Selling TiVo, provide TSN?

5543 Views 16 Replies 9 Participants Last post by supasta, May 12, 2014

wesmills

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2011

I have a TiVo that's never been subscribed (bought it to use on a TV that I wound up not buying) and I'm trying to sell it. The buyer has asked for the TSN. Is it safe to provide this number since the TiVo has never been added to my or anyone else's account?

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Worf

· #2 · Apr 22, 2011

The TSN is composed of 4 groups of numbers (www-xxxx-yyyy-zzzz). The first two groups (www-xxxx) are generic across that model of TiVos - the first group identifies the TiVo, the second group identifies revision. The last two groups are close to a serial number.

I believe it's safe to provide the first two groups of numbers - it'll help identify the TiVo to the buyer without revealing the whole thing. The danger of providing the whole TSN in your case is because it's never been subbed is the buyer could theoretically sub it and prevent you from selling it because TiVo will not allow anyone else to register it until it's been deregistered. They'll be paying for service, but given how crazy some people are...

Edit: I mean, it'll identify the TiVo model, without identifying the individual TiVo.

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replaytv

· #3 · Apr 22, 2011

Then they can ask Tivo if it has lifetime and they will give an answer to anybody.

jmill

· #4 · Apr 22, 2011

wesmills said:
I have a TiVo that's never been subscribed (bought it to use on a TV that I wound up not buying) and I'm trying to sell it. The buyer has asked for the TSN. Is it safe to provide this number since the TiVo has never been added to my or anyone else's account?

There is nothing wrong with providing TSN to the potential buyer.

lessd

· #5 · Apr 22, 2011

Worf said:
The TSN is composed of 4 groups of numbers (www-xxxx-yyyy-zzzz). The first two groups (www-xxxx) are generic across that model of TiVos - the first group identifies the TiVo, the second group identifies revision. The last two groups are close to a serial number.

I believe it's safe to provide the first two groups of numbers - it'll help identify the TiVo to the buyer without revealing the whole thing. The danger of providing the whole TSN in your case is because it's never been subbed is the buyer could theoretically sub it and prevent you from selling it because TiVo will not allow anyone else to register it until it's been deregistered. They'll be paying for service, but given how crazy some people are...

Edit: I mean, it'll identify the TiVo model, without identifying the individual TiVo.

If someone want to sub the OPs TiVo to keep him from selling it and pay $12/month, let that person go for it, after 30 days the OP can than sell it with 11 months of paid service.
Giving an unsub TiVo TSN should never cause you any problems.
I got some old Series 2 TiVos, if anybody wants the TSN I will post it on this form, I might get a crazy to sub the unit and then i will give my kids an extra TiVo for their home.

jmill

· #6 · Apr 23, 2011

lessd said:
I got some old Series 2 TiVos, if anybody wants the TSN I will post it on this form, I might get a crazy to sub the unit and then i will give my kids an extra TiVo for their home.

LOL! Put me next in line for a free sub! I wouldn't mind that either

shwru980r

· #7 · Apr 26, 2011

If someone tried take out a subscription on a Tivo to keep it from being sold, they would probably use a stolen credit card. They also might not tell the seller and wait for the buyer to find out and return the Tivo. The seller would probably get negative feedback and low DSR ratings so the Tivo wouldn't get as many bids when it's re-listed. I wouldn't give out the TSN.

wesmills

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 26, 2011

Just so y'all know, I went ahead and provided the TSN. The buyer was from Craigslist so I wasn't too worried about getting bad feedback. Thanks for the advice.

replaytv

· #9 · Apr 26, 2011

It isn't foolproof, but when I buy a Tivo on craigslist I ask if the Tivo can be connected to a Tv when I show up. If not, I bring a TV, REmote, and all cords needed and I check to see if it really has LIfetime. I also check to see if it needs a password if someone had it set up for TiVo KidZone or Parental Control.
I even carry a dc to AC converter in case they want to meet in a parking lot.

lessd

· #10 · Apr 26, 2011

shwru980r said:
If someone tried take out a subscription on a Tivo to keep it from being sold, they would probably use a stolen credit card. They also might not tell the seller and wait for the buyer to find out and return the Tivo. The seller would probably get negative feedback and low DSR ratings so the Tivo wouldn't get as many bids when it's re-listed. I wouldn't give out the TSN.

And why would someone use a perfectly good stolen credit card to take out a Sub on a TiVo that he/she has no possession of to keep someone they don't know from selling the unit ???

orangeboy

· #11 · Apr 26, 2011

Step 1: steal credit card
Step 2: sub a TiVo
Step 3: ???
Step 4: profit!

lessd

· #12 · Apr 27, 2011

orangeboy said:
Step 1: steal credit card
Step 2: sub a TiVo
Step 3: ???
Step 4: profit!

Given all my stolen credit cards

I need step 3, its important for all of us credit card thieves

because we can't make a profit without that step 3.

shwru980r

· #13 · Apr 29, 2011

lessd said:
And why would someone use a perfectly good stolen credit card to take out a Sub on a TiVo that he/she has no possession of to keep someone they don't know from selling the unit ???

Why would they use their own card or even do it at all? Some people get a kick out of doing this kind of thing. The seller or the buyer might get a call from the police.

Maybe the thing to do is buy several unsubscribed Tivos and keep them listed on ebay until one of them shows up with a subscription. Put a high price on them so they don't sell.

lessd

· #14 · Apr 29, 2011

shwru980r said:
Why would they use their own card or even do it at all? Some people get a kick out of doing this kind of thing. The seller or the buyer might get a call from the police.

Maybe the thing to do is buy several unsubscribed Tivos and keep them listed on ebay until one of them shows up with a subscription. Put a high price on them so they don't sell.

Great idea for the TP and I would save $19.99/month
TP for sale $1000 TSN 746-0001-9045-FBF2 and people don't screw with me and take out a sub on this TiVo so I can't get my $1000 on Craigslist.

supasta

· #15 · May 12, 2014

So, one reply in an old thread states that there should be no problem in providing the TSN to a potential buyer. Is this still the case?

I have listed a TiVo Premiere on eBay (no lifetime, box only). I was contacted by a buyer requesting the TSN. I had a quick look at other TiVo listings, and saw a mix of listings both with and without the TSN, as well as a good number of them with the TSN removed from screenshot photos.
This buyer has ~230 feedback at 100%, so I am not terribly concerned, although I have 600+ feedback at 100%, so this buyer asking me to provide the TSN so they can "verify the history of the TiVo and ensure that there is no service commitment on the unit" stuck me as odd.

Should I provide the TSN?

dianebrat

· #16 · May 12, 2014

There is nothing wrong with providing the TSN, same as it said in the thread previously, and the buyer has valid concerns to not get stuck with a machine locked into a commitment laden box.

I know there are more recent threads on this, it seems to come up monthly,but I couldn't find them on a quick look either.

supasta

· #17 · May 12, 2014

dianebrat said:
I know there are more recent threads on this, it seems to come up monthly,but I couldn't find them on a quick look either.

I couldn't either. Thank you for the reply.

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