Did she get a good deal (52'' LCD, Warrenty, etc, $3000)

[Coldkilla]

Alright well I'm honestly still a little lost with the whole HDMI thing.... yall are talking about CL2's and "Ferrities" and "28AWG's", I've never been so lost. Sorry if I'm dragging this out and making this complicated. I'm doing the best I can to try and make it simple and straight forward.

Let me try and understand the warranty service through Samsung:
1. The TV has some problems, dim lighting, dead pixels, something like that.
2. I call the number provided with the purchase of the warranty.
3. Samsung makes a call to a local repair man to fix the set.
4. If unable to fix the set, the TV is sent off to Samsung for inspection and possible replacement.

Let me try and understand the credit card matching:
1. I would call the credit card company, and inquire about price matching on TV products.
2. I would discuss receipts and what other information they would need.
3. The credit card company would automatically take over once the manufacturer's warranty ended.
4. The new warranty is covered under _____ (who do I call?) and then fixed by ____ (who?).

My mothers recent concerns:
1. Never dealt with a 3rd party warranty service. Skeptical.
----If I could get some short concise bullet points on how it would work so I could present the information to her I might be able to sell her. She is also worried about small local companies going out of business due to poor economy and her money going to waste on a 3-4-5 year warranty. This is why she favors large names like "Samsung Extended Warranty" because she feels safe knowing they wont go under. Is this true, if not can I get some help on this so I can better understand?
2. If the TV did have to eventually get replaced, she argues that a company like Best Buy would be as quick as three weeks to take a look at it and send another one off. Any idea how long manufacturers take?

Oh, and by the way, the Panamax s44 suggested worked perfectly in the cart without trouble this time around. Thanks for that one dude. 🙂

 

[s44]

Given that it's brick and mortar stores that are going out of business, I'd say it's rather more likely Best Buy goes under than anyone else.

EDIT: Again, all service would be in your house, by authorized local repair guys (they can't ALL go out of business). This is whether it's Samsung or a big national warranty company (e.g. Warrantech) or the credit card co or whomever. You don't have to send the TV anywhere.

You call [Samsung/3d party warranty co]. They contact the local guy to come look at your TV. They fix (or decide it's unfixable, and replace), and handle payment. This is the same procedure as under the manufacturer warranty, just in that case it's always Samsung.

The main advantage of Samsung, I'd think, is better customer service people (because it's their product). But you never can tell.

For credit card co, you call them. YOU contact the local guy to come to your house. The local guy fixes, but you handle initial payment. CCC reimburses.

EDIT 2: Well, I'd give direct links for the cables, but it depends what lengths you need and whether it will be mounted on the wall. Only you know how the system will be physically set up. But OK, here are some lengths, in basic boring black:
1.5ft, for component -> receiver
3ft, for same
6ft, for component -> TV or receiver -> TV (suitable for in-wall use as well)

EDIT 3: I've never heard of a set being taken out of your house for inspection -- only on replacement. Maybe I haven't been reading around enough, though.

 

[Coldkilla]

The cord will be about 6 feet from the TV. She rents so it wont be inside the wall, it will travel along the TV's base stand, behind the electric fireplace, then to the Blu-Ray. The only HDMI cable we'll be getting at the moment is for the Blu-Ray player. Next spring we plan on upgrading to the next version of Tivo boxes and will end up getting HD receivers & an HD Satellite for the DirectTV.

That third link for the 6 footer you posted s44 looks pretty good if that's what ya recommend. Thanks for simplifying the process for me. I'll try and discuss this with my mother. So just so I'm clear on one thing: If I were to go with a national repair company like Warrantech within like 90 days of purchase, they will cover the TV. Which would include repair/maintenance costs, and even possible but unlikely replacement costs?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
The cord will be about 6 feet from the TV. She rents so it wont be inside the wall, it will travel along the TV's base stand, behind the electric fireplace, then to the Blu-Ray. The only HDMI cable we'll be getting at the moment is for the Blu-Ray player. Next spring we plan on upgrading to the next version of Tivo boxes and will end up getting HD receivers & an HD Satellite for the DirectTV.

That third link for the 6 footer you posted s44 looks pretty good if that's what ya recommend. Thanks for simplifying the process for me. I'll try and discuss this with my mother. So just so I'm clear on one thing: If I were to go with a national repair company like Warrantech within like 90 days of purchase, they will cover the TV. Which would include repair/maintenance costs, and even possible but unlikely replacement costs?

