78 replies to this topic

[David Williams]

TerenceJ, on Jun 20 2005, 02:06 PM, said:

I bought my first Panasonic NV-F70 VCR in 1989

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I got my first Panasonic VCR 16 years ago. Lasted for 13 years - it was the tuner that went but I can still use it por playback.
Replacement Panasonic still going strong 3 years
Another Panny VCR in second TV going strong - 10 years maybe

3 Panasonic TV's all brilliant - one of them 13 years old

Panasonic easily have the best name for HDD/DVD recorders - my E100h going strong (1 Year old)

I generally find you can't go wrong with Panasonic A/V gear

[mjstokesy]

Can't say I've had too many duds. Sony for me is a bunch of crap. VCR, error messages every few days. This was a tape prob. Walkmans, even worst! Legend LSD STB, now that's a piece of crap, that's putting it nicely really. 2 separate units...no difference at all. Kept it but still having problems. Downloads do something. Just don't waste any time emailing these people. Surprised about Panasonic, I've had no probs with any of their stuff. I have a portable CD player, Hifi and another stereo, all work sweetly. Is there any brands that are good out there??

[nelsonp]

Any offers for my 4 Pana VCRs?

1 has gone back to Pana after Fair Trading judgement so I still have 3 left in boxes... no use for them???  Not much milege on them but all faulty and unuseable!!!

Maybe the guys above may want them one day for parts???

[Bootsman]

$2 for all 4 and you pay post

[cartman]

David Williams, on Jun 20 2005, 03:35 PM, said:

I got my first Panasonic VCR 16 years ago. Lasted for 13 years - it was the tuner that went but I can still use it por playback.
Replacement Panasonic still going strong 3 years
Another Panny VCR in second TV going strong - 10 years maybe

3 Panasonic TV's all brilliant - one of them 13 years old

Panasonic easily have the best name for HDD/DVD recorders - my E100h going strong (1 Year old)

I generally find you can't go wrong with Panasonic A/V gear

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Very similar situation here re. VCRs - also the same re. microwaves.
Hardly bother looking at anything else when buying these two things (not that I'll ever need another VCR - still waiting for digital PVR w/DVD rec.)

[David Williams]

cartman, on Jun 21 2005, 01:24 AM, said:

Very similar situation here re. VCRs - also the same re. microwaves.
Hardly bother looking at anything else when buying these two things (not that I'll ever need another VCR - still waiting for digital PVR w/DVD rec.)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah. I was only referring to AV gear - I have had my Panny Microwave for 16 years. Still going strong.

[MelwayMan]

Two dud purchases I've made:

1. The Footy! DG-Tec DH2000A (Still putting up with it until I can afford a replacement)

2. A Sharp Microwave Oven - Some screen segments died on it about a month out of warranty. I was able to get it fixed as they had a recall on, and then about 3 months after that a couple of screen segments died again...

Tim

[rkelly]

nelsonp, on Jun 20 2005, 01:45 PM, said:

You seem offended.  We just related the duds we find, I can see that it can only help the guys deciding on the stuff & duds.  Stating duds will always appear bad to the companies and usually is associated some with bad responses from the companies themselves.

If only the guys at Panasonic handled customers with better results then I am sure there will not be the corresponding complaints, I guess.  They make lots of other stuff good ones too but the bad ones appears the pits + their attitudes do not seem good either in some cases.  C'mon I am sure they know the duds, but at least do some right things for customers when this happens, huh?

If LG has bad stuff do state the items as we all learn from it, not just sanitised comments.  All duds should be identified for the benefit of all!!   And bad companies/responses too because they are linked... usually!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

not so much offended, just replying with my opinion, as does everyone else.

I do have to agree with the statement about holden and f & p though.

[chrig]

TerenceJ, on Jun 20 2005, 02:06 PM, said:

Hi, I bought my first Panasonic NV-F70 VCR in 1989 for Linear Editing of Video its still going strong only problem since was losing its LCD display (now fixed),also have NV-HD100A stiil Ok over 10 years, now using a NV-HV60 for copying VHS tape to DVD via PC 3 years no problems, so what you are all saying is not correct as far as im concerned

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It seems their products vary in quality; I have several older Japanese Panasonic VCR's and swear by them. Have a 13 year old 51cm TV still going strong, but another Panasonic TV bought in 1997 has had an extemely poor tuner since day 1, and it sitting around unused. A positive is a 1984 vintage National TV which being thrown out when I was in high school has been an excellent playstation unit and apart from a dodgy volume control performs well to this day.

