Middle America's Worldview

Well no-one replied to my recent 'Going Political' inquiry. Oh well.

I had called Dish Network to check on upgrading our current two room to 4 room viewing. I been seeing ads showing you can get 4 rooms, with dvr (ability to record, pause, ect ). So I called, since I way past my initial year contract. I was amazed at what I found out. I cannot get a new year contract with them, acquiring the new upgrades.

Here is how the conversation went.

Dish: "It is not offered to existing customers."

So I simply replied the obvious,
"So your saying, I need to discontinue Dish and reapply?"

Dish: "No sir, you would still be considered a existed customer. Because you would still be in our databanks."

Me: "Well then how do I get Dish in 4 rooms not my current 2 rooms? Because 4 rooms weren't available at the time I signed up?"

Dish: "We cannot upgrade existing customers with the 322 or 522 receivers."

Me: "So no-way on the upgrade in anyway?"

Dish: "We can send you a 522 receiver for 24.95."

Me: " Who would install it?"

Dish: "You would."

Me: "So there is no-way I can get Dish in 4 rooms? Just the 2 rooms I have it in now?"

Dish, rather stressful:" We cannot upgrade you to the 322."

(sigh) I said, ok thanks and hung up at that point. It just didn't make any sense to me. I was only trying to acquire a satellite feed in my kids 2 bedrooms and they wouldn't do it. They only wanted me to acquire a new receiver for the existing one I have.

So I called Cox cable to see what my options are there. See we have both in our house. I know it sounds crazy, but Cox is the only one in this area offering digital internet access. Where as Dish Network was the first offering more than 18 channels in this area. So after speaking with Cox. Sounds like we can get the same channels we currently have with Dish ( don't want to lose any ) and still gain channels 2-99 in the kids room. Not only that, but I should be able to splice the cable to my office so I can get Fox News in here while I work. I plan on speaking with Cox again tomorrow and set it up.

I explained all this to my wife and she said that was why some of her friends went over to another cable company from Dish, because like us, they were an existing customer and they would not allow them to simply upgrade. Crazy if you ask me. You would think they would, if nothing else but to maintain their customers for another couple of years, via contract.