An inside look at FS.

[Convict]

I purchased a Panasonic DVD-RV31 shortly after they came onto the shelves. I was happy I purchased the two year warranty with it. I had to send it in for repairs twice in the two years I owned it. The technology is terrible in this thing! What I did not realize when I purchased it, because an FS sales associate (I have another name for them) led me to believe otherwise, is that the extended warranty runs in parallel with the manufacturer's warranty.

It is my own fault of course, for not taking the time to ask the right questions and actually read what was placed in front of me. Further, the extended warranty was printed on some pretty crappy paper that lost the ink damned near completely after the 1st year. I couldn't even read the info when I sent it back the second time for repairs. I had to take it (warranty receipt) into FS to have them deceifer the damned thing. They never did take the time to print off a new on for me claiming that the original HAD to be presented each time. In fact I had to argue with them because I went over some of the info with a pen to darken it for future reference, I mean they should have the information on a hard disk some place right?

I purchased the Panasonic with only miniscule research - my bad there, and I had a 28" Panasonic television at the time which is about 12yrs old and the picture / sound is absolutely fantastic - for the model / time of course.

IMHO, it's best to do the research and if the manufacturer has a poor history of producing quality product or simply won't stand behind thier warranty, stay away. This forum is a God-Send for people looking for tips, tricks, advice and technical information regarding electronics for the home consumer. I wish to god I had have known about it prior to purchasing my first player.

Cheers all,

Convict
--------
Toshiba 46H83
Yamaha HTR-5730
SA8300HD - Rogers Digital
Panasonic DVD-RV31

[RNAChemist]

I have that DVD player and it has performed flawlessly since I got it three years ago. Also bought it at FS, they traded me my Toshiba DVD player that I got for X-mas that year for the panasonic (I had no receipt and they asked no questions). I just paid the differences between the two and that is that. I guess FS is good in that way.

[rthomas]

Here's my story: I bought an LG RU-45NZ60 45 inch HDTV from the Futureshop on Saint Catherine street in Montreal last week. It was on sale for $1500, but the sales guy said he'd give it me for $1400 only if I bought an extended warranty. He told me that LG offers only a 1-year warranty, and since there aren't any local places in Montreal that service LG TVs, I would have to pay delivery to have it serviced. So, I agreed to get a 3-year Futureshop warranty for $200. After buying it, I went to the LG Canada website and found out that not only is their warranty 2 years, but they offer in-home service and there are a bunch of authorized service centers in Montreal. Then I read up the details of the Futureshop warranty, and find out it runs concurrently with the manufacturer's warranty, and FS doesn't provide any service till the manufacturer's warranty runs out. So, the sales guy lie to me about the LG warranty and I was basically paying $200 for one year of FS warranty. However, it looks like I'll have the last laugh, since the FS warranty has a 30-day full-refund policy and I'll be keeping the $100 discount on the TV.

[DLPlease]

"the FS warranty has a 30-day full-refund policy and I'll be keeping the $100 discount on the TV."

So you could get a killer deal by agreeing to buy any extended warrantee they wanted and then get a full refund on the warrantee next day?

[RNAChemist]

You could do that. Also, agree to buy the Monster power center, monster component cables, monster audio connection...etc, etc, return them all as soon as the tv is delivered!

[HeaTransfer]

but I was dismayed to read (in another thread) about this:

http://www.absound.ca/letter/

NooOOOOooooOOOOOOOoooO!

For those of you in Western Canada, please please please please please help support A&B as a real, viable, BETTER alternative to FS!

caveats:
1) I do not work for A&B
2) I don't even really shop @ A&B anymore (as I tend now to shop at independent small stores).

Thank you.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

[mike infinity]

Originally Posted by RNAChemist

1.) Commissioned staff wear dark blue shirts and are called "Product experts". Hourly staff wear light blue shirts and are called "Sales Associates".

And the security personnel wear the red shirts with the gold bands. I hear they turn them over the most.

Seriously, FS can be a good place to shop. I always look for sales at any other store, and then buy it at future shop (-10%) thanks to the hassle-free return policy. And lets face it, sometimes you can get a great 'clearance' deal there.

All you have to do is take everything the employees say with a huge grain of salt...and buy everything on sale (or matching others on sale). I must admit that I have used the return policy to death at FS and no one ever complains..Even if I get it delivered and then picked up for return for free (they must be losing money on those returns).

Cheers,

Mike Flynn

[jmds]

"the FS warranty has a 30-day full-refund policy and I'll be keeping the $100 discount on the TV."


So keeping that in mind, do you think it would be possible to get the guy to sell you something for cost if you agree on a 4 year warranty? Then you could just return return the warranty and get a killer deal.

[gordonb]

I was in Home Despot and looking at the AV cables when a couple came up with a sales associate. They had bought a "Bigscreen" and wanted longer cables to connect it to their BEV receiver & HT in-a-box.

They had no clue what make or models they had or the connectors. After about two minutes I realized the sales associate didn't know too much and I started talking to them. Turns out they got a great price on the "Big Screen" from FS but then were convinced to but over $400 in Mon$ter cables that were now too short.

I helped them pick out a cheapie set of RCA component cables as well as the HD "premium" ones and after determining that their BEV receiver was non HD a 12' S-Video Cable & Audio cables. I suggested they return the Mon$ter cables to FS and mentioned that they should compare the picture of the Bargain Component cables & the "premium" and return the premium ones if they could not tell the difference.

I usually buy most of my gear at FS but only after doing a lot of research and then armed with that I wait for an open box unit then go in for the kill. They know me at the local store and the staff now leve me alone unless I ask them for something. I'm in there a lot and it saddens me to overhear the sales staff pitching Mon$ter and hardware that is way overkill for some people (I listened to one guy try to sell someones grandmother a $5000 HT system).

[manyoo99]

How about this...I went to purchase a 3V Lithium battery from Radioshack (source-cc). Total cost was around $7...I was offered a 2 yr extended warranty for $1.50......now that's real cool.

[filper]

Originally Posted by RNAChemist

3.) ... Acoustic research is marked up 75%.

I noticed at BB this weekend that the selling prices of AR cables have been marked up.

A 6' Component used to be $29.99. Now it's $39.99.

[Ruthless82]

I'm not sure how it would work trying to refund the warranty price after obtaining a package deal. I suppose with a lot of bitching and moaning it might get done. I went for the warranty on my TV only because the combination of all the discounts he was going to give me was actually more than the warranty. That being said on my receipt he made a note that this was all a "package price". I assume that this means that if I tried to separate anything that they'd definitely put up a fuss about it. I was still happy with my price though so I guess I can't complain too much.

[bigb]

Their (BB and FS) system's allow them to package items together. Instead of seeing seperate prices for each item, you see one price at the top for the package. After that price there is then a list of all the items included within that package price. Therefore if you return one item in the package, they cancel the entire package and charge you for the items you are keeping at full price.

Your sales invoice is essentially a contract that you and the store have agreed on 'these' items/services for 'this' price. If you as a consumer decide to change the included items, by returning one, the store has no obligation to uphold its end of this contract.

On a similar note, a lot of people do not realize that no company is obligated to return any item (with the exception of defective items). They have their return policies, but could just as simply say that anything you purchase is final sale.The only exception is door to door sales people, I believe you have one week or something to 'return' samething sold to you like that.

[MarcP]

Originally Posted by sekhon55

How about this...I went to purchase a 3V Lithium battery from Radioshack (source-cc). Total cost was around $7...I was offered a 2 yr extended warranty for $1.50......now that's real cool.

Same for me. I was buying a pack of 4 AA batteries and they tried to push an extended warranty on those.