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Need Help with Samsung Purchase

602 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by TheDreamer, May 22, 2004

azfrog

Discussion Starter · May 22, 2004

I'm a total novice at this so I'm looking to you experts for help. I've decided on the Samsung HLN4365W

The guy at Circuit City (who seemed pretty knowledgeable on the sets) said that it's highly recommended to have a very good power conditioner on the set, as it's sensitive to poser spikes and brownouts. Of course they carry Monster like all the big box stores and it's an $80 purchase. Is this necessary? Could I go with a less expensive model and achieve the same protection?

Another issue is the service plan. I'm considering the 2 Year plan for $299. I guess I'm concerned about a big repair bill and these things do have a hit or miss track record as far as quality goes. What is everyone's impression of the need for a service plan? Should I go longer?

Anyway, thanks in advance for the help!

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htwaits

· #2 · May 22, 2004

Quote:

Originally posted by azfrog
The guy at Circuit City (who seemed pretty knowledgeable on the sets) said that it's highly recommended to have a very good power conditioner on the set, as it's sensitive to poser spikes and brownouts.

Do you live somewhere that has poor power reliability and constant thread of lightning strikes? If so I would search for the major "power supply" thread in this forum and study that before I bought anything. I also would ignore the advice of any salesman pitching Monster products even though I own some of them.

Another issue is the service plan. I'm considering the 2 Year plan for $299. I guess I'm concerned about a big repair bill and these things do have a hit or miss track record as far as quality goes.

There are several threads about the value of extended service plans. If you do a search for them you can get a good cross section of opinions.

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BillP

· #3 · May 22, 2004

I bought a 5-year plan, that includes the bulb (I got it in writing from the store manager), from Tweeter for $350. If the bulb goes just once, I break even. CC has the most expensive extended warranty. Since the TV comes with a 1-year warranty, spending so much for just 1 extra year does not make a lot of sense. You do need at least a surge protector to protect your investment. I found that the Monster power conditioners help make the audio better (not as sure about the video).

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ricksm3

· #4 · May 22, 2004

Originally posted by BillP

I bought a 5-year plan, that includes the bulb (I got it in writing from the store manager), from Tweeter for $350.

I've been reading the various extended protection plans. I haven't found a single one that specifically includes the bulb. In fact, they all say they don't cover consumables, although since the plans cover a wide range of merchandise, they specifically mention items more commonly found in products other than the bulb for a TV. These plans are not written through or serviced by CC, BB, Tweeter's etc. As such, I can't fathom how the manager's commitment to something is worth the paper it's written on. His promise can't be binding on the actual company servicing and underwriting the plan. Now, maybe if you were refused coverage under the plan, you could go back to Tweeter's itself and demand reimbursement based on their manager's promise, but I can't see the plan paying for it unless it is specifically delineated in the plan itself.

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azfrog

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 22, 2004

Good advice. I hadn't started shopping the serivce plans yet but I agree that it's a pretty penny to pay for one extra year. I do believe the CC plan gives you more service during the first year than the standard purchase coverage but that's little solace. One of the things the salesman touted was a "No Lemon" policy that basically said if the unit failed 3 times they wouldn't try to fix it but they'd replace it straight away. Well, if it fails 3 times they better do that in the first year without a plan!

I guess I'll do some shopping now for the service plans. Etronics has the set for a great price ($2450 after delivery and no tax) and they offer a very inexpensive service plan backed by Phillips (Priority Service Plan). This is what it covers:

Complete protection against unexpected, costly service bills

Coverage on all major brands

Length of warranty calculated from date of purchase

All covered parts and labor for unlimited service calls

Lightning/surge protection

In-home service available on most items

24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year access to service representatives via our toll-free number

For a 5 year plan it's $249. Pretty good deal and this seems to cover what I need. What do you guys think?

Oh, and for the power protection, and models/names that you guys use that provide a good value? I will need about 5-6 outlets for my setup.

Thanks again!

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aranganath

· #6 · May 22, 2004

Have we confirmed that the HD3 will have the VGA Input? I've read the thread, but there are conflicting reports. I'm curious if anyone that went to the convention actually flipped the box around and saw the port.

I'm still trying to decide between the HD3 and the HD2+. I've got an HLN4365W right now with the promise of being able to credit the full amount towards and HLP when they come out. Eventually, I'd like to hook up a HDTiVo (HDMI), Samsung 841 (DVI), and an HTPC.

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TheDreamer

· #7 · May 22, 2004

I have an HLN4365W on order....I'm in the painful waiting for it to be delivered stage now (next Saturday).

I got mine from Sears, because they've worked for me in the past...so I felt safe sticking with them for protecting my new purchase. I only went with a 3 year plan.

From here, I knew they should cover the bulb....but the salesperson confirmed it without any prompting from me. He also mentioned it covered power surges

But, it would have to be something nasty for that to happen.....since I use protection.

Many years ago....there was a nasty power surge....a driver hit a power pole a couple blocks away.... I only lost two things in my living room.....what I thought at the time was a very expensive power surge protection unit and one VCR. I've now spent much more than that on power protection.

And, actually the one VCR wasn't a total loss....something with the power control was fried. Which just meant that I could only set the timer to record once a day (because it would turn off automatically after a timer event, and then not beable to come back on...) Wasn't too bad, I paid $400 for it and got a free dishwasher with it....oh wait...I think it was the other way around. It was this VCR that eventually led me to having 4 working VCRs at any one time....which have all been replaced with ReplayTVs now.

Now my ReplayTVs and related components are protected by a UPS....last year I upgraded to a bigger UPS and one with AVR.....I'm considering an even bigger one down the road...but other power protection upgrades are taking my attention (probably during one of the recent electrical storms...I lost my phone....I've actually lost a lot of telco connected devices in the last few years...guess it says something about things here in Ohio....)

Anyways....for my non-UPS protected equipment.....I recently added a Tripplite LC1800 to go with my Panamax Max 1000+.

Hmmm, just noticed your asking about something that cost $80....well, each of the 3 devices cost more than this on their own....so I guess I'm no help.

Though the power surge/filter that I did lose.....was about that price....

The Dreamer

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