[Joe Q]

I am on several waiting lists for the 921 and started recently tracking the number of 921 sales and who the sellers are in EBAY.


For a very difficult to obtain item, I am amazed at how many are availble to buy on EBAY and I only started tracking sales 10 days ago.

I am also very surprised to see that several of the sellers are authorized DISH dealers.


The going rate is just shy of $1500 so people are making a $500 profit on this item.



Two thoughts have been rattling around in my head.

1)Since dealers are getting these in at only one or two units at a time, I wonder if those DISH dealers are being a bit 'opportunistic'.


2) Where are the NON DISH dealers getting them from?

 

[Don Landis]

Joe- My dealer told me he was slating the next 3 921's for ebay auction. The first one that arrived was paid for by me so that is the only reason it didn't end up on eBay. I don't consider them offering their product line on the internet opportunistic (in a bad way) at all. It is opportunistic in a basic business sense. They are not taking advantage of anyone who doesn't want to bid or pay "fair market" price. At this time, fair market price is just 150% of MSRP! Once the supply is plentiful, this will all change.

I think if you want to point the finger of blame here it should go toward E* sales because they are the ones who have restricted the availability causing the supply-demand price hike. The supply / demand market on the 921 is indeed based on the FACT that E* claims to be doing exactly that, creating the slow release as they also claim they have thousands sitting in the warehouse. More than 8 E* reps told me this at CES. One also said they have the capability to make 1000 921's per week!


The only case I would point the finger at a dealer is if he lied abut availability to customers who had preordered at a quoted price and the order was accepted. Then the items come in and he sells them to another for the profit. My dealer is too smart to pull anything like this. He knows and respects the law and would not put his business at risk of violating a UCC regulation and law suit. And, he knows I'm fully aware of the UCC too.


In the US businesses have great freedom but there are minimal regulations governing business practices such as Uniform Commercial Code. If you don't abide by these you may get bit big time! Smart educated business people know, respect, and abide by them.

 

[Joe Q]

Quote:

Originally posted by Don Landis Joe- My dealer told me he was slating the next 3 921's for ebay auction. The first one that arrived was paid for by me so that is the only reason it didn't end up on eBay. I don't consider them offering their product line on the internet opportunistic (in a bad way) at all. It is opportunistic in a basic business sense.

Thanks for confirming what I thought the dealers may be doing.


I used the term 'opportunistic' because it has a benign connotation.


Even though it means that it takes that much longer for me to get my 921 (on several pre-order list's) , I can't blame them for charging what the market will bear.

Same thing happens when a new hot car comes out. The GTO I have my eye on is going for more than MSRP at the few dealers I checked with.

Don't think that I haven't considered making a quick $500 by selling on Ebay if my 921 arrives before the commotion dies down


Reminds me of the good old days of the HD modulator and the Panny combo. I made a killing back then cause I guessed right and bought about 8 modulators when the were still at MSRP. Sat back for over a year and waited till the market for them went wacko and sold all but 2 of them for over $1000.


Did the same thing with 3 Panny rigs (different $$ amount of course).


Joe

 

[bpearse]

To be sure, Adam Smith's invisible hand is what drives the price on the 921s. If anything, it isn't the seller who is to blame for high prices, it is the buyers.


However, I think Dish is making a big mistake by allowing this to happen. It leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth regarding Dish. They could take a cue from successful car dealers. Good ones will never do big mark ups for new cars that are temporarily in short supply.


What should Dish have done? Well, they are not allowed to set the end price. That is not legal. But they can do what car companies do to prevent this: build up a better inventory before launch, or made it unattractive for the dealers to sell so far above list price by taking away some perks (which Dish is allowed to do).


In any case, I would not expect Dish to behave any differently than they are today. My opinion of them simply is reinforced by the way they have handled this situation. (yes, there is an insult buried there).

 

[Jet-X]

if the firewire worked right now I'd pay the $1500.

 

[heavyharmonies]

Is this opportunistic? Yes. Does it happen all the time? Yes.


