DirecTV lease program ???

[wejones]

Can SADOUN or anyone here explain this new DirecTV lease thing?

I've been a DirecTV subscriber, but one of my receivers died, and it seems that you can no longer "BUY" a DirecTV receiver, you can only "LEASE" it. The bad thing about that, is that apparently if you ever cancel your subscription, or if the receiver breaks, you apparently have to return it to them (which I assume will involve costly shipping to them, even if it was purchased locally). From what I understand, even a unit that was bought before this program started can't be activated without turning it over to DTV so that they can lease it back to you ????? I'm not sure how this can be??

I looked at the DIRECTV® H20 HDTV at the Sadoun site, and there seems to be no mention of a lease being involved, so I'd assume that I was actually purchasing the equipment, however according to some things I've read, it doesn't matter if you purchased the equipment, you can't use it unless you give it back to DirecTV to lease to you????

Can anyone shed light on this? How does it work, particularly with respect to a unit purchased used and or the units for sale at Sadoun which make no mention of a lease?

Thanks.

[Sadoun]

I have talked to the DirecTV sales rep last week and he mentioned to me that if a customer BUYs the receiver it is theirs and there is no lease or commitment requirements.

I will recheck and get back with you.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by Sadoun

I have talked to the DirecTV sales rep last week and he mentioned to me that if a customer BUYs the receiver it is theirs and there is no lease or commitment requirements.

I will recheck and get back with you.

Thanks. I'd appreciate that, because I'm hearing that even if you buy it they force you to lease it and claim that it is DirecTV property and has to be returned to them. I can understand leasing the cards, but not the receiver.

Also local dealers like Best Buy/Circuit City are offering ONLY leased units.

Thanks.

[Sadoun]

I just confirmed with the sales rep that DirecTV now offers you two options:

If you are an existing customer, you can own your receiver or buy a new one and add it to your plan.

If you are a new customer, you can lease a receiver up front from a retailer or buy a receiver. Once you buy a receiver you have the "option" to sign it up with DirecTV as a leased unit (thus you will qualify for $100 new customer rebate), or add it as an owned unit (not leased). Either way, new customre must sign up for 12 months commitment.

Let's say you are a new customer and you buy a DirecTV receiver from us. If you add it to a leased plan with DirecTV, then you get better waranty (12 months vs 3 months), and you have the option to upgrade the receiver in the future with newer leased unit.

If you have any questions and the DirecTV operator can't help you, ask to speak to a supervisor.

Weired , but that is what he told me.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by Sadoun

I just confirmed with the sales rep that DirecTV now offers you two options:

If you are an existing customer, you can own your receiver or buy a new one and add it to your plan.

If you are a new customer, you can lease a receiver up front from a retailer or buy a receiver. Once you buy a receiver you have the "option" to sign it up with DirecTV as a leased unit (thus you will qualify for $100 new customer rebate), or add it as an owned unit (not leased). Either way, new customre must sign up for 12 months commitment.

Let's say you are a new customer and you buy a DirecTV receiver from us. If you add it to a leased plan with DirecTV, then you get better waranty (12 months vs 3 months), and you have the option to upgrade the receiver in the future with newer leased unit.

If you have any questions and the DirecTV operator can't help you, ask to speak to a supervisor.

Weired , but that is what he told me.

Thanks. That helps a lot.