As with everyone, none of us expect our televisions to stop working before we get tired of looking at them. Everyone except Pioneer Electronics.
I purchased a 60 inch projection screen television 5 years ago, October 1996 to be exact. October exactly 5 years later it no longer works. What television stops working after 5 years, I have an RCA that is now 18 years old and works perfectly. I brought this to the attention of Pioneer's customer service who were quick to point out that their warranties are for one year, have a nice day and thanks for calling Pioneer. I pressed on.
After working my way up to the supervisor of Pioneer's Customer Service I was told the same thing. The point I was trying to get across to Pioneer was, if a $300.00 television breaks after 5 years you laugh and go buy another one. If a $3,000.00 television stops working after 5 years, I would consider that a very serious problem. Pioneer does not agree. I pressed on.
Pioneer's Director of Customer Service has taken the same position, Pioneer's President of Customer Service for north america has taken the same position, Pioneer's headquarters in Japan will not even get involved, Pioneer's President over North America will not get on the telephone with me but did have his secretary refer me to Pioneer's Legal Department.
Pioneer's legal councel compared my television to my car.insisting that my car would need repair after 5 years and doesn't seem to understand my problem. I tried to explain to their legal councel that my car drives across the planet earth through rain and snow and pot holes, ect. My television sits in my living room and does not move. They do not compare. Pioneer's legal council thinks they do. Its all recorded on my handy little tape recorder that hooks up to my telephone.
This so far is the most bizaar expierence I ever had. They actually offered to send me the parts to fix it but also told me I can't put them in myself. If you want to know how much it costs to have just parts replaced in one of the televisions call a pioneer approved repair shop. The minimum is $550.00 and I'm sure thats before any other suprises they have in store for you.
Pioneer Products Suck. If they can't make a television that lasts more then 5 years then they need to stop selling them.
Pioneer can't even answer the following questions about their own product.
Q) How long is a Pioneer Product that sells for over $3,000.00
supposed to last.
A) We Don't Know.
Q) Since I've had an RCA for the past 17 years that cost only
$300.00, do you think a product that cost over $3,000.00 that
last only 5 years is a good return on investment?
A) We Can't answer that question.
Q) Do Pioneer Products only have a life span of 5 years?
A) Don't Know.
Q) If you only warranty your product for 1 year, is that all
its expected to last and I should consider myself lucky.
A) No, thats not an accurate statement.
Q) I purchased a toaster 15 years ago that also had a 1 year
warranty and it still works, has pioneer taken into
consideration that a big screen television that sells for
thousands should have a longer warranty and last longer then
a toaster?
A) Can't answer that question.
Q) Do you realize my toaster has more moving parts then your
Television.
A) you can't make that comparasion.
Well their right, My toaster still works. On the other hand,
Pioneer's legal department would like to compare their televisions to automobiles.
The entire staff of my company (574 employees) will never purchase a Pioneer Product again. There is an E-mail with a bit more information about my journey with pioneer in it, If anyone wishes a copy send me a note: [email protected].
Pioneer's position is unlike any other company I ever spoke with. You would think they would be interested in why
their product failed and try to keep a customer that spends money like I do on their side of the fence. NOT PIONEER.
Since I recorded most of the conversations, and since my understanding of the law is that at least one person participating on the call has to know that fact (ME) I see no reason why I shouldn't broadcast these conversations across the internet, radio stations and TV news networks. Everyone has speakers hooked into their computers so everyone can listen to the Customer Dis-Service they provide.
Pioneer is theLast company on the planet I'll ever buy a product from again.
E-Mail me, you like the letter I already put on the net. I have it in English, Spanish and Filipino, Coming soon, Chinese, Japanese, German and French. Disposable Televisions from Pioneer, What a Rip Off.
P.S. I'm actually thinking of turning this into a media event by putting this television on the back of a truck and dropping on Pioneer's door step. If they will not stand by their products I might as well give it back. What a piece of Crap.
Larry Lightner / Hawthorne NJ
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