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DTV converter boxes selling fast?

M

Mediafrog+

A week ago the Wal-Mart near me (Houston) had about 30 DTV converter boxes on the shelf. Yesterday the shelves were empty. Appears the Magnavox and RCA boxes are selling fast for the $49 price ($9 plus tax with the coupon.) Another Wal-Mart I checked was also out of the converters.

How are they selling elsewhere?
 
In the Wal Marts I go to in West TN there have been plenty of the Magnavox converters. The supply of RCA converters has varied from just a few to sold out. I'm still waiting for my coupons.
 
I had to get on a list Saturday morning at HH Gregg in Charlotte for the Zenith. The guy said they got shipments every day and sold out every day. I went back Sat afternoon and picked up mine. Of course, they are selling them for $10 less than the other places...
 
I was at Wal-Mart last month they have shelves of them. I went two days ago and they had none. The sales associate said she has no idea when they will get another shipment.

So apparently they went fast.

I was kinding of hoping I'd find them for $40.00 LOL

What a cheap ass I am... LOL
 
I was at my Wal-Mart tonight 03/18/2008,they had no converter boxes in stock,but they had approx 50 to70 Magnavox $29.99 DVD players in the area of the dtv converters.
 
My guess is that the boxes will be hard to find over the next couple months as the worry-warts and TV-fantatics go out to purchase them. Then towards the summer and early fall there will be a lull in demand and an increase in stock. Then towards late fall and the holidays it will pick up again as the procrastinators need to go out and get their box.
 
Here are the mailing dates, based on when the application was approved:

Your Application Approval Date Targeted Mail Date
January 1, 2008 2/18 – 2/29/2008
January 2, 2008 3/3 – 3/14/2008
January 3 - 6, 2008 3/17 – 3/21/2008
January 7 – 13, 2008 3/24 – 3/28/2008
January 14 – 30, 2008 3/31 – 4/4/2008
January 31 – February 16, 2008 4/7 – 4/11/2008
February 17 – 24, 2008 4/14 – 4/18/2008
February 25 - March 6, 2008 4/21 – 4/25/2008

*Note that coupons do not expire until 90 days after they have been mailed. Note also that coupons are being mailed via Standard mail (not first class mail), with delivery expected around 2-9 days from the mail date.

https://www.dtv2009.gov/CheckStatus.aspx
 
So they aren't getting anywhere near the 2 to 3 weeks they were claiming when I called asking about the status on the phone. I'm not surprised. I'm not going to be surprised to find the converter boxes difficult to find when I finally get my coupons in April.
 
Update: The Wal-Mart near me (Houston) got more of the RCA boxes, but quickly sold out a couple of days later. I haven't seen any of the Magnavox boxes there in weeks, despite the fact that WM's website shows them as being in stock.
 
I was at the Wal Mart I live closest to today and they had 13 Magnavoxes and 5 RCAs. It's been like that at all the Wal Marts in my area. I don't know if the RCA model is selling more or if they're ordering less of them.

While I was there I noticed they has a poster with the address for the website that lists the approved models. It turned out to not be right, but I was able to find it on my own: https://www.ntiadtv.gov/cecb_list.cfm

I've noticed that some models are listed as being able to pass on analog channels. That sounds like a feature that would be good to have. Apparently it sounds like most models don't. The RCA model apparently isn't one of them, and Wal Mart's website doesn't give the model number for the Magnavox, so I don't know if it can handle analog or not.
 
I received my coupons recently. When I went to shop for a converter on-line, I discovered that the cheapest one I can find is $59. While this would be a "new toy" for me, this does seem like it would be discouraging to the folks who actually need the converter and can not afford anything above what the coupon is for.
 
Well, first of all, you cannot use your coupon online, at least not to my knowledge. You'll have to go to a brick and mortar establishment.

Secondly, give it a few months, there are more receivers coming! Echostar's TR-40 will cost $39.95, so it'll cost virtually nothing.

- Trip
 
I checked in another Wal Mart again last night, and there were plenty of both the Magnavox and RCA models. I also found out the Magnavox model is the TB100MW9, which doesn't pass on analog channels. That is something that it looks like the FCC should have required as well.
 
Walmart in Laurens, SC was completely cleaned out two weeks ago on a Saturday, I believe. Went back the following Monday and got the last two left. They seem to be going pretty fast.
 
The two Wal-Mart Supercenters in Sanford, FL (closest to my house) only have the Magnavox boxes, never have seen an RCA box even on display in either of the two stores.
 
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