DirecTV Subscribers - HR10-250 (HD TiVo) for $199!

[Scott]

As first reported in this (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=254292&page=1&pp=20) thread over at the TiVo Community Forum, a DirecTV subscriber can call retension @ 1-800-824-9081 and ask for the HR10-250 $299 deal with the $100 mail in rebate (some may not qualify for the rebate). You will have to sign up for a 2 year commitment, and schedule for the free installation.

Also, for those of us who bought the HD TiVo early, I was able to sucessfully call retension and work a $350 credit with various programming credits as well--so you may still be able to get some of your money back!

[jpdublin]

Great, I was in BestBuy today and it is still $599 - $100 Mail-in rebate.

What are they going to do with the old HD Tivo units when they upgrade to MPEG-4?

[Scott]

Great, I was in BestBuy today and it is still $599 - $100 Mail-in rebate.

What are they going to do with the old HD Tivo units when they upgrade to MPEG-4?

You should really hop on this deal! snodgrass23 did and he had his installed a couple of weeks ago.

As for the MPEG4 question--all units including the HD TiVo will be replaced:

Response from DirecTV regarding HD DVR - Early 06

Thanks for your patience while we researched this issue. We've got good news! We're almost ready to begin rolling out local HD programming. We expect to be serving at least 12 cities by the end of this year (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa and Washington, D.C.). We will be adding more cities soon after these and gradually expanding our coverage to even more cities over the next two years, as we deploy new satellites that use state-of-the-art MPEG-4 technology. The local channels we offer will carry a mix of digital standard-definition and HD programming.

Customers who have DIRECTV HD equipment and want to receive local HD programming from DIRECTV will be eligible for an MPEG-4-compatible receiver replacement at no cost after we launch local HD programming in your city. (If you want to replace your HD DVR, you will need to wait a bit longer. Our new MPEG-4-compatible DIRECTV HD DVR receiver is expected to be available in early 2006, after we roll out our local HD programming to our first group of cities.)

More details will be available as we get closer to launching the local HD service in your area, so watch your local TV, radio or mailbox for upcoming announcements or visit DIRECTV.com/HD

Thanks again for writing and stay tuned to DIRECTV.com for the latest news and information about HD programming.

Sincerely,

Heather
DIRECTV Customer Service Escalations

[snodgrass23]

As for the MPEG4 question--all units including the HD TiVo will be replaced

Yeap. We also confirmed when ordering the new DVR that this was the case. I believe you will also need a new dish with 4 LNB's, but they are supposed to provide those as well when they are needed.

[jpdublin]

I just called the 1-800 number above, it is no longer in service. The number they gave me was 800-531-5000. I spoke with a Customer Service Rep at Directv. They told me that their "best" offer for the HR10-250 (HD w/Tivo) is $649 -$100 mail-in rebate.

How did you get the $299 price? Did you ask for Retension.

[Scott]

I just called the 1-800 number above, it is no longer in service. The number they gave me was 800-531-5000. I spoke with a Customer Service Rep at Directv. They told me that their "best" offer for the HR10-250 (HD w/Tivo) is $649 -$100 mail-in rebate.

How did you get the $299 price? Did you ask for Retension.

I just called the number and verified that the original number is customer retension--800-600-8977--(that's who you want to talk to). The deal is going on at least until the end of December. When they pick up, they will think that you were transferred by another rep--just tell them that you are interested in the $299 (w/$100 rebate) HD TiVo.

[jpdublin]

I just tried the 800-600-8977 and it was a division of AT&T. The lady told me that she has been getting calls everyday for Directv. Well, if anyone comes accross the number for Directv retension, please post it.

I have been looking at the HD-Tivo for some time, and the time to buy seems to be now. I have the Directv w/Tivo (non-hd) on my DLP and a HD receiver on my RP. I can't wait to have the HD and Tivo on the same unit.

Thanks for info!

[Scott]

I'm not sure what is happening. Like I said, I called last night and confirmed that I was indeed speaking to a CR specialist.

See this (http://tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=254292) thread over at the TiVo Community Forum for more information.

[snodgrass23]

When I got mine, I just talked to a normal CS rep. She verified the deal was going on and then transferred me to retention to finalize it. I would just try calling back until you get a CS rep who knows what they're talking about.

[jpdublin]

Nice!

I just called Directv at 800-824-9081 and ordered the HD Tivo (HR10-250) for $299 -$100 mail-in rebate. Installation set for Tuesday.

Thanks for the update, I just saved some cabbage to spend on the HDMI cables.

[Scott]

The original number is apparently disconnected now. Please use 1-800-824-9081 just as jpdublin stated (or call the main number and ask for retension).

[Scott]

I'm glad to see that some of you got the deal; however it looks as though it's done. First, they disconnected the retension number, and now the rumor mill has people stating that the deal is now $499 minus a $100 rebate. Not a bad deal, but not the best.