MaxMedia MMDTVB02 Converter Box

[TalkingRat]

Sorry for omitting the source -- yes I got it from convertmy.tv

The only reason I clicked on their link was because of this odd addition at MaxMedia:

Maxmedia is strictly a NTIA approved manufacturer and supplier of converter boxes. We are not a retailer or e-tailer.

[lexus2108]

WOW I just knew this would happen. Looks like Maxmedia lost his supplier or did not have the money to prepay for shipment. Seems they scrambling to find a supplier . Just my opinion

[Malouff]

I think MaxMedia is dreaming if they think they are NTIA approved and also a manufacturer.

Looks like they are trying to cut any ties and confuse people by saying that MaxMedia and ConvertMy.TV are not related.

MaxMedia is probably hoping that they will again be approved by the NTIA and be allowed to continue operations.

ConvertMy.TV is probably hoping that they will also be approved by the NITA and continue selling Sansonic converter boxes to raise capital.

[seatacboy]

Originally Posted by TalkingRat

from Convert My TV
"MaxMedia is currently informing us that the new box will not be available until a future undetermined date.......The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Department of Commerce has decertified ConvertMy.TV for redeeming coupons for MaxMedia orders that remain unfulfilled and for which ConvertMy.TV cannot provide a timely ship date. We at ConvertMy.TV have been working diligently with the NTIA to treat our customers correctly and resolve these unexpected issues. We have cancelled your unfulfilled order with ConvertMy.TV and returned the value of your coupons to the NTIA for deposit in the U.S. Treasury as is required by Coupon Program regulations. NTIA will be contacting you soon regarding the coupons you have already redeemed."

I wonder how quickly NTIA will reissue the $40 coupons for the victims of ConvertMy.TV's premature redemption?

Fast forward to June, 2009 - long after the $40 coupon program has ended - I expect the MaxMedia MMDTVB02 converter boxes will be readily available at low-end discount stores for about $30. It may even have "the bugs worked out" and be a fine choice for DTV.

I would never buy one direct from MaxMedia or from ConvertMy.TV

[TalkingRat]

Someone on another thread had expired coupons, looked them up, and it said expired, and then it provided a link to reapply!! So if you're affected, go for it! Correction, it apparently said if you ordered one, you can order another. Sigh. Thanks, Malouff for tracking this down!

[lbjohn]

I was the #13 order.
Has any of you seen the refund in your credit cards yet?
Please come back here to post if you are able to get the coupons also

[kustom]

from maxmedia,

The impact of these repeated MaxMedia supply delays on ConvertMy.TV has been
devastating. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), Department of Commerce has decertified ConvertMy.TV for redeeming
coupons for MaxMedia orders that remain unfulfilled and for which
ConvertMy.TV cannot provide a timely ship date. We at ConvertMy.TV have
been working diligently with the NTIA to treat our customers correctly and
resolve these unexpected issues. We have cancelled your unfulfilled order
with ConvertMy.TV and returned the value of your coupons to the NTIA for
deposit in the U.S. Treasury as is required by Coupon Program regulations.
NTIA will be contacting you soon regarding the coupons you have already
redeemed.

k

[massavfan]

Originally Posted by kustom

from maxmedia,

The impact of these repeated MaxMedia supply delays on ConvertMy.TV has been
devastating. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA), Department of Commerce has decertified ConvertMy.TV for redeeming
coupons for MaxMedia orders that remain unfulfilled and for which
ConvertMy.TV cannot provide a timely ship date. We at ConvertMy.TV have
been working diligently with the NTIA to treat our customers correctly and
resolve these unexpected issues. We have cancelled your unfulfilled order
with ConvertMy.TV and returned the value of your coupons to the NTIA for
deposit in the U.S. Treasury as is required by Coupon Program regulations.
NTIA will be contacting you soon regarding the coupons you have already
redeemed.k

I just read the same e-mail five minutes ago. I'm wondering how quickly the NTIA will follow through with notifying customers about the coupon situation...

[WeThePeople]

https://www.dtv2009.gov/FAQ.aspx

Expand "Using a coupon"

Look at #17

WebPage Quote:

"If a coupon expires before it is used, can a consumer re-apply?"

"If a consumer requests only one coupon and it expires before it is used, then they can apply for a second coupon. Once two coupons have been issued to that household, the consumer will no longer be eligible to request any more coupons. Coupons expire 90 days after they are mailed."



