Direct TV Genie HR44 - Purchase or Lease?

[Smitty77]

Tried talking with Direct TV today, and could not get to an answer without giving them my SS# and running a Credit Check...

I see that places sale the Genie HR44, for example Amazon had it for has it for $175 new or $150 used.

I was trying to ask Direct TV how the process works. I assume I will still be charged a fee for any piece of equipment I bring, say $6.50 a month, for the privilege of bringing my own equipment. I'm trying to compare that to the costs of just working with a Direct TV Retailer, to lease a Genie from Direct TV. After all promotional special package periods are over, say 12 months after signing up as a new customer - how much is the fee for a Genie leased?

IMO, should have been an easy question. But the Direct TV 'process' of continuing sales, sales, sales - would not allow the person on the phone to help me. Very well trained, as she kept stringing me along for 10 mins asking questions and 'trying to get to the answer' before I said 'Thanks, you're not getting any personal info from me as I'm in research only mode.' (Very smooth, a bit pushy (as they need to be) but boy what a first impression:)!

Please. Pro's and Con's of purchase vs lease? (The key one I always consider is if the equipment 'goes out', you get new or refurbish unit. Vs if you buy, you either repair or toss it... And if newer and better comes out, you are with an older unit vs trading it in.)

If a unit were to last say 10 years, I assume at between year 4-6, some cost savings by purchase vs lease?

TIA,
Smitty

(All this because the DW wants to watch Football as we travel:)!)

[docj]

Quite often DirecTV will offer existing customers free upgrades. We didn't pay a dime for our Genie HR44. Sure, there was a contract extension, but who cares? We need TV service so I'm unlikely to want to cancel anytime soon.

[afrescopXx]

I recently terminated my DirecTV contract. I had a Genie and another HD DVR. DTV wanted the Genie but not the other back.

[Skylark]

With direct you do not own the new receivers anymore, even if you bought them. If you buy the reciever from another source , when activated, you are in a new 2 year contract and when you leave direct, you have to return reciever whether you bought it or not. You will be just as well get them from direct.

[Bobbo]

As Directv told me, even if you "purchased" it from someone else, it was "leased" from us by them, so it is STILL "leased" from us. That includes the $6 monthly fee and the requirement to return it if/when service is cancelled.

(I had purchased 2 of the D12-100 receivers from AMAZON.)

I went that route because Directv no longer carried the D12, and I specifically wanted THAT receiver.

[donn0128]

Not only will you need a genie, you will need a remote client for the other TV's. Get the equipment from DirectV and let them set it up for you.

[therink]

I bought a receiver once. I still had to pay the monthly lease fee to have it activated. I was not happy. The only difference is I wasn't bound in a contract.
Since then I use their equipment. If it breaks it is cheaper for them to replace than buying.