Okay I bought a Sony KDP 65XBR from Circuit City Feb 10, 2004. Got it for a great deal of $2000. I also bought the extended warranty (EW). Well in Jan. the TV completely went out. Long story short I filed a service call with Circuit City and the repair guy looked at the TV and the blue CRT tube is out and they can't get the parts anymore. So CC is in the process of giving me an exchange. I have to wait 5-8 more business days to hear back through their investigation what a "comparable TV is". This is where I need some advice.

I talked with length to a guy from the CC Advantage group and he was very nice and explained the whole process to me and since the exchange is already in process I feel I have won 1/2 the battle typically people face with even getting them to start the exchange. The guy mentioned they will find a "comparable" TV that is currently in stock at my local store based on the features. I went into the store the other day knowing that 65" free standing CRT rear projections are very common in the stores now and I didn't think they would have any. At first I asumption from right, went to my local store and closest thing was a 60" Sony XBR SXRD. Now knowing full well there is NO WAY they would do a straight up exchange for that (man I could only wish though), I figured I would just have to settle with the orginal $2000 credit. But on my way out I saw in their lower end section they had a Hitachi 65" free standing CRT rear projection listed for $1499. This just about killed me. Now I haven't heard word yet from them, but from everything I have read online it appears they will say this is a like TV. I can only hope not and maybe I am being too paranoid, but I want to have my ducks in a row incase my call in 5-8 more days comes back with my "comparable" tv being this entry level Hitachi model 65F59A. Anyone know of any specs, details or argument I can have ready if this is the case. I mean obviously I can saw a top of the line Sony XBR is no where close to an entry level Hitachi, but does anyone have anymore technical specs I can use?

My goal is to push to getting my $2000 back. Although I will recover my $ from a dead TV that is unable to be fixed, I am still bummed that my XBR lasted only 3 years. Plus I only bought the TV because I got a $6,500 retail priced TV for $2000. Even if I still do get my $ back in store credit I will have to get a $2,000 TV for $2,000; not the $6,500 TV that I found.

Thanks for any advice,
Patrick

If you can get your original amount back could you put some with it to upgrade to a 60A2000 SXRD? If they offer you something you are not going to be happy with maybe ask what value would I get to upgrade to a more expensive set. Sometimes they might do that if you are going to spend that and more in their store.

I just had Pioneer refund the purchase price on my Elite 630HD RPTV so my search for a replacement has started also.

Good luck.

Jim

That is actually precisely my plan. I would like to get my purchase price for the old XBR back from the corporate exchange. Then go to my local store and get with the store manager to see if he or she will knock down the price of the Sony 60 A2000 to that price if I purchase another extended warranty. If I could upgrade to a 60 SXRD for $400-$500 then I am happy with that. I have researched and most said that once you get to the local store level the managers will usually work with you, the trick is getting the corporate refund amount. Hopefully I can get the original purchase price back and they don't try to stick me with the hitachi, that would suck!