Calpirg conducted a secret shopper investigation at 132 electronics stores in 10 states including California, and found that almost half of the sales staff did not provide accurate information on the date the transition would take place. The survey also found 60% of sales staff provided inaccurate information about converter boxes, 100% of sales staff provided inaccurate information about a government coupon program, and 30% of sales staff had no clue when the transition to digital television would take place.

“To consumers, it does not matter whether sales clerks were intentionally misleading our secret shoppers to sell more expensive items, or if they were simply misinformed” said Emily Rusch with CALPIRG. “The result is the same: consumers will pay too much for unneeded equipment or services.”

KCBS' Rebecca Corral reports

A year from now, all television stations will begin broadcasting exclusively in digital signals, which means if you have an older analog TV and you receive over-the-air television, your TV will go dark, unless you retrofit it with a digital converter box.

It is important to know that next year’s change does not require anyone to purchase a new television set. People with older sets still receiving analog signals via antenna need only purchase a basic converter box that costs approximately $40. And, the government is offering up to two $40 coupons per home to offset the cost of the most basic converters.

Related Link

(clo)