PSA: The Hopper is NOT free.

[sixone]

I went to Dish Network's website last night, been thinking about signing up for their service.

They are advertising package prices starting at $19.99, but you can't get service without also getting a receiver of some kind - and paying a monthly fee for said receiver.

So add another $10 per month for the Hopper, plus $7 per additional TV to your monthly bill.

I'm just annoyed enough by these false advertisements that I'm not signing up for at least another month. It's not like I NEED their service. OTA does okay.

Bastages. :thumbsdown:

 

[Zargon]

wait, the first receiver isnt free anymore?

 

[sixone]

wait, the first receiver isnt free anymore?

There's no charge for the Hopper and the first few Joeys (seriously? Joeys :\ )

However, you can't get the equipment until you agree to pay a monthly fee for using it. Hence, not free.

 

[lxskllr]

There's no charge for the Hopper and the first few Joeys (seriously? Joeys :\ )

However, you can't get the equipment until you agree to pay a monthly fee for using it. Hence, not free.

Eh? I'm having trouble with this. They tell you it's free, but you have to pay a non-refundable monthly fee? How does that work? Both terms can't be true.

 

[sixone]

Eh? I'm having trouble with this. They tell you it's free, but you have to pay a non-refundable monthly fee? How does that work? Both terms can't be true.

One would think so, wouldn't one?

 

[WaTaGuMp]

Have you tried contacting them and negotiating a deal? If you try it, use the online chat so you can print out what they tell you.

 

[sixone]

Have you tried contacting them and negotiating a deal? If you try it, use the online chat so you can print out what they tell you.

Oooh...I might do that tonight. :sneaky:

 

[OutHouse]

yup that is how a advertised 19.99 monthly bill turns into a $65.00 monthly bill.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

My Dish bill has never been incorrect. Maybe they just started doing this recently? I have the Hopper/Joey setup and all I pay is $7 a month for the insurance, along with the quoted rates for the Everything package...I never have to go to the movies again ^_^

 

[Fritzo]

Yeah, it ended up being like $14 more than I'm paying now (plus taxes and fees and fee fees I'm sure.)

 

[sixone]

My Dish bill has never been incorrect. Maybe they just started doing this recently? I have the Hopper/Joey setup and all I pay is $7 a month for the insurance, along with the quoted rates for the Everything package...I never have to go to the movies again ^_^

Why do you pay insurance? Do you own the receiver?

 

[Corporate Thug]

Dish sucks...direct TV is where its at.

 

[Fritzo]

Why do you pay insurance? Do you own the receiver?

I pay insurance too. It's worth it. $6.99/month, and we've had 2 receivers and an antenna that needed repaired in the last 18 months. That would have been $500+ worth of equipment + service call fees.

 

[sixone]

I pay insurance too. It's worth it. $6.99/month, and we've had 2 receivers and an antenna that needed repaired in the last 18 months. That would have been $500+ worth of equipment + service call fees.

Why would you have to pay if their equipment needs to be repaired? Unless your kid fills it with oatmeal, it's their responsibility to maintain their equipment.

If I'm paying $10 a month for a receiver, that receiver better work. If it doesn't, it's going back. If they want me to pay for their service, they'll send me a new one. Another $7 for insurance is nothing but a ripoff.

 

[WaTaGuMp]

I don't pay the insurance. If a receiver goes bad, and I have had a few go down, they send you one and a payed label to ship back the old one. The insurance covers other things, but you don't have to pay it.

 

[Ichinisan]

I've never heard these Kangaroo-themed equipment nicknames. Dish Network must be different in the "Land of Ahs."

 

[BoomerD]

Dish sucks...direct TV is where its at.

I kind of agree...Dish isn't bad, but DirecTV offers more HD channels. For me, their customer service has been worse though.

We had Dish for many years. I upgraded to HD when I bought the big screen at the end of 2009. That was pretty impressive...then a couple months later, Uverse persuaded me to switch...and on top of their rebates, they paid my Dish disconnect fees. :woot:
Unfortunately, Uverse sucked. Billing was never right month to month, the screen would freeze and the system had to be rebooted...so we switched to ComCrap.
Overall, Comcast was MUCH better...and I LOVED their internet. (we had the "triple play" package) but after a year, our "teaser" rate jumped from $89/mo to $180/month...and the retention department refused to work with us to keep us as customers...so, we switched to DirecTV and ATT for phone/internet.
I REALLY miss Comcast internet...but DirecTV isn't too bad. Just be sure to get any additional boxes you MIGHT want when you sign up...I wanted to add a second box about 90 days after we switched...they quoted me $169 + (don't remember)...$10/month for the second box. I not-so-politely declined.

