There's a Sucker Converted Every Minute

Jessica 07-06-2008

Much attention was given last week to an offer you can afford to refuse: a “free” digital TV converter box from an Ohio-based company called Universal TechTronics. As many writers pointed out, this supposedly free box, which will convert broadcast television signals from digital to analog for those with older TVs, actually costs close to $100. The gimmick: the box is free, as long as you pay $88 for a five-year warranty, plus $9.30 shipping.

Once the nation converts from analog to digital broadcasting next February, those who receive their signals over the air will need a converter box for older, non-digital models. But given that government-approved converter boxes sell for $60 or less, and a government-issued $40 rebate coupon is available for the asking, this deal obviously makes no sense.

But that has not stopped the company from continuing to make its pitch. An ad says:

If you thought that the slew of negative press this offer has received would cause Universal TechTronics to pull its offer, reconsider. When I called their toll-free number Wednesday, an operator told me that their “free” deal had passed; however they “had a special offer for me.”

The special offer was the same one touted in their ads. When I asked her why I should buy this box when I could get a $40 rebate coupon from the government, she told me that they didn’t have coupons, but I “was just paying for the warranty and would get the box for free.”

Universal TechTronics seems to specialize in “high-tech” products of questionable value. They also market the Cool Surge portable air cooler, “a work of engineering genius from the China coast so advanced that no windows, vents, or freon are needed.” And it uses the same energy as a 60-watt light bulb.

It works by blowing a stream of air over two ice packs, which you have previously frozen in your freezer. The Cool Surge will cool you — if you stick your head next to the vents.

The national Better Business Bureau has called Universal TechTronics’ business practices “unsatisfactory.”

Raven

I wonder how many people are going to get suckered into this. Honestly its going to be something like you might as well just buy a new tv unless you have an old tv that' has a pretty big screen to it.

Nina

Well most people don't realy think all that much, they hear the word free and thinking its better. Although a 5 yr warranty may sound good but depends on how long they last for on an average too anyway.

hugo281

These TV Converters are not that good, this 5 year warranty they have also seems a little too weird to me, the majority of the people will get it anyway since the analog signal will be gone next year and i betcha some people don't care how much it is as long as they don't miss their favorite tv shows

Hsoolien

There will always be suckers wiling to buy this shit, which is why some oily asshole will always come up with newer ways to sucker them

hugo281

yeah that's true there's always that one company or like you said Hsool some oily asshole who will come up with new ideas to sucker people, but also some of the people who get suckered into propositions or new things are also at fault for believe some of this stuff too

Hsoolien

I can think of a half dozen scams now super easy to pull on the general public, it's so gullible and predictable.

Nina

Public is so gulible becuae they lack patient and too afraid to act like they don't know something. You know you seem more unlike a idiot if you aask about something instead of being stupid and wait til you fuck up something.

hugo281

That's a good point, well you notice how some people are when something new comes out like a new service or a new product and they don't want to ask question to know how things work or how the service will benefit them, they just say "Aw Hell I'll get it then we'll see how good it really is!!" or some comment like that and then later on they'll call up their customer service when something fucks up like you said and proceed to bitch the fuck out of them , its just so hilarious to me when that happens especially some of my friends who tell me stories like that