My 200a widescreen works well, although the geometry as described on this forum is out. I also have two newer Panasonic VCR's, Malaysian made which are a load of junk. Poorly constructed I think will soon be seen on eBay and ill just keep my Japanese units. Our Panasonic cordless phone battery went quickly after purchase, yet the older Sanyo cordless, although not as stylish, is still going strong with original battery since 1999 and has better sound quality.

I bought a Panasonic STB and it was sold within a couple of months with problems since day 1, namely lines across the top of channel 10. Also extremely poor connectivity.

What dissapointed me the most about Panasonic was their "customer care". I don't think even Telstra are as rude, arrogant, and non helpful as these guys. I haven't had a lot to do with support lines for electrical goods, but when my Toshiba STB needed a firmware update Castel electronics the distributor were most helpful, friendly and efficient about the whole matter. I would much rather have to deal with Castel than Panasonic 'care' anyday.

Our family has been massive supporters of the brand, but I must say we are getting more skeptical about which Panasonic products in the future we will buy as some product categories, namely TV's, VCR's and especially STB's seem to be extemely poorly made, and I think the company is only trading as well as they are because of their previous reputation for high quality manufacturing.

[sman]

anything bought from a good guys electrical store. The products either go before or just after warranty expires.

[fawlty99]

Sony vcr (but it was cheap). It works but quality leaves a bit to be desired. Can't believe the bad vibes about panasonic. I've got 2 HIFI vcrs & 3 pana TV's ranging from 5 years to 12 years old. Never an ounce of trouble with any of them. My old "national" vcr only just died after 20 years.

[SGS]

I had 2 JVC VCR's that dies within 2 years due to faulty heads.  Then got a Pana and has been very good.

I'm not too pleased with Teac anything these days.  Warranty repairs especially poor.

[Jet]

Comrades,

I've had Panny's 76cm 100A, 200A & 300A here at the hanger over the last few years at various times, all worked fine, bar one small glitch with the 76cm 200A 'Jittering' in 1080i mode - a scrambled eprom (probably my fault anyway for doing some serious mucking about in service menus did it?) a quick factory re-set and all is/was fine.

As for the Panny STBs, well I will agree that the QTR2130 & QTR2140 left more than a bit to be desired, but I'm currently using the Panny TU-HDT104A = AKA (QTR2150) and never had a problem with it, but it does from time to time suffer from occasional interference from power line glitches - so I use plenty of 240v line conditioning and hence no worries, I believe that later model 104A's had an internal fix for the interference problem?

IMHO the 76cm Panny TX76-PW300A CRT is about the best 'bang for buck' HD capable set currently on the market here in Oz (and it's Aussie made at Penrith NSW - only the Quintrex HR tubes are imported from Japan, AFAIK?)

BTW my +10 year old Panny S-VHS (Japanese made but with SCARTs in & out, plus 'Hoisen' [S-Video] & CBVS RCA connections), is still going strong, maybe soon it will need new heads - but otherwise it's built like a bomb proof 'brick shirt-house' (sic) !

You pays ya money and ya takes your chances,
Jet  :ph34r:

[heyehy]

Thomson DVI STB.

[Recon]

Theres a dud in every brand & household. I don't hold any grudges towards any companies in particular, I dont think it really matters with the bigger brands... However

A Kenwood XD-951 Mini Pro Logic 3CD system 500 rms... came with a two year warranty (luckily) because it went to the service agent twice, sydney twice, and on the 5th time they replaced it with a factory repaird one at a guess.... and even then it did some funny things (which i fixed myself was a dry joint stuff em i wasnt going to send it back again) :\

Sharp CRT TVs....
My 68cm pure flat, flyback transformer went in 2 months, and 4 years later needed a few transistors replaced. as a kid in the eighties, the old mans sharp nothing but trouble, grandmas sharp same deal. Then again ive seen sharps that last for years.

I have been very impressed with lg products tho lately, I think they are great bang for buck, i have an lg rear pro, vac, front loader, fridge, m/wave, even pc lcd and dvd burners... they make some excelent products and i have not had any trouble to date *fingers crossed*

[sulrich]

wintel widescreen tv. Woeful tuner, terrible picture. Biggest mistake in electronics purchasing I have ever made.  

