[Hamerdown]

To strongly consider the 3 S's when purchasing a LCD

Sony-Samsung-Sharp for reliability, parts availability etc.

They also said forget about plasma as their difficult to repair > I was about to pull the trigger last weekend on a Panny G1050 until I got the info about their raising black levels.

Lastly...My local Best Buy is telling me Toshiba is putting inferior parts into their LCD sets. BB really seems to push Samsung sets. I've been a owner of a 35" Toshiba tube set since 1993...the TV is awesome.
Question... is Toshiba really using cheap parts?


Thanks for your feedback, Ray

 

[NuSoardGraphite]

In the realm of Picture quality, Toshiba is on the low end of the Top Tier. I'm not sure about their reliability though.

 

[frito]

i'm not sure about Toshiba's reliability as i only owned a Toshiba for about a week before it got returned but it's picture quality was overall inferior to other major brand TV's I've owned and used although it was still better than many 3rd tier brands so for the money they are not entirely all that bad IMO


as for what parts were inside it, i took the back cover off mine for a few reasons when i had it and i can tell you


it had a Samsung made LCD panel and inverter board


a Mitsumi made power supply


the mainboard was Toshiba made.


none of these brands are cheap or poor quality


Mitsumi used to be a decent maker of CD-ROM drives for PC's and its power supply looked no worse than the Delta power supplies used in many current major brand TV's


as for Plasma's reliability and being hard to fix. they are harder to repair than an LCD but their Screens are less susceptible to failure than LCD's for various reasons. Panasonic's reliability is ranked top notch and according to consumer reports you only have a 2% chance of it breaking in the first 3 years but then again they also rank almost every other major brand name making LCD or Plasmas at 2-5% failure rate in the first 3 years of owner ship

Toshiba was right in the mix of that percentage as well if i recall.

 

[display veteran]

Do you really trust a sales person to know the quality of parts used in a product? Ask that sales person exactly which parts are supposedly "inferior". I'll bet he can't come up with an answer. If he does, I would love to hear his answer.

 

[Hamerdown]

First, thanks for the above replies I certainly appreciate them.

Shame the once strong name Toshiba isn't what it once was. Many years back (1993) CR rated them top when I did my research for my 35" tube TV and it still produces a fine picture.

Actually I would have thought Sharp would have been below Toshiba in every aspect, same for Visio.


Can't say I believe everything a sales rep tells me, I listen with a open ear then do my own research >thus the reason I'm here

I have come to respect Panasonic for quality, heck that was the only brand VCR (remember those) I would ever purchase.


For my 50" flat pannel needs, I'll keep researching Samsung LCD's/Plasma's and maybe reconsider a 2010 Panny for their plasma >but the rising black levels seem like someone messed up in their design.

Glad I found this place >I've got more reading to do!

 

[Polydorus]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Hamerdown /forum/post/18253088


My local Best Buy is telling me Toshiba is putting inferior parts into their LCD sets. BB really seems to push Samsung sets.

I think all that tells you is Best Buy's Salesmen get a higher commission on Samsung sales than they do on Toshiba sales.

 

[spyboy]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Hamerdown /forum/post/18254823


First, thanks for the above replies I certainly appreciate them.

Shame the once strong name Toshiba isn't what it once was. Many years back (1993) CR rated them top when I did my research for my 35" tube TV and it still produces a fine picture.

Actually I would have thought Sharp would have been below Toshiba in every aspect, same for Visio.


Can't say I believe everything a sales rep tells me, I listen with a open ear then do my own research >thus the reason I'm here

I have come to respect Panasonic for quality, heck that was the only brand VCR (remember those) I would ever purchase.


For my 50" flat pannel needs, I'll keep researching Samsung LCD's/Plasma's and maybe reconsider a 2010 Panny for their plasma >but the rising black levels seem like someone messed up in their design.

Glad I found this place >I've got more reading to do!

Toshiba is most competitive with its lower priced models. The 670U's didn't fare as well, but that also includes the price. The 55ZV650U and 52XV648U are both check-rated by Consumer Reports. The Toshiba 46XV645U is also check-rated, and Recommended.


CR found no statistically significant difference in reliability between Toshiba, Sony, Samsung, Sharp, Vizio, LG, Panasonic.


But, if you want to get the detailed performance issues of all of the models that CR has tested, you have to spend $5.95 for 30 days access to the CR on-line site.


