In December I purchased Polaroid's 37" LCD, Model FLM-3732. I began having problems such as, blue screen, black screen. Turned it on and off several times, picture would come back. At first, I thought it was my cable TV service and became frustrated with their inability to provide a permanent resolution to solve the problem.in reality, they were mystified. It occurred to me that maybe the problem was the TV
I contacted Polaroid, explained the problem, and of course the first words out the the rep's mouth were "your warranty has expired... Nothing we can do. After several more phone calls, transfers to supervisors, etc., I managed to find someone who was willing to give me a "one-time courtesy repair." They sent me the Core box and arranged for a Sears TV tech to come to my home and install it. He installed it, turned on the TV and, much to my dismay — the new core box did not work. He called his Polaroid contact, stated he made the repair but the new Core box did not work. Much to my amazement, Polaroid told the repair guy to tell me they were going to ship a new TV to me.
In the meantime, I visited Polaroid's website and was unable to find my TV on display. I guess they stopped manufacturing it. I suspect the stores (Circuit City, in my case) were notified that it was being discontinued. What reason Polaroid gave, I do not know. So, now being the cynnical person I have become, I believe Circuit City sold off their stock of this model without advising customers that it was a defective product and that it was no longer being made.
Several weeks later, I received a brand new Model TLA-04011C 40" HD Widescreen LCD television, complete with the one-year warranty in the box. I, my family members and friends were in awe. What a terrific company, we all thought. If you're familiar with the old axom "If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is." Believe it! Just last week, after less than six months, it died — dead as a door nail. I call it "black screen disease" —same cause of death as the 37" TV that I first purchased.
And, to add insult to injury, Polaroid insists on telling me that the one-year warranty shipped inside the box with the new TV is void. Their policy is to offer only an extended 3-month warranty on a replacement even despite the fact that the 40" TV shipped to me was "new" not refurbished at the factory.
When a corporation the size of Polaroid is only willing to stand by its new product for a mere three months, it sure does say a lot about Polaroid, doesnt' it?
If anyone knows of a class action suit out there regading the LCD TV, please let me know. I will eagerly sign up.
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