Sony SLV-D300P Progressive-Scan DVD-VCR Combo
caveat emptor
The letter I wrote to Sony after returning the SLV-D300P says it all: On 24 July 03, I purchased a Sony DVD/VCR combo model # SLV-D300P, serial #0325864 3B. The DVD component works only intermittently, sometimes playing just as the directions say it should, sometimes not playing until after six or seven tries, following the directions precisely each time.<BR>  Even worse, the VCR leaves a horizontal blue line across the screen approximately five inches down from the top, which it goes right through the actor's eyes in most scenes. Not only do the programs I recorded from the TV have this blue line, but also when I played back a prerecorded video, it was permanently damaged with the same blue line. As a result I have an expensive, hard to find prerecorded video of the 1989 Tony-nominated production of Thornton Wilder's  \\"Our Town\\" that now has a horizontal blue line running through 2  acts of the 3 act play. When it dawned on me it was actually being damaged, I pulled it out half way through the last act. When played on a different VCR, the blue line stops at the point I pulled it out of the Sony.<BR>  When I called Sony customer service on 19 Aug 03, I was coldly informed by the female supervisor who would not give me her name that the fine print on the warranty card stated that Sony is not responsible for any damage done to media by its products. She actually whined that any other company that I might buy from would have the exact same policy.<BR>  What this tells me is that your customer service employees have been complained about so many times that they defensively do not give their names, that you do not have effective quality control because you don't have to, and that you neither believe in your own product, nor do you stand behind it. As I told your customer service employee, if I had bought some cheap brand, I would simply think, Well, that's what I get - but you're Sony! That's supposed to mean something! I can't believe you have so little value for yourgood reputation. I can't believe this is how you treat a return customer of over 25 years.<BR>  It is not my fault you let a lemon get out of your factory. There is no way I could have known a top of the line Sony would permanently damage my videotape. You are responsible for a $48.00 videotape being ruined.<BR>  Several years ago, I read a \\"Newsweek\\" article contrasting Japanese and American business ethics. It was noted that salespeople carefully look over merchandise in Japanese department stores, removing any damaged goods before the store opened because it would dishonor the store if they sold a cracked vase, for example, whereas in the U.S., a store owner would turn the crack in the vase to the back of the shelf and hope to unload it on a customer unaware of the defect. Clearly business ethics don't export as well as hardware - and it should make you ashamed.<BR>  I trusted you. You owe me $48.00 and an apology