[plasticphilosoph]

So I have a S2DT that I bought a year ago under a 1-yr service agreement, and I've been paying $19.95 per month. At the time, it was my understanding that at the end of the year, the price would drop to $12.95. This was confirmed in the sticky post that TiVoPony made when the Fall '06 pricing changes happened:

Q. What if I bought a TiVo under the previous 1 year commitment program (monthly or pre-paid options) before November 4, 2006?
A. Our current practice is to allow these subscribers to continue their service on a month- to-month basis at $12.95 / month. TiVo does, however, reserve the right, at any time, to charge the current applicable monthly fee for a one-year commitment of service, which may be higher.

Well... Surprise, surprise, the year's up, and now I'm being charged $16.95 per month. I just called customer support and talked with a friendly woman with a Southern accent named "Christina." She assured me that there was absolutely nothing she could do about this, that the terms of my original commitment state that the price at the end of the year would be determined at the end of the year, etc.. When I brought him up, she also figured that "TiVoPony" could be anyone and wasn't necessarily an employee, which is a valid point if you don't know who he is.

Anyway, here's the thing. This is now my "second" TiVo. It's the one I don't use a lot. It's tucked away in the back room. I have a TiVoHD in the front now, and I can't even use MRV to get to recordings on this thing out to the living room. $16.95 is above the price I'm willing to pay, but $12.95 is at least within reason, and that's only because I believe MRV is going to come back some day. She suggested I go with a 3-yr commitment, which is ridiculous. What do I have to do to get TiVo to honor the prices that existed when I bought this thing?

I understand that there is no actual obligation they have to me to give me this price. But the bizarre thing is that the marginal cost to TiVo of providing service to this box is effectively nothing. The hardware is out the door, and the operational costs are being paid anyway. I told her I'm probably going to cancel this one if the price doesn't come down. So now it's a question of whether they can extract $12.95 a month from me, or $0. Are they really going to pick $0? That's nuts.

So I think Christina is wrong. What do I do to fix this? TiVoPony, are you out there? (I have a case number.) Please tell me I don't have to go through some kind of stupid cancel-retention-department song and dance to do anything about this.

chris

 

[jjberger2134]

See this link for current pricing information.

https://www3.tivo.com/store/plans.do

The above statement by TiVoPony says that "TiVo does, however, reserve the right, at any time, to charge the current applicable monthly fee for a one-year commitment of service, which may be higher."

The current rates are now higher than the $12.95 you expected, you gambled with a 1 yr rate, and unfortunately you lost since rates are now higher. It is true, if you sign a longer term commitment the rate will come down.

1yr $16.95
2yr $14.95
3yr $12.95

You said you also have a TiVo HD, well you may be eligible for a MSD (Multi Service Discount) on one of the units, which would be $6 off per month of the above mentioned prices. Both units would need to be on the same account.

A 3 yr. commitment just means you have to commit to TiVo service for that time, you can always replace the box if it fails, or if you wish to upgrade to a newer unit.

 

[jjberger2134]

By the way here is the link for MSD pricing agreement:

https://www3.tivo.com/abouttivo/policies/tivomultiservicediscountagreement.html

 

[mick66]

A. Our current practice is to allow these subscribers to continue their service on a month- to-month basis at $12.95 / month.

Their practice has changed. How they did business a year and a half ago isn't necessarily going to be how they do it today.

"Current practice" is how they were doing business at the time. They never claimed that they'd handle things the same way in the future, only how they were currently doing it. It's been almost a year since the 11/4/06 price changes and there is a new "current practice"

 

[Stanley Rohner]

Like everything in the world - Subject to change.

Might be time to check out what DVRs the cable company is offering.

 

[OLdDog]

...It's almost two years since the 11/4/06 price changes and there is a new "current practice"

Let's see 11/04/06 + 2 years = 11/04/08 so; either I've been in stasis for over a year or it is less than one year since 11/04/06.

But that really does not change the validity of the main points of your post.

 

[plasticphilosoph]

I understand that pricing changes, I understand that policies change, I understand that whatever I thought was the case a year ago is no longer the case, and I don't question that TiVo absolutely has the right to apply whatever structure they want here. That's why I wrote this:

I understand that there is no actual obligation they have to me to give me this price. But the bizarre thing is that the marginal cost to TiVo of providing service to this box is effectively nothing. The hardware is out the door, and the operational costs are being paid anyway. I told her I'm probably going to cancel this one if the price doesn't come down. So now it's a question of whether they can extract $12.95 a month from me, or $0. Are they really going to pick $0? That's nuts.

However, my point is that this is stupid of them, and they're certainly not generating any good will in my household.

