Complaint Rating:

About 18 months ago I bought a 50" Samsung DLP, HDTV at Best Buy - it was not cheap! Last month the "lamp" burnt out so I returned to the store.

BB - We don't sell the part.
me - Where can I get one?
BB - I don't know. Try the internet. Did you buy an extended warranty?
me - No
BB - Then we can't offer you any service (even if you pay for it).
me - What if I had bought an extended warranty? What happens after the term is up?
BB - I don't know.

Eventually I found a site for Samsung parts where I could buy the part. But it died 2 days after installation. I was able to find a service company by going to a competitor of Best Buy - not FutureShop. The competitor referred me to their service company. More recently, Best Buy tried to sell me a D-Link Media Center 320 to enable me to display photos on my TV. The trouble is, the unit they were trying to sell me doesn't work - at all - on HD TVs. Deal with these guys at your peril!

UPDATE: The lamp was replaced but died in 2 days. The lamp and the ballast were then replaced. (>$600 in parts and service.) The TV was again dead after about 2 weeks!

UPDATE 2: Because of this complaint, Best Buy sent me a form to fill out to get service. (Does the date of purchase really matter when you have no contract and expect to pay for service anyway?) The 3rd party service guy came and found that the lamp still worked. A plastic cover at the back is supposed to push a toggle back to indicate that the cover is on. I fixed that by padding it with about 10 layers of masking tape.