Loading ...Update (3rd March) – Play price now increased to £289.99. If you pre-ordered one at £249.99, let us know whether Play honour that price or not.
Play.com, the DVD/CD, Games and Electronic online giant have today announced the plan to sell the Humax FOXSAT-HDR from the end of March for just £249.99 delivered, almost £35 cheaper than the closest competitor today.
It’s possible that they have been given an indication of trade cost for in a months time, or are making full use of their Channel Island VAT status, but either way it’s an amazing price consider demand is still very high. It sets a precedent for price reductions over the next month, so will be interesting to see what happens.
If your willing to wait, Play.com are accepting pre-orders online now, alternatively, have a look at the currently availability on our Humax FOXSAT-HDR product page.
February 27th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I’d like to think Humax have recovered their development costs and with the numbers they are shipping can afford to drop the price!. Also the Sky alternative is now much cheaper so a price drop is needed from all the retailers.
Lee BQuote
February 27th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
It won’t be because of the VAT status – that only applies on prices around £15 and less (I don’t remember precisely how much though), hence its popularity with DVDs etc
RichQuote
February 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I don’t know what Barak Obama has to do with this:
“It sets a president for price reductions”
but I assume you meant to say:
“It sets a PRECEDENT for price reductions”
Ezy misteak 2 maik ! LOL
Kieran BeattieQuote
February 27th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Cheers Kieran, saved our blushes
adminQuote
February 27th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
The channel Islands do not have VAT however if it imported to a UK address it could be liable for VAT at customs
DennisQuote
February 27th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Any body know if its a one or two year warranty, as its bound to come up at some stage. ???
Matt GQuote
February 27th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Good question, no idea at this time, not all major retailers have 2 year warranties available, but most independents do, just depends on the distributors deal, i.e. whether they paid more for that cover from Humax.
adminQuote
February 28th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Humax Direct (http://www.humaxdirect.co.uk/product.asp?ProdRef=10073&cat=stb) reckon they’ve got stock of the DTR at £292.64. Is that of any help to you HD-ers?
TonyQuote
February 28th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
P.S. They are also offering the FOXSATHD-G for £89.
TonyQuote
March 1st, 2009 at 10:46 am
Tony – The £89 Humax FOXSATHD is a grade A refurb – the “brand new” ones are 145.83
SteveQuote
March 1st, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Steve – thanks for that. What is your opinion of a box refurbished to Grade A standard by a manufacturer of Humax’s standing?
TonyQuote
March 1st, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Tony,
From the description, they are customer returns. My understanding is that they are obliged under the distance selling act to accept returns from people so I guess they are sourced mainly from that. They have a years warranty (rather than the 2years for the brand new ones) but over 1/3rd off the price.
I purchased a 9300T-500Gb from them just before Christmas and they delivered it quickly so they get my vote for reliability on that side.
I think if I was looking for one now I would get the grade A, especially with the HDPVR out now.
Steve
SteveQuote
March 2nd, 2009 at 11:04 am
i got the £89 humax foxsat from humax direct and i have had no probs with it .apart from a few creases on the packaging (which could have been done while in transit ) it was as new-not a scratch on it and all acsessorys were new -so for me it was a great deal saving me £50
darnall42Quote
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
I see that the release date on Play.com has now been pushed back to 27 April, I guess because the offer’s so popular?
AndrewMQuote
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Play price is now £289.99! Back to Maplin….
MarkQuote
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Mark – for an extra three quid you can get it from Humax Direct. They claim to have stock.
TonyQuote
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:54 pm
According to their product page, John Lewis have “more than10 in stock” at £292, free delivery, 2 year warranty. They’ve got one less now, as I just ordered one.
Paul.Quote
March 3rd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Phew – placed an order at 7am this morning with Play.com for £249.99. Got an order confirmation back at that price so I hope they honour it.
Although the confirmation of the pre order came back the wording looks like they might be able to wriggle out of it if they really wanted to.
BradyQuote
March 3rd, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Care to query it with them and see what they say, we’d love to know whether they’ll honour it or not?
adminQuote
March 4th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Play have proved another waste of time, they must get their marketing policy from Dixons. From my experience of Play they never honour anything! I still can’t understand why Humax can’t get any units into the shops so I can pick one up, maybe worth waiting for the Panasonic now, they have the ability to get stock into the shops.
Lee BQuote
March 6th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Just ordered from Dixons, so we’ll see how bad they are! Current price is £284.99 and if you put MARCH10 as a voucher code, that’s take it down to £274.99 delivered, may help others still looking.
