LG Electronics WARNING

Just in case someone is considering purchasing a new television I wanted to let everyone know how well LG Electronics take care of their customers. I purchased a 40" Zenith HD projection t.v. on 12-09-2005 which is still under the twelve month parts and labor warranty. The last week of August 06 I noticed a red flare in the bottom left of the screen. I contacted the store that I purchased the set from and they contacted the service center they used for LG warranty repair work. They were told that they were no longer authorized by LG for warranty work. I then called LG on Aug.30 and was told they would find service for me and someone would be contacting me. To make a long story short, after numerous phone calls to LG, and being assured they were working on the issue, I am now at day FIFTY THREE since I requested service directly to LG. Luckily I have been able to watch the tv although the red flare is pretty irritating, I can not imagine how upset and mistreated someone would feel if their tv went completley out and had to wait two months or longer without a tv waiting for service. Since this is still on going I will update how this comes out, but I have dealt with numerous computer and electronic companies in my life but nobody holds a candle to LG on how uncaring they are to their customers.

Mike

Bummer. I bought a Samsung and called 3 days later about some pincushioning that was occurring. A tech was out the following Saturday to check it out. Not a local authorized service tech, but a Samsung tech.

Not too shabby.

Consider yourself lucky, Mike. For the past 2 evenings I have noticed an odour in our house not unlike an electrical short/burn. Bit hard to pinpoint it, and thought it may have been something in the neighbourhood. Tonight after a day in that garden, wife and I headed inside and turned the telly on to catch the news at the start of the night's viewing. It was on for only 2 minutes when that smell appeared again. Suddenly the picture on the screen started to flicker and wobble, then - WHAM! - smoke started pouring out the back of the set. Dived for the wall switch and turned the whole damned bank of gear off. The smoke eased off and fortunately there was no fire. I'd say if we had walked into another part of the house instead of watching the first 2 minutes of TV, we would be homeless by now, or moving into insurance company sponsored accommodation whilst the fire brigade cleaned up. The set is a 6 years old Samsung flat screen. Fortunately we have 2 others to choose from, so moved one from the studio into the loungeroom. Have to ring the insurance company monday to find out if we are covered for this type of thing. Phew!

FotOz wrote in post #2148981
...WHAM! - smoke started pouring out the back of the set. Dived for the wall switch and turned the whole damned bank of gear off. The smoke eased off and fortunately there was no fire. ...

WOW!!! Just as I was reading this, a commercial came on for LG flat panels. I watch it with distain.
Anyway, I operate a large test lab for a major mobile manufacturer. We have board fires all the time as there are probably over 50,000 various boards in all of the equipment powered up at any one time. Funny thing about board fires, they are all smoke with little flame. In fact, a large capacitor can put out enough smoke to fill a 150,000 square foot lab is a few minutes but do nothing more than scorch the board and maybe its neighbor. There just isn’t enough combustibles inside modern electronics to burn.

The bigger danger is that the failure draws a bunch of current, but not enough to pop a breaker. The power cord can overheat and catch fire. Power cords usually lay on carpets which not only smoke but burn with vigor once ignited. Once the flame is out of the box and in the home, there are plenty of combustibles to do some major damage.

Hmmm. Interesting. I have a Zenith LCD flat screen tv - guess I've been lucky, because it's going on three years old now, with no problems. But I do have an LG refrigerator, the design of which I love. So far, only one minor recall, taken care of by Sears, but I had anothe repair man in for some washing machine issues last week and he tells me that the LG fridge has gotten LG into some Big troubles due to design flaws. We are moving in two weeks, leaving the fridge behind. For the first time, I'm glad it's not going with us.

Involve BBB.

So I take it Zenith is owned by LG? Or am I missing something else here?

Yes Eagle, LG now owns Zenith electronics.

Well you know, LG = Low Grade.

the whole Brand Name thing is kind of strange these days. Apparently, when a company makes a particular product, they put it out for bid - and whoever wins makes the thing - doesn't necessarily mean that there is a Zenith factory making Zenith products, etc, but one year's Zenith tvs may be made by LG, etc.
This was told to me by a Sears salesman several years ago - we used to swear by Kitchen Aid as a brand name - I was told that a particular machine that bore the Kitchen Aid name was actually made by Westinghouse that year. And so on.

I know that Sears products are made by different manufacturers. That's why my Sears Elite refrigerator is an LG product. LG makes a similar fridge in its own lineup. But this brand name thing is beyond that sort of thing. Or so I've been told on several occasions.

nwyman wrote in post #2150596
the whole Brand Name thing is kind of strange these days. Apparently, when a company makes a particular product, they put it out for bid - and whoever wins makes the thing - doesn't necessarily mean that there is a Zenith factory making Zenith products, etc, but one year's Zenith tvs may be made by LG, etc.
This was told to me by a Sears salesman several years ago - we used to swear by Kitchen Aid as a brand name - I was told that a particular machine that bore the Kitchen Aid name was actually made by Westinghouse that year. And so on.

I know that Sears products are made by different manufacturers. That's why my Sears Elite refrigerator is an LG product. LG makes a similar fridge in its own lineup. But this brand name thing is beyond that sort of thing. Or so I've been told on several occasions.

Yep, I believe your speaking of kenmore, which in case, is made by different manufacters. It's funny, some of their products are good, some not so good. The air purifier I bought from them was real loud and not very nice compared to the sharp for around the same price. Guessit all depends though.

nwyman wrote in post #2150596
the whole Brand Name thing is kind of strange these days. Apparently, when a company makes a particular product, they put it out for bid - and whoever wins makes the thing - doesn't necessarily mean that there is a Zenith factory making Zenith products, etc, but one year's Zenith tvs may be made by LG, etc.
This was told to me by a Sears salesman several years ago - we used to swear by Kitchen Aid as a brand name - I was told that a particular machine that bore the Kitchen Aid name was actually made by Westinghouse that year. And so on.

I know that Sears products are made by different manufacturers. That's why my Sears Elite refrigerator is an LG product. LG makes a similar fridge in its own lineup. But this brand name thing is beyond that sort of thing. Or so I've been told on several occasions.

I agree Nwyman, the problem is not who makes the product but how the company that sells the product stands behind what they sell. A company is only as good as their service. Thanks for the responses everyone.

Mike

LG Electronics used to be called Goldstar, a company that produced cheap, poor quality TV's and other electronic products. They changed their name, purchased Zenith and went a bit more upscale from the junk they used to sell.

I've been looking at their 50" plasma TV's because Consumer Reports rates them very high ... but maybe a bit more research is required.

Bob_A wrote in post #2150730
LG Electronics used to be called Goldstar, a company that produced cheap, poor quality TV's and other electronic products. They changed their name, purchased Zenith and went a bit more upscale from the junk they used to sell.

I've been looking at their 50" plasma TV's because Consumer Reports rates them very high ... but maybe a bit more research is required.

Thanks for the info Bob , I did not realize that LG used to be Goldstar, which I believe was the low end electronics sold by Wallyworld a few years ago. That sure makes a person feel better.

mikesd wrote in post #2150832
Thanks for the info Bob , I did not realize that LG used to be Goldstar, which I believe was the low end electronics sold by Wallyworld a few years ago. That sure makes a person feel better.

Who knows, they could be fantastic now ... I don't know. Consumer Reports loves them based on tests, I have an LG phone that works ok, and their products "look" good. Maybe LG is more Zenith than Goldstar anyways, and at one time Zenith had a pretty good name.

CR doesn't say much about reliability and after sales service though, which would be good to know how they rank since these items are pretty expensive.