Call 4 Action: Company Offering Free Digital Converter Box

POSTED: 4:07 pm EDT July 21, 2008

UPDATED: 4:43 pm EDT July 21, 2008

PITTSBURGH -- In less than six months, all local television stations -- including WTAE Channel 4 -- will switch to a digital-only signal.

If you need rabbit ears or any other type of antenna to watch television, and your TV set is more than a couple of years old, you're going to need a digital converter box.

The Better Business Bureau told Call 4 Action reporter Aaron Saykin that it has had its eye on a company which is supposedly offering those boxes at an unbeatable price.

The box typically costs anywhere from $50 to $60, and the government will give you a coupon for $40 off -- but Universal Techtronics is featured in a newspaper advertisement that says it'll give you your box for free.

"When consumers end up making a purchase of these different items, they find out that nothing is free," said Warren King, of the BBB.

The company's box is named Miracle ClearView. To get it for free, it turns out that you need to buy a five-year warranty for $60. When you add shipping, handling and tax, the BBB said the total cost is closer to $100.

"We feel, as the Better Business Bureau, that it's unethical marketing that they're doing," said King.

A vice president for Universal Techtronics called the BBB's warning "unjustified and unfair," adding, "It's not the same box you can get anywhere."

The company also claims you might be able to pick up more stations with its box, and it disputed the overall cost, saying it's closer to $70. (Scroll down this page to read the company's entire statement.)

"If it sounds too good to be true, you have to be careful," said King.

Many TV viewers won't need one of these new boxes. If you have cable, satellite or FiOS service, you don't need to do anything.

But if you watch your local stations using an antenna, you can get one of those $40 coupons by calling (888) 388-2009 or visit ThePittsburghChannel.com's Digital TV page to get all the information you need.

The following statement was sent to Call 4 Action by Universal Techtronics:

Universal Techtronics does not simply offer the "same thing." Universal offers not only a better converter box option than most, it stands behind its product with the best warranty available. The facts are:

1. It is very important you know that Universal's converter box features Analog pass through, an item present on approximately 15 percent of available converter boxes. Without this feature many consumers will lose access to local television channels which will have yet to convert to digital by February 2009.
2. Most retail purchased converter boxes only come with a one-year warranty. Customers purchasing these boxes are doing so to avoid the cost of replacing their television and/or having to pay for cable or satellite to obtain local channels. If these converter boxes fail within the next 5 years, these consumers will be back where they began and have to find the money for these expensive items. They merely, briefly delayed the inevitable cost instead of being able to wait until some of the costs come down. Universal's 5 year warranty gives consumers the piece of mind they deserve that we supply a quality product that we stand behind in the event of a problem for the next 5 years. There is a cost associated with this service.
3. Obtaining the $40 government coupon is not the timely, seamless process that it ought to be. Purchasing a Universal Techtronics converter box eliminates the need to acquire a government coupon while still offering a government certified converter box.
4. Not all consumers are proximate to a brick and mortar retail store selling converter boxes. Those that are seem to be finding that many are out of stock. Universal offers the convenience knowledgeable salespeople, customer technical support through our customer service department, and delivery to the customer's door.

We believe it is important that consumers have purchase options. For our converter box to be an alternative that consumers will consider, Universal needs to offer a better value.

To answer inquiries cited by the Better Business Bureau from a completely different product line, we've taken significant steps to further upgrade our customer service. These solutions have included increased customer service, extended hours and improved product handling methods. These have resulted in all of the complaints being resolved to the satisfaction of the consumer.

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