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November 18, 2005
Big Damn Television, Third Time's the Charm?
Back in August (was it really that long ago?) we bought a new TV. It was less than perfect.
The image retention problem got worse, and Vizio RMA'd the unit. They delivered the new one on Wednesday which is a story unto itself.
The freight company calls on Friday to say that it's "here" (at SEATAC) and they'd like to deliver it today. Neither Dawnise nor I was at home, never mind the fact that I had spoken to the manufacturer and they assured me I'd have at least 24 hours notice. They couldn't (wouldn't) deliver it on Saturday, so I told him I'd look for a day this week. I also learned that he wasn't planning to pick up the old one - meaning we'd have to arrange another day to handle that end.
I called Vizio and informed them that "since I'm already on my second unit, I kept all the packaging expecting to have to return it" and that I wanted drop-off and pick up at the same time.
The shipper calls me back later that day and informs me that they got the pick up authorization, but that they don't pack.
No problem.
Wednesday Dawnise had to be home for an unrelated repair call, so we setup delivery for Wednesday. I confirmed with the delivery driver on the phone that he'd have the muscle to handle the 160lb box. It's heavy, and it's massive - too much for one man, and Dawnise wasn't going to be assisting in the delivery. "No problem" he assures me.
I should have known.
He shows up Wednesday after calling me three times at work - once for directions, once more for directions, and finally for directions.
Then he calls me back to say that he's alone, and can't lift it, and can he please leave it in the garage.
Simple question.
Simple answer: "no." I ask him why they sent a lone delivery driver to handle a 160lb item, and his response was that "they" (whoever they are) didn't authorize a two man delivery. Well, I respond, that's not my problem - you'll just have to reschedule and come back with some help. "They'll charge you for an attempted delivery," comes the response.
I stepped out of a meeting to take his call - and now I'm getting pissed. "No," I respond, "they won't - and nor will you - because this is an RMA delivery, and it's the third unit I've had, and if anyone has the lack of common sense to charge me for sending out a single man to lift 160lbs, the shipper will have an ex-customer, and there will be complaints to the better-business-bureau filed all around."
Ok, he says, he'll figure it out.
Turns out when he said he'd "figure it out," what he meant was that he'd block the private road, and wait 'till a neighbor happened by, wanting to get home, and conscript them into service.
So I called the shipper today and gave the manager a (polite) ear-full. She deferred to the shipper in CA - this company was just doing the "last mile" - who didn't authorize the cost for an additional man. So I have to call them next week and make them understand that their attempt to be frugal nearly cost their customer a customer and a couple thousand dollars and was damn stupid.
Anyway, the new TV has very quiet fans - not only did they install the bushings that should have been there in the first place, but they used a lower RPM fan. Unfortunately, there's still some image sticking and ghosting - though it seems to be less pronounced than the previous units we've had. In reading some of the various on-line forums, it seems this can go away after a few weeks/months (depending on use) - so I'll give it a whirl. But if this one ends up going back, it's refund-and-buy-from-a-new-vendor time. Unfortunately, having had a 50" screen, 42's seem tiny by comparison, so that simple sounding statement could end up being very expensive... :-/
Oh, and if you're in the market for an LCD, Vizio has a 37" which will be at Costco over thanksgiving for $1500. Not sure I'd buy from them again, so consider yourself warned.
Posted by dberger at November 18, 2005 6:18 PM
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DLP
Posted by: Brad at November 21, 2005 1:48 AM