I shop these services every time my basic contract gets close to expiring. I'm always looking for the best deal...and the best price.

 

[BoomerD]

BTW, on the dish website:

GET THE HOPPER FREE

The Hopper™ Whole-Home HD DVR is the most advanced set-top box in the industry delivering features that will change the way you watch TV forever. Get the Hopper FREE with America's Top 120 and above.

Automatically skip commercials in primetime TV – ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC in HD
Record and store up to 2,000 hours6
Record up to 6 HD shows at once during primetime7
4X more hard drive storage than cable8

But in the fine print...

Free with qualifying packages. Monthly DVR fees and receiver fees apply. New and qualified former DISH customers only.
Automatic Skip feature only available for playback of certain HD primetime shows on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC with PrimeTime Anytime feature. Functions must be enabled by customer and are subject to availability.

I'm not sure how they can say the "Hopper" is free...but is subject to "DVR and receiver fees."

 

[theprodigalrebel]

In this case, 'Free' means no upfront cost for the equipment (conditions apply - credit score is a BIG factor; roughly 70% of people are approved though so it's not too stringent). It does not mean no DVR Service Fee or fees for Additional Outlets (i.e. additional receivers). Folks unwilling to, say, agree to a credit check or place their credit card on file (for auto-collection of Early Termination/Unreturned Equipment Fees) pay $449 for the Hopper and $100 for each Joey (MSRP, you own the equipment and are free to resell them).

There is no cable/satellite provider that I know of that doesn't charge DVR fees or additional outlet/receiver fees.

you can't get service without also getting a receiver of some kind

You can - it's called the "Activation Plan" and isn't available on the website - you have to call customer service for it. This is ideal for folks who, say, moved into a house where the previous occupant left the Dish/LNBs/Cabling/Switch etc. behind and you picked up a receiver (either new or off Ebay or something similar). Your account is set up as a Pay In Advance account - no commitment, no credit approval, no credit card hold, no termination fees...but you also lose benefits like discounted programming for the first year, free 3-month/12-month premium trials etc. If you were to actually buy all the equipment at full retail, you would end up spending several hundred dollars and that's excluding the receivers.

But yeah, there's no escaping the monthly $10 DVR Service Fee plus $7 for each additional Hopper/Joey.

Edit: BTW, the $10 DVR Fee and $7 Additional Receiver Fees apply regardless of whether the receivers are purchased outright or 'leased' from Dish.

 

[hclarkjr]

Dish sucks...direct TV is where its at.

this, i have had both services. directv blows dish away badly

 

[DaveSimmons]

I canceled my Comcast a year ago and rarely miss it, thanks to Netflix and Amazon Prime. I'd much rather have the $1,200 a year than see episodes of TV shows as soon as they're broadcast.

 

[Wreckem]

I pay insurance too. It's worth it. $6.99/month, and we've had 2 receivers and an antenna that needed repaired in the last 18 months. That would have been $500+ worth of equipment + service call fees.

With my Cable Co, if their shit breaks, they pay to have it replaced.

 

[Nintendesert]

I canceled my Comcast a year ago and rarely miss it, thanks to Netflix and Amazon Prime. I'd much rather have the $1,200 a year than see episodes of TV shows as soon as they're broadcast.

How do you get your internets?

 

[Gooberlx2]

With my Cable Co, if their shit breaks, they pay to have it replaced.

That's because you lease the equipment. Honestly, the fee is a wash in that regard, but the insurance also covers your installation. That's another extra fee with cable.

 

[CZroe]

How did charging for DVR become the industry norm?! I know: Because people let their providers force it on them, even when TiVo and Media Center were fully-functional and there was no reason to pay a monthly fee (high cost for TiVo lifetime or MCE PC though).

I always objected to the very idea. It was like paying my cable co to let me use my VCR.