would u buy LCD tv from amazon?

[97tbird]

things is: whatever LCD TV u buy, amazon is about $200 cheaper...roughly. ok, but what if there's a problem? returning/shipping/shipping costs and all that hassle...you buy it from CC/BB or whatever B&M shop, if there's a problem, it's close by, physically...you can just take it there....and exchange it...

come Thx giving/xmas sales time, i have my eye on a 37" Toshiba Regza LCD...(Perhaps)...i'm just afraid to get something so large from amazon/online...is the $200 or whatever i save worth the risk of having to return it, etc...should I play safe, pay a bit more and get it from a nearby b&m store?

...what advice do you guys have for me?

 

[XS650]

If you stick with the major brands, the manufacturers warranty should cover in home repairs by the manufacturer.

You can find warranties on their websites. Different manufactures have earned different reputations for their warranty service, check that out on line too.

If you're concerned about service, brand is more important than where you bought it. Some of the big box store brands like Visio are good TVs for the price, but their warranty will require you to ship it back to the manufacturer's US facility if it's more than a minor problem. Inconvenient with a big screen.

FWIW, I saved nearly $1000 on a 56 inch Samsung DLP 3 years ago by buying it mail order from the opposite side of the country. No warranty problems, but when I did have problem after the warranty ran out, Samsung referred me to a nearby authorized repair person who did a good job fixing it in my home.

 

[97tbird]

thx, XS.
i will research on Toshiba's policy...i think they're big enough to have a good policy...i've decided on the tosh based on reveiws...Panasonic also looks good, but don't seem to offer 37" size in lcd's... (?)

 

[ARB1977]

Quote:

---

If you stick with the major brands, the manufacturers warranty should cover in home repairs by the manufacturer.

You can find warranties on their websites. Different manufactures have earned different reputations for their warranty service, check that out on line too.

If you're concerned about service, brand is more important than where you bought it. Some of the big box store brands like Visio are good TVs for the price, but their warranty will require you to ship it back to the manufacturer's US facility if it's more than a minor problem. Inconvenient with a big screen.

FWIW, I saved nearly $1000 on a 56 inch Samsung DLP 3 years ago by buying it mail order from the opposite side of the country. No warranty problems, but when I did have problem after the warranty ran out, Samsung referred me to a nearby authorized repair person who did a good job fixing it in my home.

---

How is your DLP holding up?

 

[XS650]

97, most Gold level or better credit cards include an extended warranty at no extra charge. Read the fine print on your contract and call them for clarification.

Generally, but YMMV:

If the factory warranty is 12 months or less, the CC company will double it. If the factory warranty is over 12 months, then no extended coverage.

If it isn't reasonable to repair it, they will pay to replace it, that's their call.

You need certain documentation:
1. The dated receipt
2. The credit card slip for the purchase. This is now often the same piece of paper as 1.
3. You monthly statement with that expense on it.
4. A copy of the mfr's warrantee.
5. A written estimate by a repair facility.

Then you spend about 20 minutes on the phone giving them information.

Then they send you a form to fill out and return with the required documentation.

Then you send that back to them, including a written estimate.

A couple of weeks later, if everything is approved, you get a check in the mail.

I got a 6 month out of warranty Samsung big screen repaired and Mastercard paid for it. It was about $400 and it was no problem other than the bureaucracy and slow process. The people I talked to at MC were courteous and helpful.

I had one problem, they rejected my first estimate because it was hand written. The tech redid it on his PC and printed it on his one man company letterhead. Then it went through. no problem.

I have heard (verify for yourself) that if you go ahead and get the work done on your own nickel that they will still pay you provided all the paperwork and the estimate meets their standards. They would rather you don't do that because of there is problem and they don't pay you, they have a dissatisfied customer. In the future I will take that gamble rather than be without the use of the item for 2 months.

I got an estimate and had the repair done at the same time, then sent the estimate in instead of the bill. That worked too.

I asked MC what would happen if a person was missing one piece of documentation, like the credit card slip. The rep said to submit it anyway, that it would be reviewed and might still be approved. She said there was definite risk that it wouldn't be approved without full documentation.

