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Freesat.ie & Phillips 37PFL9604 - Great Experience

  • 29-11-2009 10:41AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 405 ✭✭


    On Friday morning my Phillips 37PFL9604H LCD TV arrived (as promised by Nicola of the Phillips Shop Dame Street) following a phone call from the van driver to my mobile confirming my location.

    I had just got my TV unpacked and in position at noon when the man from FREESAT.IE arrived. He installed on the side of my house an Aerial for the 4 Irish Stations & a Dish for the FREE to Air Satellite stations.I went with the HD option and the satellite installation cost 448 EURO. We turned on the TV and the set up was simple and completed in minutes.

    The Phillips 37PFL9604H was purchased with my Boards discount and the picture quality & sound are awesome.After suffering for years with poor picture quality from NTL/UPC I am sorry I did not change over sooner.

    The LCD TV & Satellite system was sourced having reviewed the relevant threads & information on Boards.
    Isn’t this what Boards is all about !!!


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 103 ✭✭Spudzz


    May I ask what HD receiver you got with your Sat package.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    Is that you Mike? :D

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Finne1993


    bigbadpat wrote: »
    On Friday morning my Phillips 37PFL9604H LCD TV arrived (as promised by Nicola of the Phillips Shop Dame Street) following a phone call from the van driver to my mobile confirming my location.

    I had just got my TV unpacked and in position at noon when the man from FREESAT.IE arrived. He installed on the side of my house an Aerial for the 4 Irish Stations & a Dish for the FREE to Air Satellite stations.I went with the HD option and the satellite installation cost 448 EURO. We turned on the TV and the set up was simple and completed in minutes.

    The Phillips 37PFL9604H was purchased with my Boards discount and the picture quality & sound are awesome.After suffering for years with poor picture quality from NTL/UPC I am sorry I did not change over sooner.

    The LCD TV & Satellite system was sourced having reviewed the relevant threads & information on Boards.
    Isn’t this what Boards is all about !!!

    Sounds rough that price, I know i'll probably be lambasted for this like I was before by Watty but what the hell!!

    Bush HD Freesat receiver - €75
    http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5321564/Trail/searchtext%3EFREESAT.htm

    Satellite Dish -€30
    http://tvtrade.ie/show/2,Sky-Satellite-dishes-with-LNB

    Aerial - €12
    http://tvtrade.ie/show/28,UHF-Contract-aerial--wide-band-Black

    Bracket -€9
    http://tvtrade.ie/show/193,Bracket-sky-style-bracket

    Cable and connectors -€25
    http://tvtrade.ie/show/123,100m-Black-RG6-Satellite-cable-LG

    €151 in total for materials????
    EVEN if better bracketry and aerials were used (And they dont need to be) it would only put about €50 onto the price and along with that if you have a trade account you'll get materials even cheaper.

    Don't anybody come back and say ah but insurance, tax, van, blah blah have to be taken into consideration, its almost €300 profit for a 2 hour (At the very longest) job??
    Its not right, noone is or should be getting those rates nowadays.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,108 ✭✭✭mjsmyth


    considering you don't know what equipment was installed and how difficult the job was, calling it bulls**t is a bit rude.

    What if the OP got the Humax HD box? Thats more expensive than the Bush, perhaps he even went for a PVR... We don't know, he never said.

    Quoting the Bush price as €75 is also misleading. Sure thats what it equates if you are willing to drive up north to purchase it. I can buy a pair of Wrangler jeans for $14 if I go to the US... (Actually I did, but thats a different story...)

    The OP seems very happy with his installation. He does not give any more info on it other than that. Surely if the OP is happy, then that is what counts...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,125 ✭✭✭Digifriendly


    mjsmyth wrote: »
    The OP seems very happy with his installation. He does not give any more info on it other than that. Surely if the OP is happy, then that is what counts...

    Happy until he finds out he has overpaid and could have got it done without parting with so much money!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Finne1993


    mjsmyth wrote: »
    considering you don't know what equipment was installed and how difficult the job was, calling it bulls**t is a bit rude.

    What if the OP got the Humax HD box? Thats more expensive than the Bush, perhaps he even went for a PVR... We don't know, he never said.

    Quoting the Bush price as €75 is also misleading. Sure thats what it equates if you are willing to drive up north to purchase it. I can buy a pair of Wrangler jeans for $14 if I go to the US... (Actually I did, but thats a different story...)

    The OP seems very happy with his installation. He does not give any more info on it other than that. Surely if the OP is happy, then that is what counts...