Buy 10ft cable. You have a little more flexibility on how you route the cable. Fireplace? I would worry about the TV and the cables if it is too close. Also, when you buy more than 1 cable you get a better price and shipping charge is more or less the same.

http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=3956&seq=1&format=2

there are several other colours, but I am not sure the discount works across multiple colours.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
So just so I'm clear on one thing: If I were to go with a national repair company like Warrantech within like 90 days of purchase, they will cover the TV. Which would include repair/maintenance costs, and even possible but unlikely replacement costs?

Yup. With Warrantech, just make sure to register within 10 days of buying the policy.

10 foot cables, if you want to go that length: black, white

If you only have one device, you might as well hold off on the other cables... Because the next ones may be much shorter (if you start using a surround receiver with HDMI -- I'm guessing the current one doesn't have it).

 

[ViviTheMage]

The origonal deal is a rip off, as others have already told you, I would come help you set it up, show you some things, but I am 300 miles or so away in Minnesota.

 

[Coldkilla]

Originally posted by: s44
Yup. With Warrantech, just make sure to register within 10 days of buying the policy.

Just so I'm crystal clear: Register with Warrantech within 10 days of buying a policy from their company?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Is your mom in Cudahy too?

 

[Coldkilla]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Is your mom in Cudahy too?

We both do yea. Glad you noticed my profile 🙂

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

There's a possibility I may be close by (Wauwatosa) during Thanksgiving time if calibrating with an SPL meter and Digital Video Essentials sounds like a good way to spend the Holiday 😉

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla

Originally posted by: s44
Yup. With Warrantech, just make sure to register within 10 days of buying the policy.

Just so I'm crystal clear: Register with Warrantech within 10 days of buying a policy from their company?

If you use them, yes.

 

[Coldkilla]

Sounds good there s44.


Now I'll be taking this over to the mother.
1. -TV: Samsung 650 120Hz $1,908.99 + $68.71 shipping
2*-Warranty: 3 Year Extended Samsung Warranty DOP: $223.99
3. -Surge Protector: PANAMAX PM8-EX 8 Ac $24.72 + $9.06 shipping
4. -HDMI: Category 2 1.3a 28AWG 10FT $9.38 w/shipping
5. -Blu-Ray: $160 No Shipping.

Total: TV: +$1,908.99 + Surge: 24.72 + Warranty: $223.99 + Shipping: $77.77 + Blu-Ray $160 + HDMI Cable: $9.38 + Tax: +$11.20 - Savings: 68.71 = Total: $2347.34

Note(2*): Possibility of a 3rd party. Still will do some homework on this.
============================
============================

If she's happy with this, (and doesn't end up wanting to wait until Black Friday), we'll be putting the order in, in the coming days/week from now. Extra's such as audio receiver, calibration, etc. Will be added later. I think she just needs to have the TV in her house first. If she does wait until Black Friday to purchase, it will be the exact same setup (no matter what, she'll save the additional $$$ and not go bigger). The only problem with Black Friday is obvious... Where to go, where are the deals for TVs like this, websites, stores, magazines, coupons, should we be in line before 1am so we can be there when they open the doors at 10?! The horror! Thats something I'll have to work on. -- Does Samsung really change the prices on their LCDs during this time? I know some products really don't change at all.

So thats about it then right? Just gotta talk to the mom about the Warranty business and I'll be pretty much covered then. With that, if there are no more additions- I must say I thank all of you for your kind patience with me & thanks for the tips/suggestions/ and help. 🙂

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla
Sounds good there s44.


Now I'll be taking this over to the mother.
1. -TV: Samsung 650 120Hz $1,908.99 + $68.71 shipping
2*-Warranty: 3 Year Extended Samsung Warranty DOP: $223.99
3. -Surge Protector: PANAMAX PM8-EX 8 Ac $24.72 + $9.06 shipping
4. -HDMI: Category 2 1.3a 28AWG 10FT $9.38 w/shipping
5. -Blu-Ray: $160 No Shipping.

Total: TV: +$1,908.99 + Surge: 24.72 + Warranty: $223.99 + Shipping: $77.77 + Blu-Ray $160 + HDMI Cable: $9.38 + Tax: +$11.20 - Savings: 68.71 = Total: $2347.34

Note(2*): Possibility of a 3rd party. Still will do some homework on this.
============================
============================

If she's happy with this, (and doesn't end up wanting to wait until Black Friday), we'll be putting the order in, in the coming days/week from now. Extra's such as audio receiver, calibration, etc. Will be added later. I think she just needs to have the TV in her house first. If she does wait until Black Friday to purchase, it will be the exact same setup (no matter what, she'll save the additional $$$ and not go bigger). The only problem with Black Friday is obvious... Where to go, where are the deals for TVs like this, websites, stores, magazines, coupons, should we be in line before 1am so we can be there when they open the doors at 10?! The horror! Thats something I'll have to work on. -- Does Samsung really change the prices on their LCDs during this time? I know some products really don't change at all.

