LG = Looting Graciously. Review on LG 32 LH20R

I had bought an LG LCD(LH20 model) an year and a half back inspired by the tall claims that LG provides the best of the services. Just three months after the(first year) free warranty got over, the TV panel started showing the picture in single color switching from one to other(From Pink to Yellow to Green to Red). I suspected that there must have been some circuit issue and lodged a complaint(RNA-110210070997) with the LG service supposedly the best.

Service Engineer comes within the promised 24 hours, informs that the panel needs to be changed which would cost me 39% of the TV cost. This was a shock in the first place as we have never had any voltage issues at home. Still suspecting it to be the cause, I enquired to the engineer on the possible cause of the panel damage in just over an year, in order to prevent this from happening again. On this I was simply suggested to stay away from LG LCD and LED TVs as there were no issues with its handling but rather it is the product quality delivered to the customers which has been compromised and is usually substandard now. This, coming from an LG engineer, who is employed by the company was the second shock to me. I was suggested to continue buying the warranty if I wished to avoid similar costs going ahead and was assured that the panel may again need a replacement in a similar time frame. The warranty charges are 10% of the cost per year.

Anyways the engineer informs me, he would come back with the panel to replace it. 10 days pass by and never heard from him. On one out of the dozen attempts to reach him I get to know that the panel is not available and I need to check with the supervisor if I am in a hurry. I try to reach the supervisor and after showing some urgency and concern, the supervisor finally shows some mercy on me and sends his engineers with the panel which is replaced at a hefty cost. Once they have left, I notice that there are huge scratches not very visible, on the new panel to my disappointment, running from bottom to top of the screen. Although they are not affecting the picture quality but the can be easily seen when the TV is off. Can now hardly do anything as I have already paid for the change.

I know I am out of warranty and cannot claim on the cost incurred but just wished to warn people planning to buy LG products on what the engineer's sugest on their own company's product. These products specially Flat Panel TVs are substandard and low quality parts in branded clothes sold to customers at premium just to fool them and mint money out of the same. Its their way of assuring their continuous income by selling warranties and AMCs to customers as customers can legally do nothing besides opting for the warranties. Even if you take the best of measures to avoid the panel malfunctions you wouldn't be as they are built to last long. Not my words but what the LG engineers suggested. So all I wished to suggest in this note is if you wish to go for LG flat panel TVs, please base your decesion on my experience that the expected lifetime of the TV panels are not more than 1.5 to 2 years. Would suggest brands with longer warranties to be opted instead. I learnt it hard way. Hope you don't have to.