Replacement Sky HD box... for free?

spyhunter

I had a letter from sky today saying that as a valued customer of over 20 years they are sending me a free Sky +HD box to replace my current Sky+HD box and to call a number to arrange free installation.

I called the number and arranged an engineer for next week but i am puzzled as to why Sky are doing this as my current boxes are working fine (i have 2 HD boxes). I didn't ask the advisor in case it turned out it was a mistake and i would not get a nice shiny new HD box for free.

It said in the letter the new box is better than my current boxes but no reason why i was getting the replacements.
Anyone else had this letter or know why Sky are sending out these free boxes?

worriedfireman

I would suggest that it is probably a ploy by Sky to get you tied down on a contract. Remember, although it looks a really good deal, it costs Sky very little to send you out a brand new, shiny box if they can tie you down on a new 18 month contract
As you can probably guess, I'm not a great fan of Sky! :cool:

spyhunter

The advisor didn't say anything about a new contract and in the order confirmation email there is nothing about a new contract. She did say something about Sky broadband but i don't have Sky broadband nor do i want it so still puzzled why i am getting new box.

Kurtis_Blue

Because I believe your old box isnt compatible with new Sky features.

spyhunter

Kurtis_Blue wrote: »

Because I believe your old box isnt compatible with new Sky features.

Thanks. I did a search and found that the boxes are being replaced due to not being able to use Sky anytime +. I don't have Sky broadband so cant use Anytime + anyway so looks like im getting a nice new box for free.

yrp01

All thompson boxes are being replaced as they will not provide a firmware update for they're boxes sky has dropped them as a box provider and every needs to get a shiney sky box to replace the thompson 1.

albionrovers

Anyone know who the new supplier is?

yrp01

Sky have always had 2 or 3 suppliers going at the same time the new kid seems to be samsung but 90% of the time you will recieve an amstrad box.

vikramrkin

I took this offere recently and got a new slim box, with 250GB. No contract extension, no cost, all for free . I am with sky for only 11 months now and thinking of leaving next month.

They are doing it so that they can push the new Sky Anytime+ (since I dont have sky BB, I cant use this new feature)

Thanks
Vikram

spyhunter

yrp01 wrote: »

Sky have always had 2 or 3 suppliers going at the same time the new kid seems to be samsung but 90% of the time you will recieve an amstrad box.

I am a bit worried now because i have had Amstrad boxes before. I have had over 30 replacement boxes since getting Sky digital/sky+/SkyHD and all the faulty boxes were Amstrad. (my other HD box is a samsung) I will check with engineer and if its an Amstrad i don't want it. Thought this was too good to be true.

yrp01

Well ill be honest ive got an amstrad sky+ box and a standard stb amstrad and have never had issue.

If you have ever had an engineer replace your box it will always be a refurb which in my experience always break.

You will probably get an amstrad due to the fact they are the most anytime+ compliant boxes and im afraid if you dont want the amstrad box you may have to consider leaving sky.

But tbh the attitude of its to good to be true is a bit silly they are admitting that the thomson boxes wont be future compliant so they are replacing the box free of charge and without any contract so don't knock a freebee i say :P.