I'm hoping someone here knows what this means. A product care plan for
a tv I'm considering purchasing for my parents states that it doesn't
cover inherent product defects. What does that mean?

The plan does state that it covers parts and labor costs from failure
due to defects in workmanship and/or materials, normal wear and tear,
dust, heat, humidity, and power surges.

Inherent product defect sounds like it means the tv was built bad, and
in that case, it should be covered.

Mike S. wrote:

Inherent product defect sounds like it means the tv was built bad, and
in that case, it should be covered.

It does indeed sound like they won't cover design faults. Why they would
specifically outline this though, is a mystery (no-one else does it).

My guess is the normal part of their work is to cover huge quantities of a
particular make and model of TV, and they were bitten with design faults in
the past.

So, if you're going to buy this set, make sure it doesn't have any design
faults. And that's going to be impossible to determine unless you happen to
be in the industry, know the history of the design, what changes were made,
and had at least some knowledge of how the initial production line went.

In other words, don't buy it- or at least don't buy that service plan (if
you have a choice). There should be plenty of others. Or at least the
warranty to keep your wallet safe for the shorter term.

Unless you ARE talking about the factory warranty? If you are, stay well away.

--
Linux Registered User # 302622
http://counter.li.org

"Mike S." wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm hoping someone here knows what this means. A product care plan for
a tv I'm considering purchasing for my parents states that it doesn't
cover inherent product defects. What does that mean?

The plan does state that it covers parts and labor costs from failure
due to defects in workmanship and/or materials, normal wear and tear,
dust, heat, humidity, and power surges.

Inherent product defect sounds like it means the tv was built bad, and
in that case, it should be covered.


Just out of curiousity, might you share the brand with us all - so we can be
sure to check into that before buying? Who wants a set which won't be
covered by a warranty for their own problems?

Secondly folks - while on a TV topic, Wal-Mart and other stores are pushing
sets off the shelves "Cheap" in most but not all cases - which are not
designed to do "Digital" signals. The FCC has been citing many for lack of
informing the Consumer to this fact. So - in the case above and in this
case - "watch what you 're buying". IF you buy "these" particular sets - you
may not be able to take them back - due to clearance sale - or they may pull
the same crap as the OP has listed. In this case an Inherent defect - not
"made" to receive said signals. Some people won't know and surely won't be
told this when buying.

A neice of mine bought a set from Kmart - it went bad at the end of one
year. Couldn't find a schematic for it. K-Mart told me the "manufacturer"
went out of business.

Used to be you could buy a set and expect it to work for some time,
warranties no problem, etc. Now days as I see in this post and those of
people buying big screens, etc.... it is all JUNK.

On Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:22:27 +1000, John Tserkezis
put finger to keyboard and
composed:

Mike S. wrote:

Inherent product defect sounds like it means the tv was built bad, and
in that case, it should be covered.

It does indeed sound like they won't cover design faults. Why they would
specifically outline this though, is a mystery (no-one else does it).

My guess is the normal part of their work is to cover huge quantities of a
particular make and model of TV, and they were bitten with design faults in
the past.

So, if you're going to buy this set, make sure it doesn't have any design
faults.

I understood the "product plan" to be some kind of extended warranty.

As for design problems, I would expect them to become evident early in
the product's life, in which case they should be covered by the
manufacturer's warranty.

I would suggest that a manufacturer's dead pixel policy would be one
example where "inherent product defects" are commonly excluded from
warranty claims.

And that's going to be impossible to determine unless you happen to
be in the industry, know the history of the design, what changes were made,
and had at least some knowledge of how the initial production line went.

In other words, don't buy it- or at least don't buy that service plan (if
you have a choice). There should be plenty of others. Or at least the
warranty to keep your wallet safe for the shorter term.

Unless you ARE talking about the factory warranty? If you are, stay well away.

Here in Australia, any product that had a design fault could be
challenged as being of unmerchantable quality, or not fit for purpose,
in which case the seller would be required to make restitution either
by refund or replacement.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

Franc Zabkar wrote:

I understood the "product plan" to be some kind of extended warranty.

Fair, but that just changes the situation from "right away" to "a bit down
the track".

As for design problems, I would expect them to become evident early in
the product's life, in which case they should be covered by the
manufacturer's warranty.

You would hope so. Some design faults such as component stressing (heat or
whatever) might not become evident till later on- into the "special" warranty
that no longer covers that.

I would suggest that a manufacturer's dead pixel policy would be one
example where "inherent product defects" are commonly excluded from
warranty claims.

Bad example. This issue was beaten to death by joe average, to the point
where people were shopping entirely around the dead pixel policy, and what the
manufacturer would do in the event of dead pixels.
I've heard of some people demanding they turn the things on in-store, and
picking monitors that worked.

Many manufacturers changed their policy. Voting with your wallet apparently
works real well.

Here in Australia, any product that had a design fault could be
challenged as being of unmerchantable quality, or not fit for purpose,
in which case the seller would be required to make restitution either
by refund or replacement.

I'm also from Australia, and I can tell you, that's not always the case.
The JVC HM-HDS1. It's combination PVR/VCR. Its software is the riddled with
bugs all over the place. If it were a prototype release for review,
wonderful. But for production release, with NO avenue for firmware upgrades?
Oh, and there was a nice addition where the JVC australia web site outright
claimed it had one particular feature VPS/PDC that shifted timed recordings
allowing for telecasts that were delayed or similar. Really nice. Except it
doesn't exist in Australia, never did and never will. I called Ch 10, 9 and
7, all said they had heard of it, but it's not available, and never will be
available.

The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for the benefit of
those not residents of Oz) said since it mostly behaves as a VCR (play, stop,
rewind, fast forward etc) and the PVR part most behaves as a hard drive based
recorder (play, rewind, pause whatever) they couldn't do a thing. The bugs
didn't stop it from being a VCR.
I mentioned the VPS/PDC issue, they said since it doesn't stop it from being
a VCR, they can't do anything about it. Not that I wanted the feature, I was
just loading up with ammunition to justify a refund.

The fact that I went in to the JVC distributors and actually demonstrated at
least four bugs (that I found in less than the week I had it) meant nothing.
Those bugs are minor points not affecting its basic function of being a PVR
and VCR.

Who do these guys think they are, Microsoft?

The laws are only useful if you buy a goat and get a sheep. As long as the
beast mostly behaves like a goat, you're stuck with it.
--
Linux Registered User # 302622
http://counter.li.org