PlatnumHD Subs.. Look Here!

Yes616 · 07-17-2009, 10:37 PM

I just found this little piece of crazy news from an online news magazine..

Quote:

Last week on Dish Networks retailer chat they announced that starting on August 1st for any new or existing customer who subscribes to Dish Networks HD package they will also get the $10 a month Platinum Package for free.

Sounds good right?

Well what about customers who are already paying $10 a month extra for the Platinum package? My insiders are telling me that as of August 1st existing customers who are already signed up and are receiving the Platinum HD package will continue to be billed for the Platinum package. However if the customer calls and complains I am told that Dish will give the customer the Platinum package at no charge.

But wait there is more…

Dish Network notified retailers this week in an email that the HD Platinum package would no longer be available.

Here is a direct quote from Dish Network to their retailers.

“PlatinumHD Add-On No Longer Available – Effective August 1, 2009, the $10.00/mo. PlatinumHD add-on package will no longer be offered to new or existing customers upgrading to HD. Existing customers subscribing to the PlatinumHD add-on through July 31, 2009 may continue to receive the PlatinumHD add-on package until they elect to change their programming.”

Maybe the author got this a little mixed up. Since there will be no more PlatnumHD package, the $10 charge will in fact go away.

Could it be that if you have the PlatnumHD package now, you will continue to be charged for it? When if you didn't, you would get it for free? This would be an outrage to say the least!

I wouldn't bother trying to call Dish Network now as the CSR's will most likely not know what you are talking about. Just keep watching these forums and I will keep on top of this.

HTNut · 07-19-2009, 11:09 AM

Confusing for sure. Sounds like some of the same marketing crap for DirecTV too. Get something for free, but we're cancelling it anyway but you get to watch it for a few months for FREE!

Yes616 · 07-31-2009, 01:12 PM

Now if the original notes to retailers wasn't confusing enough, look at what they have sent out now.

Quote:

This Important Notice contains information regarding the programming packages that will be available on August 1, 2009.
Updates to “DishDVR Advantage” Packages

•The Name “DishDVR Advantage” Will No Longer be Used – Effective August 1, 2009, we are updating the descriptions of packages previously called “DishDVR Advantage.” The term “DishDVR Advantage” will no longer appear on customer billing statements. New descriptions will be used that list the programming package followed by “with DVR” (please refer to the table below).

•New “Classic Gold 250 with DVR” Package – Effective August 1, 2009, we are creating a new DVR package that includes Classic Gold 250! Please note that we will no longer offer new customers the “Classic Gold 250 Bonus Pack” as an add-on package to the “Classic Silver 200 with DVR” package (previously the DishDVR Advantage Classic Silver 200 package). Existing customers subscribing to the “Classic Gold 250 Bonus Pack” through July 31st may continue to receive this programming until they elect to change their programming.

New “with DVR” Packages! – Effective August 1, 2009
Programming Package Price as of 8/1/09
Classic Bronze 100 with DVR $44.99
Classic Bronze 100 Plus with DVR $49.99
Classic Silver 200 with DVR $57.99
Classic Gold 250 with DVR $67.99
TurboHD Bronze 100 with DVR $39.99
TurboHD Silver 200 with DVR $49.99
TurboHD Gold 250 with DVR $59.99

Effective August 1, 2009, we will no longer offer the special price of $22.00/mo. for two add-on packages (a premium movie package AND the applicable $10.00/mo. HD add-on package or the Classic Gold 250 Bonus Pack).
o
New customers who subscribe to a “with DVR” package (previously DishDVR Advantage) will pay for each add-on package separately at the actual price for the applicable premium movie package and $10.00/mo. for the HD add-on package.
o
Existing customers who subscribe to DishDVR Advantage and pay the special price of $22.00/mo. for two add-on packages (a premium movie package AND a $10.00/mo. HD add-on package OR the Classic Gold 250 Bonus Pack) will not see a price change unless they elect to change their programming.
•
Separating Line Items in Customer Billing Statements for “with DVR” Programming – Currently, DishDVR Advantage customers who subscribe to three or more add-on packages (e.g., Classic Gold 250 Bonus Pack, BronzeHD, etc.) do not see these itemized on their billing statement. Effective August 1, 2009, existing customers who subscribe to three or more add-on packages under a “with DVR” package (previously DishDVR Advantage) will see the following services itemized with the premium movie packages on their billing statement:

– Classic Gold 250 Bonus Pack
– GoldHD
– SilverHD
– BronzeHD
– PlatinumHD

Updates to DishLATINO

•DishLATINO Clásico to Include Additional Channels – Effective August 1, 2009, DishLATINO Clásico will include “Boomerang” and the “DISH CD” audio channels!

oBoomerang – Channel 175 – Boomerang offers classic animated entertainment, 24 hours a day. As a complement to the popular Cartoon Network, Boomerang will feature 90 percent unduplicated programming and will showcase classic Hanna-Barbera characters including Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound, Quick Draw McGraw and Top Cat.

oDISH CD – Channels 934-946 – Includes a number of channels with multiple genres of music.

Updates to DISH Network HD Programming Packages
• New “HD & Platinum” Package Priced at $10.00/mo. – Effective August 1, 2009, we are updating our HD add-on packages. New or existing customers who subscribe to a Classic package and would like to subscribe or upgrade to an HD add-on package will receive the new “HD & Platinum” add-on package for $10.00/mo. These customers will receive HD channels that are based on the level of standard-definition programming they subscribe to, plus the channels currently available in the “PlatinumHD” add-on package. The “HD & Platinum” package will replace all of the current Classic HD add-on packages (e.g., BronzeHD, SilverHD, etc.).

o New or existing customers who subscribe to DishLATINO Max and would like to subscribe or upgrade to an HD add-on package will also receive the new “HD & Platinum” add-on package for $10.00/mo. The “HD & Platinum” package will replace the current DishLATINO Max HD add-on packages (DishLATINO Max HD Essential and DishLATINO Max HD Ultimate).

