Bad time to get ExpressVu?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sofaspud
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Nimiq1 we were talking about an existing client adding an HD receiver...he would pay the upgrade kit, get free install and get refunded on next bill for the upgrade kit ihe added Nimiq2 programming
 
IIRC, the credits get applied before taxes are applied so they are tax free.


This is fairly recent. Up until a couple of years ago, it was "pay up sucker or get lost" when it came to EV subs, new or old. Of course, that was when EV programming was a good deal compared to other services such as cable. Now that cable subs require STB's for digital, it looks like EV has decided to increase prices universally and then gain or retain subscribers, as necessary, with "let's make a deal" type offers. Meanwhile, I'm sure that most subscribers are either paying up or leaving quietly (quite possibly to FTA.)
 
Update: My dish has two "guns" pointing at the dish itself, so I'm presuming these are the two LNBFs? I also have two coaxial wires coming into the house, so I presume I could go to FS and buy the 9200..

Two questions:

- is there any upgrade to the dish proper in the last few years (larger or better) that I'd miss out on if I didn't sign up through Bell for the professional installation?
- out of the two choices (buy the receiver/PVR myself for $599, or sign up for two years at $102/month), is there one that is a better deal financially?

Thanks!
 
New boxes should be here around December 2007 or so. Don't rent or buy those retarded 6100s nor 9200s. :cool:
 
The competitive landscape is a lot different than it was two years ago. The cable companies are aggressively going after Bell's clients on all fronts. As a shareholder I would expect Bell to protect their turf. This means aggressively going after new business and holding onto existing customers any way they can. The cable company's deals for new clients are very sweet. Bell has no choice but to match them and make good with any of their long term clients that get upset.

At Walmart the customer gets pretty much what they ask for. And you know what - it works. In exchange for a one year rental of a PVR I feel a lot better about dealing with Bell and I've added about $20.00 a month of increased programming. I'm also considering getting a Bell cell phone for my daughter. A month ago another phone from Bell would be out of the question.
 
You can buy 9200 at any future shop , I was there yesterday , they also told me that once BEV changes receivers I would have it replaced for free.
 
I have two cables where the previous owner had plugged his ExpressVu in. They both appear to be coaxial cables... Does this mean I have the capability to just buy a unit and start using it?

Is there any way to directly contact local installers to arrange the installation more quickly?
 
....sure, if you actually WATCH the channels it may be a great deal!! But for someone like myself: sports channels, garbage!! news channels, garbage!! gay channels, garbage!! SHould I continue?? Movie channels, 70% repeats!!
If the offered packages contained channels I actually WANTED instead of having to purchase a complete pack to get 1 channel.... blah.....
 
Nice speculation, but Bell has never stated that publicly.

Second, Bell does not have any bandwidth left for a significant roll-out of new HD channels, let alone leaving existing HD in MPEG-2 and rolling out new ones in MPEG-4. Or even more ambitious: offering the same channel in two formats.

If you have a source of your rumour, we'd all love to see it.
 
Agent, I was under the impression we were talking about adding a 9200 to an existing customer.?

If so, All 9200's come with a Dish and an SW44 so the Upgrade is not billable.

Were we talking about a 9200.? Or did I miss something.?
 
I wanted to purchase a 9220 receiver for my new television but after reading about the impending change to MPEG4 I did not want to purchase an obsolete receiver. I own a well used model 6000 and an old model 5100 receiver.

Today, in exchange for my BEV receivers, Cogeco offered free programming for the summer, free two year rental of an HD PVR, free two year rental of another HD box. Because I bought a new HD television at the Future Shop they would also honor a coupon that offered me an HD box for one year and free HD programming for one year.

I went to Cogeco's office in Burlington ready to sign up. However I noticed the picture quality was only "fair" in the analogue SD channels. This bothered me but I was prepared to live with it. I decided to cancel BEV.

I called Bell and told them I wish to cancel. I was forwarded to a very knowledgeable customer retention rep who told me that:

i) They're hoping the new HD PVR will be out before Christmas.

ii) It is entirely possible that the current MPEG2 receivers will be obsolete for HD in a few years.

iii) There is no upgrade path established for the new receivers but it would be foolish to expect that it would be free for the HD PVR.

iv) The upgrade offers would likely happen closer to the roll out of MPEG4.

Bell then offered me a free HD PVR rental for 12 months and some other things. The agent indicated that it should be a good time to purchase the PVR after the rental period expired. I accepted their offer.

