 
grydlok
join:2004-01-06
Richmond, VA | I knew this was going to happen It's only going to get worse. I figure by the time Xmas get here the scams will hit an all time low. They really need to extend the 90 days. I saw only on dtv converter I wanted and they store only had one left. | |
|
 | 
dan45
@fluky.biz | Re: I knew this was going to happen They should extend the expiration period to sometime after the transition takes place and allow reapplication for people that had their coupons expire before they could buy a converter for whatever reason, but still need a converter. | |
|
| 
BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| said by grydlok  :It's only going to get worse. It wouldn't be happening a tall if peole would quit being so willfully ingorant about everything. Hell this isn't rocket science. I really really don't see what all the "confusion" is about. Let's see
Do you get TV fom cable or satelite? If yes NOTHING CHANGES.
Do you get through rabbit ears or rooftop antenna? If yes you either need to have a TV with a digital tuner or get a digital converter box.
See how easy that is. | |
|
| |
grydlok
join:2004-01-06
Richmond, VA | Re: I knew this was going to happen I take it you never dealt with older people. They are set in their ways, confused about changes, and frustrated because things can't stay the same. | |
|
| | |
NotQuiteGray
@rr.com
| Re: I knew this was going to happen said by grydlok :I take it you never dealt with older people. They are set in their ways, confused about changes, and frustrated because things can't stay the same. And often, they're right to be. | |
|
| | | b10010011
Whats a Posting tag?
join:2004-09-07
Bellingham, WA
 ·Comcast Formerly ..
| said by grydlok :I take it you never dealt with older people. They are set in their ways, confused about changes, and frustrated because things can't stay the same. EXACTLY! You know all this stuff is easy for us. People on these boards are technology orientated. Many average consumers are not.
I remember back in my TV repair days I had a service call to help someone hook up their TV. I go there and it's this old couple. The old man was explaining to me how the last place they lived there was a "round black wire" that plugged right in to the TV. Then he reached behind and pulled up the 300 Ohm twin lead and said "What the hell am I suppose to do with this?". | |
|
| | | | |
| | |
BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| said by grydlok :I take it you never dealt with older people. They are set in their ways, confused about changes, and frustrated because things can't stay the same. That's kind of insulting to older people now isn't it? "Oh grandma remember you're old you're too feeble minded to udnerstand all this new fangled techno stuff. Go back to eating your mashed peas and carrots."
Anyone else you want to put down today? blacks, hispanics, jews, gays? | |
|
| | | | 
Not a Script
join:2007-05-06
MEXICO
| Re: I knew this was going to happen said by BF69 :said by grydlok :I take it you never dealt with older people. They are set in their ways, confused about changes, and frustrated because things can't stay the same. That's kind of insulting to older people now isn't it? "Oh grandma remember you're old you're too feeble minded to udnerstand all this new fangled techno stuff. Go back to eating your mashed peas and carrots." Anyone else you want to put down today? blacks, hispanics, jews, gays? Were do I start, every racial or ethnic group has specific health concerns. Differences in the health of groups can result from
* Genetics
* Environmental factors
* Access to care
* Cultural factors
Blacks.- It's African-Americans thank you very much, and again, yes they are more susceptible to certain diseases, like sickle cell, it´s not racist it's just facts, education, poverty, shootings, those things can seriously affect development as well as learning abilities.
Hispanics.- Diabetes, asthma, and overweight among others, yes chalupas and gorditas may be delicious but here is the price ditto for development and learning
Jews.- susceptible to certain diseases, prone to others like Tay-Sachs disease. Tradition may prohibit certain things
Gays.- sorry but last time I checked gay sex is still high risk, plus those homophobic beatings are just not good for your health. Plus if you are dealing with being accepted by who you are you may be to busy to deal with other things
same applies to almost every other thing you do, based on your genes, education, age, sex, and a million other things you may be at advantage or disadvantage, it´s not mean its just life, get over it
And yes getting older does not help, physical and mental deterioration can wreck havoc with your ability to adapt to new and changing conditions, and I´m not talking about really old age, just compare how fast a child can learn vs. adult learning, yes you might learn but it's easier for the child.