    Yes, you're quite right, my wording was perhaps rude, I have edited it out.
    Its irrelevant what equipment was used or installed, the gear I quoted above was what was needed, anything more elaborate (Perhaps apart from the HD receiver) would have been unneccessary for this particular job.
    Theres no way its a PVR, no fear of that and even it is a Humax HD box its €75 more expensive than the Bush and still too expensive of a job. I have a Bush HD freesat box about 15 months now and its perfect, never had a problem with it and I'm sure it would've done the job for the OP just fine.
    Regards the point of driving up north for the box, anyone who is in the installation game can source equipment and materials cheaper than Joe Bloggs on the street and get them delivered in bulk so I'm sure this installer got the gear at even less than the prices I quoted here.
    I'm not looking to cause aggro here, just stating my opinion, prices are still way too inflated in this country, price around everyone, there are cheaper out there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    If theres so much money to be made why are you not doing it?

    Finne1993 wrote: »
    Yes, you're quite right, my wording was perhaps rude, I have edited it out.
    Its irrelevant what equipment was used or installed, the gear I quoted above was what was needed, anything more elaborate (Perhaps apart from the HD receiver) would have been unneccessary for this particular job.
    Theres no way its a PVR, no fear of that and even it is a Humax HD box its €75 more expensive than the Bush and still too expensive of a job. I have a Bush HD freesat box about 15 months now and its perfect, never had a problem with it and I'm sure it would've done the job for the OP just fine.
    Regards the point of driving up north for the box, anyone who is in the installation game can source equipment and materials cheaper than Joe Bloggs on the street and get them delivered in bulk so I'm sure this installer got the gear at even less than the prices I quoted here.
    I'm not looking to cause aggro here, just stating my opinion, prices are still way too inflated in this country, price around everyone, there are cheaper out there.

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Finne1993


    Tony wrote: »
    If theres so much money to be made why are you not doing it?

    I knew I'd be knocked down here on this subject.

    Noone can justify that price, I don't care what anyone says or what excuse they come up with.

    I checked again there now, its a Grundig Freesat HD receiver the OP would have got which as we all know is exactly the same as the Bush so again just to clarify and with a few ammendments after a bit more searching:

    Bush HD Freesat Box: €75
    60cm minidish and LNB: €21
    Aerial and Bracket: €20
    F connectors, co-ax connector: €1
    Cable and clips/staples: €15
    8 Rawlbolts/Thunderbolts: €4

    I do understand that in some areas there would be a need for a masthead amp and power supply which would be an extra €30 but thats not the case with this particular job here.

    Materials total: €136
    Labour: €312
    Total: €448

    This job would take 1 person approximately 2 hours to do or in an awkward case 3 hours.

    I can get the exact same job done for €300 (Even that is a tidy sum of €164 for labour) in total or €250 if its an SD Box (€40 extra if Amp and Power supply are needed). Sounds a lot better than €448!!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 510 ✭✭✭TVDX


    Right on Finne, your 100% correct.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    You have not answered my question, why are not not doing it yourself?

    Finne1993 wrote: »
    I knew I'd be knocked down here on this subject.

    Owner: satellite.ie



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,840 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    price and profit is all about what people are willing to pay so if noone subscribed to sky, then they would drop their prices. Its a consumers world and you could get started on a lot of areas if you want e.g. electrician, plumber, grinds etc etc


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 405 ✭✭bigbadpat


    Goodmans HD box used
    Installation & TV set up took about 2.5 Hours
    Previously tried to install an LIDL satellite & dish

    I had done some research & found that:

    - 400 / 450 EURO average price for installation that I got
    - The installer has a physical presence on the same side of Dublin city where I live
    - He was able to answer my queries and seemed to know what he was talking about
    - Equipment needed to position the dish correctly for the ASTRA satellite

    At the end of the day I considered the 448 EURO well spent as I had it up & working within 48 hours of ordering.

    Yes I could have saved some money & spent more time and done it myself but I wanted it working NOW. I was happy to support the Boards advertisers.


  • Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 3,587 Mod ✭✭✭✭St Senan


    As a fellow installer and poster always says cheap is not always cheerful.

