DTVPal Digital-to-Analog Converter is Now Available

[Anole]

Just had lunch with my Radio Shack guy.
He went to a Vendor Fair, where he met up with two dozen of their suppliers.

Had him specifically ask the Dish rep about the DTVpal, and here is what was said:
Radio Shack won't be carrying it because they already have a $59.95 unit, and don't need a $79.95 box.
Not exactly a quote, but as close as I could come.



There are enough holes in that story to qualify as Swiss Cheese!

I have about 0% confidence in Dish and Dish reps, so I would suggest we revisit this question in 30 days and see if it's still true.
Heck, it might not be true tomorrow!

But you know . . . R/S does carry Cingular/AT&T cell phones, but doesn't carry their iPhone . . .
So, it's possible they won't have DTVpal, for some unknown reason.

The reason I can think of is that Dish wants to make every sale count, and use it as leverage to sell satellite service.
That's what they told their dealers in the Dealer Chat last week!
Letting Radio Shack sell them would not get the job done.
R/S is selling converter boxes like WalMart - you get delivery of 100, and by the end of the day, they're gone!

So, now I will consider finding a backup plan to get my box.
No hurry, but to cover my ass if R/S doesn't get any, I'll be on the lookout for a local LA dealer who will take my money and coupon.
Calling Dish and getting on their junk-mail and call- list, is NOT a good choice!

[Scroll]

Say what?


RadioShack.com - Home Entertainment: Accessories: Video accessories: Converters: GE Smart Digital Converter Box

[Mtnbkr]

I made an attempt to order 2 DTVPals on-line from Dish this afternoon and was informed that since I was a Dish subscriber, I had to place the order by phone. When placing the order I got as far as the coupon numbers and was then told that both coupons were invalid. I received the coupons in mid May with a valid date thru Aug 20, 2008 and have never been used. The Dish rep made 2 attempts and both times came up invalid. No apologies, no suggestions on what to do next. I contacted a rep at the coupon program center and was told to have Dish call the Retailer Support Center. I am waiting for a reply from Dish. Anyone with similar problems and recommendations? Thanx, Mtnbkr

[kkeller83]

I just ordered my 2 DTVPAL units from Dish network and still wonder why I continue to do business with them. My experience in brief:

1. Went to website, entered in all my info (including 2 coupons), Order Calculator was still at $0.00, so I called "Not finding what you're looking for? Please call 1-888-825-2557 for assistance" as this was the number that appeared within the Order Calculator box. Got some chick from Bangladesh on the other end who, when I inquired how much the units were, put me on hold for 5 minutes while breaking in every 30 seconds to say "Please hold". When she finally came back on the line for good, she kept trying to sell me a new Dish network receiver, until I finally got her to realize that all I was wanted was the price of the DTVPAL, not to order anything.

2.Went back to the website, hit "submit" and was given a message that my session had expired, which erased all my info.

3. Re-entered all my info again, hit "submit" and was taken back to same page with message that my billing address had been corrected. What? Only difference was that address info was now all in caps and the Order Calculator showed a sum of 59.99+59.99+8.95+8.95+9.30(tax)=$147.18 as my coupon info had disappeared.

4. Re-entered coupon info, Order Calculator now read $67.18 (147.18-80.00), hit "submit", and was taken back to same page with message that I would have to call in since my address was listed as already having Dish Network (which is correct), but...what the heck??!

5. Now called "Not finding what you're looking for? Please call 1-888-638-9912 for assistance." as this was the latest number to reveal itself in the Order Calculator box. Went the route of indicating I was a current Dish customer, and gave the guy (a U.S. citizen to boot!) all my info, only now when he gave me my total, it came to $71.58. When I asked him how he arrived at the total, he said the tax was $13.70. When I asked him why it was so much more than what it should be according to my local tax rate and the website, he put me on hold only to return and tell me that it was probably "prorated starting from the 5th of the month." When I questioned him about how could anything be "prorated" as there was no monthly service fee associated with it, he hemmed and hawed some and then told me that I could buy the unit cheaper at Walmart!!! When I pressed him about the availablity of the DTVPAL at Walmart and not some other brand, he assured me that his local Walmart had them, but they were "flying off the shelves". Since he ACTUALLY LIVES in the same local area that I do, I got the specific Walmart he was referring to, and when I called it and another one closer to me I was informed that the only units they sell are by Magnavox.

5. Called the 1-888-638-9912 AGAIN, only this time went the "not a Dish customer" route and this time got a girl who came up with the same price of $71.58. When I questioned her about the tax rate, after being put on hold YET AGAIN, she returned with the answer that there were FCC taxes on top of the sales tax. When I said that didn't seem right as I wouldn't have to pay FCC taxes if I purchased a unit from the store, she was pretty insistent that I would. Having now spent the better part of an hour talking to 3 clueless Dish employees and dealing with a twitchy website, I gave up and agreed to the $71.58. (I had purchased 2 other brands over a year ago at over $100/each, so $36.00 each didn't seem like THAT bad of a deal....)

We'll see what ( if anything) shows up in 7-10 days.

(And all because I don't want to have to remember to set a specific channel before I leave the house!!!)

[Pepper]

Dish Network New Employee Orientation Video

[jegrant]

Ew! Does anyone have a good experience to report? Sounds like it might be more trouble than it's worth.

[DK_Sat]

I got 2 Digital Stream 9950 from Radio shack the box has the pass through analog. Nice menu, Guide works fine good Audio / Video .

[Zorak]

I've played with 4 different boxes so far and like the Digital Stream the best so far for features and sensitivity.

[pabeader]

I got 2 Digital Stream 9950 from Radio shack the box has the pass through analog. Nice menu, Guide works fine good Audio / Video .

cool that way when they get the good boxes in you can exchange them

[Scroll]

I got one too. Seems to work. Not sure what you mean about trading up though since this IS the new model. If you return it don't you lose the $40 coupon?