{"id":1727,"date":"2008-06-18T02:58:00","date_gmt":"2008-06-18T02:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/bad_advice_from_retailers_on_dtv_conversion_could_cost_consumers_millions\/"},"modified":"2021-04-05T08:41:48","modified_gmt":"2021-04-05T08:41:48","slug":"bad_advice_from_retailers_on_dtv_conversion_could_cost_consumers_millions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nclnet.org\/bad_advice_from_retailers_on_dtv_conversion_could_cost_consumers_millions\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad advice from retailers on DTV conversion could cost consumers millions – National Consumers League"},"content":{"rendered":"

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June 17, 2008<\/p>\n

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Contact: 202-835-3323,\u00a0media@nclnet.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Washington, DC\u2014Consumers aren\u2019t getting accurate information from retailers about converting their televisions from analog to digital (DTV conversion), and that will cost them dearly, according to the National Consumers League (NCL). In the past week, NCL staff conducted an informal survey of Washington, DC-area major television retailers to test whether consumers inquiring about the DTV conversion were being given the right advice.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are just months away from the transition to digital television, and the fact that consumers whose screens will go blank come February 17, 2009 aren\u2019t being given accurate information is frankly shocking,\u201d said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg.<\/p>\n

Over the past week, NCL staffers called or made in-person visits to seven1<\/sup>\u00a0major TV retailers in the Washington, DC area to inquire about the DTV transition, how to prepare for it, and whether they need converter boxes. While the boxes cost around $50 – $60 retail, the federal government is providing two free coupons for each household, worth $40 each, for use toward the purchase of up to two digital-to-analog converter boxes. Retailers are supposed to tell customers about the coupon and encourage them to apply before the consumer invests in the full cost of the box, which could save up to $80.00 per household. But NCL found that some stores’ employees failed to mention the TV Converter Box Coupon Program run by the federal government.<\/p>\n

Adding insult to injury, the salespeople also told NCL staff that all consumers who don\u2019t subscribe to a paid television service (cable or satellite) would require the converter box equipment; this is wrong. Most late-model televisions, particularly those manufactured since 2004, are likely to be digital and do not require the converters. In one case, an employee said that any television that does not have a flat screen will require the box, another glaring inaccuracy.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are particularly concerned about elderly, low-income, and non-native English speakers,\u201d Greenberg said. \u201cThey may be more likely to have older TVs that use only an analog signal, and they desperately need the savings these coupons provide. Our survey suggests they won\u2019t get these savings unless retailers do a far better job of training their sales staff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Greenberg also noted, \u201cEven consumers who are aware of the transition and do their homework about what questions to ask the retailers may be getting information that is inaccurate, and that could cost them a bundle.\u201d<\/p>\n

NCL is asking retailers to go back to the drawing board, to set up rigorous training for all of their sales force, and to include training protocols for any new hires that are selling televisions and TV equipment. The sales staff should provide the following information to consumers:<\/p>\n