video card does nothing at all

I'm building a linux-based PVR (using MythTV). I have everything set up except for the video card. I read that the Savage IX with TV-out has good Linux TV-out support, so that's what I purchased. (It's also quite inexpensive.) I bought one from PCI Micro--I'd never heard of them, but they were pretty cheap on pricewatch.com, and they had a decent rating.

So, when I received it, it was DOA. I put it in two different computers, and it produced no output whatsoever. I RMAed it, and the second one had the exact same problem. When I put it in my computer, there was no video output, but the computer still booted. I ssh'd in, and lspci showed no signs of any video card, so the computer doesn't seem to recognize the device at all.

I'm puzzled. I can think of several causes, but they're all very unlikely.
1) There were two separate, identical failures.
2) There is some sort of hardware incompatibility.
3) I don't know what I'm doing (some sort of IRQ conflict?).
4) The company is deliberately screwing me.

Do you have any advice? Should I try returning it again? The part is only worth about $12, but I can't stand the idea of being ripped off by the company.

Thanks.

(x-posted to linux and pc_tech)