Any experience with Phillips brand?

[ElSteve]

I wanted to buy the Phillips 42TA648BX/37 model from costco for $999, and after looking at it in person, I think I really like it. I started reading around to see what other people have to say, and there doesn't seem to be a whole lot out there about this particular model. However, I've read a lot of reviews that say Phillips brand breaks down quickly, and how they're customer service stinks. I've also heard a lot of people telling me that their tv works great and they couldn't be happier.

Another thing that makes me uneasy is that I read phillips will be withdrawing from the US LCD market pretty soon. However, costco seems to be very customer friendly, and I've read some good things about their new concierge service. I guess the point of all my rambling is to see what you guys have to say about Phillips' quality and if you have any experience with the concierge service. Thanks guys!

 

[nboy22]

I have a 37" Phlips ambilight tv that I bought off of craigslist about a year ago. It's about a year and a half old and I have used it a ton. I would have to say my experience has been good but I have read that people have had overheating problems with the same model. I love the tv, the ambilight is sweet and reduces eye strain in dark lit rooms and I've had lots of comments that the picture quality is good.

 

[luigionlsd]

This isn't much to say about the quality of Philips products themselves, but a little story:

We bought a 30" direct-view CRT refurbished in November 2006 for a steal of a price (incredible PQ, too!), and couldn't have been happier. That is, for the year and 3 months it lasted. Needless to say, my mother was fairly enraged when the set died so quickly, so she made a few angry phone calls to Philips' support department. This was a weekend, so there weren't all that many "high ups" to talk to, and we ended up buying a 32" Sony Bravia LCD (after having a few Sony Trinitrons last 10+ years each) at Best Buy the next day. As suggested by Philips, my mother wrote a letter to somebody in New York expressing her displeasure. Roughly a week later, she received a call asking where to send a free replacement 32" LCD. Naturally YMMV if you're dealing with them, but after going from "never recommending Philips again," this act of kindness has me thinking the opposite. The problem with the CRT was a bad/defective/broken tube, which very well could've been running for about 7 years. I probably won't be the first to say it, but they just do not make televisions (or electronics in general) like they used to.

My two cents.

 

[krotchy]

As far as TV's go, Phillips is a Lower-High tier brand. They are definitely above Vizio/Olevia/Westinghouse etc. They are not quite as high as Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and whatnot, but are close.

For the price lately I think they have been one of the better brands to go with. Also buying the TV from Costco you cant go wrong IMO. I traded in a Vizio GV47 1080p LCD for a Phillips 47PFL7422 both from Costco. The Philips was night and day better than the Vizio, both when it came to HD content, and a massive improvement on SD. I haven't seen this years Costco model, but seeing their 2008 TV's at CES it looks like its a good one to go with, and definitely improves on the 7422s from last year, which I still like alot. For 999 you cant beat the price IMO.