Sony 57" HDTV warranty repair

[JCHDTV]

Well I am another victim of the infamous flickering issue Sony RPTV's have been having. I plunged into the repair of it since I bought Circuit City's extended warranty and I found myself learning how terrible service really is. First of all $400.00 of extended warranty cost only gives you a tiny analog TV for a loaner. The service company came out and took my TV for 12 days!!! I have to be without HD for that long :x I now wait to see if this service will fix my issue because it is getting extremely annoying, basically it's flickering darker and lighter and the colors seem to change but it only happens every so often but for the last 6 months or so. I heard of some horror stories on some other forums so I figure I would post everything going on with my repair incase this may help someone else having issues.
Wish me luck....

[JCHDTV]

Well my experience went from bad to worse :x After a month of holding my TV at the service shop they finally brought my TV home. It came with some added features, like a big scratch down the center of the front panel where the memory stick is located and onto the silver plastic. My TV was in mint shape before it went out. Supposedly all three guns were replaced but when we turned the TV on the guns were almost an inch off when projecting the display and on top of that the display was cocked at about a 45 degree angel. The guy tried to do something about the image but tld me it would take him 5 hours to adjust. These guys obviously didn't know what they were doing and I being an IT professional could see they were not technically savvy. My 3,000 dollar investment is basically a pile of garbage. Needless to say I went back to CC to get my TV replaced and I am in the process of this. I hope they stand behind their warranty I bought and replace this unit and fire this company that did their service. I would think twice about reporting any problem unless it is severe to the point you can't watch TV. I am very saddened by this whole event and I hope it comes to a happy ending.

[chupacabra]

I had a 51" Sony which developed flicker issue 2 months after I purchased it. I purchased it from CC with the extended warranty too. I called Sony and CC, (Sony told me CC had to come out to repair).The 'Sony at Your Service' warranty clearly stipulated that if the TV could not be repaired within 7 days they would replace it.

I can say that CC and Sony both honored that warranty when they did not fix it 100% after 7 days.

CC told me to come into the store for a full credit and I picked out a Hitachi Ultravision - never looked back.

My advice to you is to hold Sony to their warranty promise - did you register the TV with Sony warranty too?

Good luck.
Chupacabra

[JohnJoe]

Could someone please describe the flickering situation?

Thanks

[JCHDTV]

Chupacabra, yes I did but my warranty has expired with Sony and it was the service center that actually did the damage so I think my issue kind of falls in a grey area where a third party is at fault for the damage. This is what CC is trying to resolve, I assume so they fall responsible. In the meantime I guess I suffer having to wait. Your TV I assume was still pretty new when you did the return, right? Mine was a little over a year.

As far as the flicker issue, here is a link to Sony's website and the flicker issue bulletin. http://products.sel.sony.com/SEL/service/conselec/news/flicker.shtml

[jaymer]

so after reading the link at Sony, did you still have to go through CC to get your repair?
what happened when you contacted a Sony service center or talked with Sony?
am wondering if Sony handling it directly would be much better than some 3rd party getting in the middle... but then, would Sony have provided only "depot" service, meaning you'd have to take it to them?
jaymer...

[JCHDTV]

Well I did call originally, several months earlier, Sony directly. I ended up canceling the service with Sony because I began to read on different forums issues that had arised with other repair jobs people had requested on their TV's. At the time or even now I don't know if Sony will replace your TV if you have several issues and yes they do use local service providers which could still possibly be the same service center that ended up doing my repair. Also CC claims if you can't repair the TV after the 2nd time then they replace it if you have extended service.

I guess like any other avid audio/video junkie, my frustration is that, I had to watch an unexperienced tech open up my HDTV and obviously not know what they were doing. No static straps were used and he attempted to fixed the TV while it was on with a magnetic screw driver. I just wanted other forum readers to be warned so they might be informed who might possible do the service. According to CC I happened to fall under a slim percentage of repairs that was sent outside the normal CC techs and that is why it took so long.
JC

[JCHDTV]

In case anyone is interested I have had progress on my Sony 57" issue.

I did end up purchasing a new Samsung DLP 61" with the assurance that I would be getting a full refund for my Sony 57". I am extremely happy with the Samsung DLP thus far and the waiting has been worth it in the end. I would recommend to anyone who has service through CC to make sure when you call for service that a CC tech comes out and not a third party tech. This is where my whole trouble started. After discussing this issue with the Manager at CC for now on I will contact him first to verify I get a CC tech if service is needed.

Thanks,
JC