers at the same time.)

After 20-30 minutes of frustration, they will then transfer you you to the next level of support, who will again plead ignorance of the problem. They will then note your call, and say they will pass along the complaint/issue to their technicians.

After all the effort, it is more likely than not, that the problem will remain, and of course, you will not get any notification as to the status of the issue. It seems that their quality control philosophy is relegated to ignore the problem and hope it corrects itself.

I have been a loyal DirecTv subscriber since 1996. However, my overall experience with the company continues to sour due to their inability to address legitimate subscriber issues, as well as the overall overcompression of their SD channels (to the point of some being so blurry that they are unwatchable), and their HD Mpeg 2 channels (HD-lite) that never seem to have any "pop".

I also subscribe to Cox Cable. You can do an A/B comparison of the video of both video services, and anytime their is a duplicate channel on both systems, the Cox video is always much sharper in SD, and on Cox HD channels the resolution still gives you that wow factor.

The frustrating thing is that DirecTv says that they have the best quality in HD available, that there is no such thing as HD lite, and they have no reason to address a problem that "doesn't exist."

If there is not an overall increase in DirecTv video quality by the end of the year (with the launch of the two new satellites) I will cancel my subscription.
I have been more than patient with a company that has little quality control, and won't acknowledge any video issues. They have right to set their video standards, but I am quickly tiring of the corporate line that their video is pristine, and no other provider can offer better quality.

 

No hate but the only reason I went the DirecTV is the HD Tivo and for my money, nothing else compares to it...they were expensive...not to make it available to use with mpeg4 is quite disappointing.

 

No Loyalty exactly... which is why DirecTV has resorted to 2 year contracts like a cell phone company. They know that they no longer have a superior product.

-h

 

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So why did TiVo resorted to 1, 2 and even 3 year commitment? No loyalty? Hardly.
The reason TiVo and DirecTV went to commitment system are heavy hardware subsidies and high SAC.

 

Name one microsoft hater that actually bought Windoz?

 

Most of them. You really (as an uninformed consumer) have no choice that you are aware of.

You go into a store that sells computers, you buy a computer, you have just bought Windows. Buy another computer two years later because that one's now junk. You have just bought a brand new copy of Windows again. The most brilliant business model since organized prostitution.

 

Which wouldn't be an issue if the value of the service were compelling enough to keep customers without forcing them into a new contract at the drop of a hat.

I don't "hate" DirecTV, I just think that it has declined from having better quality and value than almost all cable providers to being not much better than average. They are no longer the clear leader in the things that originally drew me to DirecTV - quality, value, choice, and customer service. That's frustrating and disappointing. That's what causes some people to hate DirecTV.

 

There are major differences. First of all you're buying a TiVo, not leasing it. So there's a legitimate reason for recovering the cost of the box. At DirecTV if I were to cancel with a leased box in less than a year they would take it back and they'd send it out to someone else. They'd probably even charge them an "aquisition fee". Where is their loss on that equipment?

There are other differences. TiVo offers prepaid plans that recoup their hardware costs without forcing you to accept any price changes they may decide to impose during the prepaid period. Once you've paid up front you can sell it at any time or just unplug it and put it in the closet without paying TiVo another dime.

 

Not true. Even if you try to activate your old TiVo box or one you bought on e-bay you still have to commit to service for at least 1 year. With DirecTV if you own the box you don't have to commit to anything.

 

I have a TiVo in my summer house - At one time I only turned it on for June, July, and August. Just like some people use to do for DirecTv.

When TiVo was getting ready to drop their Lifetime option I pulled the trigger and signed up that TiVo too.

When I use my motorhome I use a friends or relatives DirecTv box (no TiVo) at, I think, $10.00 per month for an additional receiver... I don't feel like I'm ripping D** off.

When someone (D**) gives you no other choice, then, I'll do what I have too! My attitude, they are shooting themselves in the foot for offering only long term commitments!

Before UnBox I would download a missed episode of my favorite Tv show for free. Since UnBox, it's not worth the hassles. Companies (TiVo & DirecTv) need to offer services to the customers that meet the consumers demand - not the other way around!

