Thursday, May 19, 2011

RV Lack of Communication

Dear Dr. R.V. Shrink:
I could be so happy on the road if only my husband could get the sports channel. We started traveling about six months a year in our fifth-wheel and we both love the freedom of the road. However, my husband does not want to give up his ESPN. We are trying to solve this dilemma without going broke. We see every other camper with various satellite dishes and have researched the many offers. It is so confusing, my husband has become frustrated and says it hurts just to think about dealing with these providers. He calls and ends up with someone halfway around the world in a cubical with poor English skills, and with his hearing problem cannot figure out what the heck they are saying. Both Dish Network and DirectTV told him he can’t take the dish on the road with him. We know that can’t be true. How should he handle these calls so he can end up with ESPN without having to have ESP to understand them?
--Poor Reception in Reno

Dear Poor:
You have to be very careful when dealing with Corporate America today. TV, cell phone, or any other service. They are all run on the business model of confuse, divide and conquer. You have to hold your nose, read the fine print, swallow hard and understand the scam that comes with dealing with the media and communications gatekeepers.

One method that always works to alleviate the language barrier is to fight fire with fire. When you are talking to a person that is impossible to understand, you must also be impossible to understand. Speak very fast pig Latin in a low stutter. I guarantee you will get passed off to someone who speaks perfect English in under thirty seconds. Before you make any rash decisions, go out and meet some of your TV watching neighbors in the campground. They have made all the mistakes for you and will be more than happy to tell you what hoops not to jump through. The RV grapevine is a wonderful place to pick the fruit of knowledge. Your husband will get his ESPN. It will take a little effort, but the most important thing is, “Never let them see you sweat.”
--Keep Smilin’, Dr. R.V. Shrink

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

If youi have a computer as well as a tv, you might want to check out Netflix. My daughter now has it instead of satellite tv. You payabout $10 a month and you can watch whatever shows you want whenever you want. I do not know all the details, but she loves it. You can use it anywhere you happen to be. Good luck.

Bobbie

Anonymous said...

If you are too helpless to find a and buy a satellite dish for your rv, and purchase service for it, you should just stay home. RVing is not the best lifestyle for helpless folks.

Do what other clueless people do: go to a Camping World, tell them what you need, and pay for the install. There - fixed in one minute of typing with no research and hand wringing.

Sheesh.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to disagree, but the computer is a good backup but not a good primary source of good sports programing. Your connection source determines how much you can receive & the programing is usually delayed. I suggest going to a Camping World and let them help you get the Sat. tv set up or find a local dealer that will do the install & show you how to use it.

Anonymous said...

Dish network now offers a pay as you go plan for rv's. Basic price is about $35.00 month. It comes with a basic dish and receiver. You just need to pick the package you want. You only pay for the months you use it.
If you have dish network at home you can take the receiver from your house with you. Dish will give you a basic dish to use with it. NO, I don't work for dish!! I've been researching this for a year. So when I travel I take my receiver and use the extra dish. Happy Trails, Pam

Anonymous said...

I have Direct TV in my home and also carry an extra dish with us on the road. Direct TV shows it as in my trailer just like if it was in your living room. When I have a problem with anything on the road I just call them and tell them where I am and they help me.

Anonymous said...

I don't know who said you can't take a dish with you, but we take ours. We told them we live in our motorhome at Direct and they obliged us with the whole works, dish, tripod and receivers. If we want local channels, we have to pay an extra fee a month when we travel, but not big deal. Guess it's one of those deals where you talk to ten people and get ten different responses to the same question.

Steve said...

[If you are too helpless to find a and buy a satellite dish for your rv, and purchase service for it, you should just stay home. RVing is not the best lifestyle for helpless folks.]

Nice... What a jerk! I suppose you knew everything there was to know when you left the womb. Everyone needs a little handholding and advice from others with experience.
Only a fool or egomaniac would throw away good money pretending they know the solution to every situation in life.

Anonymous said...

Comments left should be helpful as most are, but not rude! It is nice to know the majority of people are understanding of others shortcomings.

Ron said...

Not only are you rude to fellow RVers, but you could type either.