Finally... Sold my LCD, buying a Kuro this week!

[TheZoof]

It's been a long time coming(about 3 months) but I finally sold my tv and have the money to get a Kuro.

The problem remains which one to buy.

I see some great deals on E-bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PIONEER-KRP-...d=p3286.c0.m14

600m

http://cgi.ebay.com/PIONEER-KRP-600M...d=p3286.c0.m14



The problem of course is it scares the crap out of me if something was wrong with it.

I can't get a 500m/600m locally. I could only get the 101FD for about $3600 CAD. That is quite the price jump from the 500m.

They also have a 141FD for about $6000 CAD. Ugh... that is way too pricey???


My question is... who has bought a tv online? Is it worth the risk for the money saved?

I don't want to spend more than $4000.



/rant

[scweb13]

I bought my 500M online from Vanns. It was delivered within a week via FedEx Freight. I opened it up and inspected the panel before the delivery guy left. Most 500M's were delivered without problems, some were broken on delivery.
The big problem was the 600M's. They initally had something like a 40% damaged in shipment rate or higher. I believe that Pioneer then called back the 600M's and repackaged them.
There is a whole thread at AVS about it. Here
A couple of people on this board have had theirs delivered with no problems, so I don't think it's much of a problem now. But you better hurry, the stock is quicky disappearing.

[wafi]

They have the 5020 at Bestbuy Outlet for 2Gs!

[TheZoof]

Originally Posted by wafi

They have the 5020 at Bestbuy Outlet for 2Gs!

Hmmm...

The problem is I am not sure how the delivery will work for me. I am worried about it coming off the truck. I am in Canada so not sure if customs will F IT UP.

UGH... I guess the question is... worth the $2000 for state of mind?

[wafi]

Yeah I hear ya about the shipping headache...weird that Bestbuy Canada doesnt have Pioneers in stock.

There's also the PDP-5010FD for US$1799 on amazon but its from an amazon seller.

[TheZoof]

They have the 6020 instock locally but they want $6000!!!

I can get the 141FD for that price.

BUT... too much for me... I can't justify it in my head.

[btf1980]

Also, I advise you to purchase your kuro from an authorized dealer, that excludes ebay.

[TheZoof]

Originally Posted by btf1980

Also, I advise you to purchase your kuro from an authorized dealer, that excludes ebay.

So if I buy it from an online store?? Does that count?

http://www.bestbuypcs.com/perl/ccp51...600M&ovtac=PPC

I was thinking of buying from these guys...

Anyone buy from bestbuypcs?

[nugent]

Originally Posted by btf1980

Also, I advise you to purchase your kuro from an authorized dealer, that excludes ebay.

I bought my 151 from a authorized Kuro "retail" dealer via eBay.
Would do it again in a second! Personally IF the price was right and I was getting it in a factory sealed box I would buy from a "non authorized" dealer. Just make sure you are buying from someone that has good feedback and a history of selling expensive items.

If it works out of the box you are most likely good to go. Square Trade warranties can be had to give you full coverage for several years as well.

Also be sure and examine the set BEFORE you sign ANYTHING from the freight company.

My risk level is higher than a lot of people but just throwin' in my two cents.

[TheZoof]

You are right. As long as I inspect it for cracks before I take it from the truck then it should be fine. Maybe give the guy $20 to let me do it.

I dunno... just... I guess the worst case scenario initially is it is cracked and if the ebay company screws me around I tell my credit card company to stop payment.

Obviously best case is I get the tv and it works great for a long while.

I am getting antsy so hopefully I make a decision soon.

Keep the advise coming.

[FRAK]

However you end up getting one... welcome to the club!

[TheZoof]

Thanks...

It's only money.

[nugent]

Originally Posted by TheZoof

You are right. As long as I inspect it for cracks before I take it from the truck then it should be fine. Maybe give the guy $20 to let me do it.

