HP Plasma TV's

[Long Mike]

At just under two years after purchasing my Hewlett Packard 42" Plasma TV, I suddenly lost the picture. I bought it from Best Buy, so I called them and was advised that they would have to ship it to one of HP's service centers. Apparently, there is not one in Tulsa. Best Buy could not tell me how long the set would be gone, nor could they give me a "ballpark" figure on how much it would cost. "anywhere from $100 to $1000."

Undeterred, I took the set to a very reputable TV repair shop. After keeping the set for almost two weeks they called and advised me that they could not get the needed part from HP.

Still undeterred, I contacted HP and advised them of my plight. Now get this, HP advised be that I had a relatively common problem with this model of set and that they could/would not send the needed part to the repair shop. However, they would be happy to send out a technician to repair my set for ONLY $629. It gets worse.

1st call. That's when I was advised that I was about to be raped. Unfortunately the service representative I spoke with was unable to schedule a technician to repair the set because I could not tell her the color of the light on my On/Off button. (The set was in the repair shop.)

2nd call. I was able to provide the rep with the color of my button and was again cheerfully advised that my set could be repaired for ONLY $629. Not having any other choice, I told the rep to schedule a technician to repair my set. The response? "I'm sorry sir, I am not authorized to schedule a technician. You will have to speak to my supervisor. He will contact you sometime during the next two or three days." That was three days ago. I still haven't heard from the Supervisor.

Muddy will be pleased to hear that I maintained my composure throughout this entire incident.

Suffice it to say that I will NEVER buy ANY Hewlett Packard product again.

Just wanted to give you folks a "heads-up" about HP's plasma TV's.

[cart7t]

You should've asked. I could've saved you all these headaches.

While I haven't worked in the service department at Best Buy in 2 1/2 years I still have friends there. Their problems with HP are numerous, mostly with getting parts.

This is a case where HP got onto the Plasma TV bandwagon and decided to sell these things (I'm pretty sure made in China). As happens in many of these cases, the buyers who made the deal with the Chinese company to build these things with the HP brand on it never bothered to think "What happens when these things break, can we get parts?" Nobody above them thought about that either. Nope, they were only interested in the GM they'd turn on each one sold and celebrated accordingly after inking the deal. They blindly went right off the cliff taking HP and it's customers with them.

Had you asked 2 years ago and you were still insistent on purchasing the HP even after I had warned you, I would've strongly urged you to purchase a service contract. That you'll need it. I would've been right. I really do hate that.

[Simp]

Ya the whole computer manufacturers getting into the TV buiss was just because the numbers were about the same. They had no idea on how to make a quality set or even a reliable cheap one. They just went to Taiwan and China and said make me a TV at this size and price. I guess the only good that came out of it was Vizio. The guys who started it worked for Dell and he left to start up his own company after seeing how badly the situation was being managed.The other option you might want to consider is Vizio does sell a 720p 50 inch plasma for under 1,000 at sams and costco. My dad bought a version at sears that comes with wireless surround sound for around $1300 after taxes.

BTW I don't work for Vizio or anything.

[Pencil Pusher]

Vizio has not been on the market long enough to determine long term reliability.

[5bass]

Sorry to hear you're getting hosed Mike.

This is why I buy Sony products. Might be a little higher on price but a Sony is a Sony, end of story.

[burleytog]

but a Sony is a Sony, end of story.

That can be a good thing or a bad thing.  While my overall Sony experience has been good, I've still gotten more than one lemon.

That said, when the time came for me to buy a large TV, I did go with Sony.  They are a known quantity.

[riverfisher]

I went with a 40" or 45" I think 1080p LG LCD after my friends who had Plazma's were having problems with them. I have to say LG makes a quality TV. I also dont work for LG ;D

[platinumjason]

Samsung.

[Bassn Blvd]

Samsung.

Don't get any better.

[Long Mike]

Just an update.  I called HP again today, and was informed that apparently, the only person on the face of the earth who is authorized to schedule a repair technician has been on vacation.  My TV has now been out of service for six weeks.

Looking on the bright side, the Service Rep told me that I should receive a call from the Technician Scheduling God on maybe Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Anyone want to buy a slightly used, piece of shet, HP 42" Plasma TV?

[burleytog]

Just an update.  I called HP again today, and was informed that apparently, the only person on the face of the earth who is authorized to schedule a repair technician has been on vacation.  My TV has now been out of service for six weeks.

Looking on the bright side, the Service Rep told me that I should receive a call from the Technician Scheduling God on maybe Monday or Tuesday of next week.

Anyone want to buy a slightly used, piece of shet, HP 42" Plasma TV?

I need a new target stand in preparation for the upcoming hunting season.

Tell you what, you ship it to me, I'll ship the piece back to you.

[Long Mike]

Burley, it would be a lot more productive if you could locate the nitwit at HP who started the "let's buy HDTV's  from the Chinese" movement, and then simply shoot him/her.  The whole world would be a better place.

[fishfordollars]

Mike, let's send it to the **** and let them make a radio out of it.

[Long Mike]

Update.  After receiving no real action from HP for weeks, I e-mailed a message to HP's CEO.  Not surprisingly, I received a pre-packaged response, telling me that my complaint had been forwarded to the appropriate executive.  Figuring that I was only one small voice amid a cacophony of complaints I would hear nothing further.

LO AND BEHOLD!  Today I received a call from an HP Case Manager.  I'm not sure what a Case Manager is, but this dude has a lot of clout compared with the other drones I have been dealing with for the last several weeks!  Believe me, I have made myself a real pain in the butt for the drones.  I have called every day, pleading with them to send a technician to repair my set so that I could gleefully pay him $629 for the privilege of having my HDTV operable once again.

When I received the call from the Case Manager, he didn't mince words.  He said that he had reviewed my complaint to the CEO and a computer log of all my dealings with the drones.  He felt that I had been treated poorly and, although my set was out of warranty, he would be sending a technician to repair my set AT NO CHARGE.

I guess the moral of the story is, if you feel like you are getting dumped on by the troops, take your complaint to the General.

I'll let you know how many more weeks it will take before my set is repaired.  Six weeks and counting.

[5bass]

When I received the call from the Case Manager, he didn't mince words. He said that he had reviewed my complaint to the CEO and a computer log of all my dealings with the drones. He felt that I had been treated poorly and, although my set was out of warranty, he would be sending a technician to repair my set AT NO CHARGE.

Thats awesome Mike! What are you going to do with that extra $629 bucks you just found?

[Long Mike]

I'm going to drive down to Lake Fork and go fishing with Fishfordollars.    ;D