Direct TV had a booth in Costco advertising "Get a $200 Costco card when you sign up for Direct TV and buy a new HD TV. Enjoy Direct TV channels in HD!"
So I bought an HD TV and signed up for Direct TV. They came out and did the install, and I signed the paperwork acknowledging the install. After the installer left, I realized that they had installed a receiver that is NOT HD compatible. I called Direct TV, and they told me that I have to buy an HD receiver ($99). They also told me that had I requested an HD receiver, they would have installed one at no charge. I asked them how I would know that the one they planned on installing WASN'T AN HD receiver in the first place. Regardless, they won't swap my old technology receiver out for an HD-compliant one. I even offered to do the install myself, and they said no, I signed the paperwork, so they can't do anything now.
I was on the phone with 2 different people, including a supposed manager, for 45 minutes. All I got was "if you had requested an HD receiver before we did the install we could have given you one, now we can't." This makes no sense, as I am LEASING the receiver. I asked what would happen if my leased receiver broke, could they send me an HD receiver as a replacement? "No."
Why would I buy a new HD TV if I wasn't going to want to watch programs in HD like they advertise? Why do they still use receivers that use outdated technology? How hard would it have been to send me an HD receiver? Is losing a customer and potential future customers worth a receiver?
I am on a 1 1/2 year plan, but will drop them afterwards. I am tempted to drop them now, but it would be such a huge waste of money. I will also try going back to Costco, because they usually have fantastic customer service, and maybe they can work with Direct TV to rectify the situation, or at least stop selling Direct TV's poor service in their store.
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