Screw Philips equipment

[auxilary]

I bought a new flatscreen 32" philips tv. It's a hefty 150lbs unit, purchased on 10/30/03. About 2 weeks ago, the unit started acting funny, like someone took a rolling pin to the image on the right side, and the closest 2 inches from the right edge are pincushioned. It's not horrible, but it seems to get worse, and starting to annoying the crap out of me. It looks like the image rolls off the screen onto a rolling pin.

 

Philips has a shitty 90 day labor warranty, as I learned, and this started happening right out of the 90 day window. I don't know about you, but I think it's bullshit when a new TV is faulty right after the warranty. It's like buying a car, and having the oilpan fall off as I exit the dealership. Their parts warranty is 1 year, and 2 years for the tube. I don't feel that it's fair to pay for labor on a 3 month old TV. This is the 21st century, electronics are not from the 80s.

 

Anyway, so I called up philips support. Got a case number. Worker was courteous, opened a new case, and told me they can compromise by giving a local philips repairshop authorization to repair the tv and pick up the labor costs, but I'd have to take the tv there (normally they do in house repairs). Ok,. not a bad compromise. She tells me to fax a copy of my receipt, which I do.

 

Nothing happens, no call back. I call, and go "hey, what happened?"

 

"Oh, we're sorry sir, we didn't get the fax. What number did you send to?" I read back the number, and when I got it first time, I read back to verify. They tell me it's the wrong number, so I get a new number, and fax to that one. This happens on Tuesday at 2:06pm.

 

No call yesterday, no call today. I call support, and immediately request to talk to a supervisor. The tech support guy says none are available, and asks if he can help. I'm pissed off. A whole WEEK went by, and I never received a single call in return. I tell him that I don't want to waste my time, because it'll yield the same results. He insists on helping. I go along with it.

 

He reads through my file, which is now apparently pages long, despite the fact that my TV hasn't seen any service, nor do they yet have proof of purchase of my TV, which I've faxed to THREE separate numbers at least twice each. He informs me that supposedly I sent a fax in 4 hours ago. I correct him, because I'm holding a fax confirmation sheet that says I successfully faxed on 2/17/04 at 2:06 pm. It is currently 2/19/04 and 2:38pm. I inform him that that would be 48 hours, not 4. He starts giving me a FOURTH fax number.

 

At this point I've had it. I voice my opinion. And I don't do it quietly. I don't want to fax this shit to FOUR separate fax numbers, when no one seems to get a goddamn number right. It's a ******* 10 digit sequence, not a thermodynamics. I ask him why I would be interested in purchasing a philips at any point in time, or recommend one to any of my friends and family, given the existing service record. I insist to speak to a supervisor again. Again, none are "available." I wonder why they wouldn't be available: would it be, perhaps, due to poor customer service skills, other angry people, and fires they have to put out? He informs me that he's powerless, and that he would like to try the fax again. I tell him that he should go stand next to the fax machine, because I WILL fax, and WILL have a confirmation, and I better get a callback in 30 minutes.

 

If there's not call in next 15-20 minutes, there's gonna be some raining brimstone and sulfur.

 

Tick Tock.

[auxilary]

update

 

I just got off the phone with the "supervisor." The supervisor tried to calm me down, and he's going to look for the fax himself, because apparently it's such a difficult task to recover a ******* SHEET OF PAPER. So far, 4 valiant attempts have been made, but none have succeeded in getting inked compressed fiber sheet. It must be heavily guarded by the beast of Kaerbannog... where death awaits men of valor with sharp pointy teeth!

 

He has 30 minutes.

[CruxGNZ]

I can't wait to read this later tonight to hear the aftermath.

 

!M!

[Sparky]

In the Modern Mega-Corp there is no place for customer service. the supervisor is always available, but the company policy is to put the irrate pissed off customer on hold just long enough that they calm down or give up and never call again. how is it that and electronic device with little or no moving parts can only have a 90 day warranty, and yet a car can have 3 years or 30k miles? its because they want to make sure that we have to buy a new TV at some point in time...and it doesnt matter who we buy it from. just as long as we gobble up the newest technology time after time.

 

your CD player doesnt play MP3s

 

your screen is too convex

 

your moniter is too deep

 

your computer wont play this game

 

3.1 megapixels is soooo last year

 

your phone doesnt take pictures

 

your vacuum doesnt twirl dirt around in a clear chamber

 

upgrade upgrade upgrade.

[akeizm]

You know, their support is probably in Iran. Saw an article last night where alot of companies are selling their tech support to places in Iran etc cause they're dirt cheap.

[auxilary]

everyone i talked to had a jamaican accent. the supervisor sounded white.

[auxilary]

aux:1, philips:0

[Guest comeandzpa]

congrats on the victory! Everything work out ok, and can you sue them for a few million dollars because of the potential damage typing this story may have caused you?