How can I tell if my new tv is not a knock-off?

digitalvideo

This is a stupid question but I'm not an expert in this field. How can I tell if my new Pioneer Elite Pro-151fd plasma is the actual real legit tv? It was a Christmas present and my wife ordered it from an international Indonesian trading company in Jakarta Indonesia. They say they: "export and Import out products mainly Asia Island, Europe Island, America Island."

I am suspicious because I found out she only paid $3400 for it brand new, but I never seen any other place sell this tv for anything near that price. Most vendors are selling that tv anywhere from atleast $4000 to $6000+ dollars, this tv holds it's value so well. The box it was shipped in looks exactly like the factory boxes I seen online and has it's warranty, but my question is are there any cheap immitations of this high end tv and do people actually make cheap immitations of high end flat screen's and scam them to the public? I just want reassurance that this tv is the real deal because this is my dream tv. None of the electronic stores around here carry this tv so I can't go and look and compare them in person.

It has a "1 years International Warranty and 3 mounts guarantee return."

Can any of you tell me what I should look for on this tv that makes it the real factory model? I want to call up the company and speak with them, what specific questions should I ask them?

digitalvideo

Or possibility that it could be refurbished?

wutadumsn23

Sounds like it could go either way, I would contact Pioneer and ask if the company you bought it from is an authorized seller or if they know of any way to tell if it is a knockoff. Either way if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then.......... lol.

-Jeff

tonyb

I would personally be skeptical sending that kind of coin to anyone in Indonesia. Plenty of online stores here that carry that tv for a good price.

digitalvideo

I bought the tv from this company/website

http://www.angkasaelectronic.com/

Their phone # is: +(62) 818 0406 1362

I've never called international outside the U.S. so I don't know how to dial that number and how it works. I tried a couple of times but it's not working.

Can anyone here at Polk help me out? I mean this is ridiculous.

Knucklehead

Got to be a serial number on the set. Like Jeff said, Im sure Pioneer can help. Good Luck.

nguyendot

Company looks real reputable....

Their "community poll" is "what is your favorite Television feature?"
1)sony
2)samsung
3)pioneer
4)panasonic

lol

anyways, I'd hope it lasts a year. If it does, you're good to go

A question though (or 2):
So you actually received your tv? and... how did you pay for it?

Just wondering in case I decide to purchase.

mhardy6647

digitalvideo wrote: »

I bought the tv from this company/website

http://www.angkasaelectronic.com/

Their phone # is: +(62) 818 0406 1362

I've never called international outside the U.S. so I don't know how to dial that number and how it works. I tried a couple of times but it's not working.

Can anyone here at Polk help me out? I mean this is ridiculous.

011 62 818 046 1362 should do it. If that doesn't work; try omitting the "0" before the "46".

The call may be costly :-P

digitalvideo

mhardy6647 wrote: »

011 62 818 046 1362 should do it. If that doesn't work; try omitting the "0" before the "46".

The call may be costly :-P

Thanks, yeah I tried that a couple of times, it said the number is disconnected or not in service. I also called the official Pioneer Asia Indonesia office (http://www.pioneer.co.id/general/Homepage.asp) and I couldn't get through to them either. I contacted my operator to try to connect me to those numbers but it didn't go through. Since I couldn't connect to the official Pioneer Asia offices then that means there is something wrong with my service, I have Comcast phone so I might not have long distance international call service under my plan, but I could be wrong.

digitalvideo

I contacted Pioneer USA (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/) and they told me that when it comes to their Elite plasma models they are extremely protective and don't give authority to many dealers to sell those and they track them very aggressively. They said if any dealer sells a Pioneer product and it's not an authorized Pioneer dealer then Pioneer will go after that company and pull all of it's products from that company. He also said that if you buy a Pioneer Elite plasma product online it won't be covered under warranty, Pioneer won't cover it. The company my wife bought the Pioneer plasma from, I couldn't find yet if it's an authorized dealer, I would assume they would post it on their website, some sort of seal of approval. I emailed the company twice since Christmas Day and haven't recieved a reply yet, I'll be patient since it is the Holidays. If they don't respond back in 2 weeks I'll be bull@#%&!

F1nut

They are not celebrating Christmas in Indonesia.

wutadumsn23

Lasareath wrote: »

I guess be happy you got it at the price you did, What else can you do?

Ship it back?, What will that cost and are you sure you will get your money back?

Very true, if it works and it lasts a few years or so, then I would chalk it up as a win, lol.

-Jeff

digitalvideo

nguyendot wrote: »

Company looks real reputable....

Their "community poll" is "what is your favorite Television feature?"
1)sony
2)samsung
3)pioneer
4)panasonic

lol

anyways, I'd hope it lasts a year. If it does, you're good to go

A question though (or 2):
So you actually received your tv? and... how did you pay for it?

Just wondering in case I decide to purchase.

I paid with credit card.

Another company that is selling the Pioneer Elite Pro-151fd is this site for even cheaper...

www.kusnak.com

or

http://kusnak.com

tonyb

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

Very true, if it works and it lasts a few years or so, then I would chalk it up as a win, lol.

-Jeff

Don't know about you,but if I spent 3-4 g's on a TV, damn thing better last more than a few years.

Knucklehead

Too good to be true?

http://kusnak.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=83


On the "sign" in box, they spelled it "sing" in........I guess you better have a good voice to buy here!

http://kusnak.com/shop/login.php

cnh

mhardy6647 wrote: »

011 62 818 046 1362 should do it. If that doesn't work; try omitting the "0" before the "46".

The call may be costly :-P

+1, If I were closer to Indonesia...I'd make the call for you myself..

cnh

digitalvideo

I contacted Pioneer and they told me that if anything happens to my new plasma it's not covered under warranty and I would have to pay for it myself. I suggest everyone buy electronics from authorized dealers only or directly from the manufacturer.

gdb

Contact your card company and request that the sale be voided/claim fraud/state that you won't pay the charges. You'd be amazed how that gets them fired up and working for your side of the dispute.;)

wutadumsn23

tonyb wrote: »

Don't know about you,but if I spent 3-4 g's on a TV, damn thing better last more than a few years.

I agree 1000%, that statement was more directed towards this particular scenario of possibly buiying a "other than factory" TV.

digitalvideo wrote: »

I contacted Pioneer and they told me that if anything happens to my new plasma it's not covered under warranty and I would have to pay for it myself. I suggest everyone buy electronics from authorized dealers only or directly from the manufacturer.

Couldn't have said it better myself, and always get a warranty. You have to protect your investment.

-Jeff

digitalvideo

Finding authorized dealers is very easy and you would be amazed at how many of them are in each state. Just go to Pioneer's website and click on "Where to buy" and type in your area code and boom. Same with Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Vizio etc. No need to buy online.

wutadumsn23

digitalvideo wrote: »

No need to buy online.

That isn't always true, I have gotten lucky a number of times from reputable websites. That is the key, I usually do a Google search for the item I am looking for (Froogle actually) and they have right next to the listing the websites feedback. You will know which ones to stay away from, lol.

-Jeff

Tony M

I'm actually surprised he received a TV.

I didn't see enough on that site to convince me to send any money.

digitalvideo, You got lucky, I think.

digitalvideo

tony millard wrote: »

I'm actually surprised he received a TV.

I didn't see enough on that site to convince me to send any money.

digitalvideo, You got lucky, I think.

DON'T send them any money till you get a hold of them "if" you ever can. I am still trying to get a hold of them, I think it's obvious the phone # is bogus. I'm just waiting for the tv to go zzzzzzz ZAP!