So we got a new TV, right? And it's a HD TV. But we didn't have HD programming through our satellite company (Dish Network). So I called Dish. We could upgrade and get some HD channels like ESPN, HGTV, the Food Network, etc. But they "are not offering local channels in HD at this time." And they had no date as to when (this fact becomes important later in this post). The local channels have NASCAR races, March Madness, Colts football--all the things that are so much better in HD. So why would I upgrade, but not get locals, and have no idea when I might?
So I called Direct TV. They offer HD locals in my area. Plus they have twice as many channels for close to the same price (100 with Dish vs 200 with Direct). And they were running a special of "no start up fees or up front cost" Just what I want. So we decided to switch.
#1: We signed up the beginning of March, but couldn't get an installation scheduled until March 12th. Hmmmm. Ok: not ideal, but we'll wait. I did get an email from them saying "sorry you had to wait. Here is a coupon for a free PayPerView movie"
#2: The guy came to hook it up Thursday March 12th. He was here FOREVER! He hooked up the receiver downstairs, the one upstairs, re-strung the wires outside, installed the new dish outside, gave me a "tutorial session" and then I signed my life away! He was really nice though.
#3: Not 3 hours after he had left, I started having issues with the picture. It would all of a sudden, lose the picture and go to a grey screen. It would stay grey for a few minutes and then the picture would come back. Hmmmm. So I called customer service (see side note on this at the end of this post). She helped me run some tests, yada-yada. And we thought we had it fixed. I set a show to tape for later that night, since we would be gone. We got home later and tried to watch that show and others (non-taped) and had the same issue.
#4: Friday morning while I was making breakfast, Daddy discovered it was even worse! So he called customer service (thus the reason we were late leaving for the Museum-see past post). After running a series of tests, it was decided that the receiver was bad. At this point, it was not working at all. So a new receiver was sent out to us. But all weekend long, we were without TV downstairs. Frustrating. But at least it was not March Madness weekend! And the lady kindly gave us a credit for 4 days of "no service."
#5: We got the receiver Monday-much faster than anticipated and Daddy hooked it up Monday night. Yeah! Hopefully all is now well.
#6: Daddy went into work Monday morning and had an email that said "Dish Network now offers local channels in your area" SERIOUSLY?!?!?! As of Thursday they didn't know when they were getting them and now they have them? Was I lied to? One small reason to stick with Direct TV.
side note: A huge reason I will stay with Direct TV is their customer service. Dish Network's Customer service was-for as long as I can remember-HORRIBLE and foreign. Direct TV was wonderful and located in Montana! That's in the good ol'e US of A! They spoke my language! So yes, I had a bumpy start with Direct TV but as of today (baring no more major issues) I will now be a loyal Direct TV customer.
The BEST big sister!
8 years ago
2 comments:
We have Dish Network and they are terrible! The only reason we haven't switched to DirecTV is because everything I've seen from them is way higher priced than Dish. It seems like everytime TJ is on the phone with Dish I hear him telling them he'll throw all their equipment out on the lawn and they can come pick it up. So far that hasn't actually happened.
And you post about the children's museum -- Luke would LOVE that! We have a much smaller one here and he cried and cried when we had to leave.
that could be our story, only switch dish for directv. we had directv for YEARS, but they wouldn't upgrade us or offer us anything new without charging us all kinds of fees. so we went with dish - installed the next day, no problems, great service - it actually doesn't go out during thunderstorms like directv used too.
one week after leaving directv, we got a call from their customer service saying that since we were such good, loyal customers, they would upgrade us with 4 rooms free and new HD DVR's, etc, etc. I told them that if they had offered me that a week ago, i wouldn't have switched to dish!!
plus, i just found out last week that dish is partnering with our telephone service and we can get an extra $5 off each month for getting our telephone bill and dish bill combined.
everyone has their own story :)
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