Panasonic TH-42PX50U 42-Inch Flat Panel HD-Ready Plasma TV
I'm the unlucky guy who had the bad experience
Usually on Amazon customer reviews, someone had a bad experience with a product and I wondered why I couldn't find anyone who had something go wrong with the Panasonic 42\\" plasma...then I realized that person was me. <br /> <br />Eight weeks ago, I had read all the good reviews, saw the TV and was impressed and plunked down my nearly $3k for a television set...I still can't get used to that much money for a TV.  <br /> <br />It looked good. I liked it a lot for video games, movies, over-the-air HD. It seemed to be at less risk for burn-in, HD looked good (although I genuinely believe Samsung plasma's look better in HD), great software for stretching images to fit. Everything was good until six weeks into owning it -- AND ON THE DAY BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL -- it just wouldn't turn on. Being past the 20 days I can return it to the store, I was in the hands of the manufacturer and their warrantee terms. I'll spare you all the details because you already know this story -- one problem after another, moronic local service reps, and extremely unsympathetic customer service.  <br /> <br />Two big problems that will make sure your TV will be under repair for longer than necessary: <br /> <br />1) Panasonic will not supply its service agents parts so everything has to be ordered as needed. Three or four days will go by until it arrives and if it doesn't fix the problem (as was the case with my set), you start all over again.  <br /> <br />2) Panasonic customer service escalates these issues to \\"field service technicians\\" who interface with the local repairman who are authorized by Panasonic to fix their sets. But customer service does not have access to these field servie technicians and nor do you if you have a problem. You either talk to the repair shop or customer service but no one talks to the field technicians except the repair shop. It's wierd and stupid and it keeps you in the dark when you are trying to sort out problems.  <br /> <br />My local retailer likes to remind me that if I had paid the extra four hundred dollars for the extended service program, they would have taken care of everything for me. But why should I have to pay extra for better service when that is what Panasonic should provide? Six weeks after buying a three thousand dollar TV, it breaks down and I get treated like I bought a $30 toaster.  <br /> <br />It is now over two weeks and it will likely be another two weeks before I get it back. Plus, it is hard to feel good about this TV. I will live in constant fear that it is going to malfunction again. <br /> <br />But bottom line: I am in sales, if I treated an unhappy customer the way Panasonic is treating me, I wouldn't have that customer anymore. And Panasonic doesn't have me anymore either. I won't buy their brand. They had a choice -- fix this problem to keep a high-end customer or go by the book to save a few dollars at my expense (time, days home from work, aggravation, etc.)