Is this a good deal for the sale on these Bell Receivers

  • Thread starter Thread starter trellaine
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dj I noticed in another thread you could not hold off any longer and got a 9200.Does this mean you have changed you mind on whether bell will next year replace for free you old 9200 for a new MPEG4 receiver or you just could not wait any longer fo HDTV? I'm looking but I would not like a $600 doorstop. thanks
 
No you were not lied to in a way, you were not given the whole story either. If you rented the 9200 and built your own you would have received 50% the basic build your own package only for 6 months, a savings of $81. If you went to the $98 package you would have gotten $298 in credits, (you could have then built your own after the six months). But in that case you are spending more to save. So to buy outright made more sense for you.


The tax part makes no difference here. Either you pay tax on the $300 on hardware, or you pay tax on the $300 in programming, both work out to be the same. In your case you paid tax on the hardware but the reduction in programming costs of $300 will mean you don't pay tax on that programming.
 
you can only rent up to 4 receivers...if you want a fifth unit, you will need to purchase that one on its own.
 
I just got my service 2 days ago. I visited the local Bell store whose employees were quite informed. They were quite honest about the limitations and strengths for the dish itself and PVR. Then when the installer came he asked and made sure I knew about my programming options and finally when I registered over the phone, the CSR told me about the contract details and what happens if you leave early. I was probably better informed about what I was getting into with expressvu than pretty much any other contract I've signed.

Thus far I'm quite happy with the dish itself although I haven't had much time to use it. We got snow waist almost waste high in one night this week. The HD show I PVR'd recorded perfectly during the height of the storm and while my completely snow covered dish is getting between 50 and 60 % signal, it is somehow display crystal clear images on my TV.

I can understand how people would be mad at Bell for what people at FS told them. FS is an ambassador speaking and selling on behalf of bell. If bell lets people who give out bad information sell their products, then they should expect some angry people. My experience however has been that everything is quite clear. Spend some time on the bell page reading the smaller print or talk to a bell representative personally or if you can go to a Bell store if there's one in the area. Bottom line is that your signature goes on the dotted line, ask questions of the Bell employees and if it feels like your being fed BS get your information elsewhere.
 
Bell makes money off programing not receivers. If they made money off receivers they would be encouraging more people to buy them rather than rent.
 
good luck on finding those units...the 3200 has been discontinued for about a year and a half and the 4700 are about 6 years old.


that's odd...may i ask why?...your TV was made to view HD signals, and NOT putting HD hardware on them is really a waste of money.


as i mentioned, you won't see anything about the 3200 series as they are quite old, so its doubtful if anyone has any.


BEV will install ONE system for free (2 year contract required) and there will be a charge for any additional systems...you will be provided with a new dish.


no...BEV will NOT allow you to have two services running at different addresses at the same time...if you bring ALL hardware, back and forth, you can do that...you will need to put up your own dish at the cottage to do this.


that is correct, but east coast feeds are Boston, not Buffalo...west coast feeds are Seattle, not Spokane.


if you buy additional receivers, that is your extra charge...if you rent them, that is your charge...there is no "additional receiver fee" if that is what you are asking.


plugging them in allows you to access PPV instantly, and works with the call display feature if you have it...it also helps with diagnostics by BEV if required.


no...Bell is FORBIDDEN to bundle ANYTHING with home phone service due to CRTC restrictions...they are allowed to bundle non-regulated services, but currently don't...they are usually less expensive than bundled services from other companies even without a further discount.


there is no turn in credit for hardware.
 
Yes I understand that concept but to me with the EchoStar mass producing these 9200's and other receivers for BEV and Dish Network around $600 out of the factory doesn't sound right to me.
 
Well 95% is what the execs give you! I mean I am not unsatisfied. Its just the shipping delay was not factored into my install date. But the customer service wasn't is bad as I was expecting (from glancing at the Evu rant thread on this site, but when you think about it bad experiences are way more likely to be told then good expeiences. If your getting good service do you brag about it?) They actually gave me my first month free because of this. I forwareded it to a supervisor after I wanted this Puralator issue figured out. So I get the HD extra package half price for 6 months and my they will credit me $50 towards an absolutely free month in those 6 months. So I am happy.

I have PM'ed you some more detailed information workforbell that I don't want to tell to everyone.
 
I don't think that the 9200 is really that popular for bell customers. Maybe 1-3% might actually own one. Dish might make a few $ off them, but I don't see how Bell would, seeing how they have to buy them from echostar and have them rebranded.
 
I still enjoy evesdropping on the sales people when they explain HD and the need for monster cables etc. at Future Shop. Once or twice have stepped in to correct the salesperson when they are totally dead wrong and misleading the customer. At the very least some of the information should be made available to them from the various company websites. Still interesting to hear the stories told expecially great when the only info they give is what they can read off the price tag material.
 
I prefer owning things anyway. Have a thing about renting (lose more money in long run and never gain anything). Renting to my ideology is a temporary thing.

So Bell is getting $700 out of me! $400 after credit.

