Did I make the right call?

[gofishn]

So I go into Sam's Club today and as I'm wandering around I notice a bunch of people standing in the corner talking to a manager. I check it out and see that they are marking down several of these TV's:

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=335886&pCatg=6144

They had about 4 marked down to $500.00 and another at $700.00. The $500.00 ones all wouldn't power on, but the people at Sam's claimed that they were still under warranty and Akai would fix them for free. The Sam's employees (2 assistant manager type people) told me that I could return the item just like anything else if Akai was going to give me a hassle about the warranty. So, at the prospect of getting a 37" LCD with a built in slot loading DVD player for $500.00 I said why not. When I got home, I tried it out, and as advertised it was pretty screwed up. So I called Akai like they said and the first thing the guy tells me is take it back to the retailer. I told him that they told me to call Akai, so he immediately sets up a service call. Supposedly someone from their service center will be contacting me within 10 business days to set up a service appointment where they'll fix the TV (free, I'm assuming).

I'm not a huge fan of Akai products, but $500.00 for a 37" LCD seems unbeatable to me. I looked at the display model in the store and it had a very nice picture and is pretty nice looking in its own right. Assuming the people at Sam's were telling me the truth about returning it, my risk appears to be minimal with a huge upside. So what do you guys think?

[zionoverfire]

Can't you just take it back to SAMs Club and exchange it for a working model rather than wait 10 days before you even get a call back?

[whoknows]

If it all works out and you end up with a working TV, then yes you did make the right choice.

[djkunai]

Take it back, say you didn't know it wouldn't work, and that you want a different one.

[psiufoxx2]

I think some people are missing the point.

The OP wants a working 37" LCD TV for $500. If he returns it and gets his $500 back, he won't have what he wants. He'd rather Akai come and fix the TV and keep it for the $500 he spent.

That being said, is this the TV you got? (http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=335886) It looks like it's normally $1300, and the 27" LCD / DVD TV is going for $650 on amazon, so comparitively you got a GREAT deal. But I'm not sure it's all worth the hassle... I say make sure Sams covers you for 10 days and wait for Akai to look at the TV - if they cannot repair it and/or their warranty is about to run out on the TV, return it. Otherwise, congrats! :)

[gofishn]

Yeah thats the TV, I guess it was a tradeoff between the hassle of getting it fixed and the reward of getting a 37" TV for $500. Sam's Club knows that the TV was sold as is, so if I take it back they'll only refund my money, not give me a working TV. Thanks for the input, though.

[eshbums]

What's your return window at Sam's? If it's longer than the 10 days quoted for a service call...you're golden. If the tech guy can't fix it, take it back.

Nice buy if you can get it fixed.

[Snake2715]

sams has an unlimited return policy. They are a good companyt hat stands behind everything.

You got a great deal. My wife just told me they were marking them down... So for you other CAG's check your local Sams as this has been happening Nationwide.


Good deal OP.

[Ecofreak]

sams has an unlimited return policy. They are a good companyt hat stands behind everything.

Wait - I thought only Costco had the "No Questions Asked Return Policy"

And I've never heard of the brand Akai before.

[Jedi1979]

phhtt, sams club and their no visa/mastercard policy....around here anyways

[slidecage]

So I go into Sam's Club today and as I'm wandering around I notice a bunch of people standing in the corner talking to a manager. I check it out and see that they are marking down several of these TV's:

http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=335886&pCatg=6144

They had about 4 marked down to $500.00 and another at $700.00. The $500.00 ones all wouldn't power on, but the people at Sam's claimed that they were still under warranty and Akai would fix them for free. The Sam's employees (2 assistant manager type people) told me that I could return the item just like anything else if Akai was going to give me a hassle about the warranty. So, at the prospect of getting a 37" LCD with a built in slot loading DVD player for $500.00 I said why not. When I got home, I tried it out, and as advertised it was pretty screwed up. So I called Akai like they said and the first thing the guy tells me is take it back to the retailer. I told him that they told me to call Akai, so he immediately sets up a service call. Supposedly someone from their service center will be contacting me within 10 business days to set up a service appointment where they'll fix the TV (free, I'm assuming).

