Cyberhome CH-DVR1600 DVD Recorder
Cyberhome does not support their products!
I bought this for my dad just before Father's Day from Best Buy because he wants to preserve his years of Hi-8 footage to DVD.  I bought it because I happened to see it then in the store, Best Buy is a reputable place, it was on sale, and my retired electrical engineer dad always said that if electronics will go bad it will go bad in the first 24 hours of heavy use. <br /> <br />Unfortunately, he didn't try it until he got back from a 3 week vacation.  When he tried it, the remote control did not work.  Changing batteries didn't help and he checked the battery with a volt meter.  Unfortunately I discovered this 2 days after the 30-day return/exchange store policy was in effect.  All the major functions can only be accessed through the remote control so the unit had to be repaired.   <br /> <br />I thought I'd invoke Cyberhome's 90-day warranty.  To take advantage of their warranty you need pre-approval and a shipping number from them.  Their website link to tech support does not work, their support email address they advertised bounced my email back saying it was an invalid address, and their toll free number said that their email support and phone support is \\"not available\\".  I tried back numerous times but was unable to reach a person.   <br /> <br />Looking on the internet, other people have this same problem AND the Feds just recently raided one of their warehouses for 2 million dollars of counterfeit merchandise!  Google news for \\"cyberhome raid\\" and you'll find the news stories.  This company is NOT reputable and does NOT care about you or their product!  I'm surprised reputable stores like Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart still carry this! <br /> <br />Luckily the manager at Best Buy took pity on my predicament and let me buy something else (a name brand with a service warranty!).  I was glad to do so even though I paid twice as much.   <br /> <br />I never got the Cyberhome unit to fully function so I can't say if the unit breaks after a few months like other reviewers claim. I've no reason to doubt their claims and I sure wouldn't want to gamble that I'll get the peach among the lemons.   <br /> <br />My dad was able to play a DVD successfully, but the unit shakes a great deal (almost as much as a kitchen mixer) while playing a DVD.  It also makes a lot of noise as if it's going to take off (and crash and burn). <br /> <br />I've learned my lesson:  don't buy unknown, unresearched electronic brands even if it's sold by a reputable company!  Don't make the same mistake I did unless you're buying it for youself, like gambling, and don't mind losing.