Same goes for old people, they will have a harder time adapting and when we get there we will too. | |
|
| | | | |
| |
Hehe
@ssa.gov
| said by BF69 :said by grydlok :It's only going to get worse. It wouldn't be happening a tall if peole would quit being so willfully ingorant about everything. Hell this isn't rocket science. I really really don't see what all the "confusion" is about. Let's see Do you get TV fom cable or satelite? If yes NOTHING CHANGES. Do you get through rabbit ears or rooftop antenna? If yes you either need to have a TV with a digital tuner or get a digital converter box. See how easy that is. You are so smart! What about FIOS-TV or whatever it is called. It is not cable or satelite. | |
|
| | | 
Ebolla
join:2005-09-28
Dracut, MA | Re: I knew this was going to happen and its not OTA so your point is? | |
|
| | |
BF69
join:2004-07-28
Camden, TN
| said by Hehe :said by BF69 :said by grydlok :It's only going to get worse. It wouldn't be happening a tall if peole would quit being so willfully ingorant about everything. Hell this isn't rocket science. I really really don't see what all the "confusion" is about. Let's see Do you get TV fom cable or satelite? If yes NOTHING CHANGES. Do you get through rabbit ears or rooftop antenna? If yes you either need to have a TV with a digital tuner or get a digital converter box. See how easy that is. You are so smart! What about FIOS-TV or whatever it is called. It is not cable or satelite. If Grandpa can't figure out the whole converter box thing I'm sure he doesn't have FiOS. And if he does he has nothing to worry about. | |
|
|
| 
Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT
clubs: | Re: Should assess special penalties not sure if I'm the only one that feels this way the rebate or whatever they call it should expire a week after the Dtv deadline I have one of those rebate cards and I think 90 days is a little short if these boxes are in a short supply | |
|
| | 
Mactron
Happy 4th
Premium
join:2001-12-16
CM94sv
| Re: Should assess special penalties said by Subaru :...I think 90 days is a little short if these boxes are in a short supply Especially if you need one with Analog pass through. The APEX W/passthrough isn't even available yet. 
The local PBS here is LPTV and the thought of using a A/B switch isn't pleasant.
--
If only the Verizon CSRs worked this well.  | |
|
rdmiller
join:2005-09-23
Richmond, VA
| Not just shady businesses I'm sure by now the big box retailers have noticed that some of the people showing up at their door with a dtv coupon in hand wind up walking out with a new HDTV instead. After all, that old TV didn't work that great anyway!
The government provides the bait, all the big box retailer has to do is provide an attractive switch. | |
|
HEDP
join:2008-04-27
Miami, FL
| Neg. I call for no extension, people had been informed and had plenty of time to go out and order themselves a convertor box even if they where backed ordered.
If they didn't do it, then for obvious reasons they just don't care or have some other form of connectivity such as SAT or cable and are not interested.
If and when the change does happen and people are left in the dark wondering what the hell happened they will find out and get the gear for it at their own expense. | |
|
| 
james
join:2001-02-26
antarctica
| Re: Neg. said by HEDP :If and when the change does happen and people are left in the dark wondering what the hell happened they will find out and get the gear for it at their own expense. I agree with your opinion that many of these people will only get off their asses once the switch actually happens. But not allowing them to get the coupons anymore is where I disagree. Why not just go ahead with the switch, but still allow those who apply for the $40 coupon to do so?
All you're going to hear about for the next year is "wahh I didn't KNOW! I should still get a coupon!", so we can avert that by just letting them have the damn thing once they realize they need it. | |
|
| |
HEDP
join:2008-04-27
Miami, FL
| Re: Neg. Hey you want discounts, you get your fat ass from the couch and go get them online. Just like specials and deals at stores they are not there to last but temporary, just like black friday or memorial day specials.
The government and the operators have given notices, which I have seen more than 10 times already on regular over the air and cable/sat networks and news articles.
You also have articles about it that have been posted in the New York Times, the Washington Post and other "major news outlets" including small and local newspapers back in Miami when I was there.
