Polaroid T.V.'s what not to buy!!!!!!!!!

Poloroid strikes again. My motherboard went out. No replacement parts
on EART I was told. They knew what they were doing. It's fraud to sell
a TV and have no replacement parts. My TV was almost 3 years old.
I paid $800 for my TV.
SAD! won't go back to Poloroid ever!

I wish I had seen this campaign before I wasted my thousand dollars on
a polaroid 32 inch tv. I guess I should consider myself lucky that it
actually lasted for 3 years! It just decided not to turn on anymore
one day, unfuggin real. At least I know not to waste my time trying
to get it fixed somewhere now, not worth the hassle.

I had the same thing happen to me as well. I had my Polaroid just a
little under 2 years and it died. It actually had smoke rolling from
it when it went. I think it isn't right that a tv should only last
that long.

Does anyone have one of the broken control boxes out of an flm 373b?
I'll buy it. deafasastump@comcast.net

I have recently ran into the same problem with my 37 inch polaroid as
stated by louplou Posted Mon October 6, 2008 @ 6:28 PM.

I also purchased the extended warrenty from circuit city for an
additional $400.00. This was to cover 3 years. My warrenty will be up
in 3 months and now all these problems arise. I don't really know what
to do at this point. Circuit City is going out of business and they
have horrible customer service. "We will call you back and let you
know when we are available to come out." So, they are sceduled to come
out on the 15th after many disputes with them. If the television is
unrepairable like everyone else has been stating I am looking forward
to all the hassle I will be dealing with between circuit city and
polaroid.

if your time is valuable..throw it out!!
first my sound went out..
the bill to fix it was nearly as much as the tv
now after a few hours the picture looks like a cartoon
I AM THROWING IT AWAY
I will never buy any thing of this brand again.

Wow...your story sounds almost identical to ours!! We purchased a
t.v.....not under the counter, but one in a box, you know, like you
would wrap up as a gift!! Paid full retail for the television, and
now, 18 months later, we have a 37" tv that doesn't work....we were
told by one representative that it was possibly the mother board, and
that they could replace the unit for $310, and that unit would have a
warranty of only 90 days!!! I asked the 3 different individuals that I
spoke with what happened if my refurbished unit went out on the 91st
day, and they basically told me that it was my choice, and that was a
risk that I could take or not take. So, I am right there with you, I
am finding every website that I can find where I can write a review
for Polaroid, and I am saying exactly what I think, which is not
anything good!!!!!!!!

This is very long, but it is a letter than is in the works... It tells
my whole story up to today....

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to voice my dissatisfaction with your product, your
customer service and your company in general. This story begins in
2006 when I was shopping for a new LCD HDTV. I looked in many places
from Best Buy to Wal-Mart and fell in love with a Polaroid 37"
FLM-373B. I compared many different manufactures from Sony to
Polaroid and felt that the Polaroid had the best picture and the price
was very reasonable. I was finally able to purchase this TV on
January 27, 2007. I was very pleased with my purchase and recommended
Polaroid to everyone I knew and even people I didn't know who were
shopping for TVs in stores. I was so pleased with my purchase that I
purchased another Polaroid 26" FLM-2632 on July 21, 2007! The first
26" that I brought home would not work out of the box. I didn't think
much of this and exchanged it the next day (July 22, 2007).

This story takes an awful turn a little over 16 months after my
original purchase. My 37" TV starting having an awful screeching
noise when I would turn it on, this started on May 4, 2008. This
lasted for a couple of days, and then I couldn't get it to turn on
without first unplugging it. Then, it just went out completely on May
8,2008. I knew that it was outside of warranty but called the service
center anyway. I spoke with a man by the name of Tony. He explained
to me that the only thing he could do was an out of warranty exchange.
He said to send my TV and $510.00 and they would send me a
refurbished TV. I have a problem with this to start with. I have
already spent $1096.70 and don't feel I should have to pay another
$510.00, which would put the total price at $1606.70. I could have
bought the top of the line Sony for that! Tony did give me the name
and number of places I could call for parts for this TV, again I say
that I have already put over a thousand dollars into this TV! Tony
also tells me that only about 5% of Polaroid TVs stop working. I
decided that I would do research on my own. I searched the internet
to find many others who have had the exact same experience as me! I
could not afford to fix the 37" TV so I used starting using my 26" as
my primary TV.

