DTV converter coupons: It's now or never

Use 'em or lose 'em. That's the bottom line with the $40 government coupons (seen at right) for buying digital converter boxes. Coupons expire 90 days after issue, and if you haven't used them by then, you're out of luck. You can't request a replacement.

That's a growing concern for consumers who rushed to request coupons earlier this year to ensure they didn't miss out on the program. They're anxious to buy a converter box before the coupon expires, but there are few models now in stores, and all cost more than $40, requiring shoppers to foot part of the bill. There will be $40 boxes this summer, but that's no help for those who need to redeem a coupon before then.

We just checked the websites for Best Buy, Circuit City, Radio Shack, and Wal-mart, and found that each had one or two boxes. Of the boxes listed, all but two cost $60; only Wal-mart had lower-priced models, for $50 and $53. With these four retailers, you can't buy the boxes online; they're available only in retail stores, or by phone from Radio Shack (877-773-8848) and Best Buy (877-229-3889).

Perhaps more significantly, none of those boxes have analog pass-through, a feature that consumers will need in areas served by a certain type of television stations that will continue broadcasting analog signals for some time to come. Only a handful of models now available have this feature. One such box, the Philco TB100HH9 (seen below), is available online for about $50. We’ll post our review of it soon.

For all these reasons, Consumers Union has asked the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (the agency overseeing the program) to allow consumers to reapply for coupons if they haven't used them before expiration. Joel Kelsey, a CU advocate covering such issues, said, "It is unfair to penalize consumers who acted quickly because they were told to do so."

However, the agency said re-engineering of the coupon system to handle reissues, while technically possible, would increase the administrative costs of the program significantly. For now, at least, the unused funds from expired coupons will be released to "other needy households." An agency spokesperson told us that they "would have a better understanding of the impact of the 90-day expiration and the demands on Coupon Program funds as consumers began to redeem coupons in the coming months."

If you're among the consumers affected by this deadline dilemma, you can share your story at HearUsNow.org, a Consumers Union website.

—Eileen McCooey

Comments

[everett whitney]

To: Jack - 08 Sept - " Coupons have expired ... help?"

Sorry - but - the Federal Coupons are a One Time item only! After that (90) days interval happens, regardless of why these might not have been used by that date, these become void / useless.

With over 7.5 million expired, unused coupons to date, there are many in your same position, sadly.

[Jack Staples]

Same problem as everyone else. Could someone help. Coupon has expired,stores did have stock.

[DreadingFEB17]

I ordered my coupons early on because I had heard that they were in limited supply. When I got them I then found out that they had a 90 day time frame in which to use them and so I needed to figure out what kind to buy and where to find a place with them in stock at a resonable price for my very limited budget.

While I was waiting my state of IOWA was hit by a 500 year flood and all my time and resources went to dealing with the damage.

During this time I had lost track of where my coupons were since I had to pack up everything in my house to save it from the flood and much later on while unpacking I did find them they had already expired.

Sucks that they tell you to hurry up and get them, then there is not enough product for the demand. None of the ones that I have found have been in the 40 dollar range, cheapest one I have found has been 50 dollars and several at 60-70 dollar ones, and they are still out of stock them.

[fran]

i ordered my coupons as i was told and they expired 6-26 but meijers, walmart and radio shack did not have then. i kept checking and was told only 10 or so came in at a time. the manager of meijers said they would honor the coupons even if out of date. the boxes were there to day and they wouldnt take the coupon as it was out of date. i did not ask for the goverment to mess with my television station i tryed to get the boxes the goverment did not plan well and they were not available so now i have 2 coupons no way to get the discount is it fair .

[Gilberto ocasio]

my coupon expired because every time I went to the local Walmart they were all sold out. The expiresd 7-24-2008, my number 5897320083314093 and 5837320083314101.

[Anna Laughlin]

My coupons expired because everytime I went to the local Wal-mart or Radio-shack they were all sold out. It also took a very long time for me to actually receive the coupons in the mail after I had ordered them.

[Ray Nelson]

I live in a rural area so do not get to town often. Every time I did, the local retailer had no stock. Early news reports said that boxes could not be purchased on line. Now that I find out that they can be purchased on some web sites my coupons have expired. I made a big mistake by ordering the coupons so early.
As with most things the government gets involved in this was very poorly implemented. I was not aware of the expiration of coupons until after I had requested them.

[everett whitney]

TO: Chris - 19 July - " Have a number of TVs going worthless in Feb ..."

Doesn't Have to be the case at all ...

A Home w/ many analog TV sets may still have analog thru the start of 2012 by simply getting basic cable ... after the first TV, all subsequent TVs are connected N/C .

Much less cost than numerous Converters at full price for each TV and far more channels as well.

[susie Koch]

To put it in a nutshell-I got the coupons-no boxes in stock to purchase-coupons expired.

[CHRIS]

Responsibility?? Know why the Gov has told stations to go DIGITAL?? Because they wanted to auction and have now SOLD out our band width to CELL PHONE companies!! NOT turned over to first responders, cops, firemen and garbage trucks like they say.
I have several perfectly good TV's and the government is responsible for making them completely useless at my expense.
I ordered the coupons early like press releases urged us. No boxes in stock yet. A month later they had some but were sold out. Month later I saw some boxes but didn't have my coupon cards--my fault. I can't spend a half day going store to store for a converter. Went back the next week; gone. The week after that; out of stock again and now my card has expired.
So, the Government has sold us out again

[Dean]

It is not difficult to figure out why several of the rated boxes have seen a price increase. It's been 3 to 4 months since the first coupons were issued. Buyers are in a use it or lose if mode with regard to their coupons. This is another reason putting a 3 month expiration on the coupons was a bad idea for consumers. It is unlikely prices will drop back down until 3 months after the last coupons are issued. I doubt CUs ratings had much effect on prices.

[Tony]

Ken Reese: It's not consumers fault that the better converter's didn't make it to market before the coupons expired.

I was waiting for the Echostar or Apex models which have better features and will be $40 and $50.

[Ken Reese]

It is funny how many consumers will not take responsibility.

The coupons are clearly marked as to when they expire and the website that they can request informs consumers as well. It is time for whiny consumers to wake up!

[Donald R. Engen]

Another classic example of government throwing money at a problem they know nothing about.

Expired coupons aren't worth the paper there written on.

Sort of like our paper money.

This reminds me: Congresspersons are the ones always looking for a handout

always breaking the law and they refuse to get a job.

Donald R. Engen
Needles California