So I must now ask TalkingRat if he noticed if the person said they only applied for one coupon or two?

If one, nothings changed...if two, they have changed something.

[TalkingRat]

I just think the FAQs will lag the update as to what the program does, as it did with FAQs accepting coupons when nothing is in stock. But no, the person didn't say they only applied for one. I do believe (s)he used the term reapply, and said there was an auto link from the status that said they expired. Will look tomorrow, have event to go to right now.

Edit: no such luck, correct above post 127, just the one coupon thing as WethePeople suspected.

[macbobd]

Originally Posted by lbjohn

I was the #13 order.
Has any of you seen the refund in your credit cards yet?
Please come back here to post if you are able to get the coupons also

Are you sure they charged your credit card? I just went through my transactions and nothing from them nor for that amount showed up.

You know, in an odd way, this might be a blessing in disguise. If our card is reissued, we may have another month or two to look for more boxes that still won't be available!

Seriously, my card expired 5/29. So I'm hoping for a good long extension.

(BTW, I was order 158)

[lexus2108]

Originally Posted by macbobd

Are you sure they charged your credit card? I just went through my transactions and nothing from them nor for that amount showed up.

You know, in an odd way, this might be a blessing in disguise. If our card is reissued, we may have another month or two to look for more boxes that still won't be available!

Seriously, my card expired 5/29. So I'm hoping for a good long extension.

(BTW, I was order 158)

you should call you CC company and ask if there is a charge on any month that is from Memsen for $20

we were all charged.

[lexus2108]

What does "vaporware" mean?

thanks

[WeThePeople]

Reference Phrases:
SoftWare
FirmWare
HardWare

something solid is hardware
something fictional is vaporware (Exists only in the minds of people)

IE: Thought-up, designed as a practical model, never made it to reality as a fully functional test unit...
(And in the case of MaxMedia...actually sold and charged for )

Hope that helps Lexus2108

[lexus2108]

Thanks I honestly didn't know what it meant. I guess in this case it fits

[TalkingRat]

Wiki even has the term vaporware. I remember it from product demos at early computer trade shows -- they either demo'd the product under very controlled circumstances or had a recorded simulation of what it would do, once they got the bugs out. It looked like it worked, but the software was created from thin air, vaporware.

Still can't find that reference to the expired coupon(s) -- I'll keep looking tomorrow as I read new posts.

[lbjohn]

I sent an email to convertmy.tv at 9:36 PM asking for refund. At 10:13 PM I got this reply.

A credit for the amount of $19.99 has been applied to your credit card.
Please feel free to contact MEMSEN about any questions you might have about
this transaction or order .

[dagger666]

they charged mine, oh well just checked my email and they credited my account.

[lexus2108]

I have to say Memsen ALwAYS answered e-mails and gave Credit on the CC. I do not know why he cashed in the coupons. I guess I never will know why. It was clear on NTIA website.

What maxmedia has done is inexcusable

[NicS]

I also recieved an E-mail from Memsen this morning. They credited my card and thanked me for my patience and understanding. I'm okay with that, I have the Zenith model and it works just fine. Now for some new research for the next great box.

[kustom]

Just received from dtv...
Thank you for informing us of this issue. We have logged the issue you experienced and reported it to the Coupon Program Retailer Support Center. Currently, there is no resolution regarding this issue. We will inform consumers in your situation if this changes in the future.



By law we are unable to reissue coupon replacements.



Sincerely,



RENEE SCHMUTZER

Consumer Support

TV Converter Box Coupon Program

[seatacboy]

Originally Posted by kustom

Just received from dtv...
"Thank you for informing us of this issue. We have logged the issue you experienced and reported it to the Coupon Program Retailer Support Center. Currently, there is no resolution regarding this issue. We will inform consumers in your situation if this changes in the future.

By law we are unable to reissue coupon replacements."

ConvertMy.TV clients should contact their Members of Congress about this legislative problem. They should also contact their local TV news media about running this story as a caution to the public. If you are really motivated, perhaps also contact the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, etc. The public deserves to know that if a merchant violates the NTIA coupon redemption rules and is unable to provide the product, the law punishes the customer as well as the offending merchant. The law apparently has zero provisions to restore the $40 coupon value to the customer.

[massavfan]

Originally Posted by seatacboy

ConvertMy.TV clients should contact their Members of Congress about this legislative problem. They should also contact their local TV news media about running this story as a caution to the public. If you are really motivated, perhaps also contact the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, etc. The public deserves to know that if a merchant violates the NTIA coupon redemption rules and is unable to provide the product, the law punishes the customer as well as the offending merchant. The law apparently has zero provisions to restore the $40 coupon value to the customer.

