[ithaca]

Alright, I'm heading to Sears tonight to buy the Panny 50" LCD. This is going to be my first rear projection purchase. From what I've read, the main concern I should have with an LCD unit is going to be stuck/dead pixels. So should I buy the 5-year service agreement? Is it actually going to be of any use to me or will it just be a waste of money???

 

[wreck]

My past 3 TV's I never got the extended service contract. I never had any problems with my TV. But with the Panny, I did purchase the 3 year contract. I don't know why I did it this time.

 

[Dolfo]

Some of these service agreements include annual cleanings and/or check-ups (for example, Tweeter's plan allows for a tech to come out once a year and clean the internals and make sure everything is still operating within specs). For me, it's worth the price ($350 at Tweeter) to get this annual service.

 

[frankmrt]

I didn't purchase a warranty I think it just a waste of money. But this is just me.


I've had my LCD monitor for my computer for almost 3 years, never has had a problem.(no stuck or dead pixel, no burn in)


anyone else care to comment?

 

[jmar]

I agree with frankmrt. Everyone offers extended warrantees/service agreements because they make a huge profit on it (esp. car dealers).


Remember that the mfr comes with a one year warrantee so this really only applies to the 2nd through 5 years. So look at it this way: if you DON'T think you'll spend over $500 to repair/service the TV over that time frame, it's not worth it to spend $500 on a service agreement. If you do think you may spend over $500 on service/repairs you have to ask yourself if you should be buying the TV in the first place.


I'm about to buy the PT50LC13 at Sears also but won't be picking up a service agreement.

 

[Master-G]

Since Sears will replace the bulb of these TV's when they burn out, I went with the 5 year $399 service plan. From what I read in another post, the bulbs cost $299, so basically I'm spending a hundred bucks for a 5 year service plan. If it wasn't for the free replacement of the bulb, I would have had second thoughts.

 

[Stephen Tu]

Make sure to get the bulb replacement in writing; make sure there aren't any exclusions in the fine print. Most service contracts I've seen specifically exlude the bulb.

 

[utstimpy]

question: what exactly is it that they're cleaning? is this something I could possibly do myself or would I likely ruin my TV in the process?

 

[frankmrt]

Quote:

question: what exactly is it that they're cleaning? is this something I could possibly do myself or would I likely ruin my TV in the process?

I have always wonder the same thing too. Maybe we should ask someone that recently had his TV cleaned etc. Don't they use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and dirt from the inside the TV? Or canned air to blow dust off the components inside the TV?


I think we should have a Do-It- Yourself for this type of maintenance.



What do you guys think? Any ideas?

 

[Dolfo]

I don't know what they clean, but it sounded important when the Sales guy mentioned it As for a DIY kit to clean it ourselves, I would be afraid of opening one of these televisons to do anything because of the sensitive nature of these new LCD/LCOS/DLP components inside.

 

[JSB]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dolfo Some of these service agreements include annual cleanings and/or check-ups (for example, Tweeter's plan allows for a tech to come out once a year and clean the internals and make sure everything is still operating within specs). For me, it's worth the price ($350 at Tweeter) to get this annual service.

I just bought a 65" projection, and I bought the $350 5 year protection plan. I wanted it just incase. It's like insurance...You may never use it, but if something happens you're covered. I also liked the fact that I get a yearly tune up/alignment. I may have been a sucker, but this is my first projection also, the guy told me gravity alone can cause the CRTs to fall out of alignment. He said once a year a tech would come out and open the TV up and clean it and make sure everything was aligned. I don't know, it was worth it too me. Ultimate Electronics offers a portion of it back if you never use it.

 

[Master-G]

Quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Tu Make sure to get the bulb replacement in writing; make sure there aren't any exclusions in the fine print. Most service contracts I've seen specifically exlude the bulb.

Good advice. When I bought my TV, I specifically asked about bulb replacement and he was positive that they will replace them. I'll probably need a new bulb in three to four years so the decision was a no-brainer for me.

 

[flyboy909]

From my point of view, the internal cleaning is worth it.


A few months ago I bought a pt-40lc12 floor model. I had been keenly looking at this model for some time but didn't want to spend 2K on it, but the clearance price was really unbelievable. So with the assurance I had 2 months to decide or bring it back, I brought it home.


Once I got it home and started tweaking, first thing I noticed was the picture had a grainy look to it. Come to find out, this floor model was missing the dust filter and had been sucking in dust for who knows how long. So I called Sears service and they sent out a guy who seemed very knowlegable about the set. He took the front off and cleaned the whole inside. I guess there was dust everywhere from the missing filter which had something to do with the grainy picture because it looked great after he left. Sears even sent me 2 filters and the whole thing didn't cost me a dime.


Now if he had left me a spare bulb..

 

[Foxbat121]

The old model Panny LCD has issues with dust filters. Hopefully, the new one solved that problem.


I won't want any of those so-called technician come in monkey around my TV. I just don't trust them know the new TV well at all. If I have a CRT RPTV, that might be ok because I know that's probably the only type of TV those jokes know about. The dust filter and mirror is the most important part in this TV. If the guy doesn't know what he is doing, he can easily damage those parts. The worst thing is you won't know it's broken right away until later.

 

[Cruiser]

It was a no brainer for me, because the 5yr Sears warranty was $399, and includes bulb replacement. I KNOW I will need at least one bulb in 5yrs. Sears contract says they cover parts and labor "necessary to maintain the proper operating condition for the product....including repairs necessary due to normal wear and tear."


Shawn

 

[Gorgo]

I have seen others say that the service agreement with sears includes the bulb. Is anyone sure of this? I do not see this in writing. This does not make sense. A bulb burning out is normal wear and tear. The manual says the bulb on the panny 50 LC13 has a max life of 10,000 hours! This LCD tv should have very little that can go wrong.

 

[umr]

Quote:

Originally posted by Gorgo ...This LCD tv should have very little that can go wrong.

Fan, bulb, pixels & dust blobs to name a few of the more likely candidates for problems.

 

[Leth]

I actually work at Sears store and was told by our Service Manager that bulbs are covered. As it is worded in Protection Agreement verbiage everything is covered to keep the product function as it should including normal wear and tear that aren't obvious physical abuse/neglect. On the DLP/LCDs/LCOS this means that the lamps are covered under the protection agreement which makes the 5 year 399 a no brainer over the 3 year at 269.

 

[JGStenos]

Quote:

Originally posted by Leth I actually work at Sears store and was told by our Service Manager that bulbs are covered

Can the Sears service agreement be purchased if the TV was bought elsewhere?

 

[Cruiser]

Quote:

Originally posted by JGStenos Can the Sears service agreement be purchased if the TV was bought elsewhere?

Unfortunately no. You have to have the original sales receipt for the TV showing it was purchased from Sears. I asked my local Sears dealer when I bought mine, because a friend that got his from Circuit City wanted to do the same thing.


Shawn