• PlatinumHD Add-On No Longer Available – Effective August 1, 2009, the $10.00/mo. PlatinumHD add-on package will no longer be offered to new or existing customers upgrading to HD. Existing customers subscribing to the PlatinumHD add-on through July 31, 2009 may continue to receive the PlatinumHD add-on package until they elect to change their programming.

There is conflicting information here about the HD packs from CSR's. Some say Dish will just give you $10 credits retro to 8/1 in your September bill. Some say it is for new HD subs only and if you already have the Platnum package, you will continue to get billed for it. Some say you could drop Platnum now (today) for a $5 downgrade fee then call back tomorrow to get it back for free. Some say call tomorrow and say it is being offered for no extra cost and complain that you are being charged and they may drop the charge to you. Some have no idea what you are talking about. Some say they can't deal with another call like this because they are having PMS.

If you call and ask and they say something different, please post it here.

No wonder the BBB rates Dish Network an "F".

Yes616 · 07-31-2009, 08:02 PM

OK I just got off the phone with Dish after the CSR insists Platinum isn't going anywhere. She did give me Platnum HD for free for the next 6 months though.

Wow. Now I am getting something for free that doesn't even exist anymore. Oh well.

If you haven't called yet. DO IT NOW! At least my bill just went down $10 for the next 6 months and yours can too. CALL NOW!

Yes616 · 08-01-2009, 08:52 AM

Well I just went to the Dish website and it is totally buggin when I try to get to the HD programming page. It just loads then the page is blank and loads again and does this over and over.

I guess the guys that program the site are having just as hard of a time that I am trying to understand the whole mess.

HTNut · 08-01-2009, 09:19 AM

Yes616, have you ever had DirecTV? How well does Dish compare ?

Yes616 · 08-01-2009, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HTNut

Yes616, have you ever had DirecTV? How well does Dish compare ?

No I haven't but I have friends that do. They are a bit different on the programming where Dish is a better value if you like movies more than sports. If this is the case, Dish is the better I would say. Direct is best if sports is your thing.

Watch out if you want certain sports channels. Dish does not carry quite a few. No YES Network (Yankees) even in the NYC area. You need to search out what you want on the websites to see what they have. Watch to see what is available in HD if that is your thing as well. No EI on Dish either and that will continue for several years at least.

Dish DVR's are hands down the best. Even my Direct friends agree.

As far as picture quality goes. They are pretty much the same.

If anyone has specific Dish questions, they should start new threads here. Of course if you have Direct questions, you know where they go.

Yes616 · 08-03-2009, 05:19 PM

If before 8/1, you had the basic HD package, please let us know if you now see more channels. The Platinum channels should now be coming in for you.

If you did not subscribe to them before, they are free for you now without doing anything.

Yes616 · 08-06-2009, 07:15 PM

Hmm.. now look at this..

[QUOTEDoes Charlie Care?
August 5, 2009
This week it is possible that Dish Network lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue if not more, all due to a mistake on the Dish Network website. This mistake made the $10 a month Platinum HD add on package available for free to anyone who subscribed to a Dish HD package.

On August 1st graphics appeared on Dish Networks website that read as follows:

“Special Bonus! PlatinumHD Included FREE with any HD Package!”

We first reported about this here in The Satellite Dish on Monday and yesterday we reported that Dish updated their website to change the offer for new customers only. However last night I was contacted by a number readers notifying me that the “Free with any HD Package” wording was still on the website and is still being shown to everyone.

As I write this, it has been 5 days since the new promotion has gone online and yet the mistake remains. Nowhere in that graphic is any mention that this offer is for new customers only. Dish Network had 5 days to make the corrections to their website but have only corrected some of the pages it appears on not all of them.

Now I am not a lawyer but it my belief that Dish Network should honor what is still being advertised on their website.

Hundreds of people reported online that they were able to drop their bills down $10 a month due to this mistake online since Saturday. However some are starting to report that they are getting denied when requesting the free Platinum package.

Last night I am told that CSR’s were told to stop giving the Platinum HD package to existing customers. In addition Dish Network put out a memo to employees explaining that they always have offers for new customers that existing customers are not eligible for. (Umm Dish… that is not what your website STILL says as of 10:30am ET…)

In addition Dish Network told employees that customer satisfaction is not determined by giving price breaks to existing customer, instead customer satisfaction is determined by educating customers and managing their expectations. No I am not kidding.

So who is to blame for all of this? I fear some young person fresh out of college will get the axe for this for not properly updating the website. But the blame should not go to the low man on the totem pole it should go to the person who is charge of this operation. I have never seen such a poorly executed promotion that looked like it was launched with no thought.

If I were a shareholder of Dish Network (and I am not), a financial analyst, or a reporter I would be looking into this one, asking questions and reporting on it. Something is very broken at Dish Network and it needs to be fixed. As I said it in the opening of this blog Dish is possibly losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue if not more. This loss is not due to a bad website update, this loss is due to poor corporate management.

Charlie needs to take a look at what’s happening at his company and take some immediate action. The problem is not the person updating the website the problem lies much higher then that, the question now is does Charlie Care?

][/quote]

Read more here.. here.

Yes616 · 08-06-2009, 07:19 PM

So I am not sure it can be done any more but I managed to drop my bill by $10 per month for the next 6 months at least.


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