The latest consumer-electronics item flying off store shelves isn’t the iPhone or a Blu-ray DVD player. Digital- converter boxes, devices that convert over-the-air digital broadcast signals to analog ones, are in high demand as Americans prepare for the analog-to-digital television switch set to occur Feb. 17.
While many Americans have cable- or satellite-TV service and don’t have to worry about their TVs going dark, an estimated 20 million who receive over-the-air analog signals will need the boxes. A government subsidy in the form of two $40 coupons per household is available for those who need the boxes.
But with the high demand, many customers are finding them out of stock or discovering little variety at stores.
At a Kmart store on South Broadway in Denver, the boxes were not available Tuesday afternoon. Store clerks advised customers to check back on Wednesdays and Fridays when shipments arrive.
At a nearby Radio Shack, assistant manager Nicholas Vallejo fields about six or seven calls a day about the boxes, which were out of stock. He said the store orders boxes for customers, but they would have to come into the store, present their coupon and pay the balance for the box, along with shipping charges.
“We get them in two to three times a week,” Vallejo said, adding that converter boxes are generally sold out within a day or two. “My advice is to call stores close to you.”
That’s what Marilyn Lang had to do. The east Denver resident called and visited several stores last month, looking for a reasonably priced box before her coupon expired today.
The coupons, which customers can order online at or by calling 888-DTV-2009 (388-2009), expire 90 days from the date of issue.
“It’s very confusing. Good luck,” she said. “The minute you get your coupon, try to go out and get your converter box, because you don’t know if they’re going to be in stock.”
Generally, the $40 coupon will not cover the entire cost of the converter box, as most boxes range between $49.99 and $59.99. The coupon doesn’t cover tax, which buyers must pay on the entire price.
Additionally, many stores stock only one or two brands of the digital-converter box, so comparison shopping can be difficult. Best Buy stocks its own Insigna brand, while Circuit City carried a Zenith box. Both stores on South Colorado Boulevard, along with a Best Buy at Park Meadows, were well-stocked with converter boxes. Target stocks a GE and a Venturer box. Radio Shack offers two kinds of GE boxes along with two kinds of boxes made by a company called Digital Streams.
The Web offers more variety. At online retailer Solid Signal, more than 12 kinds of boxes are available.
“My guess is that other companies made their deals, placed their orders and didn’t think variety was too important,” said Solid Signal owner and president Jerry Chapman. “We were just trying to get our hands on whatever we can.”
Chapman said his company would stock Dish Network’s converter box when it’s available. The Douglas County-based company said earlier this year that it would offer a $40 box, but those plans have been delayed. According to company spokeswoman Francie Bauer, Dish is offering a different box, the DTVPal, for $59.99, which will be available next week.
Kimberly S. Johnson: 303-954-1088 or kjohnson@denverpost.com
