I've heard that if you don't buy the new TV from a "Sony Authorized Online Retailer" (read higher prices) then Sony will not honor the warranty. Is that true?

What is the best place to get one these days?

Thanks for the input

I've heard that if you don't buy the new TV from a "Sony Authorized Online Retailer" (read higher prices) then Sony will not honor the warranty. Is that true?

What is the best place to get one these days?

Thanks for the input
Best place to get an extended warranty or best place to buy the tv from an authorized dealer.

There should be a recent warranty thread that briefs you on all the extended warranty options. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=826857

Surprisingly if you go to SonyStyle, click here (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/_wbrtarget=_blank_INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/EW_ViewExtendedWarranty-Detail?CategoryName=CE_TV) , they have some of the cheapest prices like 4 years for about $200, just doesn't include a bulb replacement.

The Tapeworks offer on Mack warranty was real good, there was a thread in the powerbuy/special items area but I think it expired since the area only keeps stuff for a month, here's what the offer was:
[http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:FHa5eK3wKlQJ:www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-727816.html+avsforum+tapeworks+warranty&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a]

Too bad too, as that thread had tons of answers about that warranty.

Best place to get an extended warranty or best place to buy the tv from an authorized dealer.

There should be a recent warranty thread that briefs you on all the extended warranty options. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=826857

Surprisingly if you go to SonyStyle, click here (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/_wbrtarget=_blank_INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/EW_ViewExtendedWarranty-Detail?CategoryName=CE_TV) , they have some of the cheapest prices like 4 years for about $200, just doesn't include a bulb replacement.

The Tapeworks offer on Mack warranty was real good, there was a thread in the powerbuy/special items area but I think it expired since the area only keeps stuff for a month, here's what the offer was:
[http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:FHa5eK3wKlQJ:www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archive/index.php/t-727816.html+avsforum+tapeworks+warranty&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a]

Too bad too, as that thread had tons of answers about that warranty.


No. Who cares if it's authorized...well, at least if your buying a Sony product.



Buy your TV from anywhere, including sleazy, questionable low priced sites because you don't need to buy from an authorized sony dealer to get your warranty. All you need is a receipt. Extended warranties can be bought through sony.

Go ask Sony, I did, any store, just need that receipt.

sonystyle is no cheaper than texas tapeworks for 4 year warranty. maybe it depends on the price of the set, but for me it was the same price and tapeworks/mack included 3 year bulb replacement as well.

sonystyle is no cheaper than texas tapeworks for 4 year warranty. maybe it depends on the price of the set, but for me it was the same price and tapeworks/mack included 3 year bulb replacement as well.

Are you sure? Because the kds-50a2020 is really, really cheap for 4 years. Plus it starts after your free 1 year warranty is over.

Too bad too, as that thread had tons of answers about that warranty.
Yea, a shame the thread is gone. :(

Are you sure? Because the kds-50a2020 is really, really cheap for 4 years.

like i said before, it may vary depending on the price paid for the tv.

Plus it starts after your free 1 year warranty is over

according to sonystyle.com their tv warranties start the day the product is purchased and cover for the term selected, not starting after your "free" 1 year warranty is over.

"Service Plans for Televisions begin immediately upon the date of product purchase and extend the coverage period up to the term selected."

therefore, it's 4 year vs 4 year, both $200 (at my tv price point) with mack including 3 year bulb warranty. so yeah i'm pretty sure.

like i said before, it may vary depending on the price paid for the tv.



according to sonystyle.com their tv warranties start the day the product is purchased and cover for the term selected, not starting after your "free" 1 year warranty is over.

"Service Plans for Televisions begin immediately upon the date of product purchase and extend the coverage period up to the term selected."

therefore, it's 4 year vs 4 year, both $200 (at my tv price point) with mack including 3 year bulb warranty. so yeah i'm pretty sure.


That doesn't make any sense. Why would Sony do that. You can extend your warranty all the way up until the last 30 days of your warranty I think? right?

I wouldn't purchase my warranty until the last 30 days, and who knows, I may forget and sony is out $300.

Anywho, I'm too lazy to research and I'm sure someone who's gone through the actual process of buying a warranty through sony recently can enlighten us.

double post

You can extend your warranty all the way up until the last 30 days of your warranty I think? right?

"If you purchased your new television within the last 60 days and did not purchase a Service Plan, call us today at 877-865-SONY to learn about your options."

so the answer is no, you can't wait until the last 30 of your warranty.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/_wbrtarget=_blank_INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/EW_ViewExtendedWarranty-Detail?CategoryName=CE_TV

I just went through this last week.

You can purchase the extended warranty from Sony at anytime during the first year of owning your set. If the warranty says 4 years, that is 3 years extended + the 1 year manufacturer. No bulb replacement.

With Mack, you must purchase the warranty within 30 days of purchasing your set. If you purchase the 3 year warranty, it is 1 year manufacturer + 3 year mack. You do have to purchase, at a very reasonable fee, another warranty for bulbs. Mine turned out to be $80 extra for 3 years. The bulb warranty however, starts from the day of purchase. So in actuality you have 2 bulb warranties within your first year of owning your set (Sony & Mack) and no bulb warranty during your last year (4th year). With a maximum of 2 replacement bulbs during those 3 years.

You do have to purchase, at a very reasonable fee, another warranty for bulbs. Mine turned out to be $80 extra for 3 years.

this kind of makes it sound like the mack warranty is more expensive than sony with the additional bulb warranty. just to be clear, even with the purchase of the bulb warranty through mack, the price is still equal to the sony warranty for 4 years. in fact, the mack is cheaper for a 4 yr tv only warranty, $120. at least at my tv price point it was, $200 for bulb and tv warranty through mack for 4 total years tv and 3yr bulb.

i did a lot of research as well and the only argument i can see for the sony over the mack is the X factor of the mack warranty. by X factor what i mean is that sony is a well known company, mack is not so well known to the average person. there have been testimonials here about mack and how easy it is to get service, but that's only a couple of cases. you won't really know if the warranty is good until you have to use it. in the event of a problem, i'm hoping everything goes as smoothly as described here by a few members.

this kind of makes it sound like the mack warranty is more expensive than sony with the additional bulb warranty. just to be clear, even with the purchase of the bulb warranty through mack, the price is still equal to the sony warranty for 4 years. in fact, the mack is cheaper for a 4 yr tv only warranty, $120. at least at my tv price point it was, $200 for bulb and tv warranty through mack for 4 total years tv and 3yr bulb.

For me, the price for the Mack (w/bulb warranty) was a bit more expensive and offered 1 less year. Sony offers a 5 year contract, while Mack was only 4 yrs. But I knew the bulb warranty essentially pays for the contract itself, if you do need to replace a bulb. I just mainly wanted to clarify for people who may be looking into getting the Mack, to look for the additional bulb coverage as I feel it is definitely worth it.

the sony 5 year was $250 for me, so i took the tradeoff of one extra year +$50 for 2 bulbs (no questions asked according to people on this forum). hopefully if problems arise with the set it will happen before the 5th year.

also, did you purchase through tapeworks on the power buy? i see that offer has been removed from the forums now. however, the page is still up so others might still be able to get it:

http://tapeworkstexas.com/mack_warranty_combo.html

also, did you purchase through tapeworks on the power buy? i see that offer has been removed from the forums now. however, the page is still up so others might still be able to get it:

http://tapeworkstexas.com/mack_warranty_combo.html
Yes, I purchased through Brian at Tapeworks. The process was very easy and painless. :)