Sky HD €299

Skyuser

Did anyone else get a letter from Sky offering Sky HD for €299 & free install. I was going to buy a HD box from ebay for €300 but now I can just get this and i'll have warranty.

DirtyDog

yep got the same offer

byte

Seems a good enough offer.

Charles Slane

Yeah, I got it too. Just as my Sky+ has started acting up a bit.

But I don't have a HD TV, so is there any point?

batman2000

Unless you plan on buying a HD TV, there is no point. Wait until u get a HD-TV, the price for the SKYHD will probably have dropped then.

The picture will not likely be any better as your TV wont carry the 1080 signal, although Im not sure about the 5.1 Dolby

beolight

is there a code or a link in the letter?

watty

batman2000 wrote:

Unless you plan on buying a HD TV, there is no point. Wait until u get a HD-TV, the price for the SKYHD will probably have dropped then.

The picture will not likely be any better as your TV wont carry the 1080 signal, although Im not sure about the 5.1 Dolby

Picture only better on HD channels on HD set.

Hardly anything is 5.1. Only some Sky box Office & SkyMovies.

Of 3500 FTA channels not one does 5.1. It's only a format for Cinema effects.

Widescreen

Skyuser wrote:

Did anyone else get a letter from Sky offering Sky HD for €299 & free install. I was going to buy a HD box from ebay for €300 but now I can just get this and i'll have warranty.

Will there still be a monthly charge of €15 for the HD channels do you know?

kmick

How come I never get these offers. Is it because I don't have sky plus? I would defo take this offer.

Do you think if I rang up and ordered this and lied saying I got the letter they would fall for it. Could someone scan the letter and pm it to me? I would appreciate it.

Aquos76

Each letter is linked to each persons account as far as I know. So Sky know who got the letter and who did not.

Jip

How worth while is getting HD if you don't have the sports or movies packages ? You're only left with Sky 1 HD and a handful of documentary channels in HD, neither of which would be watched that often, any comments ?

Our man in Havana

The same letter also offers a new sky+ box for €149.

Tony

Well I have to say I watch the like of National geographic a lot more now since I got HD

Jip wrote:

How worth while is getting HD if you don't have the sports or movies packages ? You're only left with Sky 1 HD and a handful of documentary channels in HD, neither of which would be watched that often, any comments ?

djpaul

Jip wrote:

How worth while is getting HD if you don't have the sports or movies packages ? You're only left with Sky 1 HD and a handful of documentary channels in HD, neither of which would be watched that often, any comments ?

I have HD for a while now and have to say I'm very pleased with it, Watching Wimbledon on BBC HD:cool: Discovery and N.Geographic is Great in HD.

regedit

I can confirm that I ordered sky HD (Finally) for the price of 299 Eu. Got the free installation also so happy.
Just over two weeks ago, the Sky kiosk in Whitewater shopping center in Newbridge and in Liffey Valley were asking for 649!

shayser

Can they advertise the same product at two different prices?

If I go to my local Sky reseller it will cost €545. If I have one of these letters it will cost €299.

What's in the letter?

kmick

Someone post up the letter so we can see it. You can black out the customer number.

nickhx

Just spoke to a customer services rep about it. Apparently the offer is only available to people who have received the letter (he could tell from my account that I wasn't eligible -- I joined in September last year)

I asked him what the criteria were for receiving the letter, and he thought you had to be a Sky customer for over 6 years! :eek:

Couch Potato

I recevied this letter also and the content in the letter goes along the lines of :

'Well because you have Sky+ and you can't avail of our wonderful Sky Anytime (because your Sky+ box is so old) we are making this offer to you ...'

kmick

Ah well I might ring them anyway. Although they are usually fairly unhelpful - might threaten to quit or start crying or something.

Our man in Havana

kmick wrote:

Someone post up the letter so we can see it. You can black out the customer number.

Here you go.

Hody

regedit wrote:

I can confirm that I ordered sky HD (Finally) for the price of 299 Eu. Got the free installation also so happy.
Just over two weeks ago, the Sky kiosk in Whitewater shopping center in Newbridge and in Liffey Valley were asking for 649!

Where did you get it from and would you maybe know anybody that would give that price in the Swords area?!

ixtlan

If I get offered this offer, does it have to go through the normal Sky contractors?

I ask because I intend to get HD later this year, and at the same time have my chimney mounted forward facing dish moved to an offset bracket on my rear wall looking over the roof (30 deg pitch).

I can foresee difficulties explaining my requirements to Sky...

Ix.

Hody

I would really like to know were to get the box for 250-300 quid, Sky Ireland had offered me HD at 574euros all in and thats way too much!

byte

Hody wrote:

I would really like to know were to get the box for 250-300 quid, Sky Ireland had offered me HD at 574euros all in and thats way too much!

Well, unless Sky have sent you the letter with the special offer, your only other hope would be to buy it via eBay or the likes.

shayser

I contacted the Consumer Associaton about Sky offering some customers the €299 price, but not others. They said that Sky are entitled to charge a lower introductory/promotional price for new customers. However, they said that they cannot charge individual existing customers different prices.

