![]() |
Extended warranties
I would like to get some peoples opinion on a problem I am having.
In Feb of 2007 I bought my dream TV. 52'' HDTV. I found an amazing price, and an amazing offer for an extended warranty. I think I paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $80 for another 2 years after the manufacturer warranty expired. The best parts were in home service, and a no lemon policy where if they had to replace the same part more than once, they buy back the set. well, the TV broke,and he first thing they tried to get me to do was bring the TV to a repair center. When I explained I had a in home service contract she then agreed to send somebody to me. It takes a week for somebody to become available and when a tech finally shows up has no clue what is wrong, or what parts need replacing. He guesses that If he replaces 3 parts total, its gotta be one of them. He aslo tells me he is not sure if parts are even still available for my particular model. It was a Friday so he tells me to call back on Monday to the Repair center to get an update. He was to do some research on my problem and order parts if they were indeed available. I waited until Tuesday Oct 3 to call. They tell me, 1 part had been ordered, 1 was on backorder, and 1 was no longer available. I was then told the claim was sent back to the warranty company and I should call them. When I called them they told me to give them until the end of the week to find parts or to make a decision on whether or not to buy out my warranty(full purchase price plus taxes). So I wait until Friday and place a phone call and am told the part is completely unavailable and I am being put in for a buyout consideration. I should call back in 3-5 buisness days to find out the status. So again.... I wait. this time I waited the full 5 days for them to get their shit together. On Friday, OCT17, I was told that it was denied because they found the parts. The parts should be at the service center but because I waited until after 5pm to call, the service center was closed. I need to wait until Monday and call back. To make an already long story a bit shorter, I am still without a TV. No one at the company seems to know where my parts are and when I should be able to watch my tv again. I have been given 6 different dates and each time the date comes and goes with no word on my service request. Today they tell me that the original tech that visited my house MIGHT have the parts but they could not confirm or deny( I have been given this line twice before). Thoughts, suggestions? |
Re: Extended warranties
You need a lawyer with a gift for strongly worded certified letters explaining the lawsuit he is drawing up.
|
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=FRPLG;495341]You need a lawyer with a gift for strongly worded certified letters explaining the lawsuit he is drawing up.[/quote]When I called them on Monday and told me I would have to wait a couple of more days, I told them "you telling me to wait is no longer an acceptable answer", they said, "well sir, Right now thats the only one you are gonna get."
I have threatened them with the BBB but have not yet followed through. If from day one they told me it would be a month, I could have lived with that. But no, they tell me 3-5 days, and when I wait they then tell me, its gonna be another 3-5 days. Thats why I'm so upset, and also why I have not contacted the BBB as of yet. |
Re: Extended warranties
Did you buy this TV at Best Buy?
|
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=firstdown;495351]Did you buy this TV at Best Buy?[/quote]Walmart.
|
Re: Extended warranties
I would be happy if they just fixed my current set, but would be even more happy if they just bought me out. Has anybody noticed how much the price of TVs has dropped? I could buy a better TV(although the one I have was pretty sweet.) and a surround sound system for for what I paid for just My TV in Feb of 07.
|
Re: Extended warranties
I'd ask to speak directly to the store mgr. Not the guy who thinks he runs the store but the head person and explain in full detail your problems as you have done here. Walmart has pretty good customer service so they should be able to help with your problem. If your dealing with a service type center still call the Mgr of the store because they sold you the TV and service contract. TV's have drop allot and we are thinking about finaly goin to an HD TV.
|
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=firstdown;495359]I'd ask to speak directly to the store mgr. Not the guy who thinks he runs the store but the head person and explain in full detail your problems as you have done here. Walmart has pretty good customer service so they should be able to help with your problem. If your dealing with a service type center still call the Mgr of the store because they sold you the TV and service contract. TV's have drop allot and we are thinking about finaly goin to an HD TV.[/quote]Your suggesting I call the store that I bought the TV from? The warranty company is seperate from them but I do know they only handle Walmarts extended service plans. I asked them this and they deal exclusively with Walmart and no on else. I belive it is a company that calls themsleves N.E.W. They answer the phone with "Product care plan".
|
Re: Extended warranties
Visit the Consumerist:
[url=http://consumerist.com/]The Consumerist: Shoppers Bite Back[/url] Read up, and then take appropriate action. Bottom line, though is that extended warranties are usually scams. The supplying company almost always comes up with some sort of excuse, and most people don't push them on it. Good luck, though. |
Re: Extended warranties
Buy a new TV, and one not from Wal-Mart.
|
Re: Extended warranties
Sucks that you bought it at Walmart man. Not to do a sales pitch here, but if you had bought it at Target, we sell 3 year service plans with all major electronic items, including our tv's, and basically all you have to do if you buy is and if it breaks is return the tv, the receipt, and the little 3 year service plan card and we'll either give you a new one or give you a refund. The service plan would've been the same price, if your tv cost about 2500, then the service plan would be 79 bucks.
|
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=Mattyk72;495371]Buy a new TV, and one not from Wal-Mart.[/quote]I just don't have the money to buy a new one myself. At least not right now. And if they would honor their contract, I wouldn't have to.
|
Re: Extended warranties
I spoke to them again last night and told me the Tech would be contacting me and guess what....... still nothing.
|
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=gibbsisgod;495526]I just don't have the money to buy a new one myself. At least not right now. And if they would honor their contract, I wouldn't have to.[/quote]
I hear ya, I feel for you, even though TVs are coming down in price it's still a nice chunk of change to drop. Whatever you do don't give up, remember the squeaky wheel always gets the grease. Bang on enough doors and one will eventually open. Ok, I'm out of cliches now. |
Re: Extended warranties
My Samsung DLP busted a year ago and it was a few weeks out of manf. warrenty. I called and cried they sent someone out and replaced basically all the guts in the TV for free.
