Big TV

[Pony]

Re: Big TV

if "service plans" actually made economic sense for the consumer which means the overall gain would outweigh the cost of the plan, the companies that offered the plan would be out of business. We won't even mention the kick backs that are given the the retailers and sales people.

The most unscrupulous of the stores that offer these plans are Best Buy where there is a class action lawsuit regarding their practices in selling these "plans".

Kickbacks?? LMAO.....I wish. That is NOT true in any sense of the imagination. At least not for me.

Yes I agree that companies that offered the plans would be out of business if the consumer was ALWAYS the winner. They aren't, and there are plenty of things that I would never buy a plan on because the economics don't make sense......but when they need to be used the consumer wins. If you never need to use it, then you wasted your money. Its a gamble. Its up to the consumer to make that choice. I sometimes do, and sometimes don't......but have never and will never force someone to make that choice.

BBY has had a lot of bad press around the plans.....not because of the plan itself, but because of sales practices of specific sales people that unfortunately make the whole company look bad. Unscrupulous is a blanket statement......a very unfortunate one

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Big TV

Maybe there aren't kick backs for sales people at wherever you work but I can guarantee you that there are quotas that the magers of the stores are required to meet. I know for a fact that is what happens at Best Buy as I have a friend of a friend who is a manager at one. Even he says they aren't worth it so what does that tell you.

 

[Pony]

Re: Big TV

Maybe there aren't kick backs for sales people at wherever you work but I can guarantee you that there are quotas that the magers of the stores are required to meet. I know for a fact that is what happens at Best Buy as I have a friend of a friend who is a manager at one. Even he says they aren't worth it so what does that tell you.

I am not sure what that tells me....as I am also a manager at one. Quotas, not really. Like I said, there are things I do/don't buy them on. They aren't always worth it. For me TVs are a "do", but that has been my personaly experience. Years ago it was significantly different.....and I will just leave it at that.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Big TV

I am not sure what that tells me....as I am also a manager at one.

LOL...well all of what you saying now makes sense. I would assume you get a discount on your "service plan"?

I take it you have read the Forbes article about Best Buy? Would you actually buy a service plan from a company that may not be around past 2012?

 

[Pony]

Re: Big TV

LOL...well all of what you saying now makes sense. I would assume you get a discount on your "service plan"?

I take it you have read the Forbes article about Best Buy? Would you actually buy a service plan from a company that may not be around past 2012?

I have read it about a hundred times.....there are also a number of articles out there that sing a different tune. Its a shame that one experience by a Forbes writer at one BBY store with a Non BBY employee can have such an effect on public opinion. With any big company there are people that have bad experiences....and they are the ones who voice their opinion. I deal with more customers on a day to day basis that thank me for the level of customer service we provided them than not.....and I can live with that. Sometimes I get defensive about this topic when I shouldn't because I can see the work being done to fix those problems.

No I wouldn't buy a plan from a company that wasn't going to be around.......

 

[JB]

Re: Big TV

The first time my light engine failed it was replaced at no cost to me. Tech said it would have cost $1600 if I didn't have whatever you want to call it.

Please explain how I got ripped off.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Big TV

......I got by for years buying big analog color CRT TVs (big for the 60s to 80s) at garage sales for 5-10 bux, fixing them and either using them or selling them for good profit. This is the equivalent of a failing 27"CRT in an analog console.
......

Have I got a deal for you, JB. A 36" flat screen CRT Sony Trinitron Wega TV that was used for less than a year. I paid $1000.00 for it complete with matching stand. It is currently out in my garage wrapped in moving blankets. I put it on Craigslist for $100 and got no calls. It has a fabulous picture.

Back in 2004 my FIL gave us his 52" Toshiba rear projection TV. It was already several years old and had a lot of use. It even has a little burn shadow of the Fox News Channel logo because he left it on all the time and the logo never moved. It is still in our living room, never having needed any service. That is when the Sony went out to the garage for storage.

It is a shame. Something so well made, with so much life left and it is worth Zilch!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Big TV

Please explain how I got ripped off.

Wasn't it covered under the Sony warranty? My brother has the exact model you have and Sony covered his. Sony had a big problem with those first rear projection LCD TVs when they came out. In fact Sony extended the warranty period voluntarily into 2008 it was so bad.

Since we are talking about Best Buy and "service plans". When my brother bought his TV, Best Buy wanted over $400 for their service plan and Sony wanted a little over $200. He bought neither and Sony stood behind their product anyway.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Big TV

Looks like Best Buy is going to have a lot less stores and may not have TVs in them:

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-best-buy-big-box-20120329,0,5014097.story

 

[Pony]

Re: Big TV

Looks like Best Buy is going to have a lot less stores and may not have TVs in them:

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-best-buy-big-box-20120329,0,5014097.story

It needed to happen. It should have happened awhile back. 50 stores is hardly a lot less....and with the expanding of the # of mobile stores, the net store total will still go up. Believe it or not, this is a good thing.

BTW your brother had Sony back their product only because there was a known manufacturing defect. Do you think they would have done that if that wasn't the case. I know they wouldn't have. Try getting them to replace an LCD panel when less than 10% of the pixels are damaged. They call that normal wear and tear....and don't cover it. You can't take one situation where they stood behind their product and act like they do that all the time....just like I can't say they never take care of their customers. It works both ways. You can believe whatever you want.....I see this every day. Do you have any idea how hard it is to tell a customer that is within their 1yr warranty on a product that there is nothing I can do after the manufacture tells them they won't do anything?? It is horrible. It makes me look like the bad guy. I hate that part of my job.

I'm not going to post any further on the subject. Everyone has their own opinions on the plans....its why they are optional....we are all entitled to our opinions.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Big TV

It needed to happen. It should have happened awhile back. 50 stores is hardly a lot less....and with the expanding of the # of mobile stores, the net store total will still go up. Believe it or not, this is a good thing.

That's just the first wave. A sinking ship doesn't sink all at once. They will become "web only" eventually for the bigger items. Analysts are already saying it wan't enough.

Extended waranties or service plans as "best buy" wants to call them, are a gamble, a gamble the people that sell them want you to make. Sure some people make out and think they are the greatest since sliced bread and they may be worth it on a new technology. LCD and plasma is no longer a new technology and really no need to get one. Also, no need to buy one from best buy when there are cheaper ones available from 3rd parties that aren't slowly going out of business.