So thats about it then right? Just gotta talk to the mom about the Warranty business and I'll be pretty much covered then. With that, if there are no more additions- I must say I thank all of you for your kind patience with me & thanks for the tips/suggestions/ and help. 🙂

How many hdmi cables are you buying? Given the cable is cheap, may as well pick up extra ones. Will be cheaper than ordering again and having to pay shipping again. I bought 6 last time I shopped at monoprice. Hell you were willing to pay 85 for 1 cable, I am sure you can spring 30 for 6 cables 🙂

 

[Coldkilla]

Originally posted by: sdifox
How many hdmi cables are you buying?

Maybe 3-4, depending.

1. How do I buy a policy from Warrantech? They send me to Repairmasters website where they ask for a membership number and I don't have that. I figure I need the membership number once I get the policy correct? Well then how do I get that policy so I can get that membership ID?

2. Amazon has shifted price on that TV from $1900, to $2100, to $1960 in two days. Anyone know a good day to buy? *Afraid Black Friday will be Sold Out*. Unless I should get it somewhere else like a retail store....is Samsung like Apple & don't change their prices much if at all on BF?

3. Circuit City does price matching + 10% price differential. I called and talked to them and they said they will match websites like Amazon. So I might go talk to them. Knowing they'll probably go down the tubes later, if I do buy from them - it will only be the TV and not the service plan - that I can still buy from Samsung @ Amazon's website, right?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Coldkilla

Originally posted by: sdifox
How many hdmi cables are you buying?

Maybe 3-4, depending.

1. How do I buy a policy from Warrantech? They send me to Repairmasters website where they ask for a membership number and I don't have that. I figure I need the membership number once I get the policy correct? Well then how do I get that policy so I can get that membership ID?

2. Amazon has shifted price on that TV from $1900, to $2100, to $1960 in two days. Anyone know a good day to buy? *Afraid Black Friday will be Sold Out*. Unless I should get it somewhere else like a retail store....is Samsung like Apple & don't change their prices much if at all on BF?

3. Circuit City does price matching + 10% price differential. I called and talked to them and they said they will match websites like Amazon. So I might go talk to them. Knowing they'll probably go down the tubes later, if I do buy from them - it will only be the TV and not the service plan - that I can still buy from Samsung @ Amazon's website, right?

You can never have enough patch cable is what I say 🙂

I don't know the mechanism of warrantech so I can't help you there

You can certainly try the price match at CC route, or wait for their fire sale.

Can't comment on Black Friday since I don't know anything about it.

Extended warranty is independent from the tv so you don't have to buy it at the same place or at the same time.

 

[s44]

For Warrantech coverage, enter the policy item # (RMT52500 for 5 years on an item <$2500) into your favorite internet shopping sites.

 

[sportage]

My opinion... OUCH!
PS. Just think of it as supporting best buy in this poor economy.
We wouldnt want to see them fold. All that would be left
is wally world.
I'd never get an extended warranty considering LCD and Plasma screens have a estimated 30 year life.

 

[Coldkilla]

Originally posted by: sportage
I'd never get an extended warranty considering LCD and Plasma screens have a estimated 30 year life.

I'd agree with you. Except: The TV is usually turned on. She babysits and its usually on 12 hours a day. Her current TV has had the local repair guy here 3 times in the last 10 years. When I lived there a year ago, our Xbox360 failed twice, and even our refrigerator and dishwasher quit out on us. She's pretty sure she'll want one because with her luck, things will probably end up stop working later down the road. Even if the TV is reliable, she wants to feel secure.

Now s44, Imma go nuts here. So lets say I'm on Amazon right? And I go into the checkout and there is no "code" to put that number into. The only area I saw was one that stated: " Have any gift cards, gift certificates or promotional claim codes? Enter them here (one at a time):", obviously that's not an area where you would put such a code but thats the only place I saw so... I put it in and it failed - naturally. I'm starting to think we'll just go with Samsung's. This Warrantech deal is getting more and more confusing by the minute. I appreciate the help but I'll just save us the hassle and go the safe route, plus she'll probably feel better knowing its Samsung's warranty.

 

[s44]

Dude, it's so simple. I can't believe I'm going to have to type this all out.

