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CB Consumer Electronics Vizio Defective product, poor customer service!
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Vizio review: Defective product, poor customer service! 82

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12:00 am EST
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Purchased a Vizio L30 TV from Sam's for $1,298.00. Remote control quit working. Sam's "repaired" it (said poorly soldered connections), lasted 2 months and quit again. Sam's has promised 6 times to repair it again but never does. Wrote letter to Sam's in January - they don't bother to reply! Purchased a new remote control from Radio Shack but need the proper code to program it. Vizio CANNOT come up with the code that will work with their TV.

So, I'm stuck with a $1300 TV that you have to get up and press a little button every time you want to change the volume or channel - just try going from channel 2 to channel 75 ( 73 presses of the channel button). Don't buy a Vizio TV and don't buy any TV from Sam's Club.

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82 comments
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anthony dorazio
ST AUGUSTINE, US
Nov 13, 2023 2:05 pm EST

Installed antenne for local channels , originally i could watch tv evev if wifi went out, Now if i have a problem i cant even getlocal news because antenna has ben ahijacked by ny smart tv, this is not safe in STORMY FLORIDA ,I want it back before latesd update stopped me from watching local tv without binternet

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Irving Harris
, US
Oct 22, 2022 4:40 pm EDT

I used to believe these Vizio were good but in less than one year I went to two TVs already and the warranties don't seem to be good one TV just stopped working for no reason came back on but no picture just sound second one keeps this turning off

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tcu fan
WAXAHACHIE, US
Oct 12, 2022 2:23 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

got last Xmas picture went out called tech who told me was a common problem with this tv the warranty was not worth pursing and the tv is basically a washout very disappointed in craftmanship and service with this company

will not buy one again and suggest others do the same

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Karimigakenia
Nairobi, KE
Sep 25, 2022 4:29 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Smart cast home is not available

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Angela Nero
, US
Nov 26, 2019 7:37 pm EST

I purchased a 65" vizio tv and in just over a year and a half, the right side of the screen is covered in a shadow because of dead pixels. With low to medium usage on the tv that is shocking. Costumer support tried helping but not much they can do for mechanical issues. I will not buy this brand again. Very very disappointed.

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Damian caraveo
, US
Nov 17, 2019 1:30 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

My tv apps such as prime and Hulu isn't working on my tv. I don't use cable, just streaming. The fact my tv doesn't support these apps anymore makes it to where this tv is useless, for me. How can you sell a "smart" tv and not support apps?

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Rob1151
, US
Nov 13, 2018 4:44 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

So it looks like Vizio will not replace my 70 inch TV.My picture went out after no time.They won't even offer to replace the part! They offered to give me a discount on another one. What a joke! I will never buy a product from this company!

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unhappy50
, US
Feb 25, 2018 12:03 pm EST

They refuse to honor their warranty. They claimed that I dropped my TV on the floor after only having fir two months. I was on a large TV table and has no damage to the outside. The repair person probably is getting a nice big bonus since they refuse to come by the house to look at it. Do not buy rom this company since they will not stand by their product. Only by from a reputable company. Thee only thing that they care about is profit, profit, profit. They believe their customer re always wrong Buyer beware..

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Monkey poop
Ellicott, US
Nov 04, 2011 5:19 am EDT

OMG...Are you serious, worst customer service ever. This guy Joseph was no help at all, he told us after talking to him for 2 Min's., that we needed to copy our receipt and mail it somewhere, and they should be able to send someone out to fix it in 6 days. It was a million things that needed to be done, in order for us to have a working T.V. He was rude and all about giving a short answer for everything I asked. Making matters worse, he sounded like he had a mouth full of crap. SOooo my boyfriend called back and talked to a very nice lady named Andrea, she was so helpful, ARE T.V. JUST NEEDED TO BE TROUBLE SHOT. And now I'm watching TV and wasted 45Min's of my time.

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EvK45
, US
Nov 02, 2009 6:19 pm EST

Faulty manufacturing of is suspected to be the culprit of two (2) Vizio plasma television sets purchased by a Mississippi resident, and turned on within 24-hours of each other.

Consumer contacted customer service with the company about the claim, and was simply advised "It's outside the manufacturer's warranty" leaving the consumer to explore all other options available to her.

Vizio expressed no other concerns, other to say write a letter and I assure that it will be read.

Buyer beware, "DON'T BUY VIZIO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, OR ANYOTHER TIME because contrary to the claims made by Vizio that they are the #1 leading manufacturer in North America, they are assured to leave a nasty taste in your mouth. They may lead in sales, but product quality is much to be desired.

