PVR Blog points to a new deal from TiVo which offers you a brand new 40-hour TiVo box for free, if you sign-up for a $16.95 a month flat rate service plan. That seems like a good deal, except its not very different from another deal from TiVo. Here is how the math works – $16.95 a month X 12 = $203.40 cents. Instead if you went for this other offer, which gets you a 40-hour box for $49.95 if you sign-up for a year at $12.95 a month you pay $205.35. With the latest plan, TiVo is essentially giving a $2 discount, and making noise with the word “FREE.” Ironically, with the first offer you cannot upgrade to “lifetime” package. Oh well, thought I would point this out in case you were considering buying a TiVo.
The logic to me is that you’ll capture those who don’t want to put up $200 up front to get that $150 rebate.
It really isn’t that great of a deal, but I think there are some who can afford the extra $4 a month and not want to worry about or swing the money for a rebate.
I have never received my rebate checks. If you call them they tell Sir, it was sent 3 weeks ago, You should wait for 1 more week before….or some say we can put a stop payment and then need a letter from stating that you that you didn’t receive…. so just Forget IT!!!!!!!
Well – to me it’s simply another step of evolution from product to service.
Here, TiVo is taking a product and making it into a service. IMO, for the US consumer, monthly payments seem much more acceptable, somehow, than paying large amounts one time. Also, with the ever-changing technology behind PVRs, it may not make sense to own them, eventually, for those who are non-technical and don’t want to tinker. Much easier to just pay a slightly higher fee, and just let someone else make decisions about hardware.
Does anyone know what the $16.95 monthly rate moves to for years 2 – x?