[dotmichael]

January of 2008 I purchased 42" LCD model LC42D64U for $1459 shipped off of QVC. At the time the TV couldnt be touched for less than $1700 so I jumped on it.


The following doesnt matter but read if you want:


Time went on and while not 102% satisfied with the picture (namely blu-rays) its a good buy and my PS3 games look great.


Fast forward some months and the TV intermittently emitted a high pitched buzzing noise that would fluctuate with the level of volume. It would stop if the TV was turned off and then back on which wasnt a big deal but since I was under warranty I opted to have it taken care of.


1st company came out to replace the board...couple days later I noticed it was back.

2nd company came out to replace the speakers...same deal. Oh and these guys stole a PS3 game from me which is awesome

3rd time the 1st company came back out to take the TV to their center for monitoring and repair. Fine. I noticed that they transported it face down on a beach towel in the back of their astro. Whatever, they're TV guys they know what theyre doing. Ha.


Got it back and the screen was scratched to **** and all colors that were in red family were FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU.


DO read this part.


Call sharp up and they agree to send me a TV, albeit a refurbished one. Eh...whatever. They do and its scratched and has a dent in the side. I tell them this, submit some pictures and they send me another one...same ****, scratched.


I fight with them a bit and they finally send me a 3rd refurbished unit however this one is this years model. Model LC42D65U...same thing basically.


Get this one and the remote doesnt work, the stand is scratched to HELL and there are very minute scuffs on it...so small that I shouldnt care but Im gonna ***** because these people wasted my time and I want something out of it. My tv was entirely mint and through absolutely no fault of my own did the tv get damaged so I wanted a mint one in return.


Now we're at yesterday. 18th phone call (this all started in January of this year) and I finally got them to OK giving me a NEW television. Cool...only thing is they dont have it in stock and dont know when they will.


In the past I told them I'd be willing to pay some money for a new tv or a bigger one or SOMETHING so that I can get a mint tv and not the refurb pieces of **** I kept getting. I got prices on larger units and they are as follows:


Model: LC46D85UN or

Model: LC46E77UN


That would be $250 shipped. Both 46"


Model: LC52E77UN


That would be $525 shipped, its a 52"


Now I have a 90 day warranty on the refurb in my house, and if I got a brand new set (LC42D65U) it would only carry whats left on it which is 40 days or so.


Now my dilemma...I'm pretty much going to spring for one of these, because at least I'll have a full 15 month warranty on the 46 or 52 inch sets.


Problem is I'm having difficulty getting information on the first 46 and cant find any "UN" versions of either. I guess I'm asking what would you do. I really dont need a 52" in my room and I think that they are coming out with new models in August but it'd be nice...however it'd be $1900 for a 52" and I could buy a comparable model for $1100-$1200.


What would you do?

 

[Big L]



Quote:
Originally Posted by dotmichael /forum/post/16872303


Now I have a 90 day warranty on the refurb in my house, and if I got a brand new set (LC42D65U) it would only carry whats left on it which is 40 days or so.

I don't understand... So your brand new TV would only have a 40 day warranty?!

Quote:
What would you do?

Besides causing holy heck over at Sharp and calling the BBB and, probably, my state's Attorney General?

I'd take whatever TV they're offering, 46-52" doesn't matter, then put it up for sale on eBay, craigslist, etc. and get myself a Sony or Samsung.


Good luck.

 

[BoilerJim]

QVC impulse buying... Don't you just love it!

 

[kakihara1]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Big L /forum/post/16873981


I'd take whatever TV they're offering, 46-52" doesn't matter, then put it up for sale on eBay, craigslist, etc. and get myself a Sony or Samsung.

Absolutely, and Samsung has done an awesome job for me in the warranty department so that's what I'd get, if the difference was only a couple hundred dollars.

 

[whitetrash66]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Big L /forum/post/16873981


I'd take whatever TV they're offering, 46-52" doesn't matter, then put it up for sale on eBay, craigslist, etc. and get myself a Sony or Samsung.


Good luck.

This is a great quote.

 

[dotmichael]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Big L /forum/post/16873981


I don't understand... So your brand new TV would only have a 40 day warranty?!

Besides causing holy heck over at Sharp and calling the BBB and, probably, my state's Attorney General?

I'd take whatever TV they're offering, 46-52" doesn't matter, then put it up for sale on eBay, craigslist, etc. and get myself a Sony or Samsung.


Good luck.

Yeah since I'm under a 90 day warranty for every refurb they give me, it would just transfer over to the new set which is roughly 40 days left.


I considered selling it...but I mean if I were to take the 46 for $250...add to the 1459 and its $1709. The TV sells online for $1100-$1200 so lets say I get $1000 for it on craigslist...its REALLY only $750 and I could possibly get more than $750 for my current lc42d65u refurb.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BoilerJim /forum/post/16873999


QVC impulse buying... Don't you just love it!

Well like I said it was a good deal at the time in the size I wanted.


I want the 52"...duh but another $500+ is ridiculous. Sharp LCC5255U Aquos 52" LCD HDTV on circuitcity.com is $1200. Its not the same model, but it might a well be.


I read in the aquos thread that the price the upgrades are differs depending on how much you paid initially. I paid the highest price before the big drop so what gives. I think they're just BSing me some more and I just want a nice working full HD tv

 

[dotmichael]

I really cant find too much info on these either, its getting to be annoying. Only thing I've found is that the XXXXX-UN designation is for a costco television and offers and extended warranty but I doubt I can take advantage of it since it is being sent through sharp

 

[MrBobb]



Quote:
Originally Posted by dotmichael /forum/post/16872303


battle with Sharp

Bound to get cut.

