Just got owned by Ultimate Electronics

[MSkeezer]

I was out looking for a dvd player and found a Samsung DVD-HD841 at UE for $60. I remember this unit got a good review from Sound and Vision not too long ago so I decided to give it a try. It was an open box unit but in good shape. I walked out of the store thinking I had gotten a good deal.

Boy was I wrong.

After setting her up, the unit powered on but that was about it. It would not read a single dvd. I tried unplugging it but that didn't help. So now I'm stuck with having to return it. And since the price was over $50 they won't refund cash. They'll have to send a check which I'll have to wait 2 freaking weeks for. I would go ahead and exchange it for something else, but I'm too pissed off at the fact that they even sold the POS without testing it first. I'll take my money elsewhere :mad:

[Sami]

UE is still around? I haven't seen any of their stores open anymore here in DFW. Don't really miss them at all.

[F1nut]

I don't see why you're upset with the store, it was an open box, so you are taking your chances. They will refund your money or exchange it, so big deal, eh? The same thing could happen with a NIB item too.

[*Seby*-Polk-]

Forget about this crap Samsung and get a Pioneer 578/588 or Yamaha S-657...far superior in quality and build than that player.

Believe me, the best picture quality in a dvd under 150-200 bucks...is the Yammie.

Bye.

[dudeinaroom]

whoa seby in week you went from like post 1 to 99.

[Willow]

After setting her up, the unit powered on but that was about it. It would not read a single dvd. I tried unplugging it but that didn't help. So now I'm stuck with having to return it. And since the price was over $50 they won't refund cash. They'll have to send a check which I'll have to wait 2 freaking weeks for. I would go ahead and exchange it for something else, but I'm too pissed off at the fact that they even sold the POS without testing it first. I'll take my money elsewhere :mad:


I feel your frustations, over the weekend we bought what we thought was the perfect a/v piec of furniture. Brought it home took appart the old one, set up the new one and installed all the gear on it. Well it didn't work. Took it all appart set up the old one and put the gear back.
I boxed up the whole thing, looks like it has never been opened.
I went to return it to the store. My wife calls me and tells me they DO NOT refund. BS they don't....well after 30 mins of a 3 way call they refunded our money and didn't charge us a restocking fee....As like you, we will never take our money to that place again. Who doesn't tell their customers if you buy it you can't return it for a refund. If that was the case I would have never taken the chance and bought it.
Sorry don't mean to Hi-jack just thought this was a good place to vent along with you !

[*Seby*-Polk-]

whoa seby in week you went from like post 1 to 99.
Now....100 posts..thanks to you :) ha ha

If you consider I job in a engineer company...and study in an Technological University...its a great record huh ??? ;)

Anyway...i'm in vacations right now. Bye and good luck

[ohskigod]

that kind of stuff happens, but the no direct refund, got to wait in the mail for it thing? thats upsetting. is that common in all the big stores? if it is, I didnt know it.

[WilliamM2]

I wouldn't say it's common. There are stores around here, that if you pay with a personal check, they will only refund with a check through the mail. That's understandable, as they really don't know yet if your check will clear, or not.

Personally, I buy everything with my Visa card. That gives you added protection, and I only need to write one check at the end of the month.

[MSkeezer]

It's no wonder Ultimate Electronics went bankrupt. They issue refunds by check for all purchases over $50. They claim that it's because they don't keep a lot of money in the drawers. I agree that it makes sense if you pay with a personal check, but not cash. If you return an item, especially one that doesn't work, you should get your money back right then and there.

This isn't the first open box item I've bought at Ultimate that didn't work. Last year in my receiver hunt, I purchased a demo Sony ES receiver that worked about as well as the Samsung. None of the inputs worked. All I got was a hum. When I returned the thing, their attitude was that I was making it up so they had it tested. They came back and said I was right. I paid by card so I didn't have to wait for 2 weeks for a refund. That should have been the last time I purchased anything from them.

[drew spelts]

When I was a little kid, Funcoland was where you could take in your old video games and get cash. The catch was that if you wanted money for them other than store credit you had to wait for a check in the mail. Its a gimmick used to get you to spend more money. Its also BS in the worst degree.

[MSkeezer]

I returned the player and instead of fussing over a refund, I just did an exchange. I picked up a Pioneer DV285. Yeah, it was only $80, but it's one heck of a nice player. I plan on moving this to the bedroom and getting a universal player. That is, of course, if it doesn't decide to take a dump in the meantime.

[Toxis]

so is it their fault for not refunding your money or because they let you buy a POS player? ALL Samsung dvd players are absolutely worthless. They have the cheapest video scaler out there in their "upconverting" players. It's funny but I actually took an old 841 and hooked it up via HDMI and Component. Everyone prefered the component video over the HDMI "upconverting" picture. Unless you're willing to spend $300 on the Denon 1920, don't waste your money on upconverting.

[Joey_V]

Where is UE? MSkeezer, you're in Illinois also, but how come I havent run into a UE? Is it just like a best buy?

[brettw22]

IMO, UE is better than Circuit City, Best Buy, and the likes.....

I've purchased a LOT of stuff from them (my first HT setup from there actually), and have always been pretty pleased with them. I did forget about the sending a check thing.....though the only time I really did a return was when i was exchanging the RT12's for the RT16's back in 96.

[StopherJJ1980]

Personally I think that is horrible that you have to wait for a check on the return, just bad customer service. If I buy something anywhere it is usually because of a generous return policy. Especially with something like audio stuff, I always make sure I can make a return for a full refund even if I just dont like it. You can never tell how enthused you are about something until you see how it sounds in your home.

As far as Ultimate Elec. in general I have never really liked them. They seem to be trying to cover that 'no mans land' between Best Buy/big box stores and high end retailers, and those two usually cover the spectrum well within themselves. They never really have any smokin deals ever either.

[krabby5]

If you pay cash at most stores and return a product, they will have the same policy..

if you use a credit or debit card, you will get refunded immediately

[MSkeezer]

Toxis, I'm pissed at both. They should never have put that unit out for sale without testing it. All they had to do was put in a dvd and they would have seen it didn't work. I wish I had done my homework on that particular model first but I didn't. All I remember was the glowing review Sound and Vision gave it. After I brought it home, I found out about bad it really was. Hardly anyone has had any luck with it. Again, I should have found all this out before I handed them my money.

Their return policy should at least be as good as Best Buy or Circuit City, if not better. Both of those stores will instantly refund your cash. I've even had them refund me cash even when I paid by card.

I probably wouldn't have been so upset had this been the first time. But I guess it's that old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me".