TV Frustration (novella in progress ;))

Post by **Martrae** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:13 am

In February we purchased a new TV since our old one was acting funky.

In April it died. I called Best Buy to get it worked on and they sent out someone to repair it. First guy (personality of a rock) comes out looks at it and says he needs to order a part. He also mumbles something about it being poorly designed and having had 4 others that week alone that needed repaired. There was also something about the mainboard wired straight to something that would arc and fry the board. I'm not TV inside savvy so I couldn't tell you what parts he was talking about but it sounded like the TV was garbage.

10 days later the part arrives and a second guy comes out to repair it. He gets the TV all torn apart and tries to install a new mainboard and suddenly has to go out to the van. He's gone a long time so I look out to see he's on the phone. Uh oh. He comes back and says there's something wrong with the new board and he's going to have to order another one. He'd called Best Buy, his office, another tech and even Sony and there was no way to field repair it.

Another 10 days goes by with the TV sitting on the floor and me trying to keep the kids from using it as a slide. (It was on the floor because we had put our old TV back on the stand and was using it...it, oddly enough, works fine now). The second new part comes in. First guy comes back out to fix it this time. He puts in a new mainboard, solders something, runs some sort of tester. TV works! YAY! He leaves and Kahar tries to change the channel with the remote...doesn't work. Remote does work on the DVD player and the VCR, however. I try and catch the guy but he's gone. The office is closed and Best Buy says to deal with the TV repair shop.

I call the TV people this morning and tell them the remote doesn't work. They tell me that the repair guy that was there won't be in until noon and he'd call me. 45 minutes after that call the TV dies...again. So I call Best Buy and at this point I'm pretty pissed. The TV is still under the TV repair company warranty so Best Buy's hands are tied, but they call the repair shop and report the TV has died. Same thing is told Best Buy, the repair guy won't be in until noon.

So as I'm sitting here typing this all out the TV comes on again...but now it won't turn off. Fortunately, Kahar had purchased the extended warranty and considering the TV isn't even six months old it looks like it's gonna be needed. I'm really hoping the TV guy gets fed up with it and just replaces the damn thing.

runamonk · Post by **runamonk** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:18 am

Just tell them to replace the TV, don't ask, don't be nice about it. Just tell them you've had such and such amount of visits and that you bought the extended customer care warranty and you want it replaced. They should send out someone to replace the TV.

Post by **Martrae** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:22 am

I'll tell the repair guy that when he calls. This is beyond frustrating.

Moral of the story do NOT buy the Sony 32in Wega. It's trash.

Eziekial · Post by **Eziekial** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:23 am

I write to Sony as well. What kind of TV is this? I just bought a Sony :ugh:

Post by **Martrae** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:25 am

32in Flat Analog

Eziekial · Post by **Eziekial** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:29 am

I was under the impression that the first year is Sony's warranty then the extended warranty from Best Buy kicks in (if you buy is). They wanted about $350 for a 4 year warranty which I kindly declined. I'm worried now

Post by **Martrae** » Tue May 17, 2005 8:36 am

First year is Sony's warranty, but Best Buy also has a lemon policy. 3 repairs and they replace it. I wanted to makes sure the repairs counted so I went thru them.

Eziekial · Post by **Eziekial** » Tue May 17, 2005 9:23 am

Gotcha! I hope it all works out.

kaharthemad · Post by **kaharthemad** » Tue May 17, 2005 9:55 am

Martrae wrote:I'll tell the repair guy that when he calls. This is beyond frustrating.

Moral of the story do NOT buy the Sony 32in Wega. It's trash.

No...the Moral of the story is dont buy from Best Butt.

I have never seen the 'pass the buck' done at such a high rate of speed.

kaharthemad · Post by **kaharthemad** » Tue May 17, 2005 9:58 am

Also tonight if things are not taken care mar has said I get to handle the phone call..

