Home audio & video: Sony Sony tvs vs. Costco Sony tvs
Costco's Concierge Service is THE BEST! Vizio is the WORST!
by blakecam - 12/8/07 4:32 PM In reply to: costco sony model by desertsunangellI just want to relay my recent experience with Costco and their Concierge Service. I purchased a Vizio 42" plasma over two year ago, so it was out of warranty with both Vizio and Costco's extended plan. The TV had a major failure, and Vizio refused to do anything about it. Vizio wouldn't even send a repair person out to look at it, even at my expense! They simply said "sorry, you're on your own." They suggested I check the Yellow Pages for a TV repair service! Great service, eh?
I called Costco to complain, and they referred me to their Concierge service. The experience was amazing. The Concierge rep said that they would not accept that kind of service from Vizio, and immediately arranged for a technician to come out to look at my TV, AT NO CHARGE TO ME! The technician showed up as promised, and confirmed that it was a major failure, and the TV was as good as trash.
The same Costco Concierge rep called me that very same night, and offerd me a FULL refund of the purchase price. This is over two years after purchase!!! I returned the TV to my local Costco warehouse, and voila, a full refund was pre-arranged by the Concierge department. No questions asked. Unbelievable. Try that with Best Buy, CC, Sears, or ANY other retailer.
The best part is, I was able to purchase a Sony KDL-46VL130 for the same price as my old Vizio. What an amazing difference in TV's. I couldn't be happier with my new Sony, and I will never purchase another piece of equipment from anyone other than Costco. I can't imagine that the other Sony models will have a significantly better picture than the KDL-46VL130. I think 99% of viewers would be thrilled with this TV. The only negative is that the remote control is not universal. It controls only the TV, and will not control your cable box, DVD player, HT system, etc. However, it doesn't really matter to us because our cable remote is universal.
There is a lot of mention about Vizio products and their low prices. While our Vizio 42" plasma had a very nice picture, it completely failed after only two years, and Vizio technical support offered NO support at all. They are absolutely the WORST customer service department I have ever dealt with. Costco backed up their porduct, and came to the rescue. If anyone is considering a Vizio product, think long and hard before buying one, because their customer support is HORRIBLE. They are cheap for a reason. If you must buy one, buy ONLY from Costco because they will at least offer their fantastic Concierge service, and a two year warranty.
Thank you Costco!
WOW
by desertsunangell - 12/8/07 10:04 PM In reply to: Costco's Concierge Service is THE BEST! Vizio is the WORST! by blakecamBlakcam,
My husband and I were reading your post and it confirmed why we will buy at Costco. You cannot beat first-hand reports like that! We looked at all the tvs Costco had to offer and really liked the Sony Bravia KDL-46VL130. That is our choice of tvs. As soon as the funds are available we will be purchasing one of them. And your experience in the Concierge service is totally refreshing. We had a bad experience with Home Depot and Magic Chef and I understand about a company not standing behind their product. (Home Depot made good after a lot of teeth pulling after Magic Chef did the same to us as Vizio did to you.) It proves that service after the sale is a huge part of buying a major appliance. HUGE!!! I wish Costco had better refrigerators but they don't and we went to Lowes. They have done very well with our bad experience in getting our refrigerator, even though it's lost in San Diego somewhere. lol That is another story!
Thank you for a wonderful report. Your experience is our lesson. I hope our refi goes through this next week and then we'll be off to Costco to buy our Christmas present to ourselves. 
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
You'll be happy
by blakecam - 12/9/07 4:16 PM In reply to: WOW by desertsunangelldesertsunangell,
I'm sure you will be very happy with your new Sony from Costco. Hope you are able to get it soon. What a great Christmas present that will be for you and your husband. Costco's customer service is priceless if you ever need it. They bend over backward for their customers, and that's why they'll be in business for a long long time.
Let us know how you like your TV after you pick it up. Have a great Christmas and best of luck in the New Year.
