Updated the summary.

bengalfreak said:This same machine is still free hereFree Tivo. Seems to be a better deal than $79.95 with the 3 months of free service factored in. Although I don't believe that the KidZone TiVo is eligible for multi service dicounts.

You're correct, it doesn't qualify for $99 MSD (multi service discount) nor does it qualify for the rebate. (see terms here)

But incorrect about it being a better deal:

KidZone deal is $129 out of pocket (OOP) for TiVo 2 DT with 1/yr service.
vs TD deal: $79.95 + 24.65 ship + $99 MSD - $59 gift card (3 mo. service) -$150 rebate= -$5 OOP
(so better than FREE, and cheaper than "free KidZone TiVo" by $124 !!!)

BTW, KidZone is a feature on *all* TiVo's, that link is just to a promo thru the Parent's Television Council (PTC). This feature helps you lock down your TiVo with parental controls and also provides kid friendly program guides, etc.

sehrwunderbar said:3 month service certificate take off about $38/39, not $59 as stated in above post.

TD website lists the value as $59.

I did get an email saying they'd gotten my mail-in rebate. The online status checker is now saying "waiting to verify activation" which I'm told usually means they're waiting out the initial 30-day period. When I submitted a rebate on the Amazon deal just to see if I got lucky and had it fall through the cracks as some people did, this was the point at which it said "TSN not eligible for this promotion" and kicked it out.

So if you're seeing "waiting to verify activation" I would GUESS that the rebate is probably going to come. *knocks on wood*

crispy96 said:TheWGP said:I did get an email saying they'd gotten my mail-in rebate. The online status checker is now saying "waiting to verify activation" which I'm told usually means they're waiting out the initial 30-day period. When I submitted a rebate on the Amazon deal just to see if I got lucky and had it fall through the cracks as some people did, this was the point at which it said "TSN not eligible for this promotion" and kicked it out.

So if you're seeing "waiting to verify activation" I would GUESS that the rebate is probably going to come. *knocks on wood*

I was able to overcome this with a TiVo purchased at Big Lots. My rebate status just updated that my $150 check is in the mail.

Nice! I figured I could maybe have gotten it for the Amazon deal if I pushed hard enough, but it DID say directly on the page it wasn't rebate-eligible for the duration of that promotion, so I figured if I didn't get it fall-through-the-cracks style, it wasn't really "playing fair." I know, shocking, a FWer with a conscience!

TSN = TiVo service number (like VIN for your car)

Got my 2 boxes from TD yesterday, with gift certificates, ordered through Shop.com and linking through the fw website got me 2.40 Cash Back in my account as well, and reduced shipping over what TD was charging. On the TD bill it shows the larger shipping charge, but if I remember Shop.com correctly they refund you the difference to your credit card at some point... plus the $10 off Shop.com coupon code in this thread saved me another $10 (again refunded to CC after a time period). I will be making money after rebate on these and after Shop.com $10 back (coupon) and rebates and reduced shipping refund (Shop.com)... not to mention TiVo referral rewards (which they are shutting down but you can still get referrals if you cash them in in time, but you cannot create a new rewards account).

Thanks everyone, including OP and Sly1, for inspiring me to spend more money on TiVo boxes just to get some more rebates and about 4 months more service on 2 units... *L*

sehrwunderbar said:Just bought two more, going to use my mom's address.

This is AWESOME!! this set will get even BETTER money back, since both are MSD...

Thanks OP! AGAIN

Technically, I still don't see how you make money on this deal without MSD when you include shipping, but still close to free for this is a real deal. Use fatwallet's Cash Back links page to link to Shop.com (gives you cheaper shipping after they refund part of it to your CC), browse to the TigerDirect dual-tuner and buy it from there, that gives you FatCash back of $2.40 on the two units, plus enter the $10 off orders over $100 coupon for Shop.com, makes it as sweet as it can get. Plus TiVo referral rewards for a "friend" (but use those fast since the program is ending).

Sweet deal and very little action on it... either here or on SD...

sledhed said:sehrwunderbar said:Just bought two more, going to use my mom's address.

This is AWESOME!! this set will get even BETTER money back, since both are MSD...

Thanks OP! AGAIN

Technically, I still don't see how you make money on this deal without MSD when you include shipping, but still close to free for this is a real deal. Use fatwallet's Cash Back links page to link to Shop.com (gives you cheaper shipping after they refund part of it to your CC), browse to the TigerDirect dual-tuner and buy it from there, that gives you FatCash back of $2.40 on the two units, plus enter the $10 off orders over $100 coupon for Shop.com, makes it as sweet as it can get. Plus TiVo referral rewards for a "friend" (but use those fast since the program is ending).

Sweet deal and very little action on it... either here or on SD...

I am getting MSD on both because I already have two on my account. One I took to my mom's house, one I am currently trying to get to work at my apartment (the time is an hour off for some reason, one hour behind schedule), next one I will be taking to my mother-in-law's to set up, and not sure what to do with the last one yet.

sledhed said:Thanks everyone, including OP and Sly1, for inspiring me to spend more money on TiVo boxes just to get some more rebates and about 4 months more service on 2 units... *L* lol...your welcome! Yes these TiVo's have been wonderful, a real money maker including all the additional free perks Plus I got me a couple HD units with Lifetime now too..

FullTimeDad said:How does one get a MSD as a new TiVo subscriber? After reading the TiVo website, it appears to me that you always need to have some type of full priced subscription on your account. Is that correct?

I was considering switching from DirecTV. I like my DirecTivos, but bundling my communications may be more cost effective. I have never had a "stand alone" TiVo account. If I wanted to purchase two of the units in this deal, would I be better off activating one first, and then activating the second one at a later date in order to receive the MSD on the second unit? But then what happens after, lets say, my one year subscription on the first unit expires? If I understand correctly, I need to renew at some full price current rate, either monthly or multi year discount, and then be able to receive the MSD on the second unit. One can never have a MSD on two units, if they only have two units total on their account. Am I thinking about this correctly?
You will of course still have to subscribe to some sort of cable service too. As far as msd, you get it automatically on every TiVo(up to 5) after your 1st subscription/activation.