RCA Complaint - Do Not Buy RCA Tv's - RCA TV - Model L32HD350

Posted by Helpful on 2010-09-17:

You are correct, David, RCA has become a fairly low end brand now and generally builds a cheaper quality form of merchandise. Generally, I do believe in the concept of extended warranties and have been involved in great savings because of such. However, in your review, you've failed to explain who the extended warranty was through. When purchasing such, you generally have the choice of buying warranty coverage through the manufacturer, retailer or some other third party. I usually suggest to avoid the latter. Also, as you've come to learn, make sure the warranty coverage you purchase covers the length of time you would expect without dealing with unexpected costs. If an extra year isn't good enough, make sure the coverage is longer. It's also correct that, at times, when an exchange takes place, a refurbished product can be used in place of repairing your USED product. If one expects more than that, they should further shop for this condition before making the purchase.

Best of luck with your next TV and thanks for the post.

Posted by David2334 on 2010-09-18:

The warranty was through the manufacturer which was actually spelled out in my statement - Note that I dealt with RCA and their authorized service provider. This was the only option offered to me at the time of my purchase of the two 32" televisions. RCA used to be a good quality product. In fact the TV I had before purchasing the two mentioned in my comments lasted more than 20 years which was a major factor in my purchase of RCA. The units were actually purchased from WalMart and even though they were not responsible, the manager of the local WalMart was very helpful in proving me a copy of my purchase receipt even six months after the actual purchase date. And don't repeat this however I actually spoke with a local RCA service provider this past week and that authorized dealer told me to never buy a warranty from RCA. - It's a total waste of money cause not only does the consumer get shafted, so does the repair center.

Posted by Venice09 on 2010-09-18:

It's not just RCA. Too often these warranties aren't worth the paper they're written on. Not only did you waste your money on two warranties, but you have also thrown away a total of three television sets. There was a time when brand names meant something, but not anymore. RCA was one of the best, and to see what it has become is sad indeed.

Posted by Prince-Caesar on 2010-09-18:

Agreed. I never base my shopping for electronics on name brands any more. Venice is right. Brand names USED to mean something, but nopt any more. Most of the parts are imported from china and many other parts of the country. There used to be a time when companies cared about their integrity and customer loyalty, but not any more. The only thing companies care about are how cheap they can make a product, and the most they can purge from their consumers.

Posted by Prince-Caesar on 2010-09-18:

I mean I STILL have an RCA television that my aunt gave to me like over 15 years a go. She bought it, probably in the 1980s, I remember when she first bought it. I used to play Nintendo on it with my cousin. I STILL HAVE the TV and it still works great! Its in our spare bedroom, hooked up and ready for guests. There used to be a time where electronics would LAST. As a matter of fact, I still have my original NINTENDO! I still have my original Nentendo, Sega genesis, Nintendo 64, nintendo game cube, playstation, and playstation 2. I am on my SECOND X Box 360. The first one lasted a little less than a year, when I got the rings of death. Luckily it was replaced under warranty. Goes to show how the electronics business has changed.

Posted by Venice09 on 2010-09-18:

My grandparents only bought RCA televisions. They were among the first to have one with a remote control. My parents were also loyal to RCA. Not only are brand names now meaningless, but I trust them even less when bought at Walmart, as in the OP's case. I think some things are made specifically for Walmart and are of even worse quality than what is sold in other stores.

Posted by Prince-Caesar on 2010-09-18:

oh agreed venice. Wal Mart demands their suppliers to lower their price, thus, lowering their profit line. So they have to make up for it somewhere, meaning even CHEAPER parts.

Posted by Prince-Caesar on 2010-09-18:

There used to be a time where there were certain brands I would try to look for and seek out. Any more, theres only brands that I would stay away from and avoid!

Posted by singsing on 2010-09-18:

Venice and Prince, I do have to agree. Things just aren't what they used to be. And, the expensive warranties that are supposed to fix the breakdown problems, are not all they're cracked to be either.

On a positive note, we have bought two Vizio LCD tv's at Costco. One was shipped from CT to WA for a temporary move and arrived unscathed. We have had no problems with either one in the past four years. Additionally, our son has one and has also had no problems. That's three out of three!

Posted by robbydee on 2010-09-18:

I know RCA used to make good products, but that was a LONG time ago. I used to sell TV's at Circuit City about 10 years ago and they were junk back then. A couple of things to keep in mind with electronic purchases: First, avoid combination TV/DVD players as these tend to fail far faster then stand alone units and are more difficult to replace. Second, especially true now with flat panel TV's, is that you pay more for features, not for how long the TV will last. Where tube TV's commonly lasted 10+ years, flat panel TV's are far more prone to fail long before that, regardless of brand. Brand name does still mean something, however. Sony, Samsung, Mitsubishi, Panasonic and others have more quality control than "bargain brands" and usually have the best picture. That doesn't mean they will necessarily last longer, but they have better odds.

Posted by Helpful on 2010-09-18:

Robby is correct in that there are brands which are non-OEM quality builders. Some of these brands are brands which may seem familiar to folks, such as RCA, that are now assembling merchandise with lower quality components and thereby are more prone to breakdown. Interestingly Sing, Vizio is also within this same category.

It's very true that a warranty is only as good as the company it's backed by. With that said, a wise consumer shops around for quality service just as much as quality merchandise. One should not just purchase from the retailer that's the cheapest. As the saying goes, "Lo barato sale caro"; translated means the cheap comes out expensive. Smartly, if you can't trust the manufacturer's or retailer's extended warranty program(s), then it's probably a good idea to select a different manufacturer or retailer.

Posted by Venice09 on 2010-09-18:

I agree that there is still some level of quality to be found out there, but I think luck has a lot to do with it. I have a TV/DVD combo in the kitchen that was given to me as a gift almost three years ago, and it's still working fine. It says Magnavox on the front, but who knows who made it?.. I don't. It is not a flat screen but it has a great picture. It was also very inexpensive.

However, an extended warranty is something I wouldn't even consider anymore. I used to be in favor of extended warranties on items that are heavily used, but I've changed my tune. As I have been saying for years, a warranty is only as good as the company behind it. And these companies are failing miserably. There is no magical retailer or manufacturer that I feel confident will honor its warranty without first giving the customer a hassle. Trust me, it's not worth it. The aggravation alone puts the thought of an extended warranty right out of my head. I will never buy one again.