You sat on your ass or left it towards the last minute, oh well that's your fault. Now there is no discount, so either go buy yourself a new TV or get cable/SAT. I am sure once this is over the price of those DTV converter boxes will be in the junk pile with the 5.99 CD basket in the front of the store that nobody ever looks at.
But since the government is paying for the crap right now, they need to offer discounts because who ever is making them want's to bank on it.
It's a deadline, 90 days was more than enough even for products that are on back order. | |
|
| | |
james
join:2001-02-26
antarctica
| Re: Neg. You completely ignore the fact that they made billions of dollars auctioning the spectrum, with the assurance that they would subsidize everyone's first digital box.
It isn't like you need to keep waiting until everyone has used their coupons before you can do the switch, just freaking do it. When their tv turns off and they finally get off their asses and get the box, what rational reason could you possibly have for not letting them have the same coupon? Oh you want to punish them? What will that achieve? Nothing. | |
|
| | | |
HEDP
join:2008-04-27
Miami, FL
| Re: Neg. It's not a punishment it's a deadline. I am sure there was no set time frame as to how long will they pay for these digital boxes.
My rational reason is that, we don't need another program that has to be open for years on end even after the transition has already been more than well enough happened.
Yet people will still request these coupons to get discounts on buying a new TV. 40 dollars might not sound much, but it is if you have even 40,000 abusers every month or so doing it, even after they have their transition equipment or simply use cable/SAT.
You think there isn't a rational reason but as this article clearly states is that as the program keeps rolling you will have more of these shady businesses trying to scam people and I am sure which would lead to fake websites that steal your identity even though your coupons are still sent to you. I think I have pointed two very rational and logical reasons as to why the program should be terminated on the set deadline.
If anything pass the discounts directly to a set of suppliers and have people pay 20 bucks to go buy their DTV converter box at any of the major retail outlets available. | |
|
| | | | 
dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| said by james :You completely ignore the fact that they made billions of dollars auctioning the spectrum, with the assurance that they would subsidize everyone's first digital box. The first box should be TOTALLY FREE!
why should people have to pay just so the rape and gouge cellphone industry can have more spectrum to gouge with.
--
When I gez aju zavateh na nalechoo more new yonooz tonigh molinigh - Ken Lee | |
|
|
Dryvlyne
Far Beyond Driven
Premium
join:2004-08-30
Newark, OH
| Who cares... I'm sorry, but I'm not really all that concerned about the small percentage of people in this country that still have rabbit ears. If Congress even thinks about moving the transition date again I'll be pissed. It's simply time to force people to move on... one way or the other. | |
|
| |
| |
| | pcme2000
join:2008-01-17
Bangor, ME | Re: Who cares... I agree it is time that people got off the butts and catch up to tech. If you don't get cable were you live then get DirecTv it is cheaper and better then cable. | |
|
|
william2394306C
@verizon.net | What about people who live in a area where you can't get locals through your satellite, like Lafayette, In, and you want nothing to do with crapcast. | |
|
| | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: Who cares... What about it? Put a Government cheese box on your TV and stop the whining. You get two of them for about $15 each with your government coupons. Don't like "crapcast...?" then show up to your next franchise meeting and complain to them. How many times have you, or anyone here for that matter, actually done something worth while instead of show up here, piss, rant, and moan - which does no good. | |
|
| |
|
CableMeNot
@rr.com
| said by Dryvlyne :I'm sorry, but I'm not really all that concerned about the small percentage of people in this country that still have rabbit ears. If Congress even thinks about moving the transition date again I'll be pissed. It's simply time to force people to move on... one way or the other. Step out of your bubble.
Its not a small percentage.
Not everyone blows $60 a month on TV.
I don't, and i won't, unless ala carte options come available.
My folks don't.
My kin don't.
My peers don't.
Advertizers would not pay for commercials on broadcast if there wasn't an audience. Local stations would not pay for transmitters if there wasn't an audience. | |
|
CylonRed
Premium,MVM
join:2000-07-06
Bloom County
 ·Speakeasy
| People who refuse to educate themselves.... are the only ones going to be falling for it. Not even my mom would have fallen for a scam like that but she is bright enough she would have asked one of her kids for advice or found the real answer. She went to 3 stores and they all had the boxes and she walked out with one.
