Circuit CIty
Ripoff Circuit City Dis-Advantage Plan

It all started in March when we purchased a Hitachi big screen TV model 43FDX01b at Circuit City in Columbus Ohio along with the 2 year service plan.

Everything was great until about 3 months later - when the convergence began to drift on the TV, everything began to look like a bad 3-D movie. Called the CityAdvantage number and they sent out a tech, an actual Circuit City tech, who reconverged the TV and everything was great again.

When the renewal form came in the mail we renewed for 3 years - seemed like the thing to do at the time.

Fast forward to about a 3 years later - same thing happens plus now a portion of the image is folded over plus the color balance is off on the set - everybody looks green. Call CityAdvantage again - this time they send a service tech out from a private contractor to look at the set. The tech reconverges the set, fixes the centering image to get rid of the folded picture, adjusts the color internally on the set, and cleans and focuses the set. The set looks great once again.

2 months later the convergence has slipped again, once again we call City Advantage, this time I am greeted by a phone center in New Deli India who is "so sorry about my problem." After 20 minutes of talking to a brick wall they finally agree to send out a service tech. This time I get a Circuit City tech, who looks at the set, scratches his head, and decides to replace some parts - mainly the convergence section. It seems like the problem is solved.

Fast forward to 2 months ago, we get HDTV via Dish Network, hook up the component cables from the HDTV Receiver, and we have a beautiful picture and fantastic color - WOW. I am watching the Matrix on TNT-HD and every time there is a flash or fast motion the screen blacks out. We call CityAdvantage again, the brick wall in New Delhi finally agrees to send out the tech, but the first service appointment is not until 2
weeks later.

When the tech arrives from Circuit City, he looks at the set, as I am able to duplicate the problem from him, and states he must research the problem and leaves. I get a call from him the next day, he states that he must order some parts and perform 2 repairs to the set to correct a manufacturing defect / design flaw. A week later he comes out to the house, performs the repair, and everything looks good.

1 week later we decide to watch Star Wars on a DVD - the blacking out problem is now affecting the DVD input when a bright flash or fast motion is on the screen. Call Circuit City once again, the brick wall in New Delhi states that is will be 2 weeks before they can send out a tech again to look at the set. During this 2 week period the following things happen to the set; the convergence slips again, the TV looses brightness, and begins to fade to an un-watchable level, and the black out problem makes it almost impossible to watch a
movie.

When the tech arrives, just happens to be the same tech who did the last repair, and looks at the problem he states the last repair should of fixed the problem. As for the brightness and color problem - he fixed that by simply cranking up the drive controls on each of the picture tubes - so much that on certain scene's the TV begins to make a high pitched whine.

He states that he must research the problem and get back to me. He has yet to call me back. Plus some of the adjustments he made seemed to make the black out problem worse, additionally it randomly blacks out for a second or two on other inputs. Basically the set is in worse shape after his visit.

To add to this we just renewed the CityAdvantage plan for another year.

Here is where I am at with this TV. The tech has shortened the life of the set by overdriving the picture tubes to compensate for something wrong deeper in the set with the brightness and contrast, the convergence is drifting off once again, and the set at times is unwatchable due to the black out problem.

When I contacted City Advantage they stated that the repair was complete.in my book it was completely screwed up. When I sent an e-mails to Circuit City I just get automated Reponses stating they are so sorry about the set. I finally got turned over to a case manager, but he has yet to call me

This is what I want, Circuit City to live up to its pledge in the City Advantage sales flyer, Keep your purchase working like it is new, if it can't be fixed it will be replaced with an item of like functionality.

Right know I have a set that does not work that I paid $1700 for plus an additional $750 for the protection plans or renewals of the plans. I feel like I've taken it in the A* with no lube or no kiss.

Beth
Canal WInchester, Ohio
U.S.A.

Company: Circuit CIty
Country: USA
State: Virginia
City: Richmond
Address: 9950 Mayland Drive

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