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Vizio Tells Owners Their Sets Are Unrepairable

post #1 of 23
9/24/11 at 1:28am
Thread Starter 
Just passing this on. I have a XVT553SV for one year. So far so good.
http://gadgetbox.msnbc.msn.com/_news...e-unrepairable
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post #2 of 23
9/24/11 at 8:56am
wjbertrand, they published your letter! Expect a call from Mr. Wang soon.

Heavy Mettle, next time just LINK it alright, 'les we think ur making stuff up.
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post #3 of 23
9/24/11 at 9:38am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrBobb View Post

wjbertrand, they published your letter! Expect a call from Mr. Wang soon.

Heavy Mettle, next time just LINK it alright, 'les we think ur making stuff up.

Happy now?
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post #4 of 23
9/24/11 at 12:06pm
Just read this online...not good for the company stock.

Gotta love a company that backs up their own product.
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post #5 of 23
9/24/11 at 12:15pm
I'm glad that article is out there because it should help consumers make better informed choices when buying a new television. Anyone I know looking to buy Vizio or a brand with a similar business model I would show them the article and if they still wanted a Vizio, I would advise them to think about an extended warranty.

Now I know there are repair centers that will work on Vizio and similar brands but Vizio at least doesn't have a repair network setup so after the warranty (regular/extended) expires the owner is on their own to find out if they have any options for repair.
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post #6 of 23
9/24/11 at 12:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Briant73 View Post

I'm glad that article is out there because it should help consumers make better informed choices when buying a new television. Anyone I know looking to buy Vizio or a brand with a similar business model I would show them the article and if they still wanted a Vizio, I would advise them to think about an extended warranty.

There have been problems with Vizio televisions for years. There are many people who already found out the hard way their Vizio televisions could not be repaired..this has been going on for years now. With Panny, Sony, Samsung just to name a few, I do not understand why anyone would buy a television from this crapola tv maker. Vizio better start figuring out a way to provide product support for their sets or they may be looking at closing their doors in the near future.
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post #7 of 23
9/24/11 at 3:06pm
From the articles last paragraph...."Vizio and other lower-tier brands purchase their sets from assemblers, while name-brand companies like Samsung, Panasonic and LG have invested billions of dollars in panel and component manufacturing plants. They want to keep your business and so maintain extensive nationwide parts and service networks."

Based on a 40+ year career in electronics engineering product design/development, I fully understand and appreciate the economics of using contract manufacturers vs. your own factories. While the economics of contact manufacturing are quite favorable unfortunately, the overall quality, spare parts availability and service always suffers.

Next up?

Sony still can't make any money selling TVs is facing an eighth straight year of losses from its television operations, is preparing to overhaul the business to reduce costs and compete against Samsung Electronics Co.

Since Samsung passed Sony in terms of brand value in 2005, the Korean company has extended its lead, ranking 19th in Interbrand's latest annual survey of global brands, or 15 places above Sony.

Sales of 3D, Google TV have fallen short and failed to improve sales.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...-business.html

Sony has already eliminated 30,000 jobs, sold factories and moved production to contract manufacturers in China, in an effort to revive earnings.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-0...-real-m-a.html

While exiting the TV business all together is possible, adopting the Vizio business model seems to be a reasonable rescue attempt.
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post #8 of 23
9/24/11 at 4:02pm
Another site picked up this and is running with this story. Wonder how Vizio will respond http://consumerist.com/2011/09/vizio...effective.html
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post #9 of 23
9/24/11 at 4:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Briant73 View Post

Another site picked up this and is running with this story. Wonder how Vizio will respond http://consumerist.com/2011/09/vizio...effective.html

Gee, I wonder if I should buy the $200 dollar extended warr from them, I just got it in the mail. The set is in a office and it does have a nice picture, I typically buy Sony/Toshiba or Pioneer. I guess they want me to re-cover their costs!
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post #10 of 23
9/24/11 at 10:00pm
It's disappointing that Vizio considers a failure of the LED lights to be non-repairable outside of the warranty period, but probably not surprising in this day and age. Fortunately the 551 I bought 18 months ago came with an extra year warranty by Costco, and a third year warranty via American Express. At the end of three years a unrepairable failure probably won't deter me from buying an inexpensive Vizio again.
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post #11 of 23
9/25/11 at 9:14am
Like to take this in a different direction. Whatever you think of Vizio as a product, this is a good example on how one person can shine a light on a problem and start a chain reaction.
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post #12 of 23
9/25/11 at 9:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by smudge981 View Post

Like to take this in a different direction. Whatever you think of Vizio as a product, this is a good example on how one person can shine a light on a problem and start a chain reaction.