It's a damn good thing for TiVo that the people who designed their user experience originally did such an amazing job. That's the only reason the business guys inside TiVo today can make all the blunders they have been. Some of them ought to read this:

http://harvardbusinessonline.hbsp.harvard.edu/hbsp/hbo/articles/article.jsp?articleID=R0706E

chris

 

[mick66]

But the bizarre thing is that the marginal cost to TiVo of providing service to this box is effectively nothing.

my point is that this is stupid of them,

Trying to make a profit after nearly ten years of losing money is stupid?

 

[ah30k]

But the bizarre thing is that the marginal cost to TiVo of providing service to this box is effectively nothing.

Not true, TiVo must pay fees to Tribune (or whoever is providing guide data now) for each subscriber that gets guide data. The exact fee is probably closely held proprietary data but it is certainly well above 'effectively nothing'.

Also, marginal cost analysis really only applies to commodities which this is not. Are you saying you should get a Porsche for marginal cost? Not to compare TiVo to a Porsche

 

[atmuscarella]

Actually TiVo gives everyone the option of paying less. Its call their 3 year prepaid plain for $299 which works out to $8.31/mo. It doesn't take much calculating to figure out that you pay more than $299 after 18 months of the current $16.95/mo fee.

Thanks,

 

[wolflord11]

As the OP has a TivoHD then I am assuming they have Cable

If so, I would suggest looking at your Cable Companies DVR's and what they can offer you.

There seems to be alot of this here lately. Peoples One Year prepaids are up and then they get hit with a higher than expected Month to Month.

Of course, Tivo covered themselves as any company does with the old line of "however, reserve the right, at any time, to charge the current applicable monthly fee for a one-year commitment of service, which may be higher."

Basically, Tivo can charge you anything they want to, so get used to it.

 

[GoHokies!]

Since the OP has a THD, then he should be getting the MSD on one of the boxes.

What kind of price plan do you have on the THD?

What do I have to do to get TiVo to honor the prices that existed when I bought this thing?

The same thing that I can get automakers to do to honor the price of gas that existed when I bought my car 6 years ago.

 

[Stormspace]

I am in the same boat with you. I purchased a S2DT last October at 19.95/month. I specifically asked the CSR about the pricing after the one year and was told it would be 12.95. Keep us informed.

 

[BigT4187]

I am in the same boat with you. I purchased a S2DT last October at 19.95/month. I specifically asked the CSR about the pricing after the one year and was told it would be 12.95. Keep us informed.

Me too. My 1 year pre-pay is up this month. I called and was told that I can continue month-to-month for $16.95. I could sign a 1 year contract for $16.95 but if I canceled before the year was up it was $200 cancellation fee.

 

[Narf54321]

Basically, Tivo can charge you anything they want to, so get used to it.

No, Tivo can attempt to charge you anything they want, until people leave by deciding that the CableCo (or satellite) box isn't really that horrible after all and cheaper, too. Disgruntled subscribers then continue to bad-mouth Tivo, Inc. to anyone they can, resulting in Tivo's continued "disappointing" sales and subscription numbers.

 

[pdhenry]

When I brought him up, she also figured that "TiVoPony" could be anyone and wasn't necessarily an employee, which is a valid point if you don't know who he is.

For future reference, TiVoPony is Bob Pony, TiVo's Director of Product Marketing. Whether this carries more weight with a CSR probably depends on the CSR.

 

[PaJo]

I decided to cancel my month to month subscription and explained the main reason was the lack of Tivolution Magazine. The fellow said he remembered how good that was and asked me to wait until he checks into it. He returned and said yeah, it's gone forever but would you be interested in staying if I give you month to month, no contract at $10.95 a month? Being the wimp I am I said OK. It took me several years to drop DTV and the Dtivos too.

 

[1283]

month to month, no contract at $10.95 a month

$10.95 * 36 = $394.20. That's almost $100 more than prepaying $299 for 3 years.

 

[alansplace]

Actually TiVo gives everyone the option of paying less. Its call their 3 year prepaid plain for $299 which works out to $8.31/mo. It doesn't take much calculating to figure out that you pay more than $299 after 18 months of the current $16.95/mo fee.

Thanks,

if it is a second box, a better deal is the three year monthly ($12.95) plan because that box will be billled at $6.95 under the msd.
--
Alan

 

[atmuscarella]

if it is a second box, a better deal is the three year monthly ($12.95) plan because that box will be billled at $6.95 under the msd.

Yep 3 year prepaid and 3 year commitment with MSD are the ways to go. I know the 3 year thing is hard for lots of people to buy into, but it sure save lots of money.

Thanks,