It is a 50 inch rear project HD in my basement. Basically if that TV goes I am SOL trying to get the wife to replace it becasue she never uses it will never happen. I am sure soon my bulb in it will go I think that is like $250 to replace. |
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=gibbsisgod;495363]Your suggesting I call the store that I bought the TV from? The warranty company is seperate from them but I do know they only handle Walmarts extended service plans. I asked them this and they deal exclusively with Walmart and no on else. I belive it is a company that calls themsleves N.E.W. They answer the phone with "Product care plan".[/quote]
Ok, they are different companies. Ask to speak with the MGR. of NEW and see if he or she cannot correct the problem. If that deos not work call the MGR of Walmarts sense that where you purchased the TV and the warranty. The reason I say go directly to the MGR is because allot of times they never know there is a problem so they cannot correct the problem. Thats what they are paid to do and a good MGR can get thing done that the guy answering the phone cannot do. One other thing to try. In our area we have a news station that helps consumers with problems and if they do not get action they do a news story about the issue. Businesses do not like this so in most cases they get the business to do the right thing. |
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=gibbsisgod;495527]I spoke to them again last night and told me the Tech would be contacting me and guess what....... still nothing.[/quote]
While it sucks, pretty much what you'll need to do is continue to hound them. Call them back every few hours, and if need be, start asking for supervisors. Eventually someone is going to get to the bottom of your problem and get you taken care of. |
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=mredskins;495552]My Samsung DLP busted a year ago and it was a few weeks out of manf. warrenty. I called and cried they sent someone out and replaced basically all the guts in the TV for free.
It is a 50 inch rear project HD in my basement. Basically if that TV goes I am SOL trying to get the wife to replace it becasue she never uses it will never happen. I am sure soon my bulb in it will go I think that is like $250 to replace.[/quote] DLP bulbs have come down in price. I doubt it'll run more than 150 |
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=BDBohnzie;495575]While it sucks, pretty much what you'll need to do is continue to hound them. Call them back every few hours, and if need be, start asking for supervisors. Eventually someone is going to get to the bottom of your problem and get you taken care of.[/quote]I am going to do just that. Right now i have no choice. I was told at 4pm last night that the tech would call me in just a little while, probably hasn't come back to the office to recieve his messages just yet. She practically guarenteed he would call before 8pm. I waited until around 8:30 and called them and went off ( in a very professional way). The one thing I have done is write down info every time I speak to them. I have 8 pages filled up in my little notebook already. After I went over everything again last night with the rep, she said she was elevating my claim to supervisiors status, whatever that means.
|
Re: Extended warranties
On a somewhat humorous side, I found a copy of my warranty on line, it starts out with this little line
[quote][I]Except as noted below, the company obligated under this plan is AIG[/I] [I]Warrantyguard[/I][/quote] |
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=FRPLG;495579]DLP bulbs have come down in price. I doubt it'll run more than 150[/quote]
Yeah I just looked. Sweet! I only have like 600 hours on my current bulb and a lot of people have been saying they got something like 6800 hours. I hardley use that TV. right now it is in it's prime season with football. After football it sits quite other then my Video Game paly on the weekends. |
Re: Extended warranties
I'd speak to the wal mart manager... but get really dirty before you go into the store and be sure to articulate well and speak clearly... all the while twitching and flinching and letting a little drool slip from the corner of your mouth. about halfway through his bs schpeal, start muttering things about look me in the eye (but be talking into your shirt pocket) and randomly stand up towering over him for no reason at all. This will give you complete dominance over the situation and demand his compliance with your request for a new tv.
|
Re: Extended warranties
i just lost a laptop to its gfx card overheating (the heat separated the chip from the thermal transfer pad attached to the heatsink, and dust completely clogged the INSIDE of the copper fins in the venting system)... it died 15 months into a 12 month warranty - stupid. works fine then completely dies, and 330$ + shipping to get it fixed (gpu soldered onto mobo) which isn't happening for a 650$ laptop.
so i know what its like... I think your biggest problem though was not buying the warranty on the warranty (hey banks did it, and look how THAT turned out!) |
Re: Extended warranties
I contacted Walmarts coporate offices. I told them I had spoke to an Attorney and he suggested that I call you guys to try and resolve it this way first. The person that answered the phone stopped me after I mentioned the word attorney. He asked if I had already retained one and I said not yet but that was going to be my next step if he couldn't help me. That seems to have gotten the ball rolling, If he said it once he said it a dozen times: "Sir, I really don't think you need to involve an attorney over this. This seems to be something I can handle on my level and get you a resolution."
As of today, still no word on parts even though I was told Thursday that the parts would be in tommorrow(friday). |
Re: Extended warranties
[quote=EternalEnigma21;496033]I'd speak to the wal mart manager... but get really dirty before you go into the store and be sure to articulate well and speak clearly... all the while twitching and flinching and letting a little drool slip from the corner of your mouth. about halfway through his bs schpeal, start muttering things about look me in the eye (but be talking into your shirt pocket) and randomly stand up towering over him for no reason at all. This will give you complete dominance over the situation and demand his compliance with your request for a new tv.[/quote]
Dude you just described the typical Wal Mart customer. Do you not think he deals with this type of person everyday? |
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:48 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
We have no official affiliation with the Washington Commanders or the NFL.