Griz Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Well friends, it's that magical time of year when we haggle with Directv over our reduced, or free, subscriptions to Sunday Ticket. Please share any recent successes or failures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I most always manage to get some package or other for free to keep my bill the same all year round. Â It usually takes a call to customer retention Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrags Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Never worked for me. I told them I would cancel my account and they called my bluff. So I cancelled my cancel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtbag Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Never worked for me. I told them I would cancel my account and they called my bluff. So I cancelled my cancel. i just moved to raleigh and my new place doesn't allow direct tv, but i have had it since around 2000. since they auto-renew it every year, i just call up and say it's too expensive and i want to cancel. they always immediately drop it to around $125-150. i have heard of people getting it completely free but that has never happened for me (aside from the first year i got it). maybe i need to develop an elaborate lie (like saying i lost my job or something). Â also, while i have them on the phone, i always ask if there are any other promotions i should be aware of. usually they'll drop my hbo by like $10 a month for 6 months or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I call and negotiate and ask for specials or discounts. If they say no I ask them to cancel my movies channels for 6 months to offset the Sunday Ticket cost. After that they usually start giving discounts. They don't like you to cancel any services you already have. I never threaten to cancel DirecTV completely. Unlike others here I don't yell or threaten. I ask nicely and if nothing happens I ask to speak to customer retention. Then negotiating begins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeSpeed Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Never worked for me. I told them I would cancel my account and they called my bluff. So I cancelled my cancel. Same here. Every year I try and every year they call my bluff. If I want it I pay full price and get nothing extra. I must not be able to lie very well. Probably why I don't sell used cars or play poker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris heff Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I'm going to do what I do every year. I'll read what you guys do and think I should do that. Then I'll never bother calling them and end up paying full price. It's been working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrags Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I'm going to do what I do every year. I'll read what you guys do and think I should do that. Then I'll never bother calling them and end up paying full price. It's been working. lol. This too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtbag Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Same here. Every year I try and every year they call my bluff. If I want it I pay full price and get nothing extra. I must not be able to lie very well. Probably why I don't sell used cars or play poker. i don't think you have to lie. all you need to say is that it's too expensive and you were wondering if they could do anything to make it more manageble. the people i get over there always seem pretty receptive to that line of conversation. but that might be because i've been a customer for so long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewildrabbit Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 While I have gotten the NFL Sunday ticket all the bells, whistles for free (fan pack, etc), and at various reduced prices over the past decade. Still, the Bastages flat out refuse to upgrade the DVR's to the genie for free. My contract is up this September and we will see if they wish to retain my business or not. Meaning I fully expect to finally get a new genie, and the Sunday ticket for free this upcoming season. After this season the next few years will be debatable on what discounts I can get. Just ask to speak with a supervisor, and let them know they will lose your business if they don't make you happy. Then they usually go the extra mile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qblax16 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I canceled directv after NFL last year, and haven't regretted it one bit. Hoping AT&T buys Directv and allows mobile customers to get the games. Have Apple TV as well, so I'll air play those games all day! Â Â I live in Raleigh as well Dirtbag (that was fun to say...), so there are a lot of bars that consider themselves Buffalo Bills Bars to fill the need if you can't get Directv. Upper Deck Sports Pub in Cary. Buffalo Brothers in Raleigh. Braile's in Durham. Lynnwood Grill in N. Raleigh (not considered a Bills Bar, but best food, and always Bills fans in there). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 (edited) Never have had Sunday Ticket, or Direct TV for that matter. This past NHL season, however, I decided not to get the NHL Center Ice package through Time Warner. I have subscribed to it every season since they started offering it...I think it was the 2001-2002 season, or somewhere there abouts. The first couple of weeks of the season they had a "free preview", so I tuned in. When the preview was over, I figured that was it. Â However, a week or two later, when they hired Ted Nolan back, I was flipping stations, and saw the hockey package was on. It was on the next week, the next week, and the week after that. I checked my cable bill, I wasn't being charged for it. I got the whole season, free of charge. Â I called Time Warner late in the season, and they told me that I was getting as a "loyalty reward". I have never heard of that, especially from Time Warner. Unfortunately, the Sabres (my team) were so hard to watch most of last season, it kind of dimmed my interest in hockey a bit this year... funny thing is, the only reason I realized I was getting it was that I was toying with the idea of signing back up for it, after they hired Nolan... as it turned out, glad I didn't pay for the season, and still got to see as much as I wanted...or moreover, as much as I could stand. Â As for the NFL package, since I can't get it, and prefer to go watch the Bills games with buddies at a bar anyways, I get the NFL Rewind package. I know, it is not quite the same, but I like being able to go back and watch any game, any time (except when it is being played live)....hook my laptop up to my 46" HD tv, and it works great. A lot cheaper too.... Edited June 13, 2014 by Buftex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtbag Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I live in Raleigh as well Dirtbag (that was fun to say...), so there are a lot of bars that consider themselves Buffalo Bills Bars to fill the need if you can't get Directv. Upper Deck Sports Pub in Cary. Buffalo Brothers in Raleigh. Braile's in Durham. Lynnwood Grill in N. Raleigh (not considered a Bills Bar, but best food, and always Bills fans in there). cool...thanks for the intel. i'll have to check them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorkington Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Even with the hiccups, I really enjoyed the digital version that came with Madden last year. Hopefully there's a digital version available again this year, in some fashion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I wait until the first auto-renewal shows up on my account, then call and do the "cancel service" routine until I get to a retention rep. I'm never impolite or angry; I simply review my account with them and tell them I'm dissatisfied with how new customers get the product for free when I've been paying them boatloads of $$ for years. They generally hmm and haw for a little while, before finding creative ways to provide monthly discounts and the like until I have the Sunday Ticket cost down to essentially nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffFromBuffalo Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I had a couple of different things happen the last two years. First year DTV did an auto renew. When the first piece of the package charge hit my bill, I called and complained, they reduced the price after some haggling. They also promised 20 bucks off for six months. They only did that for four months, which I leveraged into 129 for for Sunday Ticket and 10 bucks off the entire bill last year. Plus they threw in the Red Zone Channel. I didn't think I'd like that one, but it really was very cool. Sort of locked into DTV (resold by the company I work for) so I'll try and haggle again this year. I haven't threatened ending service yet. Good Luck all and Go Bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewgetz Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 My family has been with Directv since 1998 so it's a little easier for people like us I think. We get something free whenever our contract is up. Last year we got the genie with a 2 year contract so no sunday ticket this year. Basically each year you can get something free, could be sunday ticket. Just say that you've been a customer for X amount of years and wish to continue the relationship, what can you do for me, suggest Sunday Ticket. I agree that Directv retention department is the way to go. Say "cancel account" at the voice prompts. I also agree with calling every 3 - 6 months for promotions. I almost always have some sort of movie channel package for free. Â With that being said the time I got Sunday Ticket for free I said everyone else is getting it for free why not us? Just cost us a 1 year contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 They likely will give you the Genies, but start up a new two year contract at the same time. So get all the discounts you want as once you sign up, then they have you at their advantage. Â While I have gotten the NFL Sunday ticket all the bells, whistles for free (fan pack, etc), and at various reduced prices over the past decade. Still, the Bastages flat out refuse to upgrade the DVR's to the genie for free. My contract is up this September and we will see if they wish to retain my business or not. Meaning I fully expect to finally get a new genie, and the Sunday ticket for free this upcoming season. After this season the next few years will be debatable on what discounts I can get. Just ask to speak with a supervisor, and let them know they will lose your business if they don't make you happy. Then they usually go the extra mile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 i'd be interested in everyone's strategy for getting the misses to be ok with you getting NFL Sunday Ticket and watching football ALL DAY. mine has a hard enough time with me sitting on my butt for 3 hours for the Bills games. I think if I were to get all of the games she would be out the door. to her it's a waste of a day to sit in front of the tv and her favorite quote is "i'm not going to live my life around the football schedule." she plays dirty too. if i'm watching football then she's usually at the mall spending $. makes me not want to watch football lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamSandwhich Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 cool...thanks for the intel. i'll have to check them out.  