    At the moment their is to many fly by night paddys making a quick Buck throwing up cheap quality satellite systems and undercutting everyone thats long term expieranced in this buisness even i am loosing out on jobs because bob the builder, paddy the plumber, or even brightsparks, cant get any work in thier trades and they see that their is still work in this game and say what the hell its only a dish fitted and its not rocket science. To them i say keep up the bad work it generates buisness for us Aerial riggers/installers in the long run.
    There is even one crowd here around Gorey advertising they are doing Free to Air systems, powerwashing and hoist for hire a {Jack of all Trades.}

    Bigbadpat is very happy with what he got installed and the service from Freesat.ie and he will probably recommed Freesat.ie to other people. Emagine if he was to get some cheapo who installed something cheap and it packed after a month i cant see cheapo coming back to repair or replace. Reputation and word of mouth is better advertising than some cheap homemade flyer you will see in lots of shops at the moment.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 679 ✭✭✭Wizard007


    I really do not get this. Top professionals are constantly giving advice FREE OF CHARGE on here. They take the time and energy and go to huge lengths to explain all sorts, from complicated installs to the best equipment for particular jobs, the best boxes to use etc etc to the best sites for buying or selling their goods and services. Even people who have never gone next or near a dish have been guided through doing their own install of a fta or whatever right here on screen. The amount of information on here could never be taught in any college. All the opinions and practical advice would never be found in any books.

    Yet, on almost every thread, someone comes along and trys to undermine the good that has been done. The customer is happy, the company has a fantastic reputation and yet the above happens.

    I don't get why people do that, I just don't get it!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Finne1993


    O what did I let myself in for!!!

    All I done was air my opinion and gave a few facts and figures, dunno why everyone is getting so hot and bothered about it. At the end of the day the figures don't lie.

    @Tony, The answer to your question is: I do.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    Finne1993 wrote: »

    @Tony, The answer to your question is: I do.

    So this is self promotion then and you are in the trade? Nice very nice

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Finne1993


    Don't need to self promote, I've plenty of work and in any case its against the rules, I think you should read them


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    I'm well aware of the rules. It would have been wise of you to declare you were in the trade earlier in the thread as it would have been clearer what your motivation for posting was. I've read your post before you edited it and it was a smart move on your part to alter the text. I think we should let the mods take it from here.

    Finne1993 wrote: »
    Don't need to self promote, I've plenty of work and in any case its against the rules, I think you should read them

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Finne1993


    Tony wrote: »
    I'm well aware of the rules. It would have been wise of you to declare you were in the trade earlier in the thread as it would have been clearer what your motivation for posting was. I've read your post before you edited it and it was a smart move on your part to alter the text. I think we should let the mods take it from here.

    Ah here, stop getting away from the point.

    Why should I have declared anything earlier, if I had done so I would have been shot down straight away for trying to promote myself which is the last thing I would do on here as I'm not on the lookout for a warning or a ban and I don't appreciate the way you're trying to involve the mods here, its pretty childish to be honest.
    I never have or never will promote myself on here, as I said previously I'm busy enough, I have absolutely no need to, as Scaller said reputation and word of mouth is the best and only advertisement and I'm doing just fine on that regard.

    All you've done since my initial post was look to shoot me down, and not once referred to the point I was making about prices and on that note not one person has attemped to justify this price!!
    Over €300 for 2 1/2 hours work??
    You, I or anybody else can say what we like, but it just does'nt add up, the figures don't lie.

    End of discussion, well it is for me anyway.


    @ Bigbadpat:
    I don't doubt you had a professional job done, they are a reputable company and I'm glad you're happy with it and the end of the day if you're happy with the installation, product and price thats the main thing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    You should have declared this earlier as it would have been the honest thing to do and your motivation would have been clear.

    If you really want to debate prices then lets do it in a real manner and list ALL the costs. heres a few eaxmples to start you off

    1. Public liability insurance (if you have it)

    2. Goods carrying vehicle insurance.(if you have it)

    2. Premises expenses.

    4. Vat (if you pay it)

    I'll repeat if you want a real debate on prices and not the selective misinformed rant that you masqerade under the guise of an ordinary poster then fire away.


    Finne1993 wrote: »
    Ah here, stop getting away from the point.

    Why should I have declared anything earlier, if I had done so I would have been shot down straight away

    Owner: satellite.ie



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 132 ✭✭Satdog


    Wizard007 wrote: »
    I really do not get this. Top professionals are constantly giving advice FREE OF CHARGE on here. They take the time and energy and go to huge lengths to explain all sorts, from complicated installs to the best equipment for particular jobs, the best boxes to use etc etc to the best sites for buying or selling their goods and services. Even people who have never gone next or near a dish have been guided through doing their own install of a fta or whatever right here on screen. The amount of information on here could never be taught in any college. All the opinions and practical advice would never be found in any books.


    Well said. I got a custom install a number of years ago however with the help and advice of the Boards I was able to wire in multiroom and replace genneric FTA receiver.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Finne1993


    Tony wrote: »
    You should have declared this earlier as it would have been the honest thing to do and your motivation would have been clear.



