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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
0.5 stars
"Gateway Plasma Dead on 14th Month"
Pros: Inexpensive.
Cons: Peice of Crap.
Summary: I bought a Gateway Plasma TV and on the 14th month it died. Gateway wanted $500 to come to my house and diagnos the problem, so I took it to a local repair shop. After 8 weeks, the guy told me that the parts for the "SAMPO power board" were not available; anywhere. I called Gateway's tech dept. and they confirmed that if it was the power board, it could not be fixed. The tech said my TV was trash. I bought a second TV with a cracked screen to get mine fixed and now there is a line running across the screen, which apparently happens when the power board blows. Gateway can't and won't do anything about it as it's beyond the 1 yr warranty. NEVER, EVER buy one of these products unless you like pain and suffering. I have initiated a lawyer to start a class action. If you have a similar problem and want to join, email me at deltaneutral69@yahoo.ca.
- 10 replies to this review
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My brother's 42" just went south after 3 years and I've narrowed it down to a failed rectifier...though I don't yet know why it keeps blowing.
Symptom: Will not power up. Clicks on, then clicks off.
LED code: One long blink, 5 short blinks (continuous loop)
Offending PCB: 42SD3-ZSUS (LG Electronics logo on it)
Offending component: D19 (so far)
When the power supply connector is removed from the aforementioned PCB, the power LED stays lit, but unit is for all intents and purposes, inoperable.
Called Gateway: They have neither the parts nor service manual for any of the units, but their tech/field support is handled by Decision One. I currently have a call in with Decision One to procure either a service manual and/or failed components (once I've identified them and I need a service manual to do so).
For those of you that have had the same problem and have had it looked at, I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd take the time to e-mail me with any specifics you've culled from techs that have diagnosed the unit. I'm particularly interested in what drousseau found out from the tech regarding the unobtainable parts on the SAMPO power board. I can be reached at: rjsalvi@ambianceacoustics.com
Thanks. -
I have had repairs, replacements on my 46" Plasma over the last 18 months. No help from Gateway other than to keep sending refurbished units that don't work either. Class action all the way. jsobeski@aarcorp.com
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I bought a 46" Plasma 18 months ago. It died in 3 months. Every board was replaced in it over the next 12 months. After the 4th repair, I demanded a new one. They only provide refurbished. I recd the refurb-after waiting for 4 months-on 8/24/05. It died after ONE WEEK. I have been dealing with getting another replacement since 9/1, still no "record of a part ordered in our system". I will join anyone who wants to file a class action. email jsobeski@aarcorp.com
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My 50" plasma developed video noise month 13. After an intense campaign to HQ for action, they replaced the unit. Replacement developed a horizontal line across the screen in month 4. Stuck again. There's a bad need for a class action suit. Gateway has turned their backs on buyers of their most expensive products ($6K in my case), after promising they would stand behind their product. This is anti-consumer, fraudulent and shameful! Buy Sony.
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had the same experience. gateway was no help. stated it would cost 1000 to fix.
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The Gateway plasma TV's should have lasted longer than they did, They were expensive at 3000.00 and very poor in quality.
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Same problem. I'll be glad to participate in any class action suits.
Most disappointing...I thought I could trust a company like Gateway. Looks like I'm being taught a $3,000. lesson. -
After 21 months of use we are having the same problem with our TV and Gateway wants almost U$500 just to come to our house and see the problem...
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I am very interested in class action, this product is not fit for purpose.
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My experience was exactly the same except the fee was $450 instead of $500. The cost of repair was estimated to be around $1000. Gateway suggested I consider buying a refurbished TV instead for $1500. Extremely disappointing. I will never buy from Gateway again. My corporation was looking into purchasing about $150K of capital equipment from them in the next 3 months- not anymore.