I dunno... just... I guess the worst case scenario initially is it is cracked and if the ebay company screws me around I tell my credit card company to stop payment.

Obviously best case is I get the tv and it works great for a long while.

I am getting antsy so hopefully I make a decision soon.

Keep the advise coming.

Even without the "White Glove" delivery which includes inside delivery and set up the freight company fee includes curbside delivery. They will unload it off the truck and roll it up to, in my case, the garage door. It takes a little while to attach the stand so the normal freight delivery guy isn't going to have time to wait on that. Save your $20 and buy some pizza and beverages of choice for a friend in exchange for helping attach the stand or wall mount and installing.

They aren't surpised that you want to examine it before signing and taking off. They are typically shipped on a wooden pallet which absorbs shock.

People seem to forget that these aren't built by elves and delivered to authorized dealers on some sort of shock absorbing magic carpet or something. They have to be shipped on trucks to them just like the one that will come to your home.

Just make sure and use your credit card should you encounter any glitches during the process. Ignore what any seller says about "once it leaves them it is your responsibility". That is utter nonsense! You are paying for a perfect working product. Should the freight company damage it as long as you don't sign for it it is between the seller and the freight company!

I speak from experience since my first Kuro 151 was damaged by the freight company. It had obviously been ran into by a forklift. I opened it up, glass was busted, I wrote "Screen Busted, shipment refused" on the paperwork from the shipping company. Said "good day" to the freight guy, went inside and lowered my garage door. I called the seller who then arranged for a new one to be sent and the seller sorted things out with the freight company.

In the end it all worked out fine. I received my replacemnt set in perfect condition and haven't looked back.

The set initially getting busted was just part of the process.

Once you have the set if it needs service it will be done in your home anyway. It isn't like you are going to load it up and take it down to your authorized dealer to have it repaired. Someone that is authorized by Pioneer will be taking care of your issue once it is delivered no matter who you bought it from.

Just make sure that you are either covered by the "official" authorized warranty from Pioneer or have a Square Trade warranty that will cover you.
If you do the research on Square Trade warranties via eBay you will see they don't care what dealer you got it from.

Good luck!

[William H Pratt]

They have the 6020 instock locally but they want $6000!!!

I can get the 141FD for that price.

BUT... too much for me... I can't justify it in my head.

Justify it. Whichever Kuro you get is worth EVERY penny!
When I started to save for my 111FD it cost $5000 at a local HiFi/Video dealer (Not BB or CC).
If I had ended up paying $5000 it would have been worth EVERY penny. I bought it for $3000 & I consider it a GREAT steal!!

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by nugent

I bought my 151 from a authorized Kuro "retail" dealer via eBay.
Would do it again in a second! Personally IF the price was right and I was getting it in a factory sealed box I would buy from a "non authorized" dealer. Just make sure you are buying from someone that has good feedback and a history of selling expensive items.

If it works out of the box you are most likely good to go. Square Trade warranties can be had to give you full coverage for several years as well.

Also be sure and examine the set BEFORE you sign ANYTHING from the freight company.

My risk level is higher than a lot of people but just throwin' in my two cents.

Pioneer can revoke dealer status for that. It's a clear violation. Whomever that dealer is can get in trouble.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...ternet+Dealers

[nugent]

Originally Posted by btf1980

Pioneer can revoke dealer status for that. It's a clear violation. Whomever that dealer is can get in trouble.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...ternet+Dealers

Which is why they don't use their dealer name anywhere on eBay. They don't routinely sell them via eBay. They had one 151 and one 141 they sold via that route. I just stumbled upon the listing and had them call me with the particulars. I guess since Pioneer was exiting the plasma biz they weren't really worried about losing their dealership status. Based on the rest of their business it really didn't seem to be a major part of their sales income.

Despite having the best plasma on the market their heavy handed business practices designed to keep their prices high it didn't allow them to make enough profit to allow their continued viability in the plasma market, hence their exit.

