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Community weekly poll: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off?
- 4/18/07 12:12 PM
I don't buy any Sony products anymore
by FrankWoolf - 4/18/07 5:37 PM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have never been ripped off but there are products I consider very poor value.
I have bought masses of TV, audio & video gear, etc over the years. Some I have found to be exceptionaly good quality as their products have survived years of abuse but I will never buy Sony again. I can remember about 6 or 8 Sony products I have bought and not one has lasted even one year before going wrong. They have plenty of repair centers but in my view they should very rarely need repair in the first place.
I can never understand why people put up with all the problems of Windows either but that's another story 
Exchange it!!!
by Bosbaba - 4/18/07 6:13 PM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Not only for Electronics, but any sales, I believe that "Exchange it for a new one, and try again", indirectly FORCE SUPLIERS to take better care of what they sell. By doing this, the suplier has to spend more (and more time) on the spesific sale, consequintly DECREASING HIS NETT. PROFFIT, or even forcing it into a loss, as time is money... It's like "returning the favour".
By only returning or ignoring the ripp-off, the blame is only put on a livingless product, but by (repeatingly) exchanging it, human DISCRESSION are also forced down (on the suplliers) over a longer, more memorable timeframe!
So! Make sure ONLY to buy garenteed products!!!
This method normally involves unrefundable postage costs on the end-user, but for me, it's worth the favour...
A very good topic
by solus2sail - 4/18/07 6:15 PM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
The bane of my electronic existence has been Sony.
I bought my first digital camera from them only to find out they have proprietary batteries at probably 5 times the price due to the plastic enclosure. Then they stopped updating the software which can't be used with an OS upgrade.
Sony is so big that complaints are answered with a friendly form letter but problems are otherwise ignored.
My first digital camcorder (also a Sony) died one month after the warranty expired. They are so expensive to repair I wound up throwing it away.
Now I generally just steer clear of Sony products.
Once I understand a company is only interested in pushing products out the door with little regard for tech support or reasonably priced repair services, I just say NO !!!
Re: Sony Products
by jallen2006 - 4/22/07 11:52 AM In reply to: A very good topic by solus2sailI second that---don't buy Sony electronics!
I am dealing with them right now on a flyback transformer that went out on my TV that is three years old THIS month! Almost $300 to fix on a $600 TV! When I googled the problem (no sound, no picture, blinking 2 times) I found TONS of complaints on Sony TV's, my model and other models with the same exact problem and the same resistance from Sony. It's obvious they are getting parts that were defective and should (just like automotive mfg's) issue a simple RECALL---but they are the model for corporate ignornace and greed!
SONY NO LONGER A QUALITY PRODUCT
by ScoopNJ78 - 4/22/07 1:55 PM In reply to: Re: Sony Products by jallen2006SONY NO LONGER MAKES QUALITY PRODUCT. A FRIEND BOUGHT A SONY
COMPUTER. IT WAS NOTHING BUT A MAJOR HEADACHE JUDGING BY THE POSTS HERE I CAN SAY I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SONY AGAIN. WHEN I WAS IN A LOCAL COMP-USA I HAD HEARD TO STAY AWAY FROM SONY BURNINGS!!!!!!!!!!!
I took that advise and got a Memorex unit that I am very happy with
Paul (ScoopNJ)
SONY NO LONGER A QUALITY PRODUCT
by jallen2006 - 4/22/07 3:21 PM In reply to: SONY NO LONGER A QUALITY PRODUCT by ScoopNJ78I've had two Sony computers in the past---the worst part about Sony is they sell with a C and D drive giving far less room to the C than the D drive---so even though you install programs to the D drive to save hard disk space on C, some system files still get installed to C and before you know it the C drive is full, the D drive has a ton of room but the full C drive makes the computer drag it's heels so it very slow--the only option, which is a pain in the arse, is to back up all the files, reformat and change the partition so the C drive has equal space---I now have an Emachine---I had Emachine years ago (1995) as my very first computer and it's a fine little machine--Gateway is another pain in the arse but the machine itself runs really well, no problems and is a hellofa lot cheaper !!
