So I recently had Sky Q installed, coincidentally on the very same day my neighbour had a booking to install Sky Q. My neighbours install was before mine. The installer was really late getting to me and was apologetic. He got my Sky Q installed in about 15 minutes including the mini box. The guy seemed quite switched on, got the remotes all controlling the TVs properly and even setup up the main Q box with my playbar (audio output to DD5.1 etc). I got chatting with him why he was late and the conversation went on to describe the general issues they have with installs. Sky had a couple of installer deaths a while back, since then they have gone ultra cautious. The installers have very strict rules imposed on them and they are regularly spot checked on their work. A common gripe from customers is the mandated anchor point for ladder use, they must drill a hole in the wall to attached a ladder anchor, failure to do so even for ground floor installs is instant disciplinary, they are also encouraged to grass on one another if they spot something on a call out. He also mentioned the GPS in the vans and Sky do use it to monitor the installers movements. Whilst I do think they have gone a bit too far, Sky would argue they are just being a conscientious employer and as my installer said, why should he risk his life just so someone can watch TV?. I got the impression that he has to walk away from about 1 in 10 installs for various reasons.
As for Sky Q itself, I did the negotiation on price with retention's and got about 50% off, but still felt a little aggrieved at paying extra for 4K. The 2Tb box is pretty decent though I think, good 4K picture etc and pretty nice interface. The Mini box upstairs does the same but only in HD which is fine. Obviously there is a bucket load of SD content still out there, which looks nasty on my 58" 4K TV, but it is what it is. I would never pay full price for Sky, but I think what I pay now for what I get is pretty fair.