Yep, kinda like Rosa Parks or Mohandas Ghandi.
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post #13 of 23
9/25/11 at 10:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by smudge981 View Post

Like to take this in a different direction. Whatever you think of Vizio as a product, this is a good example on how one person can shine a light on a problem and start a chain reaction.

Agreed. Especially considering all of the crap the OP took when he posted his letter here. I'm glad somebody outside of this thread took notice.
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post #14 of 23
9/25/11 at 1:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by BoilerJim View Post

Yep, kinda like Rosa Parks or Mohandas Ghandi.

I'd say the op was treated more like Rodney King - taking a beating for even suggesting that the manufacturer do something for an expensive set just out of warranty.
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post #15 of 23
9/25/11 at 2:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by smudge981 View Post

Like to take this in a different direction. Whatever you think of Vizio as a product, this is a good example on how one person can shine a light on a problem and start a chain reaction.

And it's a problem by no means restricted to Vizio, nor to parts as expensive as panels and backlights. I've seen lots of sets "doorstopped" because a circuit board or processing chip was no longer available.
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post #16 of 23
9/26/11 at 5:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve S View Post

And it's a problem by no means restricted to Vizio, nor to parts as expensive as panels and backlights. I've seen lots of sets "doorstopped" because a circuit board or processing chip was no longer available.

True.

I have a Magnavox Blu ray player that I bought on sale at Walmart. Made by Funai, which makes many of the junk brands you find in discount stores.

It developed problems after about 1 1/2 years of operation. I always put my receipts for components in an envelope and tape them to the bottom of the component, in case I need it for warranty work. I pulled out the receipt just to see what I had paid for the unit and noticed that I had also purchased a 2 year warranty from Walmart.

Contacted the warranty provider and sent the unit in. It was the laser mechanism, which was replaced within a week and returned to me. Has worked fine since.

If junk level products, purchased at discount outlets, in the $100 price range can have parts available for them, it is not unreasonable for a TV costing a couple of thousand dollars to have parts available.

Vizio has developed a great model of selling cheap sets made with other manufacturer's components and assembled by a vendor. This works well for throw away products, when the consumer is comparing their line to names they never heard of at the local discount store.

Vizio has moved upscale with both their pricing and their feature set. Their recent 65" 3D model initially sold for around $3 grand. At this price point, people view their purchse as an investment rather than a throw away item.

Vizio should spend a few of their profit dollars establishing a service/parts network for their products. Unfortunately, this might make them less price competitive in the marketplace, as they will have to not only produce the sets, but support them on after the warranty expires.

An alternative would be to develop some flexibility on the warranty coverage. Offering a customer a "discount" on a new set that exceeds the retail price of the set locally, is more of a slap in the face of the customer than a service.

Hopefully the management a Vizio will be as good at figuring out how to solve this issue as they have been at being customer focused during the warranty period. Replacing problem sets during warranty makes them seem like a class orgainzation. Stiffing you the day after the warranty expires, leaves a different taste in the mouth. One that will likely not result in another Vizio purchase.
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post #17 of 23
9/26/11 at 7:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Briant73 View Post

I'm glad that article is out there because it should help consumers make better informed choices when buying a new television. Anyone I know looking to buy Vizio or a brand with a similar business model I would show them the article and if they still wanted a Vizio, I would advise them to think about an extended warranty.

Now I know there are repair centers that will work on Vizio and similar brands but Vizio at least doesn't have a repair network setup so after the warranty (regular/extended) expires the owner is on their own to find out if they have any options for repair.


vizio uses the onforce system to find some drugged out 18 year old that will drive his boom car 50 miles with a replacement board and pay him about $25 total to replace it. no background checks, no drug tests, no liability insurance.

they could rape your daughter, tweak out and set your house on fire.. so how's that for a repair network setup ?

soon as your set gets out of warranty most likely there will be no replacement part due to all of the 20,000 or so units made during that run all failed and used up the couple of hundred replacement boards that were available. the general life span of any model is about 2 years.

there are also rumors that the firmware is written to create issues after a timeframe. its all about making the public buy another new one.. no supporting
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post #18 of 23
9/26/11 at 7:58am
Who buys a bargain-basement TV and expects it to be worth repairing after the warranty expires?