If you price out laptops too, Sony is always asking a MINT compared to any other manufacturer..they need to just stick to making films!!
if it is to good to be true then it isn't.
by casanovajoe - 4/18/07 6:20 PM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
first of all, I don't write. I call. i like to get some one like a supervisor or above. They will shoot you some bull but then get them to e mail you so you have hard copy. now i have the company, email address and a name.
Since I have used credit card, i can now contact them and report fraud. they have to cover the loss or get the company to cover the loss. It will appear as a credit on your monthly statement.
Casanova
Ripped off by TV and magazine ad DO NOT BUY X10 PRODUCTS
by SargeAF - 4/18/07 6:45 PM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I seen an ad once in an electronics magazine for X10 cameras, then seen it again on TV. Well I did some researching and it seemed that for the money it would do what I wanted which was to monitor the kids in the other room, the other intended uses was for a nanny cam, and to monitor the house while not at home, see out in the yard while I was in my office.
After much consideration and conversation they (X10) assured me that at a distance of less than 50 feet I should not have a problem, the furtherest distance the cameras would be from the antenna is 20 feet. So I bought the 3 camera deal, they seemed to ******* as I expected so I ordered some more with the intention of selling them locally as for the purpose I stated above. Well at the tune of 600.00 with my discount for resale, I recieved the cameras and hooked them up to test them out under use. Within 2 months the computer program started not recieving the signals, phone call after phone call we eliminated one possible problem after another, and less and less the program was not recieving the signal properly. Evenually after the return policy was up, (because I was not paying attention) and in an effort to get these working the tech suggested that it was because I lived in a moble home (which I told them from the beginning). Now I want to return them, ah ha the return date has came and went. I packed them away because we had just bought a house and I figured I would have better luck, couldnt return them anyways, so I hooked them up here in the new house, (max distance 40 feet) guess what intermitent signals, then the computer program caused my computer to crash. Well once I had gone through and got everything reinstalled the computer works fine, but now I do not have the program any more that operates the cameras. Now I own a bunch of 2.4 ghz cameras and no way to use them.
Sarge
New Jersey Division of Consumer Fraud Has Helped Me
by lewisedge - 4/18/07 8:04 PM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
New Jersey has a powerful and effective Division of Consumer Fraud. When I've invested in products or services that were misrepresented to me, I've carefully documented it and submitted a complaint to that division.
Within a few weeks, the merchant or service provider has always offered a satisfactory solution. In some cases I've received a replacement with something better or in other cases, I've received a refund.
My care in dealing with on-line merchants has yielded good results. Whenever I've been unhappy with merchandise ordered, the merchants have not only refunded my purchase price but the return shipping as well. Couldn't ask for more than that.
Problems
by ScoopNJ78 - 4/19/07 7:57 AM In reply to: New Jersey Division of Consumer Fraud Has Helped Me by lewisedgeHi, saw your problem with Vista. It has been published in PC World, Smart Computing, etc that there are driver problems with the new Vista operating system Most say that drivers will be available by summer I know it is a major hassle, but you can try the manuf site then. Some software makers are also saying that they will NOT update for Vista. I will go after them in time, after I get my Vista. CNET should have had an article alerting people to that problem. How come
Smart Computing and PC World could??? and they couldn't????
It might be that they go easier on companies that give them adv bucks!!!!!!!!!
I also had a problem with a car dealer caused by the bank that was financing. One month after I got my new car, the bank told the dealer that they would not pay on that model. Thus the dealer came back to me
to bring in the car for an exchange. That I didn't have a problem with. BUT WHAT THEY DID NEXT, I DID!!!!!!!!
They exchanged it for another model that they claimed was worth as much, but had 10,000 miles on it.