O well its worth it to have the best provider. The first to go MPEG4 in Canada. And the best HD programming.

So there really is alot of HD channels planned for the next year? Thats ALWAYS good to hear!
 
Thankyou, now that is straight forward and no dance. I appreciate the candour. What you said does help me in my decision process.!!!!!!!
SRPU? I think I understand it as gross paying customers for the service? What do you mean by finish out the swap?

So back to the original question, which quarter of 2007 do you see this happening? I still have my doubts it will be free. You see if I rent, am I not locked in to that reciever for 2 years and then can swap out after the contract is up? These are some of the questions that need to be answered before I jump. I do not think anybody knows the answers yet. So it could be dangerous and costly to switch at this time.
 
Does the receivers with the deal, get a free install, If I bought the HD PVR and the dish set, at $300 and buy a standard at $100 will they install my dish and HD PVR for free and leave me the Standard receiver to hook up by myself.

I have no clue and do not want to climb my roof and install a dish!

Edit: I am currently living in Brandon MB, and will be moving to Vancouver BC within 18 months in an apt. (one of my priorities , not a top one , to have an apt. with a balcony facing south and not blocked by and obstacle) Because I don't want to put out $400 and have to go to Shaw in 18 months in Vancouver. (unless they still have that sat. trade in program). When I movie, like SC, do I leave my dish on the house (the sat.'s companies way of encouraging the next owners to go to them for TV service). and will they provide me a new dish when I move.

Also when I move and if the apt. does not allow Sat dishes, I will make one of those setups where you put the dish up and cover it with something and cut a whole so it gets line of sight and the LNB.
 
I find it funny after all the waiting and debating over re subbing to BEV that I finally get the dish etc installed and I have a dead HDD. :p :p on the PVR.

I will have to go back to FutureShop and get a new receiver. The installer was very, very nice.

Cheerio
 
I emailed BEV to find out about the MPEG 4 upgrade/swap and they said:

I understand that you are inquiring about purchasing a receiver versus
renting a receiver.

Please note that if you purchase a receiver and a newer model MPEG4 receiver
is released, we will not upgrade the receiver for free.

With rental customers, we will not have a receiver upgrade program which
allows them to trade an older model receiver for a newer model MPEG4 receiver.
Rental customers must complete the duration of their contract before they
can return their rental receiver.

This makes sense because the same thing happens with warrenty, if the reciever breaks while you rent, they fix it, but if the reciever is yours, you are on your own (1 year warrenty comes with every product).

So I am not sure where workforbell got all the information.
 
Sorry, SRPU should have been ARPU.

The swap is planned to start Q3or Q4 of 07, we have no clue how long it will take so there is no way to know when MPEG4 will be turned on, I would expect it would be done within 3 months.

You are locked into the receiver on rental for your term, correct. This is there to make sure the customer understands they can't change this box from one type to another half way through their term, (expect that rule to change in 07 to allow one truck roll and swap per term). Bell will still swap these rental customers over to the new boxes when they do the swap.
 
Ok so, I have determined BEV hates independent dealers.

I purchased my 50" Hitachi LCD RP HDTV yesterday and am picking it up once the stand is in from order.

I goto the 2 places in town I know sell satellite units. First place, Home Hardware, which I thought was a BEV dealer said they don't deal them anymore because BEV won't send the receivers out to them...

After that disappointment I went to the local The Source in my town, I knew they only promoted SC, but the national The Source stores online and in cities sell BEV so I though he might be able to order them in from me as a The Source franchise.

Couldn't. He confirmed no stores in my 3000 people town sell BEV. He told me the closest is Brandon MB, where I bought my HDTV at Future Shop. So I will goto Visions when I pick up my HDTV and stand and purchase my 9200 and standard receiver there ($650 up front with $300 rebate on first bill).
I contacted the satellite installers I know in my town. They said nobody in the area installs BEV b/c their is no dealers that sell them here, and because of that the installers are not familiar with BEV systems at all. And also my town is a SC town... Out of everyone with satellite here 90% are with SC. I would be too if it wasn't for the HD programming, but SC in the HD area is really lacking, they are charging $9 after the new year for just a few specialty HD channels.. compared to $1 more with BEV and i get ALOT more.

So called Visions. They were VERY good. They said alot of people from outside of the city get BEV there b/c of the poor BEV - independent dealer relations. He said I can purchase my receivers over the phone with him and the guy will come down from Brandon, 1 hour away, to install my system.

I held off from purchasing on the phone b/c I don't trust doing that... (any person could swipe your VISA number that way). I told him I was going to be in within the next week to pick up something in Brandon (since Visions and FS are competitors I didn't let on that I bought my TV their...)

So somebody from an hour away is coming to install me my BEV system. Thats got to hurt Bell in the wallet more than issues with independent dealers...

I know for a fact independent non-franchised dealers are 90% of the time with SC.

Thought I would add this experience to the thread.
 
I wouldn't be too concerned about what the CSR's tell you regarding future directions at BEV. I'm sure they're told nothing until they need to know.

-Mike
 
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