I live in Raleigh too, I usually go to Buffalo Brothers if I can't find a friend who has it on Direct TV. Blincos used to be a good place too but they shut down. Never been to Lynwood for Bills games.  i'd be interested in everyone's strategy for getting the misses to be ok with you getting NFL Sunday Ticket and watching football ALL DAY. mine has a hard enough time with me sitting on my butt for 3 hours for the Bills games. I think if I were to get all of the games she would be out the door. to her it's a waste of a day to sit in front of the tv and her favorite quote is "i'm not going to live my life around the football schedule." she plays dirty too. if i'm watching football then she's usually at the mall spending $. makes me not want to watch football lol  I'm getting married on the 21st, and I know this is going to be tough too. She will put up with me watching the Bills game (begrudgingly) but has a hard time "wasting a perfectly good Sunday" on football! I say, "where would you rather be than right here right now" as I'm stuffing my face with pizza and guzzling beer. Needless to say, she's not impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uticaclub Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 !@#$ DirecTV in its butt. In the long run it's cheaper to take a cab to the bar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 My wife and I have a standing agreement for seventeen weekends in the fall: Saturday I'm yours to do whatever, and Sunday you're more than welcome to join me on the couch for football -- but bring beer. Â Oh, and there are those damned club seats I just bought so when she comes with me to Buffalo she can have her wine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HamSandwhich Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 !@#$ DirecTV in its butt. In the long run it's cheaper to take a cab to the bar. Â what what in the butt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDIGGZ Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I'm getting married on the 21st, and I know this is going to be tough too. She will put up with me watching the Bills game (begrudgingly) but has a hard time "wasting a perfectly good Sunday" on football! I say, "where would you rather be than right here right now" as I'm stuffing my face with pizza and guzzling beer. Needless to say, she's not impressed. Ok then you are in the same boat as me. I thought I was the only one. Is it just us newlyweds? Maybe after a few years of marriage they won't want to hang out with us anymore lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtbag Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 (edited) what what in the butt? i think eddie murphy said it best when he sang, "put a boogie in your butt." Edited June 13, 2014 by Dirtbag Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucci Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 !@#$ DirecTV in its butt. In the long run it's cheaper to take a cab to the bar. But more convenient to stay in my home and watch any game I want without drunk idiots around me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Too early. Be patient, friends. I am going to begin plotting in July. Â I made 3 calls last year, which got me pretty good deals. Â In reality, there is no price too high for Sunday ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damian Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I usually manage to get the price heavily reduced or basically offset with other discounts. Â Fro some extra fun/drama, if you watch it on a DVR, hit the slow-motion fast forward button every time EJ throws a deep pass. It is amazing how much suspense it creates watching the ball slowly head toward the receiver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section122 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 i'd be interested in everyone's strategy for getting the misses to be ok with you getting NFL Sunday Ticket and watching football ALL DAY. mine has a hard enough time with me sitting on my butt for 3 hours for the Bills games. I think if I were to get all of the games she would be out the door. to her it's a waste of a day to sit in front of the tv and her favorite quote is "i'm not going to live my life around the football schedule." she plays dirty too. if i'm watching football then she's usually at the mall spending $. makes me not want to watch football lol I'm getting married on the 21st, and I know this is going to be tough too. She will put up with me watching the Bills game (begrudgingly) but has a hard time "wasting a perfectly good Sunday" on football! I say, "where would you rather be than right here right now" as I'm stuffing my face with pizza and guzzling beer. Needless to say, she's not impressed. You have to lay the groundwork EARLY. I told my wife before getting married that there were 2 things I wouldn't negotiate on; playing cards once a week and watching football on Sunday. I get together with a few of my friends for the game and her and their wives usually go shopping. Now there are kids involved so it will be interesting to see what happens (2 of my friends have them - my wife and I are expecting in November). She hasn't ever really pushed the issue either. When she brings it up I remind her that I "warned" her about my love affair with football. Â If it is a waste of a day to her tell her to go do something that she would enjoy more. Her life doesn't have to revolve around football and the schedule but unfortunately ours does . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klos63 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 But more convenient to stay in my home and watch any game I want without drunk idiots around me. don't you call me an idiot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy10 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 My strategy was to move back to Rochester and ditch Directv altogether. Working out great so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billykaykay Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 While I have gotten the NFL Sunday ticket all the bells, whistles for free (fan pack, etc), and at various reduced prices over the past decade. Still, the Bastages flat out refuse to upgrade the DVR's to the genie for free. My contract is up this September and we will see if they wish to retain my business or not. Meaning I fully expect to finally get a new genie, and the Sunday ticket for free this upcoming season. After this season the next few years will be debatable on what discounts I can get. Just ask to speak with a supervisor, and let them know they will lose your business if they don't make you happy. Then they usually go the extra mile. I live half the year in Florida. I have two separate accounts with DTV. I called them in order to merge the two accounts into my Buffalo account. Previously, I received the Genie in FL for free by simply asking for it as they have these deals for new customers and I wanted the same deal.After they merged the two accounts, I asked for the Genie in Bflo. They gave me the Genie for free & they "threw in" Sunday ticket for free. That was without asking. They also offered me free HBO for three months which I turned down. Just be nice. If you get a tough guy on the line, hang up & call back to speak to a different agent. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max997 Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 (edited) I ordered through the PS3 for the 2011 and 2012 season which is a great idea and loved the convenience but the quality was just terrible. I ended up ordering the special Madden package for PS3 last year for $99 that came with a free pass to the online ticket which I would watch on my iPad and mirror to my TV through my AppleTV. Â This setup worked out great, very few issues nothing like the PS3 channel so i will be ordering the online package again but unfortunately unless i missed it is not available with Madden again so looks like Ill be paying full price this year. Still worth it Edited June 14, 2014 by Max997 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Never worked for me. I told them I would cancel my account and they called my bluff. So I cancelled my cancel. They must keep track of who pulls that move. I really did try to cancel, did actually cancel, then a day later they offered a package that includes ST free. But I was a customer for a couple years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I get ST Max Free every year and plan to this year as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 !@#$ DirecTV in its butt. In the long run it's cheaper to take a cab to the bar. Â You must get free can rides then. In my market, I probably get to see six Bills games on regular TV, but even for ten games, the full price works out to $30/game. Very hard to spend less going to the bar for those ten games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted William's frozen head Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 Never worked for me. I told them I would cancel my account and they called my bluff. So I cancelled my cancel. Didn't work for me either, but I stuck to my guns, and canceled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills_fan_in_raleigh Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I call in august I say cancel on first prompt. When person answers I am very nice and just say hey I see all these free offers and discounts what can ya do for me. I usually end up paying 150 for Sunday ticket and get 20 a month. Off for a year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted June 13, 2014 Share Posted June 13, 2014 I recommend keeping an eye on this thread to see what kind of deals people are getting: http://www.dbstalk.com/topic/212203-nflst-dealsoffers-for-2014/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 Â Didn't work for me either, but I stuck to my guns, and canceled. Â You guys must talk to the wrong people. Gotta talk with customer retention. Â These guys have certain dollars they can basically give you in discounts every 3- 6 months. Â I don't even threaten to cancel anymore-- just ask what they can do for me? Â DTV is a terrific company to work with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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