Their suggestion was to contact Sky and ask to avail of the offfer. If refused, ask why and then request this in writing. Then contact the ODCA, who will take up the case.

I had further questions regarding the new customer scenario, they will get back to me.

Tony

very interesting

shayser wrote:

Their suggestion was to contact Sky and ask to avail of the offfer. If refused, ask why and then request this in writing. Then contact the ODCA, who will take up the case with.

I had further questions regarding the new customer scenario, they will get back to me.

Our man in Havana

Sky being outside the jurisdiction can simply ignore the ODCA.

cgarvey

I'm pretty sure they reward certain categories of loyalty. They might not be allowed to charge 2 customers of the same category, but it looks like the letter might just have been sent to existing customers with an older Sky+ box (and, therefore, an implied subscription level and duration). Either way, like Bond says, Sky aren't regulated in Ireland anyway, so it's unlikely ODCA will want, or be able, to take any action against them.

shayser

That's the end of that then!

[hmmn, surely, they are not entirely unregulated. Europe?
/goes off to google in mild interest (as long as the HD pic is good for the footie ) ]

Tony

Bond-007 wrote:

Sky being outside the jurisdiction can simply ignore the ODCA.

Not true, sky is a registered company in Ireland and in any case sellers of goods and services are bound by the rules prevalent in that jurisdiction. The CD wow case is a good example where record companies here (rightly or wrongly) took a case in an Irish court.

cgarvey

CD-WOW aren't bound by ODCA. They simply had to pay VAT on their sales to Ireland because their Irish turnover exceeded a limit set by the Revenue Commissioner. I read some time back that Sky being registered in Ireland was just for installs, and that consumer sales are all still handled in the UK. This may have changed since, though. My bill has an English address on it though.

So, while a company may pay Irish VAT, that's entirely different from being bound to the Irish regulatory authorities in their field (BCI and OCDA in Sky's case).

Tony

Anyone who sells services or products in Ireland is bound by Irish consumer law (and any other applicable law) so the earlier point that what sky were doing is contrary to this still stands. Sky launch of their digital service was delayed in Ireland precisely because of this. They are not bound by the BCI because the broadcast from outside Ireland and even this may change in the future.

cgarvey wrote:

So, while a company may pay Irish VAT, that's entirely different from being bound to the Irish regulatory authorities in their field (BCI and OCDA in Sky's case).

cgarvey

Tony wrote:

Anyone who sells services or products in Ireland is bound by Irish consumer law

If this was true, then we'd have 1 year warranties on electrical items bought in the US. Anyone present in Ireland who sells products or services, are bound by Irish consumer law.

Tony

cgarvey wrote:

. Anyone present in Ireland who sells products or services, are bound by Irish consumer law.

What consumer law says electrical goods must have a one year warranty ?

So sky is covered then by your own statement, Sky Ireland are a registered company in Ireland and have an office as well as a call centre here. Even if this were not the case they are covered by EU consumer law. And how exactly would anyone define being "present in Ireland"?

Our man in Havana

But you pay your money to Sky Subscribers Services Ltd, a UK registered company not answerable under Irish law.

Tony

Bond-007 wrote:

But you pay your money to Sky Subscribers Services Ltd, a UK registered company not answerable under Irish law.

You pay your monthly fee to sky UK, the offer we are debating here is for reduced price on equipment installed by sky's local sub contractor here in Ireland. perhaps somebody should call,the ODCA to see if there is in fact a breach of consumer law in this case, all we are doing here is re hashing old arguments.

wil

I think they are promoting their Sky Anytime service as much as HD (thus giving them more control over what you watch. Does it record adverts?)
Did all those who received the offer letter have old Sky+? They might wish to take the boxes not compatable with Anytime out of service. Longterm Sky standard customers (I didnt get such an offer) might be more likely to now consider Sky+ or HD. Existing oldSky+ customers getting a new box (Sky+Anytime or HD)wouldnt need a new dish or lnb so no installation fee.
If this is so then it is unlikely to be in breach of anything other than our desire to get it cheaper.

ixtlan

I've just got the letter.

I have an old Sky+ box without anytime, although I upgraded the hard drive.

Anyone know how long the offer will be valid for me? It's a little early as I was going to get HD maybe before Christmas.

Ix.

cgarvey

Tony wrote:

What consumer law says electrical goods must have a one year warranty ?

So sky is covered then by your own statement, Sky Ireland are a registered company in Ireland and have an office as well as a call centre here. Even if this were not the case they are covered by EU consumer law. And how exactly would anyone define being "present in Ireland"?

Don't have time to dig it out now, but unless I've read it wrong, I'm pretty sure there is either Irish or EU law that dictates this. I could be wrong on that, accepted.

