Need help deciding what to do with my broken Toshiba 50HPX95

[henkemeyer]

I bought my Toshiba 50HPX95 Plasma back in Dec 05. I purchased a 2 year extended warranty, which expired last month. I called Toshiba, and they gave me the number to the local authorized service center. I ponied up $90 to have them come take the V into their shop. A day later, they called me back and told me that the part (75001605) is on backorder (I see this is a very common song and dance, after researching this online). They said I have 3 options:

1) Wait for the part to become available. The cost would be $663 + $175 labor.
2) Have them send the part to a fixit shop where they do component-level repairs. This would cost $595 total.
3) Punt and go pick the TV up.

After reading about Toshiba's reputation online, I'm very tempted to go with option #3. If I do so, I would feel compelled to try to fix the part myself. Is this even a viable option? Also, if I go with option 3, and I decide NOT to repair the damn thing myself, what could I do with the very large paperweight? A few years back I sold a very damaged Vaio laptop on ebay for $400. Is selling it AS IS even an option?

I was thiking that I could "stick with" option 1 for as long as possible (meaning dont do anything and make a decision the day the part becomes available, which might be never), to see if maybe someday, when I'm in a really bad mood and need to take my aggressions out on someone, I could call Toshiba and give them an earful, and maybe, just maybe, they would exercise their "other options" (refurb, refund, coupon???)

Thoughts? Advice???

My thinking on a replacement is the Vizio VP505XVT from Costco. 2 year warranty. Total price would be $1199.

Thanks for your help...

David

[eliwhitney]

Hi henkemeyer -

Unless you already have the full compliment of needed electronic equipment , associated skills, specific schematics for that set, AND absolutely know that the component so identified IS the sole "issue" ..... to do your own attempts at self-repair would be akin to doing one's own brain surgery with a mirror & pen knife!

You have already expended $90 , simply to assure yourself what was already strongly-suspicioned from the start!

IF there IS no extra fee, just have it tossed there & avoid a backache!

New HDTVs are selling at an all-time low ... start anew! AND - "IF" buying any plan at all, do get a full (5) years warranty for In-home or pass! Those pick up / bench estimate fees should have been included with / as a part of your old plan.

And, don't start all over again with that silly set .... $1,200 buys most any set now from the Top Tier makers! COSTCO has sold the Panasonic Th-50PX80U for under that!

eli

[pzieger]

Any further money you put into the failed unit does not guarantee you won't have another problem down the line.
A new unit is the better choice. I got a 52" Sharp LCD for $1400 on sale at Sam's Club. But what I liked was in addition to the 1 year warranty it came with, I extended it for another 3 yrs for $196 and because I had their Plus membership they added another year bringing it to 5 years. Sam's Club mirrors the original warranty... if the original has in-home (most over 40" do) then their extended warranty does also.
Pete

[Richard]

Unless you already have the full compliment of needed electronic equipment , associated skills, specific schematics for that set, AND absolutely know that the component so identified IS the sole "issue" ..... to do your own attempts at self-repair would be akin to doing one's own brain surgery with a mirror & pen knife!

ROTF... how well put....

My thinking on a replacement is the Vizio VP505XVT from Costco.

Well if you think Toshiba has poor customer service and support... Vizio is slightly better than they were but can't hold a candle to the well known Japanese players we have known for decades.

Toshiba did not make that display. There are one or two boards that are proprietary to Toshiba but the rest (majority) is likely LG and more than likely one of them is your problem. Your current repair shop suggested having the board rebuilt - a viable option. The only other suggestion is try another shop who may look into the LG angle. Seems like you are paying for this so the board does not have to be from Toshiba...

NESDA http://www.tvrepairpros.com/