Mitsubishi WD52525 DISASTER! HELP PLEASE A.S.A.P!

[BulletBob]

Sorry for the long post-Please read!

Hey friends,

I don't think I've ever been so frustrated-down & out. Quick recap. It's always been the case that Mits makes a great big screen right? In the middle of Jan I started to set up my home theater room. I knew I wanted a DLP set 50" to 55" to fit a small HT room. I-like most of America did the eBay search. I narrowed it down to the Sony SXRD, Samsung DLP, and landed (CRASHED) on the Mitsubishi 52525.

I didn't know it was an older model. (Late 04-early 05) I didn't research into the horror stories. I haven't had an electronic disaster like this in my life. I admit to trying the ebay bargain game. This TV was a floor model at PC Planet in San Antonio.

I won the auction at $1000 but was willing to pay $3300 for the Qualia Sony SXRD. I just had warm feelings about my old Mits. I jumped on what looked like a deal!

Three weeks of S&H nightmares later I received my set. It was in flawless cosmetic shape. I took my time-hooked it up to a monster power box and anticipated the connectivity and all of my HD compatible components soon to be attached.

I hit the power button and I saw the TIMER light start to blink furiously. I waited that out with no picture showing thinking it had to warm up. Second-I heard the FAN kick on. With the fan came a crackling sound like something was trying to start/warm up. The TIMER light went solid. It then started to blink and fade. It did this until the fan shut off and the lamp light came on SOLID RED! The picture nor the sound ever emerged. A total silent black screen. I know you're going to say replace the lamp dummy. Before the set was sent-the seller replaced the lamp and sent the old one as proof. I even took the lamp out and checked it for my own good. BRAND NEW. It was cold as ice though. They're supposed to be burning hot so I guess the lamp isn't activating at all huh?

Understand this as well-The STATUS light never ONCE came on or even blinked. The TV is now sitting in front of my HT seats USELESS. I hit the MENU & DEVICE buttons to get the error message. The error message is 34. That is explained as LAMP ABNORMALITY. WHAT?

I contacted the seller and he tells me that he has a warranty. I don't know if the warranty would cover a new owner? Would it? Of course the TV gets here the Friday before SB Sunday and the weekend consist of ZERO service agents who WORK. I have a list of service agents in my area. From all the research I've done and what the seller is relaying to me it might be the Chassis? What is the chassis? Is it hard to replace? Are they hard to find? Are they expensive? Would one be in stock since this is an older model? If anyone can give me a diagnosis for the symptoms I gave that I can use when a tech arrives in 2007 please e-mail me!

My wife and I really anticipated our new TV and the building of our HT room. I know I made the mistake in bargain shopping for something that means so much to us. I never dreamed of having something fail before a moment was ever had? Thanks for your time. Again. The lamp light is SOLID RED. The STATUS light has never come on. The TIMER light comes on and fades. The fan dies and Lamp light comes on SOLID RED!

Do you think that something could have been damaged when they replaced the lamp? Can this be human error or have I invested in a lemon? Can this set be saved without bankruptcy? PLEASE HELP

BulletBob
dequincyland@yahoo.com

 

[mawst95]

Well for one thing, the set sounds like it was DOA--or close to it. I am seriously hoping you paid with a credit card. NEVER do an online transaction for a big purchase using cash or a direct bank account transfer or use a paypal balance. ALways use a credit card for extra protection. What I would do is call your credit card company and tell them you purchased something online and it was dead when you got it and what your options are. Most credit card companies have all types of buyer protection features, extra warranties, etc. Find out your deadlines and don't let them pass. If you used paypal, also file a complaint. The TV being broke should qualify as "significantly not as described" and paypal also has buyer protection features. Paypal also has strict deadlines to file complaints.

I am not saying not to work with the seller, but you should not be out of pocket one dime for this. Its not like it worked for a few weeks then died. It was DOA. Even if a seller says "as is" that doesn't necessarily get them off the hook for selling a broken item (that they didn't describe as broken). If worse came to worse, I would do a chargeback through my credit card company. Make sure you call and find out your options NOW!

If you paid a different method, you should go onto ebay's forums and ask the users there if you have any options. There are many experts that deal with ebay purchase problems daily.