What happened to customer service? Standing behind the products you sell? Hell shouldnt' all that be governed by the old "Golden Rule"? Instead seems it's become taken over by the "Just Give Me the Gold" rule.

Here's a little tidbit I learned today that may hopefully help you when shopping for electronics. Don't try and exchange a defective product at Circuit City if it's more than 30 days past the purchase, even if the warranty period is far longer than that. Circuit City policy requires you to go through the manufacturer any time after the first thirty days. I of course had the bad luck to find this out with my $1000 flat screen TV that's less than 2 months old.


Keep in mind that I wasn't asking for my money back, just a replacement TV. Hell I'd of been happy if they'd offered me a loaner tv while the other one was being repaired. But no, the only response I got was, "We only exhange the product after 30 days if you bought our extended warranty option". WHAT? I have to pay extra for you to honor the freaking warranty on a product I bought from you? Hmm, I wonder how long it will be before we have that problem in other venues. Say car dealerships, oh I'm sorry its more than 30 days since your purchase, you'll have to call Kia directly on that. Or maybe parts stores. You know, " Yes sir, we sold you that lifetime warranty starter, but that was more than 30 days ago, you're going to have to call the manufacturer on that, here's their number. Sorry about the fact that your car won't start and you won't be able to get to work for 4 to 7 business days". Oh that is unless you pay us even more money for us to cover it for you, hmm sounds like I'm getting screwed somewhere.


C'mon guys, even Walmart has a better policy than that. Hell for that matter, I've gotten better service from freaking mail order/internet companies. In many cases the internet companies have sent me a replacement product before they even got my defective one back, with a prepaid shipping label for the old items return I might add. Now that's likely to earn a loyal customer.


Needless to say I had a few words to say to the manager at Circuit City. Whom, by the way, knows me on a first name basis because between personal, business, and consulting purchases I've spent more than $40,000 dollars at her store in the last 4 years. That kind of money and they couldn't extend the exchange policy by a lousy 3 weeks to keep a loyal customer? Or even maybe offer a loaner until mine was repaired? Well not anymore buddy.


I did go straight over to both Best Buy and ask them about their policy. I was assured that their 30 day policy only applied to new returns and refunds and that warranty issues were handled differently. I was also told that I wasn't the first person in with that question today.


Anyway, keep it in mind when you're out shopping for a tv, computer, stereo, or whatever.

 

If the place you buy your electronics (or car) from does not have a service department, don't expect much "service" after the sale.

Did ya ever get a chance to try out those nicely ported 083 heads on a motor?

 

I agree with you completely. But it seems it could be the manufacturer themselves enforcing this 30 day rule. I have bought many computer items and quite a few LCD's from TigerDirect, and most of the manuals that came with those items said "return to manufacturer if item becomes defective after 30 days".

I seem to especially remember this with Samsung when I bought my DVD player/recorder.

Still, I find this very annoying and completely agree with you. The store should be the place to do all of this. A lot of places just don't give a damn any more. Very hard to find a place that goes out of their way to make the customer happy.

"Here's your stuff. Now get out."

 

Wow, no third in this, it will get locked quick.
SO YOU LOADED THAT 20 INCH FLAT SCREEN INTO YOU 3RD GEN AND TOOK IT RIGHT BACK.LOL