ReplayTV RTV5516 160-Hour Digital Video Recorder
I wouldn't buy it again
Before we bought our Replay TV we called and inquired about it before we decided to make the purchase. We asked the salesperson at Replay TV what the warranty on the product was. She told us it was one year. Ok that sounds good. Six months after we bought the unit and purchased the lifetime subscription our unit started malfunctioning. It began tying up our phone line so when someone would call us the phone would ring on their end and then go into a busy signal. It would never ring on our end. After a week fighting with our local telephone company we figured out the problem was with our Replay TV. We then noticed that it hadn't updated the channel guide in quite some time. We called and spoke to Replay TV on six different occasions. Only one person was helpful. We tried everything possible to remedy the situation on our end. We even did a factory restore. We were then told we would have to send the unit in for repair. No problem we're still under warranty, right? No, what the original salesperson failed to tell us was that the unit is only covered entirely for 90 days, the 1 year warranty is for parts. They tell us we have to send the unit in (in the original box) with all original material (cords, manual, etc.), the original receipt, and $49.99 for labor. If you don't have all the original stuff including box and receipt they charge you 15% of the unit price. Excuse me? The best part is they don't fix your actual unit, they send you a refurbished one. One that someone else sent in that they fix and send out to you. I have to pay $49.99 for this? When the saleslady misled me on the &quot;1 year warranty&quot;? I asked then if the year warranty would start back over then for this refurbished unit that they are sending me. Their answer: &quot;Well no. Why would it?&quot; First off they mislead you about the warranty, then they send you a refurbished unit (one that has had its own malfunctions that they &quot;fixed&quot;), and they expect you to pay $49.99 for all thisand even more if you don't have all the original stuff? I don't know many people that would keep the box after 6 months. I know I don't have the receipt. This is totally ridiculous and they seem to think this is normal business practice that consumers should just accept. Well, I don't accept it and I don't accept the fact that no one at their call center speaks English. 5 out of the 6 people I spoke to at the call center couldn't understand me and I couldn't understand them. I realize that companies are moving their operations over seas, but don't they think their employees should be able to communicate with customers calling in with problems? I have spoken to friends who have a Replay TV and they have all had problems with their units as well. Out of the 5 people I know that have a Replay TV 5 of them have had problems with their unit. I don't think this is acceptable. I hope people take the time to read this and know what you're getting yourself into if you buy a Replay TV.