MarkQuote
March 6th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
See the latest prices at http://www.joinfreesat.co.uk/index.php/digital-boxes/humax-foxsat-hdr
adminQuote
March 6th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Interesting to see Sky’s reaction – big marketing campaign for Sky+ HD, and cutting their box price to £49. Is this simply a reflection of the economic times we’re in, or are they getting worried about the potential impact of Freesat on their revenues?
Ben HQuote
March 8th, 2009 at 12:04 am
I don’t think the Sky deal is as good as it seems. It’s £49 for the box and then you have to take a HD subscription for 12 months. I think you can get the first month free and free installation if you are a new customer but that still means the minimum first year cost is about £335. Even after the first year you still need to keep paying £10 a month otherwise all you end up with is a reciever without the PVR functionality.
BradyQuote
March 8th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Brady – the $ky deal also includes free broadband and free phone calls. It also gives access to HD channels which are never likely to appear on Freesat. The free installation, with a multi-outlet LNB and the extra cabling represents a saving of almost £110 as compared to the equivalent Freesat set-up. If you currently have a dish with a single LNB, the cost of changing to a twin or quad LNB and adding extra cabling will not be trivial, otherwise all you end up with is a reciever without the PVR functionality.
If you’re buying an HD TV from them, E-Buyer will sell you a $ky+ box for £29 if you take out $ky HD sub.
TonyQuote
March 12th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Just bought one from Dixons using the march10 discount, arrived 3 days later. it is obviously a refurb which wasnt stated a purchase, the front plastic screen has hundreds of scratches on it, they are picking it up 2morrow and desptaching a new one (hopefully)
Tony LobleyQuote
March 12th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Tony, Dixon’s as far as we are aware don’t sell refurb units, are you sure you haven’t just made the common mistake of thinking it’s second hand due to scratches, which in fact are just on the plastic film covering the front panel, not actually on the display itself? You just need to remove the film.
adminQuote
March 12th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Really tried hard to look for the plastic film but couldnt find it, looking at another review somewhere else it seems that it is the answer. have given dixons a shout and will get the magnifying glass out tonite
Tony LobleyQuote
March 13th, 2009 at 10:24 am
What a dope!!! As you said, plastic film in place, wasnt very obvious but should have known better, I moan at my missus for leaving the plastic film on her mobile screen!!! cant fault dixons customer service in this case though,they were excellent.
Tony LobleyQuote
March 13th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Hi I just rang Play and they say they are going to honour the original price so fingers crossed.
Peter WilsonQuote
March 13th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Dixons Customer Service – not quite so good as Tony has found… My box arrived from them packaged with no more than a piece of plastic film around the original Humax box, clearly the DHL boys had been playing catch with it, one stoved in corner and the front flap (with the clear film still intact!!!) has the bottom left corner broken off – hugely annoying. The Dixons gent arranged collection just fine, however he now tells me it’s end of line and no more stock due anytime soon – I tried explaing how it can’t be end of line since it’s barely past beginning of line but all fell on deaf ears. This means I’m now back to square one again trying to find the best price for the box with someone who has current stock. Dixons and Currys are not showing stock as of now…
MarkQuote
March 15th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
There’s someone on Ebay with a whole bunch for sale @ £250 plus free postage. Dunno if it’s for real but he’s sold 7/20 so far by the looks of it.
Hope this helps. Personally I’m not sure I’d risk Ebay as I would like to know where to return it to in case of a fault. Would Humax fix it ? How long is the warranty ?
Cheers
Addy
AddyLaddyQuote
March 15th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Can’t say for sure but that’s VERY cheap with delivery included too. Proceed with caution.
adminQuote
March 15th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Just had a further look, £15 extra off if you collect, free delivery (recorded delivery on insures up to £36!!!!!), total £235…then take off paypal/ebay charges…too cheap…plus the warranty is with the retailer, i.e. person you buy from, Humax may not assist in this case.
adminQuote
March 19th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Looks like those Ebay boxes were genuine! He’s received +ve feedback from 3 or 4 people so far.
Amazing price at £240 BNIB delivered. But I do still worry who would pick up any warranty claims ?
AddyLaddyQuote
March 19th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Did they ever recover all those Humax PVRs stolen from a lorry in a lay-by?
TonyQuote
March 19th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
They recovered half from what we believe, those on ebay have been reported just in case, as at that price they have not been bought at a price the official channels would offer.
adminQuote