Samsung 61A650/56A650 DLP: Best Buy suggesting as replacement

[FLMike]

I purchased a 52" Toshiba 720P DLP 3 years ago at Best Buy. I have been extremely satisified with it. Unfortunately, recently it started experiencing some problems. First it blew a lamp. The bulb was replaced, but it still was having issues with turning on. It would cycle and cycle. The only way it would come up with a picture was to unplug it for about 30 seconds and plug it back in. Sometimes it would take multiple attempts. Generally a pain in the behind.

Fortunately I had purchased an extended warranty at Best Buy so the tech ordered three new parts. I just got a call yesterday from Best Buy that the parts are still on backorder. Just as I am gearing up for a fight, the rep says "So we are just going to give you a brand new TV as a replacement. Here is your authorization number". So they are going to give me a brand new TV with the closest match to what I had before. That would be the Samsung A650 series. They will give me the 54" version free, or I can upgrade to the 61" for $100 more. I have to give them credit. Although they were somewhat slow on the service end, they have been really fair and great to work with in fixing the situation.

I have not been able to find out a lot about the proposed units online and my local store does not have them in stock to take a look at. Does anyone have any experience with them? I understand that this version uses a lamp, not LED. I did see the LED version and did not like it all that much. Colors were way to cool. But this could be setup issue. Any advice/feedback appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[mudrummer99]

Definitely check out the A750 series (the ones with the LED bulbs). Check them out at a couple different stores, it could be a setup issue that you saw, but it could also be that you just don't like the look of it. It should be a similar deal as the one that they gave you, you should get whatever the current retail for the model they offered you and all you have to pay is the difference in price. Hope this helps a bit.

Mike

 

[FLMike]

They will give full credit towards any other TV

Mike,
Thanks for the reply. They will give me full price credit towards any other unit. The LED units are several hundred bucks more, which I really don't want to spend right now. I am already looking at having to upgrade to a larger stand if I go with the upgrade to 62". If I keep this up this "free" replacement will cost me as much as a new TV! LOL.

That said, other than efficiency/no bulb replacement, which I know are BIG benefits, are there other benefits to LED? Also, the whites looked "bluish" to me. Much cooler. Very similar to what I saw when I changed my landscape lights to LED versions.

Mike

 

[SESENEM]

You check fry's and best buy, I think they have A650 for sale, I just picked up 40A550 for 800 from best buy.

 

[FLMike]

Thanks, but I have to use Best Buy

Thanks for the suggestion, but this is a replacement under extended warranty, so it has to come from Best Buy. They aren't going to cut me a check to go elsewhere. I am looking for experience/opinions with the actual unit and whether it is a good option (including whether the screen size increase is worthe the $$$ in additional cost for the set and furniture).

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Chitown2477]

I had a similar issue with Best Buy but they will not give you a full price credit, e.g. your authorization number which is actually your credit. It will only be a credit for a comparable TV on today's market. For example, I paid $2,000 for my TV in 2006 and they wanted to give me a $900 credit. This was because I had a 720p, 50", DLP and $900 was the going price per their records.

By the way, the same issue happened to me – the picture went out, they sent two bulbs, and a light engine and nothing worked. I actually was on project in Minneapolis and went directly to Best Buy’s corporate location to scream at them in person because it took nearly six weeks for them to authorize a replacement. A “senior executive resolution specialist” or some insanely titled person helped me and gave me a $100 gift card.

Now if you go to different Best Buy locations, they may interpret your credit amount differently. I did this per the advice of a sales rep a one Best Buy location. I had to go to four different locations before the sales person gave me credit for $2,000 and I got my current TV. I bought my replacement and ran the hell out of the store before she realized what she did was not per their policy.

Good luck and have a truck ready to take your TV and run!

Drell

 

[bandphan]

Is dlp your only option?

 

[FLMike]

It only took two weeks

Chitown, It only took two weeks for them to issue the replacement number and I did not even have to ask. Good luck I guess. The way the employees I have spoken to explain their policies is that they "replace technology, not price". So they will either give you the identical product or the closest match to the technology you purchased without downgrading you.

So, in my case I bought a DLP 720P 52" TV. They no longer stock a 52" DLP 720P so the 54" DLP 1080P is the closest match. That is just good luck. Bandphan, I can apply the price of $1499 to any other TV they stock and pay the difference. However I am really happy with the performance of the DLP set that I had and I have room for it. Why do oyu ask?

Chitown, Good work on your part to get the full purchase price as a credit. But I honestly feel like the replacement of the TV with what you bought or the closest match upwards rather than price is fair. Comparable tech is almost always going to be cheaper than what you paid 2-3 years down the road. Now I just need to get a look at the model they are suggesting.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Chitown2477]

Thank sounds good. Best Buy was not nearly as accomadating for me. I agree with teh technoilogy issue not price. Hoever, they tried to push of a 720 model from RCA (my old brand) that was terrible. Maybe I was just unfortunate they had such a model in stock at the time. Good to hear Best Buy's customer service is not terrible accross the board.

 

[bandphan]

The Panasonic TH 50PX80U would fall into that price range and has excellent pq to dollar ratio. IMO there isnt much that can touch them for the price.