It had been a GM exec car. When I found out that the value of that car was only $8,000 vs the loan
from the first of $16,000 I went through the roof. That is when they got me in a room closed doors with
managers, including finance manager and telling me they would not search for another vehicle. That is when I went through the roof. I threaten to go to Ocean County Consumer affairs (Toms River NJ) and they sang a
different tune. The poor salesman didn't know what to think. I just told him I understood that the bank was
the one at fault BUT any lose was not my problem. They would have to fight it out with the bank. Also told
them at my job, we had an error account and we would never stick on a client something that wasn't their
fault. Well I got another car, with 1,600 miles on it (the first car that was brand new had 850 miles when I brought it back, and the second added another 700 miles) So I said that was a fair exchange. I am not the
type that wants something for nothing and I wanted to be fair. I did get them to swap out the radio for the one
in the second car that also had a CD player, got them to add the thick side moldings, and even got them
to give me the front and rear floor mats. It wasn't fun but I think we both came out somewhat ok except the
dealer had the first car that they sold me new, but now had to sell it as USED. Not fun for them and they
better have gone after the bank.
Hope this helps
I usually try to get my money back
by freqdwnldr - 4/18/07 8:24 PM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
but most often I've been stuck with the product (I've had 1 or 2 products like that). I've stopped shopping online for a while. I swore to make sure I do more research before buying from sites like newegg.com and tigerdirect.com or just stop buying from them.
I've had quite a few experiences with online shopping. TigerDirect cheated my father out of $65 for a mp3 player that was delivered defective, so I've stopped buying from them. I bought an mp3 player and HDD afew years back from E-Bay - the HDD came defective and the mp3 player never showed. After making several unsuccessful attempts, stopped buying from them. I hate E-Bay
EBAY
by ScoopNJ78 - 4/19/07 7:30 AM In reply to: I usually try to get my money back by freqdwnldrThere is a buyer protection plan at EBAY. You should go through them.
If you used a credit card, then go to them and have the amount charged back.
Junk, Hmmm where to start?
by back_water_tech - 4/18/07 8:34 PM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have been into electonics since I was very little.
Computers:
Sony: sucks, hands down (do they make anything worth buying?)
HP/Compaq: Not the worst, could use improvement (speak english?)
Dell: Not what they used to be. Still not bad, but getting worse
Gateway: Ya know, I have heard a lot of bad things, but they have always done me right.
Brown boxes seem to always be the best PC's.
Other electronics:
where to start? First off, you (usually) get what you pay for (unless you swear Sony is best.) RCA has their ups and downs. Panasonic is a good brand (too bad they dropped the Technics line) Toshiba makes some pretty good consumer grade stuff like cameras and cable modems. Motorola sucks, hands down. they made great radios in the 80's but they have straight up sucked since. Kenwood is pretty good for consumer audio. Alpine is a little over priced, but usually deliver on thier mobile audio sets. JVC is like RCA, some good some bad. Too bad you don't know which is which when you buy 
Cheap Chineese radios are ok for the shop.
Always take the item to the store you bought from (if you can) if your item fails durring the warrenty. I agree to stick it to the retailer on this one, they will stop buying junk sets pretty fast if they get a lot of returns on items. RadioShack seemed to be pretty good about dropping products that failed easily.
I return it to where it came from.
by Dena Yuriga - 4/18/07 11:59 PM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have really had very good luck with just returning items. I order many items from the forms that you get with credit card statements, ebay, from forms that come in the coupon leaflets that are always in the Sunday paper & retail stores & wholesale outlets. I have had no problem with returning items. I can only think of one instance on ebay where the seller misrepresented their product and wouldn't budge so I filed a complaint with paypal. If you call and are pleasent, most people are honest and will take items back. Of course if one is belligerent, they will definately have a harder time. At the time they are investagating my claim. I feel that when all is said and done, I will win.
What to DO when you have been ripped off.
by Daibad - 4/19/07 4:24 AM In reply to: What do you do when you feel you've been ripped off? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Your poll outcomes are amazing: that so many (as a proportion only since we do not know the numbers involved). That ANY of your correspondents should simply double the cheaters profits by buying ANOTHER of the same is beyond me. You must complain directly, and immediately if poss.; in the UK this is encouraged by the Consumer Protection which places the responsibility for defective goods directly upon the Retailer.
Then, if no satisfaction, threaten Small Claims Court action - very inexpensive. THEN, if need be, go as far as applying for bankruptcy against the crooks. Do NOT give them the satisfaction of making you twice the victim-ONCE should be enough for anyone to be caught out.
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