Sky isn't covered. I pay my subscription (and install fee, in my case) to a UK company. The sale, I'm arguing, is therefore bound by the UK consumer law (and common EU consumer law), but not Irish consumer law. Being "present in Ireland" refers to the standard meaning as having a physical presence here, or having a registered presence here for the purpose of conducting business. I.e. Irish companies, sole traders, etc.

The main point is I didn't pay anything to an Irish Sky subsidiary (regardless of their location), it was to a UK company. IF I did pay a subscription to Sky Ireland (or whatever their Irish registered company is called), then sure, you win hands down. I don't however, and that's the point.

I accept your point that BCI is a different kettle of fish, I was merely pointing out that Irish laws don't apply to Sky UK (so consumer and broadcasting laws are similar in this regard).

EDIT: This is nothing to do with VAT, which is a different argument, and Sky UK are being compliant with EU regulation on this matter and passing on Irish VAT rates.

Tony

cgarvey wrote:

Sky isn't covered. I pay my subscription (and install fee, in my case) to a UK company. The sale, I'm arguing, is therefore bound by the UK consumer law (and common EU consumer law), but not Irish consumer law. Being "present in Ireland" refers to the standard meaning as having a physical presence here, or having a registered presence here for the purpose of conducting business. I.e. Irish companies, sole traders, etc.

Thats my point they do have a presence here, it would be impossible for them to sell here otherwise as they had to set up a cross subsidy arrangement with Eircom. Whether the consumer bodies here would be willing to pursue this is another matter.

Tony

cgarvey wrote:

EDIT: This is nothing to do with VAT, which is a different argument, and Sky UK are being compliant with EU regulation on this matter and passing on Irish VAT rates.

This contradicts your argument that they are UK suppliers of hardware , if the goods are being supplied cross border then the originating countries VAT applies. If you buy something mail order from the UK you pay 17.5 % and not 21%. I'm open to correction but as far as I know they charge 17.5 on subscriptions. The hardware is paid back to suppliers at 21%. Lets not get confused with the hardware and monthly fees. The offer letter was referring to upgrading the box itself.

I got this letter aswell so I think I'll take the plunge.
Tony -your comment on national geographic is enough for me to take the plunge.

It says including standard instalation though? That heretofore has meant a dish aswell - but in this case it couldn't?
It just means a van arrives and they plug it in,connect the already existing cables etc?
Shur I can do that myself.

Is there anything regular on sky one in hd these days? And did anyone watch lost in HD and was it significantly any different to sd?

By the way the letter states that the new sky plus box for €149 only applies if you do not take up the hd box offer.

cgarvey

Tony wrote:

This contradicts your argument that they are UK suppliers of hardware ... If you buy something mail order from the UK you pay 17.5 % and not 21%.

On the VAT, you pay 17.5% on standard VAT bracket items from the UK, unless that UK company sell more than a threshold (as set out by the Revenue) to Ireland. At which point that UK company must then register for VAT (not a Ltd. company or a physical presence) in Ireland, and charge their Irish customers 21% thereafter. Most big UK companies do this correctly (Amazon, Dabs, etc.).

Tony wrote:

Lets not get confused with the hardware and monthly fees. The offer letter was referring to upgrading the box itself.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there! Having bought online, I've never had any communications from an Irish Sky company. It has all been from a UK company (a receipt for my hardware costs, sky viewing cards, and a letter detailing my monthly commitment). As I'm a residential customer, Sky (or any EU company) are not obliged to give me a VAT invoice, but I'm entitled to a receipt. The receipt doesn't detail VAT, so I don't know for sure what rate they charged. They should have charged 21%, and I've no reason to think that they didn't, or don't generally.

How Sky, through a UK company or Irish company, deal with installers is another matter, and that's not relevant if the subscriber never interacts with the installer (i.e. they pay Sky direct).

So, to be clear (as I may have confused the argument), I have never had any financial dealings with an Irish company with respect to my Sky installation and subscription. I suspect this is the case for the vast majority of customers. It is from that, that I & others, have stated that they are not regulated by Irish agencies.

I'll leave it at that as I've already broken this thread enough, and I hope I've clarified my point!

Tony

Yes you have clarified your position and also raise some interesting points. At the very least you have given something to think about to those here that still maintain that Sky pay no Irish VAT as surely they are well beyond any threshold the revenue set.

Tony_ire

So has anybody actually managed to persuade sky to give them this offer yet even if they haven't received the letter??

steve-hosting36

Failing poking sky, what's the best option to just get a HD box in to replace an existing + box?

JDxtra

Tony_ire wrote:

So has anybody actually managed to persuade sky to give them this offer yet even if they haven't received the letter??

Tried my best 2 weeks ago (as a new customer) but could not get them to budge on the list price.

donhughberto

got a nice reply after emailing james.murdoch@bskyb.com, worth a go!

dubmick

so what did he (or his secretary) say?

JDxtra

donhughberto wrote:

got a nice reply after emailing james.murdoch@bskyb.com, worth a go!

Nice, as in friendly - or with a special offer included?