    If you really want to debate prices then lets do it in a real manner and list ALL the costs. heres a few eaxmples to start you off



    1. Public liability insurance (if you have it)



    2. Goods carrying vehicle insurance.(if you have it)



    2. Premises expenses.



    4. Vat (if you pay it)



    I'll repeat if you want a real debate on prices and not the selective misinformed rant that you masqerade under the guise of an ordinary poster then fire away.



    Blah blah blah.

    Don't really know why I'm replying to such an insulting post.

    All QUALIFIED tradesmen have those expenses as well, they're not exclusive for Satellite/Aerial installers. Carpenters, Electricians, plumbers etc are on average charging €150-€200 a day (And lucky to get it) and all their insurance, vehicle, VAT/PAYE and running costs have to come out of that, its not just aerial installers who have those expenses.

    I can't be bothered debating this anymore as its a pretty pointless exercise as you obviously have your mind made up about me and no matter what I say you'll knock it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 679 ✭✭✭Wizard007


    Well to be honest, you shouldn't have interfered in the first place. All your initial post could have done was insult the company who did the job and make the customer feel like he was not getting the value he was getting and possibly make him feel foolish for posting in the first place.

    Sorry, but you drew all this on yourself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    I understand your position, your argument is so weak that you resort to such comments. Saying "blah blah" is a particularly effective debating skill I must admit.
    I vote we close the thread and perhaps move on to some meaningful discussions.

    Finne1993 wrote: »
    Blah blah blah.


    I can't be bothered debating this anymore as its a pretty pointless exercise as you obviously have your mind made up about me and no matter what I say you'll knock it.

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Finne1993


    Wizard007 wrote: »
    Well to be honest, you shouldn't have interfered in the first place. All your initial post could have done was insult the company who did the job and make the customer feel like he was not getting the value he was getting and possibly make him feel foolish for posting in the first place.

    Sorry, but you drew all this on yourself.

    Interfere?? Its not like the OP was talking one to one to someone and I butted in. He posted on a public forum and his post was wide open for anyone to reply/comment on it.
    All I did was voice my opinion but obviously you're only allowed to reply to posts on here if you write what certain people want you to write.

    Every single day there are threads and posts slating Sky, NTL or some other company for their prices, customer service, policies etc (whether they're valid points or not) and noone apart from one or two lately (including yourself) has stood up for them and challenged these posts to the degree that my post has been challenged.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    Thats true but those comments come from customers not competitors. You are not a customer of Freesat.ie you are a competitor by your own (albeit late) admission.

    Finne1993 wrote: »
    Every single day there are threads and posts slating Sky, NTL or some other company for their prices, customer service, policies etc (

    Owner: satellite.ie



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 679 ✭✭✭Wizard007


    Ok, lets look at the facts here.

    Bigbadpat posted on here complementing a company on a job well done. You came along without knowing what make of box was used, what make or type of equipment was used, what the job entailed or how long it took and took it upon yourself to post what you thought should be the costing on the box and parts used. And all with a - quote - "what the hell" attitude.

    Was that fair to both Freesat.ie and Bigbadpat?

    If I think a company is being "slated" unfairly I will post and say it.

    Your post is being challenged to this degree obviously because of what you said. If no one posted after post number 4, the company would have come across as having ripped the customer off.

    I don't want to argue this out with you any more.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 502 ✭✭✭Finne1993


    Tony wrote: »
    Thats true but those comments come from customers not competitors. You are not a customer of Freesat.ie you are a competitor by your own (albeit late) admission.

    I am not competing against them nor do i have a desire to compete against them or any other company thats 70 miles away from me, if i lived in Dublin and was a competitor of this company then there would be a point to the criticism aimed at me for speaking out truthfully.
    The fact is I am speaking as a member of the general public and regardless of whether I'm a customer, competitor or an onlooker I'm entitled to my opinion and I'm entitled to air it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,362 ✭✭✭✭Tony


    Finne1993 wrote: »
    The fact is I am speaking as a member of the general public

    That is complete and utter nonsense, it is a fact that by your own admission you are engaged in business.

    Finne1993 wrote: »
    and regardless of whether I'm a customer, competitor or an onlooker I'm entitled to my opinion and I'm entitled to air it

    Yes you are entitled to your opinion just as others are entitled to challenge such opinions, if you cannot take criticism then dont post.

    Owner: satellite.ie



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,840 ✭✭✭✭TheDriver


    If Finne1993 is happy to make money charging his prices, then fair enough. If everyone is getting plenty of customers on their prices, then fair enough. Theres lot of competition out there and if people didn't like the prices, then ye would be out of business. I think its time to agree to disagree and put this argument to bed before the stress levels get too high. I for one am curious as to how Finne1993 makes money but I am also curious as to whether you are an aerial installer or a tradesman of some other description who also installs aerials?


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