Extended-warranty costs for plasma TVs in Hong Kong are giving so...
Extended-warranty costs for plasma TVs in Hong Kong are giving some consumers there pause before buying, South China Morning Post reported on basis of study released last week by territory’s Consumer Council. Council’s survey of 43 plasma TVs ranging…
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from 32W thru 61W and priced from $3,500 to $21,250 found they carried one-year extended warrantees costing $213 to $1,375 annually. Warranty costs varied according to size of plasma set -- rising as panel size increased-- and depending on whether plan included service only or service and parts. Council study said charges, excluding parts, ranged 2%-13% of set’s initial cost. Yearly fees for maintenance including parts was between 8% and 27% of set’s retail price. New plasma sets in Hong Kong now come only with one-year warranty. Council said complexity of plasma technology prevented conventional repair shops from servicing sets, so consumers had to go directly to TVs’ distributors. It said that for time being, less expensive maintenance alternatives didn’t exist. Council said number of complaints about flat-screen plasma TVs went from one in 2001 to 17 last year, and majority involved maintenance costs.