[mrdbdigital]

I'm think of obtaining a couple of new HR20-700's (factory sealed boxes) from a seller on eBay. How difficult is it to get DirecTV to list these as "owned" instead of "leased"?

Also, since I plan to use and increased capacity external Raid system, is there any advantage to having them listed as "owned". If I don't break the seals to go into the boxes, wouldn't I be better of as far as service and replacement to leave them listed as "leased"?

 

[ebonovic]

You should continue your discussion at:
www.dbstalk.com

But to answer your question (Since it is not 100% related to the HR20).

"owned" instead of "leased"?

Difficult.... In most cases, you need to prove that either you purchased them for the full purchase price ($800 each), or the person selling them to you "owned" them....

There really is no "advantage" to owning an HR20, as it pretty much is a doorstop without DirecTV service.

If you break the seal, you will have "issues" when trying to have it serviced/replaced if necessary.

 

[Jon J]

You should continue your discussion at:
www.dbstalk.comThere really is no "advantage" to owning an HR20, as it pretty much is a doorstop without DirecTV service.

The Protection Plan is about to replace an owned HR10-250 for me with an HR20 which I will own. Having paid for the DVR and the Protection Plan all this time I do consider it an "advantage".

 

[ebonovic]

The Protection Plan is about to replace an owned HR10-250 for me with an HR20 which I will own. Having paid for the DVR and the Protection Plan all this time I do consider it an "advantage".

If that is the case... be VERY sure that it is marked as OWN, as pretty much all the cases I have seen... those HR20s are activated as leased.

There are very very few "owned" HR20's out there.

 

[mrdbdigital]

You should continue your discussion at:
www.dbstalk.com

Sorry about that. I actually *forgot* that these weren't Tivos. I should be ashamed.

 

[wolflord11]

Get something in writing from the Seller stating that the units are "Owned" by them, and then once you purchase it, and Directv throws a fit and says they are "Leased" provide them with a copy of the letter. Either Directv will list it as "Owned" or you can file a complaint with Ebay.

Make sure you pay with a Credit Card theu Paypal. That way you can do a dispute and get your Money back, and as a last resort do a CC Chargeback.

There are very few "owned" HR20's around, so the chances that the units are in fact owned is very small.

 

[bonscott87]

FYI that owned or leased you still pay the same $4.99 mirror fee. Really no advantage to owned at all. And yes, unless you pay $750-800 each, they are not owned. Just get them from DirecTV directly or thru a retailer like Best Buy and be safe.

 

[newsposter]

would it be prudent even thought they are factory sealed for him to get the serial numbers to ensure there's nothing funny going on with the receivers? I know when people buy used they are supposed to do it to ensure all the bills are paid up. But on a supposed new receiver i guess thats too paranoid?

 

[wolflord11]

FYI that owned or leased you still pay the same $4.99 mirror fee. Really no advantage to owned at all. And yes, unless you pay $750-800 each, they are not owned. Just get them from DirecTV directly or thru a retailer like Best Buy and be safe.

Yes you still pay the same $4.99 Mirror fee per Month, but as a Owned Unit, you do not get a New Commitment Term added on. Imagine being 1.6 Years into a 2 year term, adding a Leased unit, and having a whole new 2 Years tacked on........

Also, when you come to cancel service, you could end up with a very large Termination fee, as you are ending your commitment early. It happens alot, just read the forums.

 

[wolflord11]

I'm think of obtaining a couple of new HR20-700's (factory sealed boxes) from a seller on eBay. How difficult is it to get DirecTV to list these as "owned" instead of "leased"?

Also, since I plan to use and increased capacity external Raid system, is there any advantage to having them listed as "owned". If I don't break the seals to go into the boxes, wouldn't I be better of as far as service and replacement to leave them listed as "leased"?

How exactly are you going to increase the capacity with an external Raid System without breaking the Boxes Seal?

This would automatically void the Warranty and Replacement options you have. So you may as well have them as Owned instead of Leased, unless you do not mind an additional commitment added to your account

 

[wolflord11]

would it be prudent even thought they are factory sealed for him to get the serial numbers to ensure there's nothing funny going on with the receivers? I know when people buy used they are supposed to do it to ensure all the bills are paid up. But on a supposed new receiver i guess thats too paranoid?

With a New unit from Directv or a Retail Store you will be safe, but a "New" unit from EBay, I would get all the information. You can check if there is any balance, and also if the unit can really be added to your Account as "Owned".

Even tho the unit is is the Box, sealed by Directv, you can get all the info without even breaking the Box open.

The Access Card Number, Serial Number and Unit ID are all on the outside of the Box

 

[bonscott87]

Yes you still pay the same $4.99 Mirror fee per Month, but as a Owned Unit, you do not get a New Commitment Term added on. Imagine being 1.6 Years into a 2 year term, adding a Leased unit, and having a whole new 2 Years tacked on........

Also, when you come to cancel service, you could end up with a very large Termination fee, as you are ending your commitment early. It happens alot, just read the forums.

Yea. Good luck with not getting a new commitment.

