Got spare DTV Coupons? Need a coupon? Check this out....

[MicaelS]

Good Neighbor Coupon Exchange Program http://www.retrevo.com/dtv and http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2009/02/got-spare-dtv-coupons-retrevo-can-help.ars

Have an extra digital TV converter box coupon? Why not give it to someone who needs one? We'll Match You Up!

How It Works

What is the DTV Coupon exchange program?

Many older analog TV sets will need a converter box to make them work when the transition to digital TV takes place. The government has been subsidizing the purchase of a converter box but has run out of funds, leaving many TV owners in need of a coupon. Retrevo.com is offering this exchange to match people with an extra coupon to those in need of one.

How does it work?

It’s very simple, if you have an extra coupon that you are willing to mail to someone or have them pick up, provide us with your email address and zip code and we’ll hook you up with someone who needs one. If you need a coupon just give us your email address and zip code and we’ll try and connect you with someone who has an extra coupon.

Will you do anything else with my information?

We will need to share your email address with the person donating a coupon or the person needing a coupon so the two of you can make arrangements to exchange the coupon i.e. mail or pick up. Other than this one person, we will not sell or share your information.

I have a coupon, but do I really need it?
Take this 30-second test:

* If you have cable or satellite you can go ahead and donate your coupon.
* If you have a newer TV you probably don't need your coupon. Donate it.
* If you are getting digital TV with an antenna now, your TV is digital and you don't need a converter box. Donate the coupon.

[elocs]

1. Interesting concept, but I don't understand people's need to procrastinate

and not order the coupons until a few weeks before the switch. I knew I needed a converter last year and that the coupons expired in 3 months so in October I ordered them online and a week later they arrived. The coupons expired on January 26th and so that gave me 3 months to figure out which model to purchase. Even if I was not able to get a coupon it would be worth it to me to spend the $50 to get a converter since the picture is so much better and I get twice as many channels. Had I spent that $50 it would be the only money I have had to spend on tv in the last 3 years. There are a lot of people who routinely spend $50 on a couple of dvds, but evidently choke on having to pay full price for a converter.

[nightrain]

2. Perhaps there are some other issues....

I didn't know that there was an expiration period when I ordered and got my coupons last Spring. When I went to use them in June/July of 08, I couldn't. When I contacted the coupon people, they would not issue 2 more. So, in Dec 08 I spent nearly a fortune to upgrade and I still have one TV that I'm not going to replace. I would be glad to have a coupon to defray $40. So, maybe it's not procrastination....

Given these VERY tough economic times, $40 saved could be put toward food, medicine, mortgage, rent, gasoline, etc....

Yes, the digital picture is much better. I could have lived without it though. The reception is so-so -->horrible for 2 over-the air channels, and I live within sight of the transmitter towers!

I mean really, the TV manufacturers are making a killing over these stupid digital TVs. Remember when a good TV cost less than $400? Now that's a cheap one! And the electrical drain?

[elocs]

3. You certainly ordered your coupons early, but the expiration date was clearly on the front.

I went from 5 to 10 channels, including 3 PBS channels. I am within 5 miles of 3 stations, 17 from another, and my NBC station is 60 miles north of me and not in the direction of any of the others so I had to get an antenna with an amp to get that one. Digital reception is not final until the analog signal gets shut off and some stations move back to their original channel (some stations were using UHF for their digital transmission will switch back to their VHF location).

I am using my converter for an old 19" tv that I use in a bedroom that has never looked better. I have had a HDtv for 6 years and I have a HD 28" computer monitor which looks spectacular and it cost just over $400. The switch to digital has been on the horizon for a good many years and come next week all of my full powered stations will turn off their analog signal and either you have or get converter or you are out of luck because these stations have run thousands of public service announcements about the switch and offered to answer any questions and to help out however they could, but there certainly have been lots of excuses for people not getting a converter.