The Road to Aquiring a KURO.. Please Read

[4TA23]

Ok I am about to get a new Pioneer 5020 Kuro, 50" plasma. I see where I can get one for like $2700 online but not through an authorized dealer and Pioneer will not honnor a warrnaty if bought from a non authorized dealer. So I went to BB and they had it for $3499 but last week they had it for $2999 so I said if they would sell it to me for that I would get it. They came back saying they had to do it as a package deal with other stuff in order to do $2999. So at the end of everything it was going to actually cost me $4000 in order to get the $2999 with other items, itmes I was going to have to buy anyways. Here is what the deal was going to get me:

KURO 50" TV
Flat Panel Wall Mount
ISF Professional Calibration
4 YR protection plan (includes a calibration for every year of the plan, any damage what so ever along the lines of Burn In, Pixels going out, TV Breaks for what ever reason that is not caused by my fault, like I kick the TV or something or throw a baseball at it, you get the idea)

So for $4000 I get all this, does this seem like a good deal or not. know I can get the TV and Mount for alot cheaper, but it could possibly void my warranty. I hate service plans, but it even covers burn in and I get my TV recalibrated once a year for 4 years, that is not so bad. I want to know what you all think, please let it all out. Hold nothing back. This could get real interesting. I am in a short time period, they asid they would hold this deal till tomorrow only (but I will not be pressured into buying just on that bases) but if it is a good deal and the masses agree then it would be a shame to lose it.

[arush5268d]

That may actually be a decent deal. I don't trust the Geek Squad for proper calibration....but the pixel / burn-in coverage is what peaks my interest.

[4TA23]

Originally Posted by arush5268d

That may actually be a decent deal. I don't trust the Geek Squad for proper calibration....but the pixel / burn-in coverage is what peaks my interest.

Yes me too on burn in and even though it is a 4 year protection plan if anything does happen I am covered for 4 years.

[arush5268d]

They are forcing you to buy all these to increase their profit off the sale of a Kuro set.

I've found that it's quite possible to get great deals at Best Buy if you just push them right back - and use their ignorance to your advantage.

[gvortex7]

Actually, that's not such a bad deal. Especially considering that this new Blacktie Protection Plan they just rolled out a couple of weeks ago covers a whole lot more than the previous PSP's ever did. I'd say go for it. This way you know you're covered for the next 4 years, plus you can always renew for a few more years later on.

[brett_day]

BB extended warranties are not worth the paper the are printed on! i have had 2 bad experiences with BB and there performance plans over the past 2 years! both on TV sets! i had to fight and threaten legal action in both cases.

[arush5268d]

Originally Posted by brett_day

BB extended warranties are not worth the paper the are printed on! i have had 2 bad experiences with BB and there performance plans over the past 2 years! both on TV sets! i had to fight and threaten legal action in both cases.

That's not the experience that I've had.

We all know your struggles that you've been through - but thankfully the PSP that I always purchase on laptops always pay for themselves.

[4TA23]

Originally Posted by arush5268d

They are forcing you to buy all these to increase their profit off the sale of a Kuro set.

I've found that it's quite possible to get great deals at Best Buy if you just push them right back - and use their ignorance to your advantage.

I pushed pretty hard, saying that I had to pay all that just to get the good deal on the TV. He was honest, last week Pioneer had a promo and they reduced the price so BB would be compensated, this week not so much. So in order to do it they have to make money on something hence why I have to buy a package. Need the mount regardless, could do with out the others but with the new protection plan it does cover alot more things and for four years. I have a sister in law who watches our 19 mo old all day and she watches alot of TV and I can not be here all the time to make sure she is using it right for that first 100 hours. Of course the guy did make a comment that the break in period goes up to 300 hours with a calibration which makes no snese but I am not an expert.

[arush5268d]

Ahh...I think he's mistaken on the break in.

While it's good to calibrate it when you get it out of the box - after 100-200 hours after it's broken in you'll need to re-calibrate it to have the optimal picture.


Sounds like you've got a good deal. I'd say go for it!

[4TA23]

Originally Posted by brett_day

BB extended warranties are not worth the paper the are printed on! i have had 2 bad experiences with BB and there performance plans over the past 2 years! both on TV sets! i had to fight and threaten legal action in both cases.

I have never gotten a plan for anything, what was your bad experience, short version if you have one. It seems to me that things are just not built like they used to be and trust me I will take full advantage of the plan, I am not shy at all. I go back tomorrow and I will hash out what this plan entails make sure there is no clever loop holes.

[4TA23]

Originally Posted by arush5268d

Ahh...I think he's mistaken on the break in.

While it's good to calibrate it when you get it out of the box - after 100-200 hours after it's broken in you'll need to re-calibrate it to have the optimal picture.


Sounds like you've got a good deal. I'd say go for it!

I wonder if I should break it in first then get it calibrated or if they will calibrate and then recalibrate after 100-200 hours. That is defienetly a good question to ask. Kudos to you...

[arush5268d]

Originally Posted by 4TA23

I have never gotten a plan for anything, what was your bad experience, short version if you have one. It seems to me that things are just not built like they used to be and trust me I will take full advantage of the plan, I am not shy at all. I go back tomorrow and I will hash out what this plan entails make sure there is no clever loop holes.

He did have some rough experiences with his BB.

I've noticed that situations such as his are limited to certain Best Buy stores - and they aren't all as terrible as the ones he's dealt with.

The Best Buys that I go to a great with the service plans.

[gvortex7]

Whoever said that getting extended warranties is useless does not know what they're talking about. I'm a team lead at a Best Buy service center, and believe me even the mighty Pioneers fail often, especially with their PDP's. So, all it takes is for you to be just outside the factory warranty period and have a defective panel, and then you're basically screwed. It costs about $2500-3000 to replace a Pioneer panel on average for a COD call. So, what's better? To invest a few hundred dollars to protect your very expensive investment, or to be left in the cold when your factory warranty expires? You decide.