You buy the TV, buy a couple years of extended warranty, and toss it when it breaks afterward. You don't buy a $1000 TV and expect to be paying a repairman hundreds of dollars for parts and labor to replace circuit boards or panels 2 years later when you could get a newer, better TV for almost the same price.
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post #19 of 23
9/26/11 at 8:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jonnythan View Post

Who buys a bargain-basement TV and expects it to be worth repairing after the warranty expires?

You buy the TV, buy a couple years of extended warranty, and toss it when it breaks afterward. You don't buy a $1000 TV and expect to be paying a repairman hundreds of dollars for parts and labor to replace circuit boards or panels 2 years later when you could get a newer, better TV for almost the same price.

Vizio really isn't bargain basement anymore and what store that sells them is really telling average consumers to be wary anyways?
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post #20 of 23
9/26/11 at 9:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jonnythan View Post

Who buys a bargain-basement TV and expects it to be worth repairing after the warranty expires?

You buy the TV, buy a couple years of extended warranty, and toss it when it breaks afterward. You don't buy a $1000 TV and expect to be paying a repairman hundreds of dollars for parts and labor to replace circuit boards or panels 2 years later when you could get a newer, better TV for almost the same price.

extended warranties come with some nasty surprises when the panel is defective or the boards are no longer available which is typical after that 2 year mark. they pro-rate your warranty for a cash buyout or the offer of a refurbished set and you even have to kick some cash in. have to read the fine prints. its an insurance company.. they are not in it to lose money
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post #21 of 23
9/26/11 at 2:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by aydu View Post

True.

I have a Magnavox Blu ray player that I bought on sale at Walmart. Made by Funai, which makes many of the junk brands you find in discount stores.

It developed problems after about 1 1/2 years of operation. I always put my receipts for components in an envelope and tape them to the bottom of the component, in case I need it for warranty work. I pulled out the receipt just to see what I had paid for the unit and noticed that I had also purchased a 2 year warranty from Walmart.

Contacted the warranty provider and sent the unit in. It was the laser mechanism, which was replaced within a week and returned to me. Has worked fine since.

If junk level products, purchased at discount outlets, in the $100 price range can have parts available for them, it is not unreasonable for a TV costing a couple of thousand dollars to have parts available.

Vizio has developed a great model of selling cheap sets made with other manufacturer's components and assembled by a vendor. This works well for throw away products, when the consumer is comparing their line to names they never heard of at the local discount store.

Vizio has moved upscale with both their pricing and their feature set. Their recent 65" 3D model initially sold for around $3 grand. At this price point, people view their purchse as an investment rather than a throw away item.

Vizio should spend a few of their profit dollars establishing a service/parts network for their products. Unfortunately, this might make them less price competitive in the marketplace, as they will have to not only produce the sets, but support them on after the warranty expires.

An alternative would be to develop some flexibility on the warranty coverage. Offering a customer a "discount" on a new set that exceeds the retail price of the set locally, is more of a slap in the face of the customer than a service.

Hopefully the management a Vizio will be as good at figuring out how to solve this issue as they have been at being customer focused during the warranty period. Replacing problem sets during warranty makes them seem like a class orgainzation. Stiffing you the day after the warranty expires, leaves a different taste in the mouth. One that will likely not result in another Vizio purchase.

Those early Funai BD players used a Sony laser pickup and a Panasonic chipset which is probably why the part was available. Funai built tvs are notorious for parts unavailability on sets as little as 18 months old, a fact I point out to potential buyers of Magnavox and Sylvania branded sets.

The rest of your post is exactly what I'd have written myself but expressed better than I could have done.
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post #22 of 23
11/23/12 at 8:54am
Quote:
I always put my receipts for components in an envelope and tape them to the bottom of the component, in case I need it for warranty work.

I hope it isn't printed on thermal paper. eek.gif
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post #23 of 23
11/23/12 at 2:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loknar28 View Post

I hope it isn't printed on thermal paper. eek.gif

I usually scan them into Paperless file. Problem solved.
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