But so you're saying you'd rather pay $550 more just to get out of a 2 year commitment that only costs you 12.50 per month left on the contract? So even if you cancel that very month it would only cost you $300. Still cheaper to get the lease for $199 and cancel that very month then it would be to own it.

But hey, if you want to spend $750 just to own it, more power to ya. :up:

 

[wolflord11]

But so you're saying you'd rather pay $550 more just to get out of a 2 year commitment that only costs you 12.50 per month left on the contract? So even if you cancel that very month it would only cost you $300. Still cheaper to get the lease for $199 and cancel that very month then it would be to own it.

But hey, if you want to spend $750 just to own it, more power to ya. :up:

Where exactly are you getting all your Costs from?

Units on EBay, New, and added to your Account Owned are not going for $800.00. That is what Directv charges for a New unit. What you are saying is you are going to pay Full Price on EBay for the unit, then why not just get it from Directv?

Also, it would cost you atleast $600 plus if you cancelled that very Month. The Op wants 2 units, $300 a piece. Also, what other equipment is also on the account?

But if you would be happy paying $199 Lease per unit, and having a 2 Year commitment thats up to you. Some people love being tied into things, others prefer freedom

 

[Jon J]

Yea. Good luck with not getting a new commitment.

Failed receivers replaced by the Protection Plan do not trigger a new commitment.

 

[Budget_HT]

Failed receivers replaced by the Protection Plan do not trigger a new commitment.

... SHOULD not trigger a new commitment. It is important to specify that and double check the result after activating the replacement. Many folks have reported that the end result mistakingly showed a leased receiver and a 2-year commitment.

 

[wolflord11]

... SHOULD not trigger a new commitment. It is important to specify that and double check the result after activating the replacement. Many folks have reported that the end result mistakingly showed a leased receiver and a 2-year commitment.

Thats the word there "SHOULD". Otherwise you could very well end up with a 'leased" unit, a 2 Year Commitment, and if you cancel, either returning to Directv your "owned" unit that you payed for, or having a nice CC Charge on your Card for the unit that you fail to return to them

 

[joed32]

How exactly are you going to increase the capacity with an external Raid System without breaking the Boxes Seal?

This would automatically void the Warranty and Replacement options you have. So you may as well have them as Owned instead of Leased, unless you do not mind an additional commitment added to your account

They just plug into the ESATA port in the back.

 

[bonscott87]

Where exactly are you getting all your Costs from?

Units on EBay, New, and added to your Account Owned are not going for $800.00. That is what Directv charges for a New unit. What you are saying is you are going to pay Full Price on EBay for the unit, then why not just get it from Directv?

What you aren't getting is that if you get something on eBay, DirecTV is NOT going to recongnize it as "owned" unless you can brow beat a CSR on it. If you stop over to DBSTalk or SatGuys you can see many stories on this over the past few months. We've been talking about this for nearly a year now, it's nothing new. An owned unit costs $750. Period. If you are getting one on eBay for less then that 99.9% chance it is actually leased and the seller cannot legally sell it. Thus problems ensue when an unsuspecting person "buys" one on eBay because the reciever is most likely leased and cannot be sold. I'm not making this stuff up, just do a bit of research.

Also, it would cost you atleast $600 plus if you cancelled that very Month. The Op wants 2 units, $300 a piece. Also, what other equipment is also on the account?

2 year commitment is for programming only. And you don't stack cancellation fees per receiver you have. Cancellation is a standard $12.50 per month that is left on your commitment. Doesn't matter how many receivers you have on your account. 1 or 8, doesn't matter.

But if you would be happy paying $199 Lease per unit, and having a 2 Year commitment thats up to you. Some people love being tied into things, others prefer freedom

Yep. I'll be more then happy to pay only $199 (actually less but that's another story) vs. $750 and I'll take a 5 year commitment for all I care. If worse came to worse and I could no longer get DirecTV, just about any cable company will buy out your DirecTV or Dish contract for a commitment to them.

 

[Jon J]

Thats the word there "SHOULD". Otherwise you could very well end up with a 'leased" unit, a 2 Year Commitment, and if you cancel, either returning to Directv your "owned" unit that you payed for, or having a nice CC Charge on your Card for the unit that you fail to return to them

I'll try this one more time before dropping it...

Failed receivers replaced by the Protection Plan do not trigger a new commitment.

Any other result is a mistake not a variation of the rules.

 

[mrdbdigital]

Here is the eBay auction I was looking at: 320137123274. The seller says to contact DirecTV about any "lease" or "own" options. A while back, Robert at Value Electronics said he could sell them to me either as leased or owned for the same price. That was a while back and I may have misunderstood him. I'll probably buy them from him anyway, even though the eBay deals are cheaper.

As far as expanding capacity with an external Raid chassis, I will plug the chassis into the external eSata port.

I guess it's not going to gain much to have them listed as "owned". I don't care about the extra commitmant. I've been with DirecTV for a long time (5+ years).
I've already got a slimline dish, so I don't need to mess with any installation folks. I do my own work, especially since I'm a television engineer.

Thanks for all the discussion. Didn't mean to start any arguments!