I'm not a huge fan of Akai products, but $500.00 for a 37" LCD seems unbeatable to me. I looked at the display model in the store and it had a very nice picture and is pretty nice looking in its own right. Assuming the people at Sam's were telling me the truth about returning it, my risk appears to be minimal with a huge upside. So what do you guys think?


im shocked that AKAI dont sue sams club or something like that. They are selling broken TVS and demanding the company fix them. Shouldnt they be forced to send them back then to send them to the public. Right there is Insurance Fraud (good way to get in trouble big time)

all they need to do is called up sams club and they can say

Well we told the people who got these tvs they are messed up , then you go and tell them you had no clue it was broken.

[Bezerker]

Not a bad deal, sams club can have some good clearance prices when they want to.

A while back they had a refurbished Sony 50" Projection HDTV for $500. While projection isnt the best kind of HDTV, a tv that big for $500 isnt that bad at all, especially Sony brand.

Btw Akai is basically a Samsung re-brander.

[battleroyal33]

phhtt, sams club and their no visa/mastercard policy....around here anyways

Thats Nationwide, Sams doesnt take Visa or Mastercard but they do take the Walmart store credit card, one of the reasons I got it.

[Snake2715]

phhtt, sams club and their no visa/mastercard policy....around here anyways


You know why that is right? Sams makes money on their memberships and very little if any on their products.

Discover agreed not to charge their 2-3% fee to Sams per transaction.. This allowed Sams Club to offer payment by Discover Card..

Visa and Mastercard threw up a big FU and didnt waive their 2-3% fees... Well now that is changing and they are agreeing to allow their Visa and Mastercards to be used becuase they dont want to miss out on the potential interest from their cardholders.

So if your Sams doesnt accept them keep checking as a lot fo them do accept all the major credit cards now. At the very least they are accepting the debit cards with the Mastercard logos etc. keep checking.

[Frank784]

Im and FSU student, like I assume you saw and saw those TVs last week. There were a couple for $700 and a couple for $900. I was thinking about taking the risk and seeing how it would work out. I figured that If I wanted to spend $700 it might as well be for a brand I know and trust. Also there were about 5 of the exact same tv which doesn't instill much confidence in the brand. Please post back how it ended up.


-Frank

[pimpinc333]

Ok I work at Sam's Club. My Sam's Club in Erie PA Also had about 5-6 of these TV's reduced to about 500.00 for the same reasons the OP stated. These TV's IMO are pretty crappy. Just about everyone we sold came back 1 day later since they broke down. I have no faith in AKAI products anymore.

[gofishn]

Well, we'll see how it goes. If the tech guy doesn't get in touch with me by the end of the week, I'll probably take it back.

[Frank784]

Did they have anymore left? or were people pretty much taking them when they were marked down? Maybe I'll head over there get the TV and pick up Saints Row at BB on the way back.

[gofishn]

No they had like 4 left as of yesterday. All the broken ones were $500. I've had no problems with Sam's return policy in the past, so I'm pretty confident this will work out whether they fix it or not.

[ratzombie]

Hopefully everything works out and you get that television fixed.

If Akai is pretty much a Samsung, you made out quite well!

[jm2u]

Haha, Akai...I thought they only made cassette decks (nice ones) in the 80s.

Oh yeah and reel to reel machines... I wonder if their company got bought out.

[Pookymeister]

Reading thru this, if this is a nationwide markdown then these TVs must be pretty crappy for stores to have 4-5 broken ones...

[gofishn]

Reading thru this, if this is a nationwide markdown then these TVs must be pretty crappy for stores to have 4-5 broken ones...

Naturally I assumed the same thing, but I'm willing to roll the dice considering I can always take it back if it doesn't work out. If/when this tech guy gets in touch with me I'll let you all know.

[captainfrizo]

Reading thru this, if this is a nationwide markdown then these TVs must be pretty crappy for stores to have 4-5 broken ones...

Yeah. This thread doesn't exactly make me feel confident in the televisions if several stores are doing this.