(1) They offer many warranties, for many products, at various lengths.
(2) You can buy these warranties from many, many internet vendors. No direct sale.
(3) The vendors don't always call each warranty something consistent, so it's hard to search for the one you want by name ("Repairmaster TV $2500 5 year" or whatever)
(4) Each warranty does, however, always have the same product code.
(5) The 5 year TV warranty for a unit under $2500 is RMT52500. (The next lowest price category is under $1500.) How do I know this? I've bought one for a DLP.
(6) So go to Froogle, Yahoo! Shopping, Pricegrabber, or whatever you like and enter "RMT52500" into the search field.
(7) Buy the cheapest seller's version. (Hint: it's probably this.) Make sure it arrives before your 10 day window closes. (Though I guess it might be 10 days from when you receive it. Whatever.) It doesn't matter who sells it to you, because it's just a piece of paper with the right to register a product for coverage.
(8) Register the TV with Warrantech on the internet or by phone as per the instructions on the piece of paper.
(9) Wonder what the hell was so confusing about this.

 

[Coldkilla]

Heh, sorry s44, I wasn't aware about the "RMT52500" stuff. When you said:

Originally posted by: s44
For Warrantech coverage, enter the policy item # (RMT52500 for 5 years on an item <$2500) into your favorite internet shopping sites.

At the time I was primarily thinking "Amazon" and didn't think: "Froogle > Search Field > "RMT52500".

So the process goes like this:
1. Purchase the TV.
2. Since its hard to find the name for a warranty, just use: "RMT52500"
3. Since the website you provided is, infact, the cheapest with the warranty, purchase that.
4. Within 10 days of receiving it in the mail ether call or go online with Warrantech (From the instructions on the paper).
5. When I talk to them on the phone, provide nessessary information like S/N and stuff from the back of the TV.

The confusing thing was where "RMT52500" came from and specifically what "field" to put it in whether it be a search field or somewhere specific on a particular website.

# Covers, for 5 years within the specified retail price tier, television sets: portable (1" to 23"), console (25" to 27"), direct view (30" to 36"), projection, and HDTV. Also covers projectors (front and LCD) and line multipliers
# For items costing less than $2,500
# 5 Year Extension
# In Home or Carry In Service

I'm safely assuming by "HDTV" it includes all display sizes which would include the TV I'd purchase.

 

[s44]

Yup, it covers everything but plasma.

Edit: incidentally, maybe there's something wrong with the power at her house or something? It's not natural that so many things would fail...

Edit 2: the Sammy price is back down to $1930 free shipping 😉

 

[Coldkilla]

Yup her house is old. From the 1940's. She rents from her father, who hasn't really updated the house much except for a few things and doesn't approve of her changing his house around. The wiring is really bad, a computer air conditioner and microwave cannot be on at once of a fuse will go.

I just finished a conversation with Warrantech. They said I needed two warranties, one regular and one lamp warranty because they fail once every 6000 hours & cost about $150 a lamp average.

 

[s44]

A separate lamp warranty for a LCD? Never heard of such a thing. DLP yes.

If that's for real, you might want to look at this one, which has no such thing. Note that the length says 3 years but unlike the other extended warranties, this is AFTER the manufacturer one.

Edit: depending on whether the electrical issue is brownouts or transient surges, you may want to invest in either a UPS or a Brickwall. The latter is a whole different sort of beast from the surge protectors they sell everywhere else, and despite its $200 price tag may end up saving a lot of cost and worry.

 

[Coldkilla]

Alrighty dude. I'll take a look into that and make a call on it.

We may end up getting the TV really soon and just skimp out on black Friday, I forgot that Circuit City & Best Buy want anywhere between $2400-$2700 for it. Theres no way they'll bring it near $1900. Amazon'll probably be out of stock by the time I get to it, so hehe, we might end up getting it in the coming days.

Neweggs price is the same, Warranty isn't bad ether... too bad none are in stock. I'm pretty familiar with them & love their PC services.

 

[s44]

Btw, the more I think about it, the more I think they were confused and thought you meant a DLP. The cold cathode backlight on a LCD tv is rated for *much* longer than 6000 hours.

Also, I think you should probably definitely buy the Brickwall. Any MOV-based surge/line protector (they're all disposable, and basically only useful for their attached-item warranty coverage) is going to burn out rather quickly in that sort of house, and you'd be better off spending money up front for something that won' break AND filters out all sorts of transients.

EDIT: to clarify, *every surge protection device* (including the ones recommended at the beginning of this thread) is MOV-based, except for a small handful called "series mode", of which the Brickwall is the most well-known. If you're in a fairly stable electrical situation, the former should be OK, as long as the thing lets you know (by shutting down, ideally!) when its MOVs are dead and the thing needs to be replaced. If you're in a place with lightning, bad wiring, or otherwise prone to electrical issues, you probably need the actual longer-term protection of a series mode device.

As for the Egg: their "8 dead pixel" policy also applies to TVs, which isn't reassuring.