In-demand automobiles (especially sports cars) sell for above dealer list price all the time. Two that I can think of: Dodge Viper and the PT Cruiser (when it first surfaced). It's the capital market system at work.


If you want to be angry with someone, be angry at Dish for woefully underestimating the demand for the 811 and 921 or deliberately controlling the availability of the hardware. If there were enough available, there wouldn't be this problem.


-Dan

 

[jautor]

Quote:

Originally posted by heavyharmonies If you want to be angry with someone, be angry at Dish for woefully underestimating the demand for the 811 and 921 or deliberately controlling the availability of the hardware. If there were enough available, there wouldn't be this problem.

And of course, vote with your dollars.


That, and revel in your ability and patience to wait a few more weeks to save yourself $500...


Jeff

 

[Joe Q]

Quote:

Originally posted by bwiklem if the firewire worked right now I'd pay the $1500.

If the firewire worked right now, I would STILL do what I am doing.


Waiting for a 921 from one of the many pre-order lists I am on and paying MSRP.


I refuse to pay more than MSRP for ANYTHING.

If you read my mesage above, it's also why there is not yet a GTO in my driveway


I can wait.


Joe

 

[stickyfingers]

Quote:

Originally posted by jautor ...and revel in your ability and patience to wait a few more weeks to save yourself $500...

And if you have the patience to wait a few more weeks beyond that, the HDTivo will come out. As I surely expect that to be a far superior piece of HW I imagine you'll see 921 prices drop farther. I'd expect to see no more than $799 and perhaps as low as $599 for new subs - those numbers are certainly only my own opinion, but they will clearly lose their ability to charge a premium once the HD Tivo arrives.


Brian

 

[Joe Q]

Well, it's a moot point now as my 921 is being held at UPS for me to pick up tomorrow on my way home from work (I was not home when they tried to deliver it today).


I am SO tempted to sell it on Ebay for a quick $500 profit.


They must be fairly available cause I ordered one on January 15 and here it is only 11 days later.


Joe

 

[jautor]

Quote:

Originally posted by stickyfingers And if you have the patience to wait a few more weeks beyond that, the HDTivo will come out.

Already voted on that one with my dollars! Preordered it from ****************...


Jeff

 

[Matt_Stevens]

Joe, if I were you, I'd sell it. It's 500 free clams. Do you have a 5000 Mod setup? If so, WAIT before buying a 921! An offer is in the works for us 5000 owners.

 

[bpearse]

True, Matt, but do not have high expectations for the offer from Dish to 5000 owners. The offer they tried with me was so low I did not even have to think about it. Most of the alternatives they offered my was worse than what I can get my just calling a CSR myself. Dish is trying, but do not count of them making 5000 owners happy.

 

[Matt_Stevens]

I can sell my 5000 receiver on eBay for $100 to $150. So they need to offer more than that. If I get an off of $200 with no commitment, I'll be happy. That is reasonable.

 

[Joe Q]

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt_Stevens Joe, if I were you, I'd sell it. It's 500 free clams. Do you have a 5000 Mod setup? If so, WAIT before buying a 921! An offer is in the works for us 5000 owners.

Yes, I have a 5000+mod.


I have been plopping all the 921 sales in Ebay since January 10 into "watching items' and I have noted a trend.


They started out fetching around $1500 but now it is down to around $1275.


That is still nothing to sneeze at but then 1) It's a hassle f2) I really want to be able to timeshift more than SHOHD/HBOHD like DISCHD 3) the dealer I got this from would probably not sell me another if I told him I sold it so it may be another month or 2 before I get another one from another dealer.


I still have my 5000 activated so I figure I still have some leverage with DISH to get some $$ compensation. My thought was to tell them I was going to sell the 921 and drop all programming except AT50.


Besides, this 921 is just SO cool as a PVR It is only missing one feature that I use with my SA TIVO so I am very pleased with this product and want to keep it.


Joe