Love our Sony!!!
by desertsunangell - 12/23/07 9:35 AM In reply to: You'll be happy by blakecamBlakecam,
Costco got in a new shipment of Sony 46" tvs and we picked up ours Thusrday night. Last night we got the HD box and got it all hooked up! It's really cool! Even with only the digital box it was a great looking picture. Now with the HD all hooked up it's awesome! My husband and I wathched Saturday Night Football on the NFL Channel last night and it was REALLY cool. Now we'll be able to watch Monday Night Football (albeit the last one) to watch our Chargers in full high def!!!! All the high def channels look great and we like our tv. Husband is watching American Chopper in HD now and it looks great from here. He sits there watching tv with a big smile on his face!!!! I wonder if the amazement and excitement will wear off!?!
Costco was great about the sale and I'm sure if anything goes wrong they will stand behind everything!
Go Chargers!!!
Merry Christmas to us with our new tv! And Merry Christmas to everyone out there.
Robin
Congratulations!
by blakecam - 12/24/07 12:44 PM In reply to: Love our Sony!!! by desertsunangellRobin,
Awesome! Happy to hear you are enjoying your new TV. We have had HDTV for 3 years now, and the enjoyment doesn't wear off. Probably because we have spent an entire lifetime watching regular broadcasts, and HDTV is a huge difference, especially with the Sony Bravia. Merry Christmas and all the best in 2008.
YOUR POST IS MUCH APPRECIATED BY ALL......
by Riverledge - 12/9/07 3:58 PM In reply to: Costco's Concierge Service is THE BEST! Vizio is the WORST! by blakecamCONGRATS; FOR STICKING UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!
AND KUDOS TO COSTCO, FOR ITS INTEGRITY IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Riverledge.
Gabes costco opinion
by HDperfectionist - 6/6/08 9:13 PM In reply to: costco sony model by desertsunangellStrait up I will be honest Costco TV's are complete junk, I have been through 4 TV's in the last 3 months, and the one from Best Buy is the only one I am happy with.
I think Costco makes there own boxes for the TV's and falsely advertises 120HZ. I also explained that to them when I returned my POS sony wannabe 120HZ TV.
Im not trying to rip on anyone in this forum by any means, I know that facts because I had the TV's myself.
XBR4 And XBR5 are the ****!!! I got the XBR5 and it is great. Although I am a bit upset because the XBR 6 and 7 are coming out now, and they have a newer and improved Bravia engine. I will not lie I still see some distort when there is a lot going on.
Forgot to add this
by HDperfectionist - 6/6/08 9:15 PM In reply to: Gabes costco opinion by HDperfectionistI need to add that the Castco models have the Bravia EX engine, which is garbage, and NOT 120HZ. The XBR's have the Bravia Pro Engine which is much better, and actually does 120HZ
meat man's costco opinion
by jostenmeat - 6/9/08 9:20 PM In reply to: Gabes costco opinion by HDperfectionistYou do touch upon a point. Biggest complaint about costco electronics is small selection.
I just picked up CR electronics buying guide.
There are ratings for Online and Walk-in.
10 stores rated for on-line. Costco is #3. BB is in last place at #10.
23 stores rated for walk-in. Costco is #3 again. BB is #19 (hey, at least not last place).
Costco is the ONLY store listed out of 23 walk-in that got top score 5/5 for pricing. Sam's club is the only one that got next best rating of 4/5 for pricing. All others are average to worse.
Best online rating is crutchfield (but 3-way tie for worst pricing among the 10). Best walk-in = local independent stores. Good job you store owners here. You know who you are.
just fyi. im a costco proponent.
Pricing?
by HDperfectionist - 6/9/08 9:35 PM In reply to: meat man's costco opinion by jostenmeatYeah you are right, Costco wins the price battle.
The thing is you will not find a TV in Costco that even closely compares to the video quality of the one I bought at best buy.
I could care less is Costco is cheaper, you get what you pay for. I agree the costco customer service may be better than best buy, but I didn't spend 3g's for customer service I spent it for a high quality picture. I know for sure if people actually compared the costco sets to sets from stores like best buy or circuit city, they would be upset that they spent that much and did not get the quality with it. That is all I'm saying.
Costco ain't what it used to be ......
by bigmutt - 9/24/08 3:13 PM In reply to: meat man's costco opinion by jostenmeatYou're right, Costco has good prices and pretty good customer service.