I learned a good lesson form Al Cappone:"You get more accomplished from a kind word and a gun then just a kind word alone."

I think I am done being nice now.

Last time I had a fuck up this bad I had the Supervisor of Customer Service for Aelphia Crying. I think I can step my game up to these bastards.

dammuzis · Post by **dammuzis** » Tue May 17, 2005 9:59 am

wait till you ever try to use Dells customer service

Post by **Martrae** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:01 am

People who buy Dell deserve their CS.

Wait...that applies to Best Buy too.

runamonk · Post by **runamonk** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:38 am

Martrae wrote:I'll tell the repair guy that when he calls. This is beyond frustrating.

Moral of the story do NOT buy the Sony 32in Wega. It's trash.

ouch sounds like you got f-ed in that deal.

I bought the a Sony KV32HS420 and haven't had a single issue [yet]. They had a great deal where I got it and threw in a bunch of free crap. I checked all the reviews and such and this was a top 10 rated HD tv. Hope I don't get these issues.

runamonk · Post by **runamonk** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:39 am

kaharthemad wrote:
Martrae wrote:I'll tell the repair guy that when he calls. This is beyond frustrating.

Moral of the story do NOT buy the Sony 32in Wega. It's trash.

No...the Moral of the story is dont buy from Best Butt.

I have never seen the 'pass the buck' done at such a high rate of speed.

They have been smacked on the wrist several times for failing to live up to their customer care stuff, not to mention rebates. :/

runamonk · Post by **runamonk** » Tue May 17, 2005 10:40 am

dammuzis wrote:wait till you ever try to use Dells customer service

I've used Dells and not had an issue at all. One thing to note is you're going to be talking with Habib in india. Get drunk before you call.

Post by **Martrae** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:12 am

Sony KV-32FS120 Is the one we got.

runamonk · Post by **runamonk** » Tue May 17, 2005 11:59 am

Almost the exact same TV except mine is HD. I think you just got a crap set. Hopefully they'll just replace it for ya. :/

Narrock · Post by **Narrock** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:41 pm

I've never heard of Sony's having trouble like that. I always heard that Sony was a top name in TV's.

Post by **Martrae** » Tue May 17, 2005 12:54 pm

I called the repair shop back because apparently they've forgotten how to get in touch with me. (that's sarcasm - for the sarcastically impaired). They said they were going to have to have someone pick up the set and take it to their uber cool top secret lab with all it's high tech space age equipment but suggested I might want to call Sony and see if there's anything Sony would do.

So I just got off the phone with Sony. They have a really cool voice activated system that really is lightyears above any other system I've encountered, but I digress. Upshot is they have to check with the TV place to see if I'm a liar (basically) and someone would be in touch with me 'within 48 hours'. I told the guy I want a new TV and that I have completely had it with this one.

Post by **Lyion** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:38 pm

I have a 32" Sony Wega thats three years old, and never had an issue.

Post by **Martrae** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:39 pm

This one was made in January. What a crappy TV.

runamonk · Post by **runamonk** » Tue May 17, 2005 1:43 pm

Martrae wrote:This one was made in January. What a crappy TV.

You're probably just one of the unlucky few that get a crapper. It's bound to happen, god knows it happens with computer parts.

Sounds like it died fairly quickly, at least it didn't last until the day after your warranty ran out and left you up shits creek.

kaharthemad · Post by **kaharthemad** » Tue May 17, 2005 2:28 pm

Actually no. The repairman(looked like a hippy from the movie flashdance, including the sweat bands on head and wrists and long mullet) said he had fixed 8 of them inside a week. I think it was a bad make.

kaharthemad · Post by **kaharthemad** » Tue May 17, 2005 2:35 pm

hmm maybe they wil get fed up and give us a 50 inch plasma as a apology?

I can dream cant I?

Post by **Martrae** » Tue May 17, 2005 2:46 pm

If you're gonna dream it may as well be big.