Phillips ......... never ever buy . Review on Philips FWD 550

I bought a FWD-550 in mid 2005. The only good thing about this product is the audio quality which, of course, philips is famous for.

But thats about where the good part ends, the shortcomings are infinite!!!

The first day it would not play any dvds, Philips support asked me to check region codes and also told me it would not play pirated dvds???

It would take forever to read vcds also!

I have a dvd+-rw at home and write dvds all the time. The philips fwd-550 cannot play dvds burnt at home??

I insisted to speak with their engineer. He gave me the same story. But my neighbour had a philips basic dvd player and the same dvds work fine on that player. The engineer was lost for words on seeing this.

He arranged for a techn to come over and change the complete lens assembly (which meant the complete carousel).

The part the technician had brought looked old and unpacked (like it was refurbished or from another system). I refused access to change the parts.

Philips support then asked me to send the player to their sevice center as mentioned in the warranty. I reluctantly did so, and when it came back after 10days,

I was shocked to see it.

It was scratched all over, and whats more, dvds still would not work. I did not believe it was mine. But the serial # was the same.

My warranty was on the verge of expiry.

Enough was enough.

I splashed the story in a daily newspaper in the grievances column.

What happened then?

The managers from philips were all over me, suddenly I was a very important person.

I threatened to approach the consumer court, and they, as expected gave me a replacement system.

The replacement system would also not play dvds!!!

I gave up vowing never to buy a philips product anymore. I sold the replacement system for a good price as well!!!

Never never never never ever buy a philips product.

Their after sales support is like torture.

Every time you call and give them the reference#, they ask you from scratch what the issue is and put you on hold many times until you hangup.

Their presence in the market is based is on their past glory.

Shabeer