Is there any place I can purchase I Direct TV receiver, not lease?

Question

My dad has direct tv hd service and so do I. He has been wanting a dvr. I was thrilled to see an HD/DVR receiver for $199.99 at Best buy. My fiance took it to the register to pay for it. Nothing came up on his screen but the clerk said he had to sign agreeing that this was being purchased for use with Direct TV. As we were leaving I noticed the receipt said lease. We paid $199.99 to lease a receiver from direct tv for $6 a month and if we terminated direct tv sevice, we would have to return the receiver or be resposible for paying for the receiver (supposedly an $800 value). I immediately took it back to return it for my money back. I am not paying $200 to give my dad a gift that is not his to do as he pleases. Is there a way I can purchase a dvr compatible with direct tv that will be mine to keep?

Answer 1

if your interested in sat TV go to a local retailer and get all the details. its just to confusing to trust anyone but a professional

Answer 2

try Craigslist.com or eBay

Answer 3

You can purchase the DirecTV receiver at just about anywhere that leases them. The problem is that the HD-DVRs are NEW and therefore cost more, just as any new electronics will. Last I checked the normal market price for one is $749 and the older TiVo models no longer work with the HD feed.

Here's the big thing to consider, though: if your father were to ever terminate DirecTV services what would he do with the receiver? He wouldn't be able to record or view with it since he's not paying for the service, nor would he be able to use it to watch tv.

The only thing that you should really be raising an eyebrow about is the fact that it would activate a 24-month/$480 commitment if he were to activate it on his account, but that's a standard lease agreement and it's entirely up to him as the account holder.

ETA: Hey, Leonard, I *AM* a professional. I've been extensively trained on the company and its policies. Not only that, but I have regular interaction with customers with similar concerns. Instead of  posting that fact and therefore making my answer seem biased, I prefer to give a peer-to-peer answer since I also use the systems myself. I assure you that when it comes to other companies there are many more like me.