Best Buy Rip off Policy or Fair Policy?

**PFC5** · 05-04-2009, 08:16 PM

Good link for that last one.

I will say that I do not know anyone that would be buying a expensive HDTV if they expected repairs just after the first 1-2 years. It is where the repair record is AFTER 2 years that I worry about. It confirmed what I said earlier about only spending 10-15% for an extended warranty also.

Clearly FOR YOU, an extended warranty is not the best thing, but I got it for my DLP and it more than paid for itself just in lamp replacements as unlimited lamps were covered during the 4 year warranty. I got the warranty at BJ's for my 47" 1080p LCD for 11% and the warranty for my 1080p plasma at 14% from Best Buy. Many do not know that you CAN negotiate at Best Buy IF you approach it properly. I never pay the stated price at BB so I still buy there, as I usually get as good a deal and get instant gratification too.

I would say for you it is likely not worth it until you get that ONE HDTV for $1,000.00+ that dies right after the warranty expires. Figure it at $1,000x2=$2,000.00 for the cost of 2 displays in a 2 year period versus $$1150.00 for 4 years IF you do have a problem after the first year with a 4 year warranty at 15%.

JRP3 · 05-04-2009, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PFC5

I got it for my DLP and it more than paid for itself just in lamp replacements as unlimited lamps were covered during the 4 year warranty.

Yes if you buy something that you know ahead of time is going to break down, and for some reason you think that's a good purchase, then you should get the extended warranty. I just can't understand why someone would buy a product like that, but that's just me as obviously many people do it.

Quote:

I would say for you it is likely not worth it until you get that ONE HDTV for $1,000.00+ that dies right after the warranty expires. Figure it at $1,000x2=$2,000.00 for the cost of 2 displays in a 2 year period versus $$1150.00 for 4 years IF you do have a problem after the first year with a 4 year warranty at 15%.

Actually, going back to my original premise to never buy an extended warranty, over the years I've saved enough money that I would still be ahead if I had to pay for another set. And remember, a year or two later I would be paying a lot less than $1000 for an equivalent set, and would probably even get a better set for less, where as your warranty will probably get you the lower priced unit, or whatever they decide to give you.

**PFC5** · 05-04-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRP3

Yes if you buy something that you know ahead of time is going to break down, and for some reason you think that's a good purchase, then you should get the extended warranty. I just can't understand why someone would buy a product like that, but that's just me as obviously many people do it.

At the time I bought my DLP, the plasmas cost 3x the money for a 42" size plasma/LCD over my 50" size. The lamps were a given that was thought to get reduced in price as time went on and this did happen. I still got more lamps for free than my extended warranty costs none the less because of this. That is why I always recommended that anyone buying an LCD or DLP RPTV to make sure they got a warranty that included unlimted lamp replacements if the RPTV is on for long hours.

Quote:

Actually, going back to my original premise to never buy an extended warranty, over the years I've saved enough money that I would still be ahead if I had to pay for another set. And remember, a year or two later I would be paying a lot less than $1000 for an equivalent set, and would probably even get a better set for less, where as your warranty will probably get you the lower priced unit, or whatever they decide to give you.

This can work to your savings IF it turns out that plasmas/LCDs are just as reliable as CRTs have been in their last 20 years on the market. I am sure (and from 1st hand experience) the CRTs were not as reliable back in the 60s/70s, as they were in the 80s/90s. I have no reason to believe that plasmas/LCDs are as reliable yet as those 80s/90s CRT displays were, but I can say the CRT TVs from the 40s/50s/60s/70s were NOT as reliable as they were near the end of life for CRT.

It is just something for you to consider when you are comparing your history with a more mature CRT tech to the earlier years (now) with these new techs. Either way/choice we are rolling the dice.

JRP3 · 05-04-2009, 09:15 PM

I agree that the new flat panels are probably not as reliable as CRTs, but as long as whatever I buy lasts until I want something else then it's good enough. The way technology is improving I can see myself getting something else in 5-10 years.
Back to the LCD/Plasma reliability debate, this article certainly favors LCDs. Of course I don't know what it's based on.
http://www.flatpaneltv.org/article/f...panel-tvs.html

Quote:

LCD TVs are far and away the winners when compared to their rivals, the plasma TV. The LCD panel itself has a virtually infinite lifespan; thus, the actual lifespan of the LCD's light source determines the screen's longevity.

The pictures on LCD TVs are produced by powerful bulbs that, like any other bulb, will dim over time and with use. Because bulb life is virtually equivalent to LCD screen life, the lifespan of LCD televisions is 30,000 to 60,000 hours

Quote:

Plasma TVs are inferior to their LCD counterparts with regard to lifespan. But some people also believe that plasma TVs, for all their razzle and dazzle, will last for less than 10 years. This is false!

