So I got a new TV from a friend of mine who upgraded. It’s a nice 48 inch. So I called Direct TV to get another receiver. These mufuggas want $170 for it.
$70 for Receiver - get it.
$50 for the tech to turn it on - BS
$50 for the CHANGE in my contract agreement - BS
I was playing nice guy on the phone yesterday and got nowhere. Today I’m going to lever up and escalate my ish to a manager with guns blazing. Anyone have experience dealing with these crooks? I’m still in contract for another 13 months and do not plan on renewing.
Screw 'em. Split the line coming off your box and just run it to the other room yourself. I assume Direct TV has a smartphone app that let’s you change the channel from your phone.
You can’t deal with the frontline folks on this stuff, or you’ll get shafted.
Companies leverage their offshore call centers to try and squeeze their customers on threat of frustration/helplessness.
You’ve got to make it about “not being able to afford” whatever they’re trying to charge you, along with having investigated another option that will be cheaper.
The clowns at AT&T tried to convince my girlfriend that she had to pay $50 for them to switch on her internet at her new apartment when they weren’t even sending a technician - they were just hitting some button on their computer systems in their processing center. When she tried to question them they told her erroneously that they were her only option because TWC didn’t serve that apartment complex - so she had to accept their price. I got on the phone, got a “supervisor,” and set it all straight.
Direct TV is far from premium. I’ve never had it myself, but I have a few friends who’ve had it and the only one who kept if for any lenght of time was getting it for free by using a PC to decrypt the signal. Everyone else switched back to cable as soon as their first contract was up.
Why do you guys sign contracts for TV? This strikes me as weird. What benefit do you get from a contract over a month-to-month arrangement?
Contract = little bargaining power.
If I want something from my cable provider, I just call and ask and tell them if I don’t get it I switch to a competitor right now. I get what a want at the price I feel is ok, done deal. If I had a contract, I wouldn’t have that leverage.
^ Contracts get you a lower price, so you’re basically betting that you will like the service. In some cases, you also don’t have a choice. When Verizon first introduced FIOS, you couldn’t get it without a contract because they wanted to be sure they could recoup their investment in running brand new fibre.
Cell phones here are no different. Does anyone in the US pay $700 for an unlocked iPhone so they can jump from provider to provider at will? No, they agree to a 2 year contract and get the phone for free or $99 or whatever.
Lots of times when you sign up, if you want a front end discount it comes with a 12 month contract. I have to do battle with my ISP in a couple months since they’ll be jacking my rate once my 12 month promotion ends (I don’t have a contract, but do have a promotional rate).
I understand cell phones, but the equivalent with cable would be getting a $99 TV in exchange for a 3 year deal. In which case I could understand signing the contract. Though I guess if you get a promotional price the contract may be worth it. Need to do an NPV on it I guess.
I negotiate a good deal before signing a contract. When a contract exprires, I tell them there’s no reason to sign another one unless i get a better deal than my previous one. In fact, there’s no reason to stick around if I don’t get a better deal. This results in a better deal.
i got DirecTv last year and I love it so far…it is way cheaper than Comcast or Verizon and so far the service has been great.
when signing up, i did have to negoiate like I was buying a car, but it was worth it. they gave me free install and along with main DVR, three other client boxes for free. i paid nothing for install and my monthly rate is $69.99.