[My_Two_Cents]

I've never been a fan of extended warranties, as the chance that you will ever need it are slim. However, if it gives you piece of mind and helps you sleep, then it may be worth it to you. Unfortunately, they are asking you to pay $420 for that warranty, which is waaaaaayyyy overpriced (based on a $300 ISF calibration and $280 wall mount from BB).

Knowing that, I think you should go back and do some more negotiating. Start off with offering to pay $3500 for the package deal and set yourself a cap of say $3800. You should be able to come to an agreement somewhere in the middle of those figures. Just be firm, and be ready to walk out if they won't deal. The set will be on sale again in the near future.

You might also want to try Cleveland Plasma. They are highly recommended over at AVS, and I thought I read that they were an authorized Pioneer retailer, so your factory warranty would be valid.

My two cents.

[My_Two_Cents]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Whoever said that getting extended warranties is useless does not know what they're talking about. I'm a team lead at a Best Buy service center, and believe me even the mighty Pioneers fail often, especially with their PDP's. So, all it takes is for you to be just outside the factory warranty period and have a defective panel, and then you're basically screwed. It costs about $2500-3000 to replace a Pioneer panel on average for a COD call. So, what's better? To invest a few hundred dollars to protect your very expensive investment, or to be left in the cold when your factory warranty expires? You decide.

I'm sorry, but you need to provide some credible evidence to back-up your statement that PDP's (even the mighty Pioneers) "fail often". Based on repair rates compiled by Consumer Reports and verified by similar studies on various HT sites, today's PDP's have a failure rate of <3% (meaning <3% require service) and of that <3%, most failed within the manufacturer's warranty period. When you work in a service center, all you see are items that require service, so naturally you make the assumption that they "fail often", but statistics have shown that for every 3 sets in your shop there are 97+ sets out in consumers' homes that do not have problems. Myself, I'd take those odds any day. Others will look at absolutes and weigh a couple hundred dollars now against potentially thousands down the road as you described, and choose to spend the money now and not take the risk. That's okay, as long as you know the facts.

[4TA23]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Whoever said that getting extended warranties is useless does not know what they're talking about. I'm a team lead at a Best Buy service center, and believe me even the mighty Pioneers fail often, especially with their PDP's. So, all it takes is for you to be just outside the factory warranty period and have a defective panel, and then you're basically screwed. It costs about $2500-3000 to replace a Pioneer panel on average for a COD call. So, what's better? To invest a few hundred dollars to protect your very expensive investment, or to be left in the cold when your factory warranty expires? You decide.

I would agree with that, what do you know about the new Black Tie Protection PLan from Best Buy.

[plowmanjoe]

most protection plans are useless. they are only there to make the company more money. if they didn't come out on top, why would they offer it? it's just statistics. protections plans will cost you more.

manufacturer warranties are different. forget the plan and just stick with the warranty that comes with it.

[arush5268d]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

I'm sorry, but you need to provide some credible evidence to back-up your statement that PDP's (even the mighty Pioneers) "fail often". Based on repair rates compiled by Consumer Reports and verified by similar studies on various HT sites, today's PDP's have a failure rate of <3% (meaning <3% require service) and of that <3%, most failed within the manufacturer's warranty period. When you work in a service center, all you see are items that require service, so naturally you make the assumption that they "fail often", but statistics have shown that for every 3 sets in your shop there are 97+ sets out in consumers' homes that do not have problems. Myself, I'd take those odds any day. Others will look at absolutes and weigh a couple hundred dollars now against potentially thousands down the road as you described, and choose to spend the money now and not take the risk. That's okay, as long as you know the facts.

[4TA23]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

I'm sorry, but you need to provide some credible evidence to back-up your statement that PDP's (even the mighty Pioneers) "fail often". Based on repair rates compiled by Consumer Reports and verified by similar studies on various HT sites, today's PDP's have a failure rate of <3% (meaning <3% require service) and of that <3%, most failed within the manufacturer's warranty period. When you work in a service center, all you see are items that require service, so naturally you make the assumption that they "fail often", but statistics have shown that for every 3 sets in your shop there are 97+ sets out in consumers' homes that do not have problems. Myself, I'd take those odds any day. Others will look at absolutes and weigh a couple hundred dollars now against potentially thousands down the road as you described, and choose to spend the money now and not take the risk. That's okay, as long as you know the facts.

Also a valid point, did not know these statistics.

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by Ricshoe

I'm sorry, but you need to provide some credible evidence to back-up your statement that PDP's (even the mighty Pioneers) "fail often". Based on repair rates compiled by Consumer Reports and verified by similar studies on various HT sites, today's PDP's have a failure rate of <3% (meaning <3% require service) and of that <3%, most failed within the manufacturer's warranty period. When you work in a service center, all you see are items that require service, so naturally you make the assumption that they "fail often", but statistics have shown that for every 3 sets in your shop there are 97+ sets out in consumers' homes that do not have problems. Myself, I'd take those odds any day. Others will look at absolutes and weigh a couple hundred dollars now against potentially thousands down the road as you described, and choose to spend the money now and not take the risk. That's okay, as long as you know the facts.

I'm not naturally making any assumptions as I've been with Best Buy for over 10 years now and have seen every side of the business, including retail and logistics. That 3% failure rate is bogus data that who knows who came up with (and I wonder how many units/customers were surveyed to get that bogus data), and considering what a small percentage of overall TV's sold Pioneer makes up, their failure rate is quite high. So, why don't you go ahead and feed me some factual data before acting like you know what you're talking about.

Oh, I this is coming from a huge Pioneer fan BTW. I'm definitely not a hater.