Buying a Plasma online

[jamesbond007]

So I'm finally taking the plunge and buying my first HDTV for my bedroom. We have a high definition projector in the livingroom that my roommates and I enjoy greatly, but I'd like to take the HD action into my bedroom where I spend a lot of time on my desktop doing work.

That said, I've already decided on a very nice Panasonic plasma, but my local Best Buy doesn't carry it. Additionally, they are not sure if they'll ever carry this model, so my only option is to order it online. I've found that Onecall.com has my TV in stock and ready to go for $1099 shipped (free s/h), no tax, and the 3 year extended warranty is a mere $140, which I plan to get.

It looks like it'll be shipped via FedEx (my personal local favorite) so I have confidence it will arrive in one piece, unscathed. My only concern is if I ever need repairs or if something bad happens. The terms and conditions of Onecall's warranty seem pretty average and nothing out of the norm.

I guess I am just looking for peoples' experiences and such to their online HDTV purchases and warranty or repairs.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I know of the AV/Home Theater category, but this isn't so much technical as it is dealing with experiences in the purchase and warranty exercises.

 

[caivoma]

I bought our Samsung Plasma from amazon on February. It was a positive experience with their white glove delivery. There is nothing wrong with it so far so cross fingers. I think if there is anything wrong with it after the 30 days period, you will probably have to deal with the manufacture anyway.

 

[Riverhound777]

I bought my Pioneer from Vanns. Great service, haven't needed any repair work luckily.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
I bought my Pioneer from Vanns. Great service, haven't needed any repair work luckily.

Did you buy their warranty? I see it's $250 and it says "coming soon" when you add it to the cart. Haha...

A few of my friends said to skip the warranty, but I'm somewhat of a skeptic on that and like to have my bases covered. (hey, I am a Boy Scout afterall!) Nearly all of my friends have said that if anything goes wrong, it'll usually happen in the first year, under the original manufacturer's warranty.

 

[CRXican]

I think warranty stuff is dependent on whether or not the online retailer is an authorized dealer or not.

Like another poster above, I got my plasma from Amazon. The so called "white glove delivery" is more like, greasy fingerprint delivery but they unbox the TV and put it where you want it.

 

[Riverhound777]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
I bought my Pioneer from Vanns. Great service, haven't needed any repair work luckily.

Did you buy their warranty? I see it's $250 and it says "coming soon" when you add it to the cart. Haha...

A few of my friends said to skip the warranty, but I'm somewhat of a skeptic on that and like to have my bases covered. (hey, I am a Boy Scout afterall!) Nearly all of my friends have said that if anything goes wrong, it'll usually happen in the first year, under the original manufacturer's warranty.

No I did not get the warranty. But I used my platinum mastercard so I think I get an extra year with that.

 

[spacejamz]

I have bought a 37" Westy LCD (from Newegg), a 46" Vizio LCD and 50" Philips Plasma (both from Sam's) delivered by UPS and haven't had any problems...

 

[boomerang]

I bought my Panasonic direct from Panasonic through an EPP. (They had the best price too at that time, believe it or not.)

Delivery was free in my case, but a large truck backed in the drive, the driver unloaded it, wheeled it to my door and proceeded to unbox and assemble it, carried it inside and then hauled away the packaging materials.

No warranty repairs or issues to date (knock on wood) so I can't help you there.

 

[Zolty]

You can save a bundle by buying in bulk

 

[rh71]

Just bought a 42" Samsung plasma for my parents through buydig.com... easy process... no tax or shipping either. They used an independent shipping company... 2 guys show up at my door with company shirts... they let me open it up for testing (plug in power) and I signed something... off they went... pain-free process.

 

[jamesbond007]

Nice, thanks a lot for the input. Very positive results - it looks like I shouldn't have any problems. Woohoo!

 

[dabuddha]

Bought my DLP from onecall.com. Excellent service and the TV was in perfect condition when I received it.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: boomerang
I bought my Panasonic direct from Panasonic through an EPP. (They had the best price too at that time, believe it or not.)

Delivery was free in my case, but a large truck backed in the drive, the driver unloaded it, wheeled it to my door and proceeded to unbox and assemble it, carried it inside and then hauled away the packaging materials.

No warranty repairs or issues to date (knock on wood) so I can't help you there.

Is it a PX70?

 

[zoiks]

I got my plasma from one of the vendors that advertise in AVForums. Invision or something.

 

[brtspears2]

Bought my Panasonic Plasma from Amazon.com. It was delivered by a package courier, two men brought it inside, unpacked it, and tested it. 4 months and no problems on my 50PZ85U

 

[Crucial]

I would go with the Squaretrade warranty. I got both my plasma and lcd online. amazon was fine. no problems at all.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: boomerang
I bought my Panasonic direct from Panasonic through an EPP. (They had the best price too at that time, believe it or not.)

Delivery was free in my case, but a large truck backed in the drive, the driver unloaded it, wheeled it to my door and proceeded to unbox and assemble it, carried it inside and then hauled away the packaging materials.

No warranty repairs or issues to date (knock on wood) so I can't help you there.

Is it a PX70?

No, is that the new model lineup? The ones that use less energy? :brokenheart: I've got a TH-50PZ80U. I'll have had it a year late summer.

 

[Tiamat]

Text

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: boomerang

Originally posted by: DivideBYZero

Originally posted by: boomerang
I bought my Panasonic direct from Panasonic through an EPP. (They had the best price too at that time, believe it or not.)

Delivery was free in my case, but a large truck backed in the drive, the driver unloaded it, wheeled it to my door and proceeded to unbox and assemble it, carried it inside and then hauled away the packaging materials.

No warranty repairs or issues to date (knock on wood) so I can't help you there.

Is it a PX70?

No, is that the new model lineup? The ones that use less energy? :brokenheart: I've got a TH-50PZ80U. I'll have had it a year late summer.

Nah, PX70 was the line before P*80. I've had my PDP unit replaced in it entirety at Panasonic's expense after I got 2 vertical pixel lines stuck on one colour. Later PDP unit is from the newer generation, too, so it's better than ever, and it was pretty darn good before the failure.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Text

YHPM!

 

[lokiju]

I got a 46" Samsung LCD from Amazon and they included the white glove delivery for free. It was all a positive experience and I'd not hesitate using them again.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Be very careful who you buy electronics from online, especially televisions. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

 

[villageidiot111]

I got my Vizio 32'' Plasma around November last year and I couldn't be happier with it. The only shitty thing is how heavy plasmas are, so moving it is a bitch.

 

[octopus41092]

I bought ours online from Fry's on Black Friday a couple years ago. It took a while to get here since it was on backorder but I think you probably wouldn't have any problems as long as its a reliable site. You might want to check one out in person first though to make sure you really like the picture quality.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Bought my 50" plasma and 40" LCD from Amazon. Both had no issues and the delivery guys helped me get them into the room I wanted them.