If LCD panels have bulbs, plasma TVs use gases. Plasma gases decay over time. However, this wearing out is slow and gradual. Generally, the lifespan of plasma TVs is 20,000 to 30,000 hours

**PFC5** · 05-04-2009, 09:50 PM

Try and get a replacement lamp for an LCD. AFAIK, ZERO mfg allow this or have the part that can be bought by a consumer to do this themselves.

I do not know how old that article linked to is, since they do not list a date anywhere that I could find, but they are using OLD data for plasmas, since my Panasonic plasma is rated for 100,000 hours until HALF brightness. Compare that to only 60,000 hours for LCDs still. That article states plasmas are only good for 20-30,000 hours and that has not been the ratings for at least 4+ years now.

I tend to ignore articles that do not have a date for this exact reason that they are usually very outdated, and then you must know the correct numbers and when their article numbers were relevant.

Just an FYI. CRT did/does that exact same decaying phosphor thing as plasmas do, and the lamps in the other techs get dimmer over time as well. At least DLP & LCD RPTVs had use replaceable lamps in them, so you could restore the PQ to what you had the day you turned it on the first time. The lamps just had to be replaced more frequently, but I got about 7,500 hours from each of my DLP lamps as I checked the counter in the service menu each time I replace it.

There are gotchas with ALL current display tech, and it is a question of which has more livable gotchas for each individuals. Back in 2004, the price savings even after adding the extended warranty that covered lamps meant I was getting a 50" over a 42" display and STILL paying 1/3 the money. That equation has changed now and is WHY DLP/LCD RPTVs are going away with only Mitsubishi making DLPs in 2009. I don't think any of the major mfg are even making LCD RPTVs at all anymore.

05-04-2009, 08:16 PM	#31
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,363	Good link for that last one. I will say that I do not know anyone that would be buying a expensive HDTV if they expected repairs just after the first 1-2 years. It is where the repair record is AFTER 2 years that I worry about. It confirmed what I said earlier about only spending 10-15% for an extended warranty also. Clearly FOR YOU, an extended warranty is not the best thing, but I got it for my DLP and it more than paid for itself just in lamp replacements as unlimited lamps were covered during the 4 year warranty. I got the warranty at BJ's for my 47" 1080p LCD for 11% and the warranty for my 1080p plasma at 14% from Best Buy. Many do not know that you CAN negotiate at Best Buy IF you approach it properly. I never pay the stated price at BB so I still buy there, as I usually get as good a deal and get instant gratification too. I would say for you it is likely not worth it until you get that ONE HDTV for $1,000.00+ that dies right after the warranty expires. Figure it at $1,000x2=$2,000.00 for the cost of 2 displays in a 2 year period versus $$1150.00 for 4 years IF you do have a problem after the first year with a 4 year warranty at 15%. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

05-04-2009, 09:50 PM	#35
PFC5 Super Moderator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 28,363	Try and get a replacement lamp for an LCD. AFAIK, ZERO mfg allow this or have the part that can be bought by a consumer to do this themselves. I do not know how old that article linked to is, since they do not list a date anywhere that I could find, but they are using OLD data for plasmas, since my Panasonic plasma is rated for 100,000 hours until HALF brightness. Compare that to only 60,000 hours for LCDs still. That article states plasmas are only good for 20-30,000 hours and that has not been the ratings for at least 4+ years now. I tend to ignore articles that do not have a date for this exact reason that they are usually very outdated, and then you must know the correct numbers and when their article numbers were relevant. Just an FYI. CRT did/does that exact same decaying phosphor thing as plasmas do, and the lamps in the other techs get dimmer over time as well. At least DLP & LCD RPTVs had use replaceable lamps in them, so you could restore the PQ to what you had the day you turned it on the first time. The lamps just had to be replaced more frequently, but I got about 7,500 hours from each of my DLP lamps as I checked the counter in the service menu each time I replace it. There are gotchas with ALL current display tech, and it is a question of which has more livable gotchas for each individuals. Back in 2004, the price savings even after adding the extended warranty that covered lamps meant I was getting a 50" over a 42" display and STILL paying 1/3 the money. That equation has changed now and is WHY DLP/LCD RPTVs are going away with only Mitsubishi making DLPs in 2009. I don't think any of the major mfg are even making LCD RPTVs at all anymore. __________________ Denon AVR-887 Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs) All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr) Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35 For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841 Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+ SA 3250HD 47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom) Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support) Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers The_Cable_Game Take the high ground and be happier

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