Question on lifetime transfer, MSD, and rebates

1793 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by krazyrabbit, Oct 13, 2007

rlcarr

Discussion Starter · Oct 12, 2007

I have a model 140 Series 2 with lifetime, which qualifies for the HD+transfer offer.

So I could pay $299 for a TiVoHD and $199 to transfer lifetime, which gives me a lifetime TiVoHD for $498.

However, I could buy a S3 on Amazon for $575, which will only be $375 after the new activation rebate. If an MSD plan qualifies as a new activation, I'd have an S3 for $375 plus $84/year.

Or I could buy an HD on Amazon for $250 and activate it under MSD.

Questions, then:

1) Do the MSD monthly plans allow you do collect the new activation rebate, or can you only get that with full-price monthly (and prepaid) plans?

2) Which do you think is the best idea (assuming I do want some HD-capable TiVo)? doing the transfer? Or getting an S3/HD with MSD and waiting for some future lifetime transfer option to some future better (CC2.0 compatible?) TiVo?

3) Since the S3 has a rebate and the HD does not, that means the S3 is only $125 more than the HD on a new activation right now. Is it worth the extra $125?

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

dswallow

· #2 · Oct 12, 2007

rlcarr said:
I have a model 140 Series 2 with lifetime, which qualifies for the HD+transfer offer.

So I could pay $299 for a TiVoHD and $199 to transfer lifetime, which gives me a lifetime TiVoHD for $498.

However, I could buy a S3 on Amazon for $575, which will only be $375 after the new activation rebate. If an MSD plan qualifies as a new activation, I'd have an S3 for $375 plus $84/year.

Or I could buy an HD on Amazon for $250 and activate it under MSD.

Questions, then:

1) Do the MSD monthly plans allow you do collect the new activation rebate, or can you only get that with full-price monthly (and prepaid) plans?

2) Which do you think is the best idea (assuming I do want some HD-capable TiVo)? doing the transfer? Or getting an S3/HD with MSD and waiting for some future lifetime transfer option to some future better (CC2.0 compatible?) TiVo?

3) Since the S3 has a rebate and the HD does not, that means the S3 is only $125 more than the HD on a new activation right now. Is it worth the extra $125?

Yes, as long as you buy the Series3 or TiVoHD from a retailer, not from tivo.com, it is eligible for the MSD pricing.

If you plan to keep the current unit active, there may not be a lot of value to transferring lifetime service unless you're concerned the unit may fail and you won't want to pay an authorized service center to repair it.

You can get the S3 for about $340 using a AAA 10% discount coupon at Circuit City, after the $200 rebate. That makes it closer to $90-$100 more than a TiVoHD. For that you get a 50% larger hard drive, a better remote control, an included HDMI cable and the OLED front panel display of the S3.

GoHokies!

· #3 · Oct 12, 2007

Doug nailed it.

The only thing he missed is that yes, you can get the rebate and the MSD rate.

dswallow

· #4 · Oct 12, 2007

GoHokies! said:
Doug nailed it.

The only thing he missed is that yes, you can get the rebate and the MSD rate.

I covered that.

dswallow said:
Yes, as long as you buy the Series3 or TiVoHD from a retailer, not from tivo.com, it is eligible for the MSD pricing.

rlcarr

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 12, 2007

dswallow said:
using a AAA 10% discount coupon at Circuit City

Where do you get one of those? I'm a AAA member, but I don't recall ever getting a coupon for CC.

mick66

· #6 · Oct 13, 2007

dswallow said:
Yes, as long as you buy the Series3 or TiVoHD from a retailer, not from tivo.com, it is eligible for the MSD pricing.

That is incorrect. Tivos purchased from tivo.com do qualify for the MSD rate as long as you choose a monthly plan and not a prepaid plan just like with any other tivo.
The only thing you don't get when you purchase from tivo.com is a rebate.

mick66

· #7 · Oct 13, 2007

GoHokies! said:
Doug nailed it.

I wouldn't call handing out bad facts "nailing it"

GoHokies!

· #8 · Oct 13, 2007

dswallow said:
I covered that.

No, you missed the part where he could get the rebate and the MSD at the same time.

And both of us missed the getting the MSD while buying from Tivo, as Mick ever so politely pointed out.

kemcg

· #9 · Oct 13, 2007

Hi all,

I am hoping you can clear up my confusion.

I just went for the deal to transfer my lifetime to an HD box. Once my 12 months of free service on my old S2, what are my options payment wise if I want to keep it? It seems that I will no longer qualify for the MSD based on what I read on Tivo's site.

Please, if anyone can help clear up the confusion

Thanks,
kemcg

mick66

· #10 · Oct 13, 2007

If you do nothing, you will automatically be billed on a monthly basis for the one year rate which is currently $16.95/mo. You can always change that to one of the other payment options nad have the commitment that goes with it. to get MSD you can just cancel the subscription and then resubscribe it with a new commitment.

kemcg

· #11 · Oct 13, 2007

Thanks! Am I correct in understanding that I don't actually need to get new hardware to get MSD? All I have to do is stop the service for a bit then restart it with the same unit? If that is the case, then that is a relief. Of course they can always change it.

kemcg

· #12 · Oct 13, 2007

IN the agreement for the new transfer there is this line;
TiVo Service 30 day Money Back Guarantee does not apply to this offer. There are NO returns, refunds, or exchanges in connection with this offer except as otherwise permitted pursuant to the DVR's manufacturer warranty. This offer is not elgible for multi-service discount.

What does it mean that this is not eligible for MSD? Does that mean that even if I have to cancel and restart, that I still can't get MSD? This doesn't seem like a good way to get your most loyal customers paying for extra Tivos.

mick66

· #13 · Oct 13, 2007

You are transferring lifetime and getting a free 1 year prepay - that would never be eligible for MSD. When the year is over it's not eligible because it's an existing subscription and Tivo recently changed the rules to exclude existing subscriptions from the MSD rate. When the year is over, you'd have to pay $16.95/mo on that existing subscription. If you cancel it, that subscription no longer exists. Then you start a new subscription that will be eligible for MSD. The hook is that Tivo makes you commit to 1 2 or 3 years again.

kemcg

· #14 · Oct 13, 2007

OK thanks. So it doesn't mean that my newly lifetimed Tivo HD won't be eligible as the qualifying unit then? I was just afraid that I would never be able to have MSD using this machine as the qualifier. Their language is so confusing and even the CSR's can't figure it out!

krazyrabbit

· #15 · Oct 13, 2007

rlcarr said:
Where do you get one of those? I'm a AAA member, but I don't recall ever getting a coupon for CC.

The 10% discount is good for purchases over $199. You either show your AAA card at Circuit City when your check out, or you can get a promotional code that you can use for online purchases.

Karen

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