TiVo : Is the TiVo charge now £3 per month on all TV packs?

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Perfect Choice

That is insulting to the first purchasers of Tivo IMHO. I am disgusted with VM on this. We are not talking of a couple of years down the road after launch. It’s only been a few months and they’ve dropped the price by a third (£149 to £99 for XL TV customers). Feeling of being conned is the view of many after this price reduction this weekend. And let’s not forget Tivo still has missing features (e.g. red button) and bugs still to clear.

Its not insulting at all. Most people that are willing to pay a higher charge to get something right away know what they are getting and those people not really sure or those that are aware that prices will probably drop within a few months will know to wait.

They aren't missing TiVo features though. TiVo still has all the features it had in the USA. What is missing are V+ and other UK digital TV features, which are currently being coded and tested for release later this year.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Its not insulting at all. Most people that are willing to pay a higher charge to get something right away know what they are getting and those people not really sure or those that are aware that prices will probably drop within a few months will know to wait.

Who says the pre-regs were willing to pay a higher charge?
We weren't, we were willing to pay the price we were told, which we were told was LOWER than the general sale price of it. We got an "offer" that has turned out to have cost us £50 over not much more than 2 months.

It's insulting to send us emails claiming we're getting a great deal, telling us "everyone else pays £199.99" and then before there's even time for the dust to settle on my Tivo have £100 knocked off that price.

The ONLY reason I got Tivo when I did (and advised others to) was because it was "cheaper" than waiting.

[Chad]

Got to agree with The Don. People who signed up for TiVo from the beginning beleived they were getting a good deal, and would be paying less than new customers. The main complaint from early adopters of TiVo appears to be more to do with deception from Virgin more than aything else.

Another PR shambles from Virgin. My favourite throughout this campaign was the Dear Dean e-mail .... priceless.

[DaBoz]

Originally Posted by TheDon

Who says the pre-regs were willing to pay a higher charge?
We weren't, we were willing to pay the price we were told, which we were told was LOWER than the general sale price of it. We got an "offer" that has turned out to have cost us £50 over not much more than 2 months.

It's insulting to send us emails claiming we're getting a great deal, telling us "everyone else pays £199.99" and then before there's even time for the dust to settle on my Tivo have £100 knocked off that price.

The ONLY reason I got Tivo when I did (and advised others to) was because it was "cheaper" than waiting.

You're bang on here. No one has answered my earlier post, but AFAIK, in April when TiVo pre-regs were the first to pay for TiVo we were invited to purchase at a £50 discount with free installation. Implying we were saving £90 off the new customer price.

TiVo is only now available to new customers, so who exactly were the people that were paying £200 + £40 installation fee? Has anyone paid that price?

I was expecting that when new customers first got to buy TiVo, they paid £200 + £40, and after 3 months or so (i.e. 6 months from existing customers launch) the price would drop. But less than 3 months after existing customer launch the price is completely slashed is not what was originally planned.

There is no way you can say that VM planned this pricing strategy. This is a reaction price slash.

[Stephen]

At the time they were getting a good offer. However that was a few months ago and the offer has now changed.

Why not call them and see if they will refund you the difference?

[TheDon]

Just had a call back from VM after complaining, £50 credited to my account, my love for VM and Tivo is restored.

[montehampster]

The fact is you shouldn't have had to phone Virgin they should have been proactive and advised all customers who paid full price they would refund the difference.

Tivo is a quality product that is arguably the best thing ever to happen to cable but as always Virgin's customer relations can so quickly turn it into a disaster!

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by montehampster

The fact is you shouldn't have had to phone Virgin they should have been proactive and advised all customers who paid full price they would refund the difference.

Tivo is a quality product that is arguably the best thing ever to happen to cable but as always Virgin's customer relations can so quickly turn it into a disaster!

Maybe they will in time, they said they've had a fair few complaints and were expected them.

[telegramsam]

Originally Posted by Stephen

At the time they were getting a good offer. However that was a few months ago and the offer has now changed.

Why not call them and see if they will refund you the difference?

Just what I was thinking re phoning virgin and asking for a refund of the difference. It`s what I would be doing rather than coming on here and just moaning. Virgin clearly mis-sold this product by saying others will pay more when in fact they are paying less! I intend on phoning virgin about the difference between the £5 hd v+ I`m paying and the £3 tivo users are paying. Going to see if they will reduce it.

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by telegramsam

Just what I was thinking re phoning virgin and asking for a refund of the difference. It`s what I would be doing rather than coming on here and just moaning. Virgin clearly mis-sold this product by saying others will pay more when in fact they are paying less! I intend on phoning virgin about the difference between the £5 hd v+ I`m paying and the £3 tivo users are paying. Going to see if they will reduce it.

Or you know, maybe people can do both?

I didn't realise it was an either/or choice and that by complaining I'd have to agree to an NDA to not post about it on community forums as well.

[DaBoz]

Originally Posted by TheDon

Just had a call back from VM after complaining, £50 credited to my account, my love for VM and Tivo is restored.

So if we call to complain and get £50 back, are we logged as a complainer who phones up to get cash off their deal?

Some companies black flag customers who use these tactics, bit like going through retentions to get price reductions.

I don't like the idea of moaning in order to get £50 back, if VM feel I am entitled to it.

Boz

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by DaBoz

So if we call to complain and get £50 back, are we logged as a complainer who phones up to get cash off their deal?

Some companies black flag customers who use these tactics, bit like going through retentions to get price reductions.

I don't like the idea of moaning in order to get £50 back, if VM feel I am entitled to it.

Boz

Couldn't give a toss if I'm listed as a complainer.
She did mention that she'd spoke to me a year ago when I complained about VIP no longer being very special, so there are definitely notes put on your account when you contact them. But so what? What are they going to do? Refuse to give you an offer because you called them out on things in the past?

If VM feel you're entitled to it and are prepared to instantly refund and acknowledge that people will be a bit annoyed with it, then I can't see them holding it against you. If anything not complaining could get you flagged as a customer that can easily be ripped off

[Chad]

Originally Posted by TheDon

Just had a call back from VM after complaining, £50 credited to my account, my love for VM and Tivo is restored.

Well done! Virgin should now be offering this to everyone in your position, I see this as an admission from Virgin that they didn't give the first customers accepting TiVo the "great deal" they were advertising. Let's hope for their sake the 65,000 pre-registartions, as mentioned in the 1st quarter results, didn't take TiVo as it'll cost them a fortune in refunds!

The Dons better effect came when Virgin gave him £50.00 back!

[Gavin78]

Can I just confirm that the Tivo is free installation as I'm tempted to get it but I Thought I had seen somewhere that it was £50 for installation as well?

[Charliedontsurf]

Originally Posted by DaBoz

So if we call to complain and get £50 back, are we logged as a complainer who phones up to get cash off their deal?

Some companies black flag customers who use these tactics, bit like going through retentions to get price reductions.

I don't like the idea of moaning in order to get £50 back, if VM feel I am entitled to it.

Boz

That complete and total nonsense, companies may note if you tried to get money or discount from them dishonestly. No company will black flag a customer ringing up to make an inquiry.

After you've made your "inquiry" VM or any other company will decide if you have a case for them to give you a fair discount or credit. its that simple, no blacklists.