Apologies for this "Bash" on Panasonic I am posting but the greater masses need to know that this company has no interest in customer service nor do they stand behind their product and take care of their customers. This is my opportunity to describe the single worst customer service experience I have had in my 46yr life. I purchased a Panasonic 42" Plasma 3D TV (TC-P43ST30) in last November 2011 from Best Buy. At the time Panasonic offered the TV at $400 off its normal $1099 price so my cost was $699.99. Best Buy was also giving away a free Panasonic BluRay player with the purchase of the TV as well. On the sales receipt they applied the $400 discount to the TV and split the cost of the Blue Ray player between the TV and Player as additional discounts ($70 off the player and $80 off the TV), this is apparently how they rang the sale in to get the player out the door free (player was $149.99 and 80+70 equaled the cost of the player). Great TV, nice picture, purchased for my 65yr old mother. Two (2) month later the TV broke and I was told to take the TV to a local service center by Panasonic. I'm ok with this but its surprising a two month old TV needs to be repaired. After 3 1/2 weeks I am called and told the Panel needed replacement but the part Panasonic sent them was defective. They were waiting for Panasonic to tell them what they were going to do. I was told they would likely send a new unit and not a check after I told them that this same unit now sells for its original $1099 price so it would not be right to expect your customer to pay an addition $400 to buy the same TV that broke. 2 weeks later I was told Panasonic sent me a check for $619 plus tax, WAIT, the TV cost me $699, it was Panasonic's promo so they should know this. They are telling me that because the receipt shows the $80 discount off the TV (to split the cost of the free player) that this is what I paid for it. After SEVERAL calls to Panasonic Customer Service and finally a manager because the rep I was dealing with did not understand the sale, I was told that this is all they will do, and that they will not provide a replacement TV. They are taking advantage of the fact that I got a free BluRay player and reducing the refund based on this. Lets for one moment assume the TV was still available at Best Buy for the $699 price, and that the free BluRay player promo was no longer available. It would cost me $699 to go in and buy that TV today, I would still have the BluRay player as I did with the original purchase, and I would be in the same original position as I was originally (TV and BlueRay player for $699). But today, if I was willing to pay the addition $400 to get the same TV that is no longer on sale, I would not get the Free player. So panasonic is expecting me to Pay more for the same TV, and loose $80 of my money of the original purchase price because they gave me a free BlueRay player. Panasonic should be cutting me a check for the $699 (plus tax) price I paid, I don't care that they were giving away a free BlueRay player, I paid what I paid. But they won't do that, they don't seem to understand the concept of the promo and are penalizing me for their promotion, and the fact that the 2 month old TV I bought broke. Bottom line, they are taking advantage of me, Their is a completely lack of customer service, don't stand behind their product, and WILL NEVER get my business again. I will not evangelize or recommend their product either. Take my comments as you will, but this is not how you treat your customers. They would have been smarter to give me a better or equal TV as a replacement at their cost. Far less "costly" than bad publicity..
