[Total Disgust]

I was totally upset by TiVo today. My older TiVo died and when I wanted a replacement, it is $149 "to repair" (yeah, like it costs $149 to repair a $10 HD). Okay, so I was willing to do this, but the TiVo representative told me that I could go to Best Buys where the new HD TiVo was $799. I could get a $200 rebate and I could transfer service to that TiVo as it was a special. So, I drive 45 min each way (I live in the country), shell out $799, fill out the rebate, plug it in and call for service transfer.
Oh, now I have a different center. I can't transfer service. Oh, and I can't get the $200 rebate either. After being put on hold 3 times for numerous minutes, I finally get the manager. He's willing to "help" me by charging me $199 to transfer my service AND and I still wont' get the $200 rebate. So, I'm supposed to pay $799+$199 for this new TiVo??? And, I don't even have an HD TV. I ask the manager for his manager, no can do. He won't give me the name of anyone there. These are a bunch of people that do not put their name behind the company and have no ownership in living up to what they tell the customer.
Yes, I'm returning this and I am going to us a PC to set up my own DVR. TiVo has been rude and unwilling to live up to what their representative say. And, they won't even give me the name of the person in charge of Customer Service ... well that person certainly doesn't want to hear about customer's need helping.
By the way, when the manager I talked to refused to give me his name (like I'm somehow going to ever meet him?) and he refused to give me the name of anyone there who might be able to overwrite this idiocy, he hung up on me. I can only call someone who won't help a customer a coward. :down: :down: :down:

 

[Jolt]

Feel better?

 

[BlueNgu]

For what it is worth. I purchased a Tivo S3 from Best Buy recently and had them pricematch with Circuit City and also Compusa has the same price for the S3 at $599 plus the $200 rebate. I you are going to keep the tivo you might as well have them pricematch

 

[crackhead]

That's a real bummer the first TiVo rep. was misinformed, but I'd have looked into it a little bit more before I shelled out $799.

 

[james.92]

I was totally upset by TiVo today. My older TiVo died and when I wanted a replacement, it is $149 "to repair" (yeah, like it costs $149 to repair a $10 HD). Okay, so I was willing to do this, but the TiVo representative told me that I could go to Best Buys where the new HD TiVo was $799. I could get a $200 rebate and I could transfer service to that TiVo as it was a special. So, I drive 45 min each way (I live in the country), shell out $799, fill out the rebate, plug it in and call for service transfer.
Oh, now I have a different center. I can't transfer service. Oh, and I can't get the $200 rebate either. After being put on hold 3 times for numerous minutes, I finally get the manager. He's willing to "help" me by charging me $199 to transfer my service AND and I still wont' get the $200 rebate. So, I'm supposed to pay $799+$199 for this new TiVo??? And, I don't even have an HD TV. I ask the manager for his manager, no can do. He won't give me the name of anyone there. These are a bunch of people that do not put their name behind the company and have no ownership in living up to what they tell the customer.
Yes, I'm returning this and I am going to us a PC to set up my own DVR. TiVo has been rude and unwilling to live up to what their representative say. And, they won't even give me the name of the person in charge of Customer Service ... well that person certainly doesn't want to hear about customer's need helping.
By the way, when the manager I talked to refused to give me his name (like I'm somehow going to ever meet him?) and he refused to give me the name of anyone there who might be able to overwrite this idiocy, he hung up on me. I can only call someone who won't help a customer a coward. :down: :down: :down:

You forgot that asinine red thumbs down post icon.

 

[WhiskeyTango]

Is it possible he has a lifetime sub and the first rep didn't know that since you can transfer normal subs between boxes with out an extra charge?

 

[nhaigh]

Is it possible he has a lifetime sub and the first rep didn't know that since you can transfer normal subs between boxes with out an extra charge?

Doesn't the $200 rebate only apply to new activations and not transfers? Surely the reps would have known that. I suspect there is a lot of misunderstanding at the root of this.

 

[bicker]

There often is in cases where there are heated accusations of "lying".

 

[reneg]

In my opinion, $149 to 'repair' is not unreasonable. You could opt to purchase a HD and repair it yourself. Can someone please link me the $10 HDs? I could use a backup.

 

[dianebrat]

In my opinion, $149 to 'repair' is not unreasonable. You could opt to purchase a HD and repair it yourself. Can someone please link me the $10 HDs? I could use a backup.

In my case, I've somehow wound up swimming in 160GB drives, if anyone of my friends or family asked, the cost is a meal, it's funny how hardware cycles like that. I consider that as good as $10.

But clearly the OP has enough savvy to be here now, and with that, they can surely fix their machine, if only with a cheap HD and instacake, even though I could use a free boot CD, I've gone the instacake way on my last 2 rebuilds, it's about as painless as they get.

Anyone taking guesses as to having the OP return to posting in the thread after they calm down? (my bet is "nope, never hear from them")

Diane

 

[HDTiVo]

Diane:

You are a very cheap date. Can you cook and iron too?

I have lots of 300GB drives, so we'd need a prenup, but our marriage penalty wouldn't be so bad.

 

[dianebrat]

You are a very cheap date. Can you cook and iron too?

I'm not that domestic, it's why I charge folks for tech support by the meal
As far as ironing.. I have people...(and lots of non-iron clothing!)

 

[ZeoTiVo]

Anyone taking guesses as to having the OP return to posting in the thread after they calm down? (my bet is "nope, never hear from them")

Diane

sounds like he is going to be busy building his PC DVR and driving one hour each way as he finds out some other PC thing he needs for his PC DVR.

Funny how he was willing to shell out 599$ at first and now will go to the expense and hassle of making a PC DVR vs 149$ for TiVo to fix the current DVR or $100 to get a Hard drive and fix it himself.

bottom line - you need to do the internet thing before you go drive an hour and buy stuff, saves you time driving AND ranting

 

[ADent]

Yes many CSRs at many companies are clueless and give out bad info. Not an excuse, but a reality.

1) You do not get the rebate if you transfer service. You can start new service (say sign up for $299 for three years) and put an old machine on that new service.

2) If you have lifetime on the old unit, no transferring to a new unit. They have allowed transfers in the past for $199, but it is generally not available. You can get a unit repaired (including a swap to a similair unit) by any Authorized repair. Weaknees, DVRRecorder, Digitalrecorder, are other repair facilities.

3) You can try a PM to a couple of the TiVo employees here - TiVoPony or TiVoOps something. They are typically still limited by #1 & #2 - but they know the ropes and stand by their word.

 

[mpm980]

Why not just replace the hard drive? Pretty simple