Thursday 12/07/06
It's not that I only post on my blog when I want to rant about something. Really, it's not. This is just a funny story.
At the end of September, I bought a refurbed 42" plasma HDTV from the Philips Electronics Outlet. It arrived on my birthday, October 11. There was a serious flaw in the display when I took it out of the box, a line of bright white static down the right side. Since it was a refurb, Philips wouldn't send me another, but rather wanted to repair it under warranty. Fortunately the warranty is in-home, as the TV weighs 100 pounds and the screen is rather fragile.
The TV is still watchable, so I watch it until the local Philips subcontractor comes out to have a look at it. He arrives prepared to jiggle a few wires and be on his way, but unfortunately it looks like I need a whole new plasma tube. He says he has to come out later with a camera and take pictures of it to get Philips to approve it. No problem, say I, I have a camera and will take pictures and e-mail them to him. I do that, and in due time, he calls and says that Philips has approved the new tube and comes out to get the TV.
A week goes by.
It transpires that the necessary part is backordered. I'm 750th in line. Apparently, Philips' "refurbishment" process is not all that and there is heavy demand for tubes. At my prompting, he gets Philips to approve replacement with a newer part used in their current models. So at least I get what is basically a whole new TV out of the deal.
Four more weeks pass.
I don't get to watch the OSU/Michigan game in glorious 720p; instead, I am forced to watch it at 240p (yes, half-VGA) on my computer via Slingbox. Finally, today I get the word that the part has finally arrived and been installed, and the TV guy says he'll deliver the TV this evening.
Now, you have to remember: I hardly ever have company, and I've not invited anyone over tonight. So the only person I expect to be knocking on my door tonight is the TV guy.
5:00 PM. Knock knock. It's UPS, delivering a package I wasn't expecting! (But thank you for the quick turnaround on the defective SD card, Ultra Products.)
5:30 PM. Knock knock. It's a kid trying to sell me a newspaper subscription. He does an excellent job of trying to guilt me into paying less than $2 a week for daily delivery, pointing out that if I just want it on Sunday he can arrange that for the same low price. (No, I didn't get it either.) I manage not to succumb.
6:00 PM. Knock knock. It's a pair of smiling Mormon missionaries trying to tell me about their prophet. I'm afraid I was rather short with them, since I am not at all interested in what they're selling and, more importantly, they didn't have my TV.
6:30 PM. Knock knock. Wonder who it is, and if they have my TV. Update: They do! I think it may actually have been worth the wait; this new tube has visibly better black levels.