At this point I already have a sour taste in my mouth, and would tell
people just how I was treated. I have also convinced several people
to buy other brands while shopping. As if this story isn't bad
enough, it does get worse! I had to start using my 26" TV because it
is the only TV in my house that works. Then on September 21, 2008 my
26" TV made a loud pop and went off. It will not power up much less
turn on! I had only had this TV for 14 months!!! (If you are
counting this makes THREE Polaroid TVs I have brought into my house
that is either broken or breaks within 16 months!) As soon as the 26"
breaks I am already dreading calling the service center. I already
know what I am going to be told (I do believe that all the customer
service reps at Polaroid read from a script each time a customer
calls.) On September 22, 2008 I called the service center to report
the 26" TV as broken. I spoke to several people trying to get someone
to help me. I already knew what part was needed in order to fix this
TV and found that no one sells the single part needed. Therefore I
would have to buy an entire control box with all of the boards that
costs $560.00, which is more than I spent for the TV! I spoke to at
least 4 people to start with, Tibo, Ronald, Jason and Berry. They all
told me the same things, they told me that only about 5% of Polaroid
TVs break, that these TVs are considered non-repairable and that I
could send my TV and $360.00 in for an out of warranty exchange. I
have already spent $544.99 on this TV I do not want to spend more!
First, if only 5% of Polaroid TVs break then how come my household has
a 100% defective rate?!? Second, if these TVs are non-repairable then
how can they send customers "refurbished" TVs in the "out of warranty"
exchange program?!? Finally I had just had it and called back at this
point I spoke to Josie. She too said she wanted to help me when she
answered. I quickly went through the story and asked her if there was
anything she could do for me before I report this to the BBB and seek
legal action. She then tells me there is nothing more she can do for
me. So, I hung the phone up and went straight to the BBB website and
filed a complaint.

Apparently Polaroid gets BBB complaints very fast because the next
afternoon, September 23, 2008, my phone rings and it is Rosea Linda
with Polaroid. She wants to help me. (Yeah yeah, every single person
I have spoken to at Polaroid wants to help me.) I sit and listen to
her. She tells me that there is a "grace period" on the warranty.
(Where did this grace period come from and why didn't Josie tell me
about this when I called asking if there was anything they could do
for me the day before!) I really want the money that I spent on the
26" TV, but during the conversation I realize she isn't going to do
that. She also tells me that these TVs are considered non-repairable!
(I am just not understanding this!) Finally we decide that she will
send me the very best TV (as good as new) they have and when I get it
I check it out and either keep it and send mine in or send it back to
them. I explain to her that I want the best they have and that I want
one just like mine if possible and I do NOT want one with a DVD player
built in. She tells me that I need to fax my receipt over and she
will take care of it from her end. I ask her how I can contact her
directly and she tells me to call the customer service number and ask
for her. When I got off the phone with her I felt okay with what I
had agreed to and later that evening faxed the receipt as she
requested.

The very next day, September 24, 2008, I call back to verify that
Rosea Linda received my fax. I first spoke with Mary, I asked her to
transfer me to Rosea Linda, she explains that she can help me and she
can't transfer me. I was not happy with that and asked for her boss.
I then speak with Teresa who tells me the same thing. SO, Rosea Linda
says to call and ask for her and I can speak to her, yet I try that
and can't! Teresa does tell me that it takes up to 48 hours to
receive a fax. I decide to wait it out and see what happens.

On September 30, 2008 I call back to make sure that Rosea Linda
received my fax and see when I could expect my TV to arrive. I spoke
to another customer service rep that wants to help me but won't
transfer me to Rosea Linda! He does give me a tracking number and
tells me that my TV would arrive on October 2, 2008. I call FedEx to
confirm what he said and would you believe I was given the WRONG
tracking number! SO, I call Polaroid back and speak to another
customer service rep that also wants to help me! He finally gives me
the correct tracking number but won't let me speak with Rosea Linda!

On October 2, 2008 my TV arrives. It is almost a relieve because I am
so ready for all of this to be over with. I open the box to find a TV
that has scratches AND a DVD player built in. (Is this the best that
they have and why does it have a DVD player in it?) I take the TV out
and plug it up. It does come on BUT as I start setting up the color,
sound, ECT. I find that it will not retain the setting I put in for
video and that the sound option does not work. I am in disbelieve
that I now have my FOURTH Polaroid TV that doesn't work!!! I tell
myself that I can deal with that just to end this with Polaroid. I
then decided to test the DVD player, keep in mind I had told Rosea
Linda that I DID NOT want a DVD player built in!! I move the setting
to DVD input and as I am getting my DVD out the TV shuts itself off.
I have no clue how it did it, but I know that it is yet another
problem with this TV. I turn the TV back on thinking that was a fluke
and put in my disc. After about 40 seconds of playing the screen had
a rainbow of colors on it that was not part of the show I put in, it
buzzed and shut itself off again! AND, it didn't want to give me my
disk back! I now fully agree with all the customer service reps and
Rosea Linda when they say that these TVs are non-repairable! I say
this because Rosea Linda was going to send me the very best TV they
had (as good as new) and the very best that they have is NOT
repaired!!! I called the customer service center right away and spoke
to Gustavo, he said that he could not help me and that he would get a
message to Rosea Linda to call me and that she would call me by 5:00
EST the next day.