 

[dotmichael]

probably going to just go with the 46". For the warranty alone its worth it and I just dont want to shell out $500+

 

[Idiotcanuck]

You want a suggestion ask for/find the email of the customer service manager or higher and send him/her a complaint and a link to this thread. They know the effect that this kind story will have on future purchasers. If you really want to shake them up, send it way above their heads. I have to admit that hearing this story would exclude these....Sharp as an option, if I was looking for an LCD.

I would have called them mother ****ers, but I don't think the mods would let that through.

 

[will0775]

If you're deciding between the 77u and the 85u go with the 85u is their newest tv and the default tv to go to if you have any problem with the 64u the 85u is the best tv they got so far this year but if u wanna compare go to a costco they have the 77u in stock the main difference between the two is the remote control is nicer in the 85u both got 120hz and a 10 bit panel. Hope this help

 

[dotmichael]

I thought the 77u series was newer...cnet did a review on it nearly a year after the 85u.

 

[dotmichael]

I just called and was about to pull the trigger on the 52 when I argued the price. Basically the quote I received is good for 30 days and (August 21st) I know the new models drop in September so I said I dont want to pay $525 when I could potentially pay less by waiting for the 2010 models to be released.


I'm going to have to call back and see in a couple weeks...they told me my quote could go up as well - I highly doubt this since the new models will be out and I dont see the prices holding steady. "Supply and demand may keep the prices as they are" said the rep but I dont buy it.

 

[dotmichael]

The more I think about this the more I want to continue to fight this and try to get my money back or a better "deal" because it seems like I'm getting ripped off.



This damn 65u has light coming from the corners now during black scenes and the top-left 1/4 has weird blurry black picture during some darker scenes, too.


Leaning toward the 46" if I have to because if I spent 500+ and this happens again I will die

 

[Oliver Deplace]

Is Sharp in financial trouble? I'm looking for a couple of LCD and I don't want to hitch myself to a floundering company. The OP's experience with Sharp gives them the look of a troubled company (sending beat-up seconds as warranty replacements and willing to thow the customer under their bus). Hmm, I think I'll steer clear of Sharp.


Good luck Michael, I hope everything works out for you. If Sharp makes good on your TV, maybe I'll reconsider them.

 

[dotmichael]

The more I read the more I see that they're not even worth the second look. You dont need exemplary customer service if your product is worthwhile in the first place!

 

[dotmichael]

I just want my tv already but have the worst feeling about giving them my money...does anyone feel there are ANY other avenues?

 

[Oliver Deplace]

I'd spend the $250 to get a fresh in-the-box TV (a reasonable price to get a bigger and, hopefully, better TV). Get their warranty renewal in writing.


I Googled both sets for productions dates. hdtvsolutions.com listed the 77 as 2009 and the 85 as 2008.

LC-46E77U

LC-46D85U


Good luck.

 

[dotmichael]

I would just like to give an update on what happened with Sharp and I.


I ended up paying the $250 to go to the LC46E77UN


The first week - practically out the box, I would turn the set on and have NO SOUND.


I'd have to turn it on and off a ton of times and usually waiting for the set to go "click" a few seconds after the unit turned off would remedy the sound, sometimes it didnt.


I called sharp and they immediately wanted to send a servicer out and I said hell no thats why I am in this boat in the first place.


Fast forward life a little a little bit and its happening more frequently so I call sharp back, demand a manager and said now I actually want something, maybe an extended warranty but SOMETHING. Asked what was the difference between myself and another Sharp consumer who never had these issues were.


Basically after telling a manager named Will (who seemed nice enough but the last oh, 10 calls or so you could tell these people were tired of me and good, because Im tired of their product) that I am 22, work a computer store and have access to hundreds of people in real life, facebook and the forums he practically cut me off and said it'd be best if Sharp purchases the TV back from me.


I submitted my proof of purchase from QVC and today I just got the "okay"


They have sent me a pre-paid fed-ex label and I have to sign a form saying that I agree with the refund.


The only saving grace in all of this? Almost 20 phone calls, many, many hours and lots of time consumed...I am getting the full amount. $1459+$250 upgrade = $1709.


$1709 buys a nice tv these days doesnt it?


Basically you should not buy Sharp

 

[Bigus]

Sharp is at the top of my list of TV's I'm looking at. This thread changes nothing. You can get a lemon from anyone these days. I got a Buick Enclave three years ago that leaked through the sunroof. After six trips to the shop, mildewed interior, replaced mats/carpet/rusted seat frames, four solid months without my car, and sporadic "loaner" car availability, I had to sue GM under the lemon laws to get fair recourse.


Are other people happy with their Enclaves? You bet. Do I think GM is a ****** company? Nope, just one that happened to be going through bad financial troubles and had a mandate not to "give away" anything to the customer - make them fight for their fair day in court. So I did.


Will I ever own another GM? Sure, if they come out with a vehicle I really like. Will I ever own another Enclave with a sunroof? Heh, probably not.


Will I own a Sharp LCD TV, or any other Sharp product? Probably, at least at some point. Will other people get burned by Sharp products? Yep. Will people get burned from products from practically every company under thes sun? Yep. Will people have varying customer service experiences depending on a host of factors, not the least of which is luck, and perhaps the most important of which is just what happens to their product? Yep.


Does this post have a point any longer? Nope.