[phase52001]

DGTEC 2000A and the crappy after sales "service/support" from BING LEE.

"Not working properly, just paid a lot of cash for it, sorry we'll have to send it back to the makers for REPAIRS ... it will be 3-6 weeks .... because thats OUR policy ... we don't replace goods or give refunds .... so piss off".

[quietboy]

donna when I was 18  

[retro]

In 1985 I bought an Akai stereo video recorder.......from the time I had it there was a dotted line down the middle of the picture. I took it back to their service dept and they accused me of wanting a new player(I did not ask this).

After a few trips it was never fixed. It lasted 10 odd years with the lousey picture and it died....I have not and never will by Akai again.(It was the top of the range model hooked up to my stereo at the time)

[addo]

Hay what exactly is wrong with the Legend STB

[nelsonp]

addo, on Jul 18 2005, 10:55 AM, said:

Hay what exactly is wrong with the Legend STB

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Cheap China-made rebadged STB.  Also has minor problems receiving SBS.
If you are keen on the low-quality China stuff you can get Kross at $79 instead.  Or the Soniq from JB at $89.

Generally the Korean made ones are better but more in price.

[Groover !]

Far out the FOOTY (DGTEC2000a) has only 3 votes in this entire thread.
I have only really had 10 duds in my life................................
1. FOOTY 2000A
2. FOOTY 2000A
3. FOOTY 2000A
4. FOOTY 2000A
5. FOOTY 2000A
6. FOOTY 2000A
7. FOOTY 2000A
8. FOOTY 2000A
9. FOOTY 2000A
10. FOOTY 2000A

[Jason_dinAlt]

Ive had so many duds I have almost lost track!


Early 80s: JVC turntable, top of the line, with servo controlled arm.   randomly would just grind to a stop. JVC had it for 11 months and never fixed it, they said they did but one hour after getting it home it did it again. It went to the tip

Early 80s: Nakamichi LX5 Cassette recorder, very expensive 3 head unit at the time. Kept getting audio clicks in the left channel when recording. Nakamichi tried to fix it 3 times but ended up giving up.

Late 80s: Audio Pro Powered subwoofer, kept blowing fuses, then finally it blew the output stage on the amp

Late 80s: Yamaha CD player, supposably professional model. Kept killing the laser, lucky it had a five year warranty as it went thru seven laser assemblies. It went to the tip two months out of warranty

Late 90s: A string of dodgy sony products.

Sony Hifi Video: display failed 1 day before warranty expired. Sony had a service bullitin on this. Local repairer fixed it and billed sony. Then two years later the entire loading mechanism destroyed itself in a crunch and grindof plastic and metal, and the tape inserted.

Sony 5.1 channel home theatre amp. Just out of warranty it wouldnt obey commands, ie u would select dvd dolby pro or 5.1 and it would o/p the tuner in stereo etc. Then slowly one by one an output stage would fail, only the left front and rear right works now, its in the shed as I replaced it with a yammy 2700

sony dvd player. second series, cost a fortune, ie $799 and beautifully made ando I assumed the bugs would be gone. WRONG! Would skip on the slightest dust/smudge/hair/scratch, it would even skip on new disks straight out the case. Had endless service alignments, it ever fixed it. And it wouldnt play burnt cds, but it would play burnt dvds, weird! currently keeps the cats bum warm.

And dont get me started on fisher paekal: dud washing machine, dud dish washer, dud drier, but the worst was the westinghouse fridge, the door fell off a month out of warranty, and couldnt be economically replaced as the hinges were part of the outer case. Electrolux (the parent company) did the right thing and replaced it with a new one for a fee of $207 (the fridge was worth $1600 to replace)

last year: wintal sd stb. its dead, power supply seems to be o/p all the correct voltages but nothing happens, only got 14 months out of it


But on a side note:

I have had some incredibly good runs out of some gear: ie yamaha class A a1000 amp, bought in 1984 for just under a $1000 (it was their flagship at the time) Its been flogged and flogged and even had a jug of beer split on it at a piss up in the N.T.  Its still going strong!

[austruckie]

I didnt buy it but Coonan is the biggest dud in communications. cheers alan

[RayDio]

austruckie, on Aug 8 2007, 05:46 PM, said:

I didnt buy it but Coonan is the biggest dud in communications. cheers alan

Along with NBN Television