Here is the site. Sign up for 30 days and remember to cancel your membership before the 30 days expire or they will auto-renew at $5.95 per month.
https://ec.consumerreports.org/ec/cr...s_subscription


Unlike a few people who pose as experts based on viewing a hand full of TVs, CR has electronics engineers rate over 130 models, all under the same conditions.

 

[Steve S]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Polydorus /forum/post/18255073


I think all that tells you is Best Buy's Salesmen get a higher commission on Samsung sales than they do on Toshiba sales.

Best Buy salespeople will be quick to tell you that they are not on commission.


That being said there are such things as "spiffs"--cash incentives to sell certain models, rewards (i.e. a free tv) for selling the largest number of a given set, etc. Spiffs are nothing new and exist in any sales environment whether it's cars, electronics, mattresses, whatever.


In this instance we have a Samsung advocating salesperson telling a customer that Toshiba uses "cheap parts". There's another thread here where a BB salesperson told a customer that Sony was falling behind the times--again advocating Samsung. You can draw your own conclusions.


These incentives are usually but not always sponsored by a particular mfg.

 

[Hamerdown]

Again, such informative info > thanks!


Yes BB sales reps tell me "I'm not on commission" however always thought there pushing of Samsung had to profit them somehow$$$. I never knew about "spiffs".


Replying to CR...I already subscribe to their internet service, and notice on some electronics, appliances and other gadgets...they sometimes rate products that are no longer available or a oddball model. However, I visit CR quite often.


Regards, Ray

 

[spyboy]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve S /forum/post/18256731


Best Buy salespeople will be quick to tell you that they are not on commission.


That being said there are such things as "spiffs"--cash incentives to sell certain models, rewards (i.e. a free tv) for selling the largest number of a given set, etc. Spiffs are nothing new and exist in any sales environment whether it's cars, electronics, mattresses, whatever.


In this instance we have a Samsung advocating salesperson telling a customer that Toshiba uses "cheap parts". There's another thread here where a BB salesperson told a customer that Sony was falling behind the times--again advocating Samsung. You can draw your own conclusions.


These incentives are usually but not always sponsored by a particular mfg.

Samsung spends a ton of money on advertising. Placement of Samsung products is also related to $$$. You'll find some brands tucked in a corner, and others are prominently displayed.


It's unusual for a salesman to discuss spiffs. That would seem to be self-incriminating....

 

[Hamerdown]



Quote:
Originally Posted by spyboy /forum/post/18257094


Samsung spends a ton of money on advertising. Placement of Samsung products is also related to $$$. You'll find some brands tucked in a corner, and others are prominently displayed.


It's unusual for a salesman to discuss spiffs. That would seem to be self-incriminating....

Yep, like Toshiba

 

[Steve S]



Quote:
Originally Posted by spyboy /forum/post/18257094


Samsung spends a ton of money on advertising. Placement of Samsung products is also related to $$$. You'll find some brands tucked in a corner, and others are prominently displayed.


It's unusual for a salesman to discuss spiffs. That would seem to be self-incriminating....

Or maybe just being honest. I come here to learn so I can improve my product knowledge and in return try to be of help when possible. Many of my customers have expressed appreciation for my ability to cut thru the hype and explain just what all the technical jargon means and why it is or isn't important for their particular wants and needs. It's important that they be happy with what I sell them and are comfortable with the price they've paid so they'll come back and encourage their friends to see me when they're in the market. A spiff here and there isn't worth losing a customer's trust.


I was a home theater enthusiast for 10 years prior to getting into this business in 2006. I remember when I was shopping for my first HD set in '01 (when almost all HD sets were crt rear projection) having Mitsubishi or Hitach pushed relentlessly by salespeople (ended up with a Sony that served me very well). When I went to work for Sears I learned that back in '01 the Mits sets were so heavily spiffed that a salesperson could sell one in the morning and make enough on that sale to go home for the rest of the day. One guy actually did this for a year before the store caught on and fired him.


Spiffs are few and far between these days and not nearly as lucrative as they used to be. My feeling is that the store should pay me enough that I shouldn't have to push something I don't believe in or feel isn't right for the customer in order to eat, and I behave accordingly.


As for mfgs. paying for store placement it's so true. Samsung, Sony, Sharp, and Panasonic have prominent placement due to this, Samsung more than the others.