But when I read some of these people falling all over themselves to sing the praises of Costco, I have to believe they're talking about a one-time experience. And every retailer has customers who hate them AND others who love them, based on one or a couple of experiences.
I've been a Costco member for 31 years and have bought over 10 t.v. sets there, along with a hundred grand of other purchases. I have bought at many different warehouses, in three different countries. And MY experience is that they're getting fussier with their customer service while Sam's Club for example is still providing exceptional service in all cases I've experienced. Also I urge you to compare prices: Costco nor Sams is ALWAYS the lowest on the exact same product. And Sams is normally slightly lower than Costco for the same product these days.
Getting a hard-line approach to exchanges on defective items has become more & more common this past year, and it may be partly due to their revised return policy on TVs and other electronics. 90 days only, and that is trickling down to their staff's attitude and response to other after-sale problems.
I read that Costco tightened its policy for financial reasons yet it continues to post higher-than-ever profits.
I used to be a Costco supporter but during this past year or two I've switched my allegiance to Sam's Club due to bad experiences at Costco that were totally unnecessary.
Thanks for your comment
by jostenmeat - 9/24/08 3:42 PM In reply to: Costco ain't what it used to be ...... by bigmuttPerhaps I will not proclaim their CS with the same fervor anymore. I've do hear once in a while it ain't what it used to be as far as you say. Not among personal friends, but perhaps what I read online.
I wonder if they suffered the same way Mack warranties did. That soooo many people took such abusive advantage, that they were forced to be tighter.
I've said it before here: I know of stories first or second hand that are totally ridiculous. And, as before, I refuse to share these stories so that such abuse does not become more rampant than it already has to be. In any case, the stories i know of are completely unheard of anywhere else, in my experiences. Unbelievable, in fact.
MotionFlow
by blakecam - 12/9/07 4:23 PM In reply to: Sony Sony tvs vs. Costco Sony tvs by desertsunangellRobin,
By the way, I have been watching football all weekend on my new Sony KDL-46VL130, and there is nothing wrong with the flow of the motion. I don't know what MotionFlow technology does on the more expensive model, but the action looks GREAT on my "cheap" Costco model.
Can you believe this!!!
by desertsunangell - 12/11/07 8:32 PM In reply to: MotionFlow by blakecamHey guys,
I went to Costco yesterday (Monday 12-10) and they were out of the Sony 46" Bravia. They had them the week before but I guess they were a hot seller. Shoulda woulda....
Anyway, one of the manager-type people told me that they were due 11-29 and were late. We are in San Diego County and the Sony factory is in San Diego County too down by the border. He said that someone went into the Sony factory dock area and high-jacked a truck loaded with flat screen tvs. He figured some were bound for Costco and that is why they were late.
Doesn't that blow you away?! Someone just went into the Sony facility and stole the whole truckload of TVs!!!! Well, needless to say they are in Mexico by now. That is just wrong! That sure takes ba**s to just steal the truck!!!
I guess we'll wait and see what happens. Maybe one more weekend of regular tv watching football. Go Chargers! A win is a win is a win. I don't care how they got it!
Has anyone else seen anything on the internet about the highjacking?
Robin
Haven't heard that story...
by jostenmeat - 12/11/07 10:20 PM In reply to: Can you believe this!!! by desertsunangellAnyways, you seem like a very nice lady, so I'd like to help out too!
I see you are getting Cox now, just read thru this thread for the first time. When I was searching HD-dvr boxes the Motorola DCT 6416 III was the best at the time if only for the biggest memory (and if you consider HDMI a bonus). See if they have any. Yes, you'll want a DVR... think of it as adding a year to your life by no longer watching ads if you so desire.
Here is the San Diego HDTV thread at AVS. There seem to be many users of Cox there as well (13 pages so far):
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=376666&highlight=cox+san+diego&page=13
the cable box does whir quite a bit, imo. But I am a nutty audiophile now, so take that fwiw. (Its on the very bottom of some stacked components in order to try to silence the thing! Im sure it eats up enery consistently, even when not in use, compared to my other components, again fwiw).
Good luck!
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