On October 3, 2008 I waited for a phone call from Rosea Linda. At
3:00 EST I still had not heard from her so I called and spoke to
Glenn. Glenn said he would note all the information on the account
and leave a message for Rosea Linda to call because he had just seen
her go into a meeting. I let Glenn know that there was already a
message for her to call me and his would make 2. Finally at 5:00 EST
I called and spoke to Bridget. I have to tell my story yet again to a
customer service rep who wants to help me. She then realized that she
can't help me and says she is going to find Rosea Linda for me. She
comes back to the phone telling me that Rosea Linda had left for the
day! (She left without calling me knowing there was a problem with
the TV she sent me because of a BBB complaint!) Bridget then gets
another supervisor by the name of Earl on the phone. He agrees that
it is not good to have a customer with a total of 4 Polaroid TVs
defective, but he can't help me! He updates my account and tells me
that he will have Rosea Linda to call me Monday.

On October 5, 2008 I open my email and have an email from the BBB.
There is an update to my complaint. It looks as though someone has
reported to them that the complaint is resolved, they reported this on
October 3, 2008! On October 3rd I had 2 messages in to have Rosea
Linda to call me because of problems with the TV they had sent. How
can the complaint be resolved? Earl had updated the account with all
of the information so there should have been no way for anyone to
believe that this complaint was resolved. I did send in my rebuttal
to the BBB on October 5, 2008.

On October 6, 2008 I had still not received a call from Rosea Linda,
so at 12:30 I again call the customer service number, I spoke with
Paul. Paul is a very rude and very condescending person! He proceeds
to tell me that Rosea Linda was not in and that Earl was busy. He
would have Earl call me as soon as he was no longer busy. At 1:30 I
decided to call yet again. This time I spoke to Britney. She tells
me that Rosea Linda is in a meeting all day and possibly all week!
She said that she would have Earl call me before they closed at 9:00.
Finally at 1:45 Earl calls. After I again explain my entire story he
said that I must have been shipped another customer's broken TV. In
disbelieve I asked him, "You sent me another customer's broken TV?"
He then backtracks and tells me that he didn't say that, that I did!
No, I didn't say that! He then proceeds to tell me that Rosa Linda
has authorized him to send me another refurbished TV. I asked him if
he could just send me a vouched to Wal-Mart to get another TV. He
tells me that he can't do that and that the only solution is another
refurbished TV. THEN he tell me that everything is on back order for
2 weeks and that it will be at least 2 weeks before they can ship me
another TV.

I again have updated the BBB as to the events of the day and now the
story goes on hold for 2 weeks, while I wait for them to ship me my
FIFTH Polaroid TV!

I completely agree. I had my TV LESS then a year. I e-mailed the
company to see what I had to do to get my TV fixed, and they just sent
me back a phone number. When I called customer (dis)service, not only
where they rude, but un willing to help I sent an e-mail back to the
same address I did last time, but didn't get a reply. Neither have my
subsequent 5 e-mails. I have gotten better customer service from the
IRS. There excuse for everything it "That's our policy." Apparently
taking advantage of their customers is part of their policy as well.

I paid 300.00 for my 19" TV...and it lasted less then a year? I got my
RCA TV 15 years ago, and it's still working as well as it did the day
I bought it.

I would like to join your campaign to spread the work about this
situation. I don't want anyone else to get ripped off the way we
were.

They really should have issued a recall this is ridiculous.

I agree. You should have gotten more use out of a TV that you buy. I
will not buy a Polaroid tv thanks to your input.

If a TV maker is not going to make a product that should be expected
to last over a year, they should put notice on the item before you buy
it that reads "Throw away in a year." And for anyone below that thinks
it is okay for this to happen based on what you paid for it, I bet the
would never buy any item that they knew would break down in a year.

Hitachi products are the same way. I bought two items from them which
were very expensive. The saying that you get what you paid for is not
true.

Hitachi has a very poor customer relationship when it comes to owning
up to their worthless electronics. I bought a TV and a dvd player from
them at two different times. I did not think lightning could strike
twice but it did.

Stay away from Polaroid products. Not only are they poorly
constructed but the customer service level at Polaroid is horrible.

I bought my TV in Dec and it stopped working a week before the Super
Bowl (I would have taken it back to where I bought it from but my arm
was broken at the time). Polaroid "serviced" me by sending me a new
control box 3 weeks later and then scheduling a technician to install
it 3 weeks after that. Finally the repairman comes and fixes my TV.
Less than 3 hours after he leaves the TV breaks again. Instead of
obviously realizing that I have a defective TV, Polaroid wants me to
wait for another control box and another technician to install it (6
more weeks).

