Jun 09, 2016 06:53 PM
3184 Views
(Updated Jun 11, 2016 07:43 PM)
We bought a Philips 32PFL3938 32 inches LED TV(HD Ready) in April 2014. At the time of buying it, online from Flipkart, we saw a 3-year warranty on the screen but after ordering it, we now noticed that the invoice now mentioned 1 year warranty. This when other brands are offering 1+2=3 years warranties. So anyways, the TV was installed, and all was good for 2 years.
A few weeks ago, the Tv started malfunctioning, in as much as the opening screen and settings displays started going through random cycles. We went through the usual sequence of complaints by phone and online and with a dozen call-centre type people asking the same questions again and again.
Luckily we had not disposed of our previous old CRT television, so immediate problem was solved, but while going, the local cable guy who came to change the wires told us that this was a regular problem with Philips, be careful about them forcing you to take an AMC.
Sure enough, after a dozen calls on "where is the address", which makes me wonder, don't the technicians have GPS and maps on their phones, a Philips technician lands up and says, OK, I can fix this in 2 minutes but service charge will be 960/- rupees plus service tax and you will have to take an AMC for 3000/- rupees plus service tax. What is the defect, I asked, and like a champion he told me, "software patch".
"Very good", I told him, "you can go now.".
This is like blackmail. Any subsequent software patch means design defect or some update from manufacturer so why should a customer pay and then get tricked into an AMC? This is like buying a smartphone or computer and paying every time for a software or OS upgrade.
I guess this is the last anything I buy from Philips. I'm going to take this TV and place it on the balcony as a decoration piece. Meanwhile, the older CRT Tv, which is also a Philips, does just fine, the speakers and sound is better too.