So when Zaluski says "No Loyalty" I know what he's talking about!

 

As others have said. If you have been a customer with DirecTV for a long time (me: 11 years or so), then what was once a nearly perfect company is now just another crappy company no different than the crappy service and product we could get from any other company.

For me, I am waiting for a better alternative. Right now DirecTV is a wash when compared to Comcast in my area so I stick with DirecTV since I have an investment in equipment and it is easier to stick with them then switch. But DirecTV appears to be going down and Comcast appears to be moving up. When Comcast delivers its DVR with Tivo software I will make the switch.

 

I don't hate DirecTv but I won't be sad when I drop them at the end of the month. The apt. building I've lived in for the last seven years is only wired for DirecTv. I'm moving and switching to Comcast so I can watch Phillies and Sixers games at home instead of at the local bar. I know that it's Comcast's fault that Philadelphia area DirecTv customers can't get Comcast Sportsnet but as a consumer, it doesn't really matter why. DirecTv doesn't serve the local Philly sports fan as well as Comcast.

 

That pretty much sums up the D* haters, that's all they have to say..

 

Only because we're just repeating what DirecTV told us in order to demonstrate why we feel that way.

 

Directv....Comcast.....Unbox......Every other company out there.

Today someone may moan about Directv and switch to Comcast or whoever.

And someone may switch from one company to another.

Its life...get over it!

We as humans are always looking for the best deal, the best company, whatever.

Maybe in a Years time, people will be moaning about the price of bread.

 

if it were not for the NFL package I would have been long gone. 2 year commitment =bs.

 

I'm a long-time DTV sub and I have to agree with what others have posted here - I don't hate DTV, but can no longer recommend them because of PQ concerns, issues with their non-Tivo DVRs and the 2 year commitment every time you sneeze.

With the Series 3 out and my local Comcast significantly improved, DTV is just a back up for me now and only holding on because offers the possibility of MLBEI, though I suspect I'll drop it within the year since I have no desire to switch to on of their new boxes and install the new dish that would be required to get MPEG4.

If MLB would allow DirecTV to transmit out of market games in HD, I would stay (displaced Yankee fan), but for anything other than baseball, Comcast is now a better option for me and ten years ago I couldn't have dreamed of making that statement.

 

~ 15% of my customers are on Cox Cable (Omaha NE). I have never had a 2 hour phone call with them.

~ 50% of my customers are on Directv, and I have had several 2 hour phone calls with them, but only one was a screaming match.

~25% of my customers are on Dish, I have had numerous 2 hour phone calls with them, and they have all been screaming matches.

(balance of customers are security systems and OTA only)


I charge new Dish customers more, and discourage the undecideds from signing up with them.


Note: Cox needs to fix their HDMI issues soon, or they are going to be getting a 2 hour phone call that might go to screaming . . . . .

 

When I first switched to D*, I loved them. They let me buy equipment from different manufacturers to suit my particular needs and desires. If I didn't like the box, I could just go buy a different one and swap the card in and that was that. The picture was good, the customer service was polite and helpful. The programming plans were nicely priced and there were a lot to choose from. DTivo was the icing on the cake.

I hated cable. They decided what equipment could be used and you could love it or you could love it, or shut the f up and pay the monthly rental bill. Didn't want 3 remotes on the coffee table? Not their effing problem. Their customer (dis)service blew chunks, pure arrogance if you ever could get a human on the phone.

Now D* is exactly the same as dealing with the cable company. They are no better, no cheaper, no friendlier, no nothing. The only difference is the wire goes to a grey dish instead of to a telephone poll.

The cable company on the other hand, has lightened up a little. They still suck, but not as hard they used to. D* has taken full how-to-suck lessons from cable TV and taken a few bonus courses from the cell phone companies. So now I get poor service and no way to replace equipment without incurring a multi-year obligation. I only get the box they want me to have.

If I wasn't married, I'd have fired all of them by now. I lived for years with no cable and only off-air TV. Didn't hurt me a bit.

I'll probably go back to cable and a Series-III Tivo with cable cards when D* decides to make life more difficult for me.