Over the last few days I have had several conversations with Bell Expressvu agents. There is a wide variation in the quality of customer service reps. Some speak English I can easily understand and some don't. Some are well informed - many are not. However all the agents seemed genuine in their desire to provide "excellent customer service."
 
All new clients buying an HD receiver gets the upgrade piece installed as part of the original FREE INSTALL...

All new clients mentionning they want International programming, Sport3, Variety3 or even AOV Movies gets the upgrade installed as part of te original FREE INSTALL...

That's for new clients...but what happens if you are an existing client? Or a new client who realises he can not get a certain theme because he doesn't have the upgrade?

After 30 days a new client becomes eligible for the Nimiq2 free upgrade... You pay the cost of the upgrade piece on a credit card, we send a tech (if you're lucky you might even get Nimiq1) who install the piece FREE OF CHARGE and the amount you paid on the card gets credited ON THE ACCOUNT

Did I see in Nimiq1 comments it's FREE? He finally agrees that it is?
 
Just a couple of comments for you Agent;

1. The customer MUST keep Nimiq 2 Programming for a minimum of 6 moths or they will be charged on their accounts for the Upgrade Kits and I believe the Installation costs.

2. Yes they get the Cost of the Upgrade Kit back via Programming Credits however they are not entitled to a refund of the tax's paid on that product, so it remains NOT FREE.

3. No chance of me doing the Installation, I am not an Installer, never said I was, I work for a National Installations Vendor.

You were the one who called me "The Macho Installer" so I adopted it as my Signature.
 
So If I buy a 9200 from Future Shop, I can get it replaced this Dec for free? Is this true?
 
You have the most up-to Date Dish out there, a 20" Dish with 2 x LNBF's (guns). Providing the Dish is aimed at Express Vu's satellites you can just go out and buy the 9200. Although as a NEW customer they should sell you the 9220, which will come with another 20" Dish, 2 more LNBF's (guns) and an SW44, all of which you can then sell via e-bay or whatever to recoup some of the initial outlay.

If the Dish is NOT pointing at Express Vu's Birds you will either have to re-point it yourself or call Express Vu.

DO NOT activate your account if you cannot get signals from both Nimiq 1 & Nimiq 2, if you do, you will most likely no longer get a free visit from a Technician as you are already an account holder and not entitled to a Free Installation, as you are already installed.

Just take your time when hooking up the 9200, it will seem to take ages to go through all its checks, it will reboot several times.

When you get a screen asking you to "Press the Record Button on Remote #2" you are getting to the end, but again do not rush the thing.

After you think its finished, go grab a coffee, walk round the Garden and then and only then see what you can get channel wise.....

Think I said it before but TAKE YOUR TIME, DO NOT TRY TO RUSH IT.

Do you know anyone who has an Express Vu receiver, that can just hook it onto each cable to verify Express Vu Signal BEFORE you shell out $599.?

Good Luck.
Good luck.
 
I'd get it in triplicate and signed by the president of Bell before I'd be assured of Bell replacing a 9200 with the latest model for free. It could happen but Bell isn't noted for doing anything they don't have to.
 
I ended up getting BEV, and apparently got $10 PPV credit. Where does this show up?
 
Like commissioned sales people always tell the truth to make a sale. :rolleyes:


No, it's not true. If it happens, it will be on EV's time schedule and probably two years from now. EV will not allow receiver upgrades on receivers, either purchased or under contract.

Consider this... An EV "insider" here said existing 9200s would be replaced free of charge in Q4 2006. When it didn't happen, that was changed to Q4 2007. Then we were told the new MPEG 4 receiver would be available in June 2007. It turns out the promised MPEG4 receiver will not be available until Q4 2007. I'll believe that when I see it. My guess is Q1 2008 at the earliest. :rolleyes:
 
Hey, Abeginner:

Were you dealing with the BEV Retention dept. when you got that deal on the HD PVR - i.e free 12 months rental. Also, did this include installation and waiver of the $100.00 deposit.

I called BEV today to enquire about renting a 9200 and was told it would be $20.00 per month on a 1 year contract with a refundable $100.00 deposit and an installation fee of $125.00. When I said I wasn't interested because of the deposit and the install fee, the rep offered to drop the install to $50.

Should I call back and threaten to cancel with BEV and see what deal they offer?

Thanks
 
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