I have never even seen the scam - I have yet to see anyone offering free boxes of any kind...
--
Brian
Free health care is 100% a misnomer - it is not free and never will be free. | |
|
| fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: People who refuse to educate themselves.... What SCAM?!
First off, who says that the DTV converter placed on one's set HAS to come via the Government Coupon?
Last time I checked, this is a free-market. The company is offering a box for FREE with purchase of a $59 5 year warranty. Does the consumer get the box at no charge? Yes. Do they get the 5 year warranty? Yes. Do they charge a shipping fee? Yes. WHO is being SCAMMED?
I don't get you guys sometimes. I am PERFECTLY in my rights to go into any store VOID OF A COUPON and buy my box full price. Is THAT a SCAM too?
From what I read, and what you guys are saying, is that boxes can't be given away unless its by the government. It's not ok to give a box away when you guy a warranty. I wonder if you can buy the box for a price and NOT take the warranty.
Creative marketing is more like it if you ask me.
There is noting illegal about the fact that someone out there is selling something at a higher price than what the government is offering.
This whole thread is insane. | |
|
toplevelpot
yes it is, no I don't share
join:2008-04-19
Los Angeles, CA
·AT&T Yahoo
·DSL EXTREME
| yes an extension would be nice I live in the middle of L.A. and unless I would like to pay $80(bite me, rite aid), converter boxes are unavailable. My first coupon xpires 7/14 and I've looked for weeks!!!!
The likely problem is ppl who are half-assed informed and too lazy to research ("I gots a box 4 every tv in me home, to go right next to the sat dish reciever" arrrggghh!)
Day b4 yesterday, I called a ph. number to check on boxes at wallmart."sure we have some" at 8 am. get there 9:30 am, all gone!!!!WTF!
--
waiting for sig-spiration | |
|
|
james
join:2001-02-26
antarctica
| Re: yes an extension would be nice said by toplevelpot :My first coupon xpires 7/14 and I've looked for weeks!!!! I dont see why people are so opposed to extending the time on the coupons. They can go ahead with the switch to digital and still issue coupons. | |
|
| | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: yes an extension would be nice I agree with you. A coupon is a coupon. They should expire with in a month or two after the transition is complete.
If you ask me, where I smell the rat is with the government and the stores.
The boxes cost, what, $59 each? The government gives you $40? The stores make $40 in free money from the government handout AND $19 from the consumer. So, what happens as time goes on.. the prices of these boxes are likely to drop big time. Keeping the coupons with a short expiration date, in my opinion, ensures that a consumer won't get a box for free, rather, they still have to pay a portion out of pocket.
Not to mention, the demand for coupons and converters is very high. Consumers are losing out when they get their coupons and find out none are available to them. (I wonder how many people buy the boxes and sell them on ebay later for profit)
Maybe what the government SHOULD have done is required that manufacturers or retailers, in order to be able to accept the coupons, supply an adequate amount of boxes per coupons being handed out so that the expiration of 90 days wouldn't be in an issue. Maybe THAT is where the scam is.
I see no reason why the coupons have to expire in 90 days. | |
|
DSLSupport
join:2001-06-05
Wake Forest, NC
| Having one, It is obvious on the delay in production I have three TV's in my house, none of which are HD however I run DirecTV on two of them with HD service and use RCA cables directly to standard TV's. Yes, HD receiver to a NON HD television and the picture quality is awesome.
Then on one TV I put an over the air converter box on it. The picture is even better than that coming from the HD receiver.
If you haven't already swallowed the bait for an overpriced HD TV try connecting VIA RCA cables your TV to an HD converter box or a DirecTV HD receiver. You will be blown away! Remember you MUST use the RCA cables NOT the CH3 tuner thing. | |
|
| fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: Having one, It is obvious on the delay in production How about just purchasing a lesser priced DTV with out HD in it? ... ever think of that?
