Toshiba 62HM196 62-Inch 1080p DLP HDTV
Do NOT buy this Toshiba 62HM196
I researched my new DLP tv for months before coming across information for Toshiba's launch of this new Toshiba 62HM196.  I scoured the web and new exactly what I was looking for. Dollar for dollar it was the best value out there.  It tested very well and if you research on the web you'll find information of it being tested against other tv's in this price/size range.   The tv was delivered fine-shipping was great.  Unfortunately can't say the same for the tv.  It was delivered to me at the start of September,06.  Never worked out of the box.  I had also bought new surround sound (Infinity) and a new receiver Onkyo SR-604 (Deck and speakers are really nice).  I was setting everything up-so happy it arrived before the football season.  \\"Oh my Patriots on the big screen-doesn't get any better\\".  Well TV turned on fine--then the blue light on the front started blinking and wammo within 2 minutes the nice colors turned to purple, black and white-blotches everywhere-couldn't make out a person on the screen.  TV is still in the shop.  I spoke to a Toshiba manager of \\"TV\\" customer serivce-I could have asked what color the sky was and I would have gotten-verbatim, a line read directly from their manufacture warranty-they were like robots and could care less whether I was a satisfied customer.  The Toshiba certified technician that came to my house to look at the tv said, \\"Oh boy you got yourself a lemon, there are too many things wrong with this tv to list.\\"  I had to take multiple days off from work for tech people to come to my house to look at the tv and to pick it up.  It is still at the shop and Toshiba finally told the technician that it needs-they believe- a new mother board--it'll take \\"around\\" 3-10 business days to ship--then it will have to be worked on--got no confirmation from the Toshiba technician when they could do this once they receive the part...bottom line is Toshiba customer service is very poor and I am still without the tv that I ordered with no idea when I am getting it back-and if it will even work like I expected it too.  Stay VERY clear of this Toshiba 62HM196 tv and Toshiba.  If you buy it, make sure that the company you buy it from will take it back and REPLACE it if it doesn't work as expected.  Otherwise all the risk is on you and trust me--working with Toshiba has been a nightmare--they will gladly sell you a tv and could care less if you are satisifed.  That's not a risk I will take again-live and learn.     UPDATE:  The Toshiba certified repair company got back to me today 10/02/06, told me my Toshiba 96HM196 needs a new \\"Digital Sine Module\\" for the repair-He spoke with Toshiba-they DO NOT have avaiable yet this part for repair-he said the tv model is so new that parts are not yet available-TV came out in June 2006--that's 4 months ago.  Toshiba is selling TV's with no parts to repair them--what does that tell you about how much they care about a happy customer?!  I asked for a timeline and he had no idea of one.  I called Toshiba and spoke with the manager.  He said he has no idea of a time frame and could not talk about options to solve this problem until they recieved a copy of my sales receipt--then at that point he would talk to the parts department about \\"options\\".  I asked, \\"What are these options?\\".  He said, \\"I can't get into that until I get a copy of your sales receipt\\". I scanned it and emailed it to him--well to the open customer service mailbox.  See, he doesn't give out his company email address or his direct phone line, so into the general public customer service email it goes.   Now I am suppose to wait for a phone call from the parts department which he said I will receive by tomorrow 10/03/06.   Do yourself a favor and DO NOT do business with TOSHIBA.  Ask youself, is it worth this aggrevation?     UPDATE: Toshiba parts department was suppose to call me back to give me a timeline of when the part to repair my TV would be available.  They never called.  I called back to Toshiba customer service.  The customer service person would not give me his last name.  I asked to speak with the manager I spoke to yesterday.  He said he is unavailable (When I got off the phone my finace called into the same number asked for the manager by the name I gave her and wammo..he took the call-he was obviously avoiding my call).  I asked when the parts department was going to call me. He said, \\"Let me check your file...oh it says they called this morning and left a message.\\"  I said I didn't recieve any call--I had my cell phone with me at my hip all day.  I asked for the person's name in the parts department who had called me and their contact information so I could call direct--he wouldn't give it to me.  I asked if I could speak with that person now--\\"oh he is not at his desk I can try and leave a note to have him call you back.\\"  They were beyond rude.  I asked them since there is no part to repair my tv what are you going to do for me.  Got no answer.   I ended up having to hang up when he said, \\"ok have a good day.\\"  that was it..no resolution or any options given just a sarcastic remark.  Well I got my retailer on the phone he promised to return my money when he has receipt of the tv..which he says should be tomorrow.  I've kept the name of the retailer out because up till now they have at least returned my calls and been simpathetic.  Toshiba has not and has been evasive as can be.  I don't know how they can do business this way.  The retailer offered to ship me a new Toshiba 62HM196 tv..I said no thank you I'll take my money back please.  I'm buying a new Sony XBRII and going to pay the top dollar through a retailer that will give me a grace period and take it back if it malfunctions out of the box.  This expereicne with Toshiba has made me furious.  Never again will I purchase their products and I'll pass this word to anyone considering electronics that I speak too.  We work too hard for our money to give it away to a company that doesn't respect and honor our business.  Say NO to Toshiba!