Pioneer PRO-151FD busted by BB in delivery; advice requested

As a poor college student in 2002, I purchased my first plasma set. I can't even remember the model, but it was an entry level Samsung 1080i/720p. It was an open box special as well since again, I was a poor student and about 75 percent of my home theater was open box discount items.

So I was excited until delivery day about a week later. Then I get "the call"

My first plasma set was smashed in transit on the way to my apartment. I had them check and there were no more models in the area. So after a lot of arguing, through several managers, they decided to give me a "comparable" plasma to replace my smashed version. I had my choice of any of their 50 inch plasmas in the store and remember these used to cost $7-8k. I could get a Panasonic, Sony or Samsung. The only exception was that I couldn't get the Pioneer.

Having read these forums back then, of course I went with the Panasonic because of the blacks. I've been very happy with my Panasonic since then. But yeah, a lot has changed in the industry since then.

I got back in the market about a month ago and of course, this is the first place I went to bone up my display device knowledge.

So since then, I've been trying to find a Pioneer Kuro. Best Buys, Ebay, craigslist, and some other very shaky looking websites.

I found a PRO-151FD at a BB store about 30 miles away day before yesterday. Display model and from what I could gather from 4-5 people I talked to, it had been there about 1.5 months. After sleeping on it, and convincing my wife that "yes, we should buy a two year old TV that's a display model and open box that costs more than any "new" TV in the building -- it took some doing (I ended up bringing her here to read testimonials). I bought it yesterday afternoon -- negotiated 15 percent off to $3,300.

I was in a great mood all day. It was one of those good moods where even when you forget "why" you were in a good mood, you were still in a good mood. Then about 7:30 p.m. last night, I got "the call"

My extinct Kuro was "busted" while preparing it for delivery. Didn't even own the thing a full day.

They offered to give me a "comparable" model, but I stopped her short because there honestly isn't any "comparable" model.

I'm going to try and negotiate one of the two others they have in their warehouse that they claim are owned by someone. But obviously they're going to be sorry they ever met me when I go in later today after work.

Any advice in this matter on how I handle or negotiate or even just condolences is appreciated.

All of this sounds like sound advice. I didn't mean to give the impression I was going to do something drastic. I'm a very rational person. I'm just very disappointed and I'm simply going to give them a piece of my mind. But remember this has happened twice to me now. The first time it went in my favor. I'm not sure how to make things go in my favor this time though. It's not like they can upgrade my purchase to make up for it. From what I gather, a VT25 isn't going to do the trick either.

Maybe I can guilt them into going beyond a simple computer warehouse search to find me another one. They have two others in their log that show they're in the store. Apparently they're spoken for though.

In your experience, what kind of leverage - if any at all - do I have in this situation? It seems to me if I were a manager, I would want to go above and beyond to try and make this right and keep a sale.

Thanks for the advice.

Nah I haven't talked to a manager yet. The guy that I originally talked with won't be in until tomorrow. So yeah, the point of the thread (other than to just vent a little) was to solicit advice on how to deal with this before I go and talk to them.

Yeah clearly I'll get a refund. But I wonder if I have leverage to get an amazing deal on a VT25 or if I'm just in a "oh well bad luck" situation.

I went to another local BB today and checked and apparently there are no more in the state. Going to have a conversation with the manager at the BB that I purchased it tomorrow and see how it goes.

Went in today to see what I could get done. The TV glass is shattered. It never even made it out of the store, they were moving it to the warehouse for delivery pickup the next day.

The manager there seemed only slightly sympathetic. It felt like he was more interested in trying to keep my purchase at his store and began to pitch the VT25.

I immediately shifted the conversation to the two other Kuros he had in the store that belong to what I was told earlier a customer who purchased them and had them transferred from other stores. I learned today that he's made a huge purchase awaiting the completion of the construction of his house and that those two were not options.

I knew it was a longshot, but I had to give it a shot anyway.

Despite my even deeper disappointment, he immediately went back to trying to pitch the VT25. Told me he assumed I'd rather go 65 than 55 and told me he could "pull some strings" to get me one at $200 off the $3999 price.

I told him that I wasn't really thrilled by the offer, and that I was still set on getting a Pioneer and that I wanted to think things over.

Does this seem fair to you guys?

Obviously, my point of view is biased, but it seems to me since this is a complicated situation. It's not like it's a VT25 that got busted, that they could just pull another from the warehouse. The Pioneer is extinct (so to speak). They can't replace it, period. The Pioneer tag was $3,999 and I negotiated the typical 15 percent off open box discount. I feel like the least he should have offered me is the VT25 65 inch at no extra cost. That's the closest comparison.

And to be quite honest, I'm not even sure I really want it. Perhaps I'm being unreasonable. But I'm definitely beyond disappointed in this situation. Again, this is the second time my plasma purchase has been destroyed in the delivery process. This one just really stings because of the scarcity of the Kuro.

Would like to hear unbiased opinions. Am I being unreasonable? Should I even consider the 65 inch VT25 if I can negotiate it at the price? Should I risk not getting a already scarce 65-inch VT25 and roll the dice on waiting for the VT30 that appears to be even more expensive?

Thanks in advance and thanks for reading my sob story.

I suspected it was. I really feel he can do a LOT better than that. I've decided to go over this guy's head and talk to the store's general manager and hope he's a little more sympathetic.

Thanks Oppopioneer. I can agree patience is my friend here. I still have my 2002 50-inch Panasonic 720p plasma, so I wouldn't need to buy a cheapie. But my wife and I are really ready for an upgrade into 1080p and BIGGER. I also fear that the VT30's are going to be pushing $5k, and that's just out of my budget really.

Also, from what I read, the VT30's are only a slight upgrade from the VT25 and they don't have the Kuro technology. I suspect Panasonic knows that $7k plasmas aren't going to sell in this economy so they won't be willing to make the investment in expensive tech that doesn't sell. Obviously this is just speculation on my part.

But you're right in that I should definitely be patient. Thanks for your advice.

Going to give this GM a shot. My gut instinct says I have some leverage here, given the situation the first time they busted my plasma in 2002. Things are a lot different in 2002 than in 2011, so I could just be naive. But gonna see if I can get a different and more qualified point of view from the GM.

The manager I talked to who originally pitched the Pio on that day seemed like he had a personal stake. He told me he used to own that exact TV and regretted that he had to let it go with his house when he sold it. He told me when he sold the house, he intended on keeping it, but the buyers demanded the TV went with the house, so he had to let it go. I think this guy might be bitter since he lost his for all I know.

Ok maybe that's a ridiculous idea lol. But audiophiles are a different sort wouldn't you say?

I really like this idea. And yeah I definitely regret it. Especially given that it's happened to me. I should have known better. You know the saying. Wrong me once -- shame on you. Wrong me twice -- shame on me. It was obviously a poor decision. My only thinking was I don't have a truck. I actually considered renting one. I also don't have a strong hand that I can call over easily. My wife is a buck o' five so that's not an option either. But yeah, obviously a bad move on my part. My wife and I are both sick over it.



Absolutely. I've been looking and calling every place I can think of. No luck and looks like I missed my window. Wish I had gotten in the market about 3-4 months ago.

Sent you a PM. Thanks for your help!

I had already ruled out a repair, but this discussion makes me think I should have at least investigated. Even so, the term refurb scares me.

I'm going forward with the plan to go over this manager's head and talk to the GM of the store later today. If anyone knows any angles on how I should go about negotiating with him, let me know.