Please don't confuse HD and DTV... they are two different things. The fact is that many HDTVs out there do NOT have a Digital Tuner in them and are just monitors. | |
|
Carl2wcs
join:2008-06-29
Visalia, CA
|  VALID THRU = CANCELED 12:01 DAY VALID
| |
|
AbBaZaBbA
Premium
join:2002-07-10
Long Beach, CA
| I really see nothing wrong with this They're basically giving you a converter box + warranty for 68$. Some people might not want to hassle with getting a coupon or driving to their local store. It's far from a scam which would imply that they are losing their money and not getting any value from it. Overpriced... sure.
Most all retailers are just as bad. I was in toys r us the other day and saw a family buying a few games for some video game system. The employee actually talked the family (who didn't appear to be too well off) into buying $3.99 warranties for each game. (these were game disks... if the game didn't work initially you could exchange anyway, and if it stopped working later you would be to blame for scratching the disk) The warranty lasts 15 months if it should break. Most products have 1 year manufacturers warranty, so they're essentially charging 10% of the price as a bet that your item will break between months 12 and 15. | |
|
| |
anon687
@comcast.net
| Revalidate existing coupons or allow renewal It's should be clear by now that the 90 day expiration was a mistake.
I also know people who ordered their coupons and did not receive them.
I received my coupons but I wanted and could not find an in-stock converter with pass through and s-video and could not purchase it as a back-order, so my coupon expired. | |
|
| pcme2000
join:2008-01-17
Bangor, ME | Re: Revalidate existing coupons or allow renewal You should get a newer tv, or go to DirecTv. get done with the old tv. | |
|
|
johnsmithten
@dslextreme.com
| Coupon expiration is a scam. No store has a stock of converter boxes. They also don't have a display example converter. If you can find a store with a converter box in stock, you must buy it for a trial at home, nonreturnable. The stores carry only one brand, to boot. If you look for another store, with a floor display (no store has a display), you come back to find them sold out where you first saw one. They also don't allow the coupons to be used on a High Def converter box.
I did find a Philco brand converter. It can't be hooked up. Wires to connect it are not included. Need to go back to the store to buy wiring. Isn't that the way it always goes. Batteries not included on Christmas for a nice surprise. Still don't know if it works. | |
|
| | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20 | Re: Revalidate existing coupons or allow renewal Personally, I don't understand why the $40 coupon couldn't be applied to the purchase of a new TV with a D-tuner built in as well.
Once again, the GIVErnment gets it wrong. | |
|
| | 
XBL2009
------
join:2001-01-03
Chicago, IL | Every store has them now, walmart, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. | |
|
gizmopt2002
join:2004-09-10
Fox River Grove, IL
| Expiration Date Yes 90 days is way to short! Just when the local stores got them, I went to grab the coupons, and what do you know, they expired 2 days ago!
I e-mailed them numerous times, and said they will not send me anymore, because it is against the rules. | |
|
| pcme2000
join:2008-01-17
Bangor, ME | Re: Expiration Date So are you trying to say that in 90 days the stores didn't have a box...that is very hard to believe. I live in a small town in Maine and even the stores around here run out but have them back in within 3 to 4 days. | |
|
pcme2000
join:2008-01-17
Bangor, ME
·Verizon Online DSL
| DTV Transition Scam Preys Upon Consumer Confusion 90 days in more then enough time to go buy a digital box! What is so hard about getting the coupons in the mail and then going to a store like Wal-Mart and buying a box. Even if you don't drive you have to go to a store within 90 days to get food or something. There is always going to be some people that if given 6 monthes will need an extra month or more. Just because they are to lazy to go and get one. You can even order one over the internet and have it delivered.
