Philips DVDR985 Progressive-Scan DVD Recorder and Player
Avoid-must read
<br />I paid 357 ($800) for my new Philips DVD Recorder on November  2004. <br />The following problems began 14 months after purchaser: <br />My machine had a loud humming after playing for over half an hour.  <br />It started jumping halfway through playing new commercial DVDs  <br />The picture started  throwing up block pixels.  <br />On some DVDs it refused to play saying disc error or just shutting the system down.  <br />I see from various discussion forums that this is a well known problem with these machines, they just stop working.  <br /> <br />I rang Philips customer services and was on the phone over 20 minutes (8 minutes of that on hold).  They refused to give me a direct line to further the matter, saying I had to write rather than ring in. When I told them I had a disability and could not, I was told to stop being difficult! <br /> <br />So, not only did I pay for the call (yes they charge you to complain)  but I still have a faulty and very expensive dvd player.  <br /> <br />This whole experience has me reflecting how poor Phillips products and service levels really are. Even my three month old Phillips Freeview box has started playing up.  <br /> <br />I remember months ago looking for online reviews on Philips recorders, I ignored one or two saying don't buy. All I can say is my Sony stuff has worked for years with no problems.  <br /> <br />I have asked Philips to clarify what people do with their faulty Philips products, does Philips  have a recycling scheme,  or do their  customers tend to landfill them via the local council?  <br /> <br />Only buy a Philips if you can afford to purchase a new product fourteen months later. <br />