Replay TV SCAM!

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

I know this is not Disney related - but, I feel obligated to my fellow DISers to alert you to a horrible bait and switch going on with Replay TV.

I bought a Replay TV unit (Tivo's competitor) for $299 at Circuit City. The box said "includes three years of service" and the box said I could purchase an additional three years for .99 per month thereafter. However, when I called to activate the service, I was given a bunch of nonsense about "confusion by the retailers" -- and I was told the service was really an additional $300 or $12.95 per month!

I was baited and switched! And, apparently, it is happening to everyone who is buying the product.

By this point, I had invested an hour in setting the darn thing up - and another hour on the telephone with Replay.

Even though their own packaging (inside and outside) said it includes the service, they still want another $300 to give me what it says. Amazing.

Don't be fooled...even if the box is marked, it does not mean the service is included with the unit.

Bottom line: Don't buy from a company that behaves this way!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest calling the Consumer Affiars Department of the state Attorney General's Office. It should be a tol-free number. You might want to see what they can do concerning this company. Also, you should notify the Geeneral Manager (or Regional Manager) from Circuit City. I think both these would be very interested.

 

[Jaklackus]

Wow...I would also contact your local news station if they have a consumer affairs segment....usually companies will bend and give what they promised in order to avoid bad press..i.e. negative advertising.

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

Thanks. Good advice.

It may be worth it!

 

[VintageKnight]

DirecTV dvr is 99 plus 14.95 shipping( includes install) and 5 dollars a month.

Of course this is before monthly programing charges...

1-800-531-5000


vk

 

[Hawk]

What Cheshire Figment said! Do it now...


Hawk.

 

[Flibbity]

Wow... We have 2 replays and bought one at Best BUy (back in 2000 when Best Buy had them) and one at Circuit City.

We were told we could pay the service activiation for life up front or do the monthly fee....

I'd be really directing your anger at Circuit City. They should have told you that it would be $300 for lifetime activation...

I'm not sure if it's Replay's fault... HMMMMMM

Then again, our box laid it out like that... Didn't mention what your box seems to mention. Very disconcerting indeed!

 

[Flibbity]

I did go to the www.replaytv.com and don't see mention of that offer. Was it a sticker on the box? Was it printed as part of the box?

I'd love to know because PVR's have become a necessary part of our TV experience and I want to know for the future if we ever have to buy another one...

THanks!

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

Yes, it was literally printed on the box. That's what has me so angry!

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

I had a similar experience with CC and Replay TV last x-mas. CC had a "sale" on replay with a $100 mail in rebate. I filled out the form and mailed it in the next week with the original UPC code & receipt etc... and got a post card a couple weeks later saying that I didnt send in the correct UPC code. No refund. Well how could I recify this when I DID send in the UPC code therefore did not have another to send!! And by that point we had thrown away the box. My word against theirs. Same thing happened with Sony. I will never buy from these manufacturers again nor will I ever fall for a "mail in rebate" sale again.

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

I argued with the CC manager. He finally gave in to a $100 refund. I'm still behind $200 - but, at least it's something.

Now I have an ethical dilemma -- do I return it on principle or keep and enjoy it for the reduced price?

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

Ive had Replay Tv for a year now and to be honest I wish I bought the TiVo. My best friend has TiVo and never has any problems with it where I have had many problems. One being I keep losing the channel guide (constantly!!). We have to call support evertime it happens. Now we are currently having a problem where all our channels are mixed up so nothing gets recorded correctly. Take it back and get TiVo is my advise. I wish I had passed up on the sale price and paid extra just to save $$ on all the Advil I have to take now!!

 

[LIFERBABE]

My coworker wanted to buy her DH a TIVO for Christmas so I looked it up on www.fatwallet.com for her.

There is a HUGE thread on Replay TV and their 3 year offer. It seems some are getting the company to honor it while others are not having any luck. Some of the other purchasers are saying that Replay TV is possibly approaching bankruptcy and has changed owners so you may want to read all the postings before you throw away your packaging.

The fatwalleters are pretty savvy and tend to go alot further for a deal than I am willing to go most times, so keep that in mind also.

Hope this helps

 

[Flibbity]

Thanks for the link, Liferbabe... That explained what happened... Still quite disconcerting, though!!!

My guess is there will be a big lawsuit settlement....

 

[LIFERBABE]

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/messageview.php?catid=24&threadid=254797

This is the link to the Massive thread (265 pages long) it was a little difficult for me to find so Im posting the direct link.

 

[crazelion]

Do not buy anything from Circuit City on sale. It will not ring up right. They will charge you more. Trust me I know. I work for Circuit City as Christmas help and could not belive they was doing this. I was sending customers to customer service all the time because they was not getting the advertised price. I think there City Avantage plan is a waste of money.

I will not be working for them again. I finish my last day Sunday. The reason is because the stunt that pull on Christmas Eve night. They lock the doors told there employees they could leave the store until they put out all stock or die. That was a threat. I did not like.

 

[DisneyBoodawg]

While not totally related to the subject, I am for one sick and tired of these rebate sales. The past 2 years, I have struggled and struggled (especially with Best Buy) to obtain numerous rebates. I have started copying the details but that doesn't even seem to work. They tend to blame everyone BUT themselves.

Think about it for a minute. For every rebate they don't send out, that goes right to their bottom line profit. I would suspect some of this is done on purpose to save money. I don't like to make these type of accusations, but with all the problems I have had, I don't see any other reason why this happens.

 

[tinaluis]

I agree with stores not honoring rebates on purpose. I purchased a software/digital camera/printer from OfficeMax and followed their very vague instructions on sending in UPC codes and receipts for my $50 rebate. I couldn't figure out which UPC codes to send so I sent them all -- one from each item I bought in the bundle -- and they still sent me an email telling me I didn't send the right one in. Of course the packaging is now long gone but I've learned a valuable lesson. I'll never buy anything with a rebate like that again as the sole motivation for the purchase. It's just too risky.

 

[Mad4Mickey]

We have the TIVO . We cant be without it ! Just get the TIVO