 

[mckennaiii]

panasonic is suppose to have a 37" lcd in spring of 2008.
they do have a 37" plasma.
TH-37PH10UK
New! 37" Class (36.9" Diagonal) Professional Series HD Plasma Display with Anti-Reflective Screen Coating

U.S. List Price $1,395.00

 

[frank2009]

I recently bought a 37" Samsung from Amazon. No problems at all. The delivery company called a few days prior to delivery to arrange a delivery time. i also got a call from my credit card company to check for fraud. On top of the savings, i think there was also no sales tax.

 

[97tbird]

thx for ALL your tips/advice, guys. I will use this info to make a decision soon...

frank, which samsung model was it? how do you like it so far? any -/+ u can think of?
i'm set on the tosh, but still open to other brands, too...i still have 2-3 mo. before the final decision.

 

[CivicFan]

When I go to the stores, the best picture is usually on the Sony TV-s. Do they really have better picture (sharper, more colorful) or are the other ones not calibrated properly? It can't be that every store has calibrated Sony-s and the rest are uncalibrated.

 

[97tbird]

i think sony is overpriced khraap. the only brands i'd consider are panasonic, toshiba, samsung, and JVC (although jvc quality has been in question lately)

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Quote:

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i think sony is overpriced khraap. the only brands i'd consider are panasonic, toshiba, samsung, and JVC (although jvc quality has been in question lately)

---

Interesting you mention Panasonic, Toshiba, and Samsung. Sony is the only other company that I would add to my list. I'm not a fan of Sony, but the consumer reviews and my own eye tell me that that aforementioned 4 comapanies make the best quality LCD TV's hands down.

This was reaffirmed as I walked thru the Walmart yesterday. All the 'other' brands, then there was a Samsung. The Samsung was head & shoulders above the rest in terms of picture quality.

We purchased a Samsung 4665F from Best Buy. It's the first real item we splurged on in a LONG time. BB has a 60-day price guarantee which is great. Circus City had it for $100 less last week. I brought the ad into the local BB and they gave me $100 back. Not bad!

 

[97tbird]

i guess i should go to cc or something and look at sam and tosh side by side...but then, who know how they've adjusted the pic's on those?...i've heard that sams has very vibrant, "in your face" colors while the tosh has more "natural" colors...i will see...thx T&S.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

my wife wanted nothing smaller than a 42" screen. I wanted a 37" (I'm cheap LOL). We both agreed 1080p is the way to go.

The Toshiba and Philips were the top-runners on my list, mainly due to price. After hanging out at BB, CC and Sears for a couple hours, it was obvious that while I wanted to Toshiba or Philips to win this purchasing fight, I couldn't pull the trigger as the picture quality on those 'big 4' were noticeably better. And, the important part, warranties could easily be handled through any store or normal warranty channel.

The model numbers on the Samsung TV's offer clues to quality of picture, and of course, higher prices. The 65F model was our choice:

Ends in 61F, standard LCD screen
Ends in 65F, enhanced contrast, better color separation than 61F
Ends in 71F, 120hz, only marginally better than 65F, much more $$

 

[CivicFan]

It's sad that buying a TV has changed from a somewhat impulse buy to a prolonged process.

 

[UncleS2]

Thanks for the educational thread! So far my plan is to keep watching ye olde picture tube, 4:3 screen type TV for another year or three.

In Sept. '94, I bought Mom a 27" Magnavox TV- stereo, picture-in-picture, some other features that put it right up there for 1994. Today? The original remote died years ago from her dropping it constantly, but she still watches that same TV & likes it just fine. When it finally quits I'll get her somethiing else.

My TV? Newer but smaller- a few-years-old Philips 20" with square corners on its picture-tube 4:3 screen. Got it *and* a Philips DVD player a couple years ago on Ebay for under $50 total, plus about $7 worth of driving.

I've been looking at the big flat wall-mount 16:9 screen models lately- but then I look at the price tags & sticker shock sets in!

Maybe when I finally get somewhere that has a good room for a home theater I'll reconsider. Until then guess I'll keep watching my old fashioned model, & have to limit my 16:9 viewing to my new 10.2" screen Insignia portable DVD player.