If a receiver says DISH NETWORK on it, it is only normal for me to think I could activate it with DISH. I cannot 'know' all the court decisions in history. After all, the receiver is new, with a dish logo on it. It's like buying a sensor for your chevy, you buy an original brand new chevy part, only to find out later that no one wants to install it on your car because of a court decision.
If you look at it like that, then you have a lot of research to do before you buy anything at all. The problem IS DISH, and TIVO, and all those other companies constantly bringing each other to court. I still can't believe a perfectly new receiver cannot work because of legal issues. The customer always ends up losing.
IBMcorp,
There are hundreds if not Thousands of Dish Network receivers for sale on Ebay or in countless Garage sales nationwide that were used for hacking, or leased receivers that were not returned, or turned of for non payment. All of these receivers would be in the same boat as your receiver.
If you purchased a receiver with an unpaid balance or that receiver is the property of Dish Network as a previously leased receiver, or was modified to steal Dish Programing then you will bear the responsibility of making it right with Dish Network.
Everybody that posts in this forum advises that you get the Receiver Id # as well as Smart Card Id # and call Dish to see if that receiver is free and clear of any balance as well as free to be added to a current or new account.
The old Caveat is always applicable, "Let the BUYER, beware". Why do you think there are more and more tools for buyers of all items to be sure they don't get stuck, eg CarFax, Consumers Report, amongst dozens of others.
Sorry but it was your decision to avoid a retailer dealer or call Dish directly, so you can't absolve yourself of your poor Decision Choice by blasting Dish Network.
Contact the original seller, call an attorney, contact Paypal, Ebay, especially if the original Ebay listing mentioned that your 721 CAN be or is ready for activation by Dish Network. If the listing mentions that you contact Dish to determine if said receiver can be activated then you quite possible SCREWED yourself. Read any and all disclaimers and ALWAYS HEED THEIR ADVICE.
Lastly you referred to the 721 is "NEW" or "Nearly New". 721's have not been manufactured for at least 2 years, hardly new. New in Box maybe although I Highly doubt even that.
You went out of your way to avoid acquiring hardware from a licensed dealer or Dish Network. Would you buy a NEW Chevy from a NON GM Dealer? Your CHEVY analogy falls totally flat as once you purchase a vehicle it does not require a separate monthly service fee for the ability to use that vehicle. A more apt analogy would be purchasing a Cell Phone that your provider would not activate in most cases for the same reason that your Cell Provider would use that Dish is now using regarding your 721.
John