Good idea.

I sent a complaint to NTIA and received this generic reply:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding the TV Converter Box Coupon Program. We are now accepting applications and will continue until March 31, 2009, while supplies last. Consumers may apply for up to two $40 coupons per household: online at www.DTV2009.gov, by calling 1-888-DTV-2009 (1-888-388-2009); or by mailing an application to P.O. Box 2000, Portland, OR 97208-2000. Coupons will be sent to households via U.S. mail.

Please visit www.DTV2009.gov for answers to frequently asked questions.

Sincerely,

Television Converter Box Coupon Program Team


Only in America...

[pkeegan]

My credit card was refunded $19.99 from the now defunct order I placed months ago.

[seatacboy]

Originally Posted by massavfan

Good idea.

I sent a complaint to NTIA and received this generic reply.........

NTIA by itself isn't able to change Acts of Congress. However, if a few U.S. Senators and Representatives are contacted about the problem of premature coupon redemption by ConvertMy.tv, they might be able to write to NTIA on behalf of you and the others affected. U.S. Representatives and Senators have the "inside the Beltway" dealmaking clout that might allow NTIA to establish an "emergency rule" providing reimbursement of the $40 coupon value to clients who were deprived of their coupon's value due to vendor misconduct by an NTIA-licensed vendor.

In short: don't waste your typing keystrokes complaining to the very weak NTIA. Write to your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative.

[retiredTech]

I didn't get a email about the cancelation or about a refund.
I had to email & ask support@convertmy.tv for my refund.(include your order number)
They did however respond quickly to my email request and issued my cc refund.

[johnied]

Originally Posted by seatacboy

NTIA by itself isn't able to change Acts of Congress. However, if a few U.S. Senators and Representatives are contacted about the problem of premature coupon redemption by ConvertMy.tv, they might be able to write to NTIA on behalf of you and the others affected. U.S. Representatives and Senators have the "inside the Beltway" dealmaking clout that might allow NTIA to establish an "emergency rule" providing reimbursement of the $40 coupon value to clients who were deprived of their coupon's value due to vendor misconduct by an NTIA-licensed vendor.

In short: don't waste your typing keystrokes complaining to the very weak NTIA. Write to your U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative.

These folks oversee the NTIA and are the most likely to get them to
change their approach to allowing people to reapply for expired
coupons.

Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

(202) 225-2927

They have a webpage for contacting them as well.
http://energycommerce.house.gov/memb...act_form.shtml

[lbjohn]

I sent an appeal to asking for reapplication of the coupon, with full explanation of what happened at convertmy.tv. The following is the reply. Bottom line, it will probably take awhile for the NTIA to change the rules. And in the meantime, they will deny the reapplication if you said you were scammed by a vendor. Until then, you should find a friend in another address with no need for a box, and you apply the coupon to their address on their behalf.

*******************************

June 11, 2008

Dear Consumer:

This email is in response to your appeal of the denial of your coupon application. We have reviewed the information you provided in your appeal and all applications submitted for your household. Your duplicate application is still denied, because your household has already been approved for two coupons.

Another resident in your household or a relative may have already applied for coupons for your household. Or, you may have experienced a technical difficulty with our system and were unsure if your original application was successfully submitted. You may also have already been approved, but have not yet received your coupons, and were concerned about when they would be delivered.

Program rules prevent us from mailing coupons for multiple households to a single address. While we understand that many conditions may require that you apply at your address for someone else’s household, we can only mail two coupons to the address you have provided. Even if you have more than two TVs, we cannot approve more than two coupons for your address.

The household address provided on your application will be receiving two coupons.

We began mailing Coupons in late February. Coupons are being sent based on the date of application, in the order in which the application was received. They are being mailed on a staggered basis, not all at once. Additional information regarding the mailing of coupons can be found on our website at https://www.dtv2009.gov/CheckStatus.aspx.

Program information is available on the website at www.DTV2009.gov.

Sincerely,

Consumer Support Center
TV Converter Box Coupon Program

[TalkingRat]

ie, form letter that has no bearing on your unique situation. I suppose if you move into an apartment, you cannot get a coupon for your legal residence?

[Malouff]

lbjohn how were you able to get a NTIA response?

How did you contact them?