TiVo : Anyone received a offer from Virgin regarding the 500gb box

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Itshim

So charge for delivery ( I can get the box delivered for £6.50 by courier).Or allow customer to collect. You have shops & local depots

But I still go back to all these costs should & my guess is ,were part of the business plan.

Call outs:- The whole point of renting is that if it goes wrong its down to the supplier. So if its a fault no charge.That should be part of the business model. If not SACK the people whom worked it out, as clearly they are not up to the job .

I surpect that it is more along these lines ( Well every business will try this) . How to increase our revenue stream.

We have costed for supply & fit BUT lets see if some "silly" people will pay AGAIN for delivery & setup. OMG there are lots ( including me for V+ at the special offer rate at the time). Ok Do it again. and look it works. Even if the product ( & I cannot judge on this) is not the next holy grail of TV viewing.

Have you not actually read about the TiVo installations in the very many posts talking about it, they take at least 40 minutes and during the install the technician has to get the power levels adjusted correctly and various firmware downloaded and installed, so it will always remain a manned install.

[Rivva]

Originally Posted by gtfc1984

Anyone received a offer from Virgin regarding the 500gb box, not received mine yet and boxes are now up for grabs.

Mine's a yes.

I don't know when they started sending them out but received my email offer on the 19th of last month.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Rivva

Mine's a yes.

I don't know when they started sending them out but received my email offer on the 19th of last month.

No l have not received anything.

[scotmac]

Received email on the 18th April ,but had not had the exclusive deal letter with my unique offer code yet.

---------- Post added at 16:18 ---------- Previous post was at 16:06 ----------

Just checked VM help & support forum NickO says the letters will be sent out in next couple of weeks

[mightymagpie99]

Just checked this blog : http://vmhd.blogspot.com/2011/05/virgin-media-launches-500gb-box.html?showComment=1305211768867#c72832923810492 17479

which states : " Just got this from Virgin Media:

Great news, we've launched our new Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo 500GB box early for existing customers. From today M+, L and XL TV customers will be able to get their hands on Virgin Media's next-generation entertainment service, packing all of the same power and great functionality of its bigger brother but for just £49.95 plus standard installation charges.

Existing XL TV customers can enjoy the TiVo service for an additional £3 per month and now M+ and L TV customers will be able to experience the power of TiVo for an additional £8 per month, all they need to do is call to upgrade on 0845 650 7777.

We'll be making our TiVo 500GB box available for new customers this summer, watch out for more news! "

So it looks like the special offer for VIP50 XL customers is simply to be allowed to pay £3 per month rather than the £8 for L & M customers . Totally underwhelming if that is the case & another in a growing list of overhyped announcements with underwhelming outcomes from VM. Contract up for renewal soon & seriously considering my options now.

[denphone]

That does not surprise me.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by mightymagpie99

So it looks like the special offer for VIP50 XL customers is simply to be allowed to pay £3 per month rather than the £8 for L & M customers . Totally underwhelming if that is the case & another in a growing list of overhyped announcements with underwhelming outcomes from VM. Contract up for renewal soon & seriously considering my options now.

Presumably, the £8 p/m for M+ and L customers is made up of the £5 you would pay for PVR functionality on a V+, plus the £3 tivo charge?

I think the special offer is that you can get it now, wheras new customers have to wait.

Presumably on VIP50, the £3 charge is dropped?

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by Masque

Have you not actually read about the TiVo installations in the very many posts talking about it, they take at least 40 minutes and during the install the technician has to get the power levels adjusted correctly and various firmware downloaded and installed, so it will always remain a manned install.

AFK Sorry Masque, but I still say that as customers "rent" virgins TV services. The cost should be part of the rent stream. The use of up front extra charges, only serves to upset a lot of people.It would have been far simplier to say that The Tivo is an extra £5 per month ( or what ever figure you care to work it out too). I guess Virgin are too short of cash to go down that route.
Anyway should it all fail within say eleven months( given thats its a twelve month contract) of a customer signing up. Would the get the fees back? I think not. & again as its a rental a refund on returned boxes- of cause not.

I am old enough to remember when Radio Rentals did just that. They didn`t charge to set what ever you rented up . It was part of the cost.

I am not saying dont charge just build it in.

Totally off subject- adding p&p to an items cost (with no option but to pay it ) is another bug of mine. Thinking of QVC - as in -the new multi plug hole cleaner is only 15p + £25 p&p !! so the price £25.15p way not just say so!!

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Itshim

AFK Sorry Masque, but I still say that as customers "rent" virgins TV services.
!

It is quite simple if you want the service you pay the charge as otherwise you do not get the service, it is nothing new and has been a part of what Virginmedia have done for years with many happy customers.

Also try reading this and maybe you will understand why it is a technician install only.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35...-post3991.html

[DaMac]

Originally Posted by Masque

It is quite simple if you want the service you pay the charge as otherwise you do not get the service, it is nothing new and has been a part of what Virginmedia have done for years with many happy customers.

I have never, ever paid for installation, right back to the days when i first joined Cable North West, through to moving, upgrading of services, 50 MB broadband, never paid for V+ boxes , never ever paid install fee that i can remember, i've always been able to get them free eventually, and i bet if i wait long enough for TiVO then threaten to leave i will get that for free too.

Originally Posted by DaMac

I have never, ever paid for installation, right back to the days when i first joined Cable North West, through to moving, upgrading of services, 50 MB broadband, never paid for V+ boxes , never ever paid install fee that i can remember, i've always been able to get them free eventually, and i bet if i wait long enough for TiVO then threaten to leave i will get that for free too.

I imagine it will be free eventually. I also imagine there will be self installs soon after this point where VM will accept some call outs but I imagine a lot will just work. I am sure with a nice instruction sheet Joe pulic can make sure the box updates its firmwares

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by DaMac

I have never, ever paid for installation, right back to the days when i first joined Cable North West, through to moving, upgrading of services, 50 MB broadband, never paid for V+ boxes , never ever paid install fee that i can remember, i've always been able to get them free eventually, and i bet if i wait long enough for TiVO then threaten to leave i will get that for free too.

They should just call peoples bluff and let them leave.

Regardless of cost TiVo will still require a manned install as the is no way around it.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by DaMac

i've always been able to get them free eventually, and i bet if i wait long enough for TiVO then threaten to leave i will get that for free too.

Originally Posted by Masque

They should just call peoples bluff and let them leave.
.

I agree with Masque on this one; if people use threats to try to get something, VM should let them leave.

People who pay full price are subsidising prople who obtain discounts by threats. Something very wrong with that IMHO.

[denphone]

l have always paid the full price but you cannot blame people for wanting to get a better deal in these recessionionary times.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by denphone

l have always paid the full price but you cannot blame people for wanting to get a better deal in these recessionionary times.

Not against people getting better deals; it's the use of threats to get them that annoys me.