Isn't the definition of stupidity doing the same thing over again and
expecting a different result? Polaroid says it is their policy that
they have to try to fix the TV twice before replacing it.
Unfortunately, my policy is not to accept retarded policies from large
corporations like Polaroid....so I guess I'm at an impasse here.

Since I have owned the TV it has worked for less than half the time.
Spend the extra $200 and buy a Samsung or Sony.

It is very odd that so many people here are attacking the poster
rather than Polaroid. We have had a terrible experience with them -- a
42-inch flat-panel tv, still in warranty, that quit working simply
because we plugged a computer into it, and Polaroid can't/won't fix
it. This company does not stand behind its products. Do NOT buy from
them.

Hello? You want them to give you a new tv for your broken one? Only 14
months old? Were you offered a warranty when you bought it? Did you
decline? Does everything in your letter have to have a question mark
after it, or do you just like those? How about if they compromise and
offer you a discounted repair?

Sounds like this may have been an analog TV without the built-in
digital tuner which means it would've been pretty much useless after
February 17, 2009. Unless you purchase a digital-to-analog set-top
converter box. Which means an additional cost over the $200.00 you
paid for the TV/DVD. Sounds like time to go out and spend the extra
money for a decent LCD HDTV. That way you'll be sure you're ready for
the digital format on 2/17/09.

May I just say... I doubt that the television was made by Polaroid. It
probably just has their name on it.

You have a better chance of being elected President of the United
States.

It cost you 200 dollars, and the warranty was only for a year. What
does that mean to you? What does ONE YEAR mean to you?? To me, and
every normal person, it means ONE YEAR, and anything beyond that it's
tough luck. Not only that, but why in the hell are you buying a
Polaroid TV? hahah. What you expect something to last may not match
with how long the product will last, and that doesn't entitle you to
anything. It's over a year, get over it!!! And your little campaign
will fail, so just don't even try.

I would expect something that costs $200 to work longer than 1yr also,
but then I guess I would have never looked towards Poloraid when
purchasing such an item.

The warrenty is over, the thing broke buy a new one or try to find a
place that handles the Poloroid products and can repair it.

Fort Knox would have been the better request probably.

I got a word for you.

Now I want you to listen VERY VERY carefully to what I'm about to tell
you.

This word can change your life.

Here it is:

LETITGO!

Out of warranty is out of warranty, which means that you, kind sir,
are out of luck! This is an inexpensive piece of electronic equipment
that at least outlasted the 12 month minimum life expectancy. Be
thankful you got 14 months and move on.

Boy you sure like? your question marks? don't you??

Polaroid makes crappy cameras, so i dont expect much better from their
TVs.

I can understand your frustration - Electronics just arent what they
used to be. I would never buy anything electronic without researching
it first. (heck,i wont even buy 10 dollar flip flops from target
without reading the reviews first... but im a cheapass)

Gone are the days when you can walk into a store and point to the
pretty set. You have to do some research before going into a store to
buy electronics nowadays, especially if its something expensive.
Finding reviews online is easy, usually you can even find them on the
website of the store you plan on buying them from.

I own a Polaroid portable DVD player. I have had it for at least 2
years. I paid around $200 for it when I bought it, and it still works
great to this day. I broke the spring that makes the DVD lid thing
open, called Polaroid to see about replacing it and they can't,
because of the age. I would have to buy a new one. I decided against
mainly, because mine still works, I just have to remove the lid
manaully.
You do get what you paid for. $200 for 14 months in the tv isn't bad.
Especially if you bought seperate tv/dvd, one would have failed by
now.

Its been my experience combo machines whether combo dvd/vcr or combo
tv/vcr tv's are a bad buy.

A 1 yr warranty is just that 1 yr. Not 1 yr and a month or 1 yr and 2
months.

Your campaign worked, I'll look into buying a Poloroid TV next time
I'm in the market for one. I like that they stick to their guns on
the warranty issue.

Please learn how to use commas!

Other things that fail after a warranty expires include, but are not
limited to:
1- anything from any company
2- Fort Knox

Do you understand what a comma should be used for?

It should be for pauses in speech. Read your letter aloud and pause
wherever you have a comma. That is how it is being read. So it goes
without saying that it distracts from what you are trying to say in
your letter.

Lots of luck with your campaign. Certainly you noticed the warranty
when you bought the unit, so you realize that it is indeed no longer
covered for repair. Many consumer electronics have 1 year warranties
or less.

You are right, it is reasonable to expect such a unit to last, on
average, at least 5 years. Unfortunately, you may be a "statistical
outlier", someone who experiences a failure on the short end of the
scale.

This is probably all you can realistically expect at this point - a
bit of negative publicity towards the company. I guess I don't shop
much; I didn't know the name Poloroid was even around. In the dark
ages they made cameras.