I bet if it was free you would see how many people would be at a store to get them. Mostly being the people that say they need more then 90 days to get to a store to buy one. | |
|
| 
DownTheShore
Health Care Reform NOW
Premium
join:2003-12-02
Beautiful NJ
clubs:
1 edit | Re: DTV Transition Scam Preys Upon Consumer Confusion said by pcme2000 :90 days in more then enough time to go buy a digital box! What is so hard about getting the coupons in the mail and then going to a store like Wal-Mart and buying a box. Even if you don't drive you have to go to a store within 90 days to get food or something. There is always going to be some people that if given 6 monthes will need an extra month or more. Just because they are to lazy to go and get one. You can even order one over the internet and have it delivered. I bet if it was free you would see how many people would be at a store to get them. Mostly being the people that say they need more then 90 days to get to a store to buy one. I think that the point here that a lot are trying to make is that in some areas you just can't FIND the boxes for sale. I would imagine there are a lot more people out there who need a box than they anticipated. For example, I have cable on one TV, but I also have an old TV that only receives 36 channels to begin with, so I just use a VCR's tuner to pick up the unscrambled cable channels. I don't watch that TV often, so I'm not getting rid of it and I have no need to buy a new TV. I can use a box for that set just for better reception. I have yet to see any of these converter boxes whenever I'm in either Best Buy, Target, or Circuit City, much less have a choice of which ones to buy.
And not everyone, believe it or not, has a home computer or knows how to use one, nor do they have cable service. When you're living on a low or fixed income, even $300 for a new computer is not in the budget, nor is a $40/mo cable bill payable. I think we here tend, at times, to be out-of-touch with households where the services we take for granted are actually luxuries. 
And then there's the fact that the quick "sell-out" of shipments of converter boxes are more likely to generate sales of might-as-well-get-a-new TVs. Profit is much higher on a nice brand-new HDTV as opposed to a measly convertor box, right?
--
Life is simply one damned thing after another. | |
|
Maggs
Premium
join:2002-11-29
Woodside, NY | I got the 2 coupons Paid $44 total for 2 Insignia NXA1 boxes. I get 33 channels off over the air.
--
NIL ILLEGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM! | |
|
wispalord
join:2007-09-20
House Springs, MO
·Charter Pipeline
| dtv converter verses hdtv hopefully the tv's them selves will comedown, or even the sdtv's, i dont want another atapter for tv, unless they make the adapter into a vcr/dvd combo unit. i dont watch tv enough to warrent paying alot of money, and i agree with the switch, i just think more needs to be done in lowering the cost of the tv's then the converters. | |
|
michigandave
join:2007-05-16
Fenton, MI
·AT&T Midwest
·Charter Pipeline
| Everyone has their hands in the cookie jar I'll tell you what part of the scam is.
The official government DTV hotline is 888-DTV-2009
If you happen to call 800-DTV-2009, you're going to end up with a sales pitch for satellite service.
Nowhere has the Federal government stepped in to squash the misinformation campaign being waged by cable and satellite companies. Where is the OTA broadcasters in this? They don't care because if you choose to go with satellite or cable, they still get paid retransmission fees from the providers.
Everyone wins except the end user. A moral raping and financial fleecing of the American consumer that is otherwise ignored by Uncle Sam.
--
The Atrium Forum
| |
|
rec630
@ameritech.net | Apex is available now > Especially if you need one with Analog pass through. The APEX W/passthrough isn't even available yet.
The Apex w/ AP is available now in some locations. Zenith also has an AP box available now and the DTVPal is supposedly shipping. | |
|
neonhomer
Honoray Mythbuster
Premium
join:2004-01-27
Edgewater, FL
·Earthlink Cable Mo..
| Yes for Extensions... I think they should have the extensions on a case by case basis, something like how traffic tickets are extended. I applied for the coupons, but forgot to use them, and now they expired. I should have been able to contact the Feds and ask for an extension.
--
"I reject your reality and subsitute my own!" - Adam Savage, Mythbusters
"We're either gonna die or gonna fly...", Jamie Hyneman, Mythbusters - M5 Industries | |
|
jmallory
join:2005-11-02
Clawson, MI
| Well Anyone Could Have Seen This Coming Waiting until 12 months before the cut-off before they even start to educate people and start the coupon program is a disaster looking for a place to happen.
It is just logistically impossible to provide the number of converter boxes that people are going to want in this amount of time. This program should have been in place 90 days after the final cutoff date was decided on. | |
|
|
|
|
DTV Transition Scam Preys Upon Consumer Confusion
·
·
