tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post3029875648376197856..comments2024-02-25T12:47:03.941-06:00Comments on Johnny LaRue's Crane Shot: Beware Buying Anything From PanasonicMarty McKeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02084642122976337263noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-42561583450981980982008-07-09T15:37:00.000-05:002008-07-09T15:37:00.000-05:00Marty,Try bringing it right back to Circuit City, ...Marty,<BR/><BR/>Try bringing it right back to Circuit City, they are usually pretty good about things like that when you have an extended warranty...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-24288969006637265592008-07-08T13:38:00.000-05:002008-07-08T13:38:00.000-05:00I did file a complaint with the BBB on Sunday. Pa...I did file a complaint with the BBB on Sunday. Panasonic has 20 days to respond. Also, I posted this entry on several AV forums, as well as Amazon as a customer review of the unit. Thanks for all the advice and support I've received so far.Marty McKeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05516468586469252914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-16245683759315424862008-07-08T13:21:00.000-05:002008-07-08T13:21:00.000-05:00Great advice from all beforehand. Only advice to ...Great advice from all beforehand. Only advice to offer would be to post this to some additional blogs/online communities. And email the corporate office telling them about the situation and what you are doing to make other consumers more away. <BR/> <BR/>Also, I want to add my understanding and sympathy. Too many companies suck.K-tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11092396528637604480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-73289598958728690152008-07-07T10:04:00.000-05:002008-07-07T10:04:00.000-05:00Obviously, you should drive up to Elk Grove villag...Obviously, you should drive up to Elk Grove village and throw your DVD burner through their window with a note saying: "I just did more then you did to fix this problem"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-8904743239518630792008-07-07T09:20:00.000-05:002008-07-07T09:20:00.000-05:00At this point, I might bypass Panasonic completely...At this point, I might bypass Panasonic completely and head over to Circuit City. Since you said you have a service plan or extended warranty through them, it may be possible (and undoubtedly easier) to tell them "This f-in thing doesn't work, Panasonic said I should bring it in to you". Feed them a line of bull if necessary and, since it appears that Panasonic's service center does not keep detailed records as you do, they wouldn't be able to verify or deny it. <BR/><BR/>If it was worth more money, I'd also suggest getting a lawyer involved. Generally, for a small retainer fee, they can at least draft a strongly worded letter that will scare the crap out of most companies, enough to get you what you're looking for.J. Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01507296252092506777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-71804666636854596482008-07-06T17:04:00.000-05:002008-07-06T17:04:00.000-05:00You may remember my own tales of woe with the Pana...You may remember my own tales of woe with the Panasonic DMR-ES40V I have. No hard drive but from the start it only had a very mediocre success rate in finalizing DVD-R discs, then eventually proved unable to play or record DVD+R discs. It also went through some funky operational seizures. But hey, the VHS works! Panasonic sent a firmware upgrade that did nothing. I didn't have a service center that close by, and eventually just bought a different unit, different brand (Samsung) that has worked like a charm. Go figure. Every once in a while I tempt the Gods by using the Panasonic to do a DVD-R recording, and it's a coin toss as to whether it shall perform or not. (Richard, take note of that fact regarding your penile implant).<BR/><BR/>As for possible follow-up a complaint to the Better Business Bureau is easily done, but do any of your local TV stations' news teams have a consumer advocate on staff? I've seen a number of stations with a reporter who specializes in taking on businesses that fail or blatantly deceive Joe and Jane Consumer. Perhaps not too surprisingly when media cameras become involved suddenly there is a resolution to the problem. Consumer advocates love making companies sweat, and the best ones pursue a resolution with the same tenacity a frothing pit bull would have for lunching on a postal carrier's testicles. I'd seriously consider that avenue; your story represents that classic nightmare of dealing with a big company who have precious little regard for the people that buy their product. Shelley Berman would have made a killer routine of this story.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15072833878836137632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-84134033916665145882008-07-06T16:00:00.000-05:002008-07-06T16:00:00.000-05:00Marty - they're in breach of their contract for af...Marty - they're in breach of their contract for after sales support. If their original contract stated they would replace a defective item, then that's what they have to do and if your model is no longer current, they're supposed to go to the next highest model. I went through a similar round of bullshit with Hewlett-Packard when my laptop developed recurring power cord issues.. Three years later, I got a check in the mail yesterday for my repair costs, courtesy of a class action lawsuit settlement because of allegations that HP KNEW those units were defective. Sounds like there may be similar issues with Panasonic's DVD recorders. Have you Googled to see if you can find mention of others having the same problem? If you get no joy from them, don't be afraid of going the Small Claims route. It's pretty simple to do and your case seems to be straightforward - I can't imagine them winning. Oh, and I'd do the BB thing, too. Can't hurt.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-39491877369214516272008-07-06T15:33:00.000-05:002008-07-06T15:33:00.000-05:00Good gawd! What a nightmare. Keep up the fight t...Good gawd! What a nightmare. Keep up the fight though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-52477839244186552302008-07-06T14:54:00.000-05:002008-07-06T14:54:00.000-05:00Marty,Sorry to read this. I've had a Panasonic DM...Marty,<BR/><BR/>Sorry to read this. <BR/><BR/>I've had a Panasonic DMR E80 with a hard drive for 4 or 5 years now. I haven't had to deal with the service so far.<BR/><BR/>But a few weeks ago, I had the same problem. I would record onto a DVD and as soon as I would stop, it would fail in the burning and go into disc recovery mode.<BR/><BR/>I went through 4 or 5 DVDs, same thing.<BR/><BR/>I tried everything, even the firmware update. Same thing happened.<BR/><BR/>For me, it turned out it was just the DVDs I was using. They were Memorex, the kind I normally use, but they must have changed their formula or something and it just didn't work. I tried another brand (basic Staples DVD-R) , and it worked fine. <BR/><BR/>Have you tried one of the low end blank DVD-Rs like Staples? <BR/><BR/>And I don't know why Panasonic got rid of the hard drive. That was a great feature. <BR/><BR/>Good luck.TALKING MOVIEzzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11621046844665110326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707040.post-85014132553214963442008-07-06T14:47:00.000-05:002008-07-06T14:47:00.000-05:00Great. Guess who I just ordered my penile implant...Great. Guess who I just ordered my penile implant from.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com