Ironically if they would not have been so hard nosed about keeping prices elevated via non market driven methods they might have sold more than their minuscule market share which drove them out of the TV business.

[blarneyrubble]

Originally Posted by nugent

I bought my 151 from a authorized Kuro "retail" dealer via eBay.
Would do it again in a second! Personally IF the price was right and I was getting it in a factory sealed box I would buy from a "non authorized" dealer. Just make sure you are buying from someone that has good feedback and a history of selling expensive items.

If it works out of the box you are most likely good to go. Square Trade warranties can be had to give you full coverage for several years as well.

Also be sure and examine the set BEFORE you sign ANYTHING from the freight company.

My risk level is higher than a lot of people but just throwin' in my two cents.

You are much braver than I man. As btf1980 points out you have no warranty unless you bought one. They say about 2% of electronics are defective off the line but I have had to have my Panasonic TV serviced(under warranty), my Wii(under warranty), and my XBOX 360 twice(no surprise, but under warranty). I recommend purchasing from an authorized dealer.

[nugent]

Originally Posted by blarneyrubble

You are much braver than I man. As btf1980 points out you have no warranty unless you bought one. They say about 2% of electronics are defective off the line but I have had to have my Panasonic TV serviced(under warranty), my Wii(under warranty), and my XBOX 360 twice(no surprise, but under warranty). I recommend purchasing from an authorized dealer.

Very true, if I present a eBay receipt for warranty to a pioneer service center you got nada!

Doubtful I will ever need one but if I do my receipt is from the brick and mortar store with no mention of eBay. I have two years plus my credit card company tacked on a third.

Like I mentioned in my earlier post I would have paid a little more from a authorized dealer but since there wasn't one within' hundreds of miles of me I wasn't going to trek all over the country and pay top dollar for one just to have to haul it home myself or pay to have it shipped.

Technically by Pioneers rules I couldn't even own one that would be covered by warranty since they stipulate you are to live within' 200 miles of the authorized dealer. By that "logic" I would have had to go with a Panasonic, Samsung or some other brand.

[blarneyrubble]

Originally Posted by nugent

Very true, if I present a eBay receipt for warranty to a pioneer service center you got nada!

Doubtful I will ever need one but if I do my receipt is from the brick and mortar store with no mention of eBay. I have two years plus my credit card company tacked on a third.

Like I mentioned in my earlier post I would have paid a little more from a authorized dealer but since there wasn't one within' hundreds of miles of me I wasn't going to trek all over the country and pay top dollar for one just to have to haul it home myself or pay to have it shipped.

Technically by Pioneers rules I couldn't even own one that would be covered by warranty since they stipulate you are to live within' 200 miles of the authorized dealer. By that "logic" I would have had to go with a Panasonic, Samsung or some other brand.

Glad to hear it. I thought you had no warranty and I know I would be scared to even turn it on. It would be like going skiing without health insurance; I have done it but I was way more cautious. Peace of mind is nice.

[Chizzap30]

Originally Posted by TheZoof

It's been a long time coming(about 3 months) but I finally sold my tv and have the money to get a Kuro.

The problem remains which one to buy.

I see some great deals on E-bay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PIONEER-KRP-...d=p3286.c0.m14

600m

http://cgi.ebay.com/PIONEER-KRP-600M...d=p3286.c0.m14



The problem of course is it scares the crap out of me if something was wrong with it.

I can't get a 500m/600m locally. I could only get the 101FD for about $3600 CAD. That is quite the price jump from the 500m.

They also have a 141FD for about $6000 CAD. Ugh... that is way too pricey???


My question is... who has bought a tv online? Is it worth the risk for the money saved?

I don't want to spend more than $4000.



/rant

The only problem with buying something from E-bay too is that they are probably not legitimate retailers for Pioneer electronics. In the hopefully unlikely event that something goes wrong, then pioneer will not honor the warranty. If at all possible, I would try to find a local retailer that has a few left in stock and purchase through them.