Hi,

I have a Sony 48" TV that has worked fine for the past 5 years. Never
had a single problem or complaint. Model Number is KP48S75. Suddenly,
yesterday I go to turn the thing on and. . .nothing! Not a peep,
click, gurgle, nothing. It was as if it wasn't plugged in. But it was
plugged in. I went to the SONY web site and did what they said (leave
it unplugged for 30 minutes and then try again--I did this a couple of
times, to no avail). The standby light, which is always on even when
the TV is turned off, is on, but that is it. I just called a TV repair
place and they said it would cost about $300 to fix, and that doesn't
mean that the TV would last any length of time after being fixed. I
could need to buy a new TV in 6 months anyway. When I said that maybe
I should just buy a new TV now the guy said well if you do, call me and
I'll take the old one off your hands.

I really did not expect to have to buy a new TV so soon. According to
the guy I talked to today, 5 years is a long time to have a TV with no
problems, but I actually thought this TV would last way longer than
this! I paid around $1300 for it new in 2001.

I guess my question is this: is it true that TVs just don't last long
anymore? This guy told me that 5 years was a long time and that is
about as long as any TV is going to last these days. I'm 45 years old,
and I remember when TVs used to last for 10-15 years! What the heck is
going on?

Why would anyone buy a $3,000 plasma TV if it's only going to last a
few years? This guy said that all of the new TVs--LCDs, plasmas,
etc.--none of them last very long. Is this true, or is this this guy's
sales tactics?

Right now I'm thinking about going to BJ's and getting a cheap 32" TV.
If it's not going to last but a few years anyway, why spend more than
$325 (including tax)? Of course, if I'm going to spend $325, why not
just get the SONY fixed? Because the TV repair guy said it would cost
AT LEAST $300, and I'm not prepared to pay any more than that. I have
a feeling that $300 will turn into more when he gets through with me. .
..

Thanks in advance for any information and/or advice. . .

Lesley