Funai Corporation , Emerson Electronics are crap and Walmart is an enabler, Internet
So I decided to buy a small TV. I bought a 19 inch TV/DVD combo at Walmart. At approximately $250, it was among the cheapest sets. The Walmart cashier added on a 2 year service contract for an additional $20, after I told him I didn't want it. I went back to the store later and got my money refunded for the service contract. As far as I'm concerned, if a TV breaks within two years, it's a piece of junk. I've owned several TVs, and none of them has ever broken. I either sold or gave them away. Some were still working after ten years.
I bought this TV in July, 2009. It played DVDs until December 2009. I brought the same DVDs to someone else, and they played fine on his TV. I emailed Walmart CEO Michael Duke on 12/29/09 and explained my experience with the Emerson TV/DVD. I told him it was not acceptable that a TV would stop working after five months and I asked what solution Walmart could offer. Walmart never answered. That's their solution. I'll never buy another electronic at Walmart.
I emailed Funai/Emerson from their website on 1/02/10. I got an email reply with a ticket number on 1/11/10. I called their toll free number on 1/12/10, and the rep told me to fax a copy of my receipt to 1-866-871-2823. I have a confirmation for the fax which was sent from Fedex. I called Funai again on 1/13/10 and was told they didn't receive the fax yet and "it takes 1-2 business days for Funai to receive faxes."
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Cris
Tampa,Florida,
U.S.A.
Funai update: stand your ground
#3Author of original report
Wed, February 24, 2010
After two months plus and more phone calls and emails than I can count, Funai/Emerson whatever sent me a replacement TV, either new or repaired, and which was left outside my door by UPS. I do think it's strange that no signature was required for a TV! Time will tell if this one is going to work better than the last one, which malfunctioned after only 5 months. People, if you've been ripped off, stand your ground, don't give up, be a pain in the ***. Money does not grow on trees and nobody I know can afford to throw money away on shoddy merchandise. If you get nowhere with the company BE PERSISTENT and file your complaint with ripoffreport.
IntheKnow
New Jersey,USA
Funai who?
#3Consumer Suggestion
Sun, February 21, 2010
Other than price, why would you buy a Funai? Is there any history of quality? If i slapped a name say "Jones" TV/DVD combo would you buy that?
If Funai has a one year warranty on it, they have a legal obligation to repair it in year 1 at no fee (you may have to pay shipping if mailed). That's why there is a warranty - for situations just like yours.
Don't blame Wal-mart - they're trying to bring electronics in at the lowest prices - that is there business model. I believe they do get more returns with this brand, but not enough to justify pulling the line.
Although many of the name brands do not manufacture a combo unit, if you did have a problem, would you put your trust in Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba or Funai? We all have choices.