VISA saved my wallet

[eg23232]

In February 2007 I bought a Toshiba Regza LCD tv (42LZ196), for $1700.00. It had only one issue while under warranty (the HDMI card went out) and was dealt with for free (although it took four times for Toshiba to send the repair folks the correct part). The factory warranty expired and recently the set started to show vertical ghost lines, one down the center and one on the right-hand third of the screen. Some internet research revealed this to be occurring on this brand with some frequency.

I had a service company check the set and it was found the panel needed to be replaced. Cost to replace the panel, $2130.00. This is more than I paid for the set to begin with.

Luckily I had put this on my Signature VISA card and registered it with the warranty manager. This doubled the warranty for FREE. So, I submitted a claim with the repair estimate but also said I would not accept another Toshiba as a replacement.

VISA offered a new set but it was a Toshiba. Instead, I was able to get a check for the cost of the replacement set and get paid for the $95.00 service call, a total of $1265.00. I get to go television shopping and will be able to get something bigger and better (probably go plasma now). Maybe I can make some cash by parting out the Toshiba, too.

If you have a Signature VISA, be sure to register the products you purchase with it.

https://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/credit/visa_signature.jsp

 

[chrisflock]

In February 2007 I bought a Toshiba Regza LCD tv (42LZ196), for $1700.00. It had only one issue while under warranty (the HDMI card went out) and was dealt with for free (although it took four times for Toshiba to send the repair folks the correct part). The factory warranty expired and recently the set started to show vertical ghost lines, one down the center and one on the right-hand third of the screen. Some internet research revealed this to be occurring on this brand with some frequency.
I had a service company check the set and it was found the panel needed to be replaced. Cost to replace the panel, $2130.00. This is more than I paid for the set to begin with.

Luckily I had put this on my Signature VISA card and registered it with the warranty manager. This doubled the warranty for FREE. So, I submitted a claim with the repair estimate but also said I would not accept another Toshiba as a replacement.

VISA offered a new set but it was a Toshiba. Instead, I was able to get a check for the cost of the replacement set and get paid for the $95.00 service call, a total of $1265.00. I get to go television shopping and will be able to get something bigger and better (probably go plasma now). Maybe I can make some cash by parting out the Toshiba, too.

If you have a Signature VISA, be sure to register the products you purchase with it.

https://usa.visa.com/personal/cards/credit/visa_signature.jsp

What's this about the HDMI card going out? I have a Toshiba rear projection, and I've had trouble with the HDMI input, it seems like whenever something is plugged in by HDMI, the TV does strange things like going blank, the picture freezing, or even occasionally the screen will slowly 'white out' and then the TV shuts off...

Wonder if that's what is wrong with mine? I'm probably out of warranty...

 

[LDRydr]

Nice reminder. This is why I NEVER purchase the extended warranty that every pimple-faced clerk pushes on you at the retail stores (no I don't want to extend the warranty on my $10 thumb-drive).

This is also another reason to always use your credit card rather than a checking account when making purchases via PayPal.

Here's a link to the Warranty Manager Service page so you don't have to hunt for it: CLICKY HERE

 

[eg23232]

What's this about the HDMI card going out? I have a Toshiba rear projection, and I've had trouble with the HDMI input, it seems like whenever something is plugged in by HDMI, the TV does strange things like going blank, the picture freezing, or even occasionally the screen will slowly 'white out' and then the TV shuts off...
Wonder if that's what is wrong with mine? I'm probably out of warranty...

What mine was doing at that time was....I'd turn on the set and the blue LED light would come on but I wouldn't get any picture. I would have to use the reset function to get any input. Also, I would sometimes get picture but no sound. It was happening with such reqularity I had to have a local service center come out and diagnose it. They had to replace the "signal" board. Problem was, even with them getting the part number off the circuit board, Toshiba kept sending them the wrong part. It took four visits to get it fixed. Luckily it only cost me my time to be at home.

No more Toshibas.

 

[dbvolfan]

Yep, VISA doubles my warranty (usually up to 2 years) on just about anything I purchase except motorized vehicles and it has come in usefuls everal times, most recently on my Washer. It saved me just over $400 right there alone.

 

[chrisflock]

I switched my xBox 360 to the component cable, so now I've got nothing plugged into my TV by HDMI for the last few weeks, and I've had 0 'incidents'.

Strangely, the 'incidents' where the screen would freeze, black out, or fade-to-white and turn off, were often happening on inputs OTHER than the HDMI...but having nothing plugged into HDMI seems to fix the problem.

Not like I'll care about the TV once the snow melts...

 

[Harald]

That's a great benefit on Visa cards! But I don't think all have that feature? I know that the Visa card issued by BECU (Boeing Employees Credit Union, but it's open to all WA state residents) has that feature (along with other great features like no annual fee, 6.9% interest, free travel insurance, free rental car coverage, etc). It saved me $150 on a radio repair that was almost 2 years old.

 

[eg23232]

That's a great benefit on Visa cards! But I don't think all have that feature?

That's correct. It has to be a "Signature VISA" and will say that on the card. It is found on most 'rewards' cards, such as ones that give you airline miles.

 

[Toecutter]

I'm pretty sure that buying an HDTV at Costco will automatically get you double the factory warranty. Still, I can't bring myself to fork out a grand for a TV that might only last two years. My $265.00 Toshiba CRT is four years old and will be my TV until it gives up the ghost....

 

[Fairlaner]

American Express also doubles the warranty and anything i buy with it...

I hardly ever use it though

R

Unfortunately the dealer would not take Amex when i bought the bike as the miles would have been nice..

 

[Capt. Bob]

American Express also doubles the warranty and anything i buy with it...I hardly ever use it though

R

Unfortunately the dealer would not take Amex when i bought the bike as the miles would have been nice..

I paid for mine with my Amex.

Must be a Dealer thing.

 

[Bounce]

Seems Toshiba continues to blow AND suck. We had problems with Toshiba parts for laptops years ago at an office I worked for. Long delays (months) for replacement screens for current-production laptops that were then nearly the cost of the laptop (or more). On Dells (in or out out production - even by years) they had in-stock replacements that were a fraction of the cost of the latop (i remember one being something like $200 when the toshiba was $2k).

and, yes, we had a lot of engineers that didn't take proper care of the equipment they were using.