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Shawn Hosty
Crete, US
May 28, 2011 1:12 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I bought Vizio V 470XVT1A televison and it was in the shop within a year getting the main board replaced and less than a year later it quit working again, was in the shop three months before they could figure out what was wrong with it. This time it is the PDP ( Display panel).They said it will cost more than the television is worth to fix it. I feel the television should have never been sold as a refurbished product as the problems were never rectified.

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Stephen D Feist
,
Jul 14, 2016 3:03 am EDT

Called Vizio customer support to get help, the TV picture went out, Vizio no longer works on this unit, 2 1/2 years old. $1400.00 down the tube! Called the local repair shop that does most of the warranty work for the major brands. In so many words he told be to start shopping for a new set.

No more Vizio for me.

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AngryPete
seattle, US
Jul 14, 2016 3:02 am EDT

My Vizio quit after 18 months. Read Q & A from Vizio and Black Lines are caused by Cable Box? Called Comcast and they reloaded cable box. Cable box not the problem. Then called Vizio. They looked up Model and Serial #. Gee, sorry, out of warranty. They gave me T.F. for ITI. Called ITI left message. Took them 3 days to get back to me. I asked Vizio if the problem that I am having was wide spread. She said this is the first complaint they have had(HAHAHAHA). Then I went on to the net and typed in "complaints against Vizio". Wow, what didn't I do this before I bought. Vizio has to be the "YUGO" of the Hi-def world. I bought a SAM"s club. Of
course Sam's says sorry, you didn't by warranty. Now I am stuck with a Piece of crap TV. With all of the complaints, how come they are still selling them without some type of warning? I do notice that the hi end HDTV dealers won't carry Vizio, elevia and such. I am probaly going to fix it myself and maybe get a year out of it. By the way, I did file a complaint with BBB. Not that this will do any good. Vizio should be shut down for selling known defective products.

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Min
Fremont, US
Jul 14, 2016 3:02 am EDT

I bought a Vizio 42 in TV. The product came defective where the LCD screen was loose and was rattling . There was a gap from the frame to the LCD screen in 4 places. The gap was so much that I was able to fold a A4 size paper 4 times and it went through the gap. I called Vizio and they made me run around for 22 days asking me to send them pictures of the T.V on and off etc.. I sent them all the pictures and then there was absolutely no call from them. I had to call them up each time and they would keep transfering me from one Rep to another. I finally yelled at them and they finally got on the phone with me to tell me " Sir gaps are normal, we don't troubleshoot these kinds of issues and our Engineering has looked at the pictures and we cannot do anything " I have full warranty on the product. Their Customer support is terrible ! my advise .. please spend some more money and get any other brand but Vizio. I'm now stuck with this T.V.

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jjcox252
Edgewater, US
Jul 14, 2016 3:02 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Purchased Vizio VT420M on Jan 22 2010 from Walmart. TV was DOA out of the box (sound but no picture). Returned TV to Walmart and received another one. July 2010 TV started experiencing same problem as first one intermittent sound but no picture. Call Vizio, they said to do a reset (unplug TV, hold in the on/off button for 60 seconds, plug TV back in), this did not solve the problem. September 2010, have nothing but sound, no picture at all. Call Vizio for warranty service, they had me troubleshoot a few things and then confirmed that TV needed repair. Told me someone from HD Repair would be contacting me. Next day HD Repair called and said someone would be out in 3-5 business days. 5 business days later no call from HD Repair so I called them and was promptly told that the part was on backorder and they had no idea when it would be in! Called Vizio and was told the same thing that part was on backorder and they had no idea when my TV would be repaired. I told them that this was absolutly unacceptable and I wanted this TV fixed now! They pretty much said sorry for your luck and it would be repaired as soon as they can get the part. This is the worst Customer Service in the industry. I now have an $800.00 piece of junk in my Living Room and no idea when (or IF) it will ever be fixed! I will NEVER purchase another Vizio product!

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myrlin
Roscommon, US
Jul 14, 2016 3:02 am EDT

Purchased [protected] in lcd tv, within 2 years unit needed repairs, and now at this day 05-03-11 unit is making a buzzinghissing noise and the screen is very dark, contacted vizio, they can not do anything except try and sell me a "recertified" tv that is the same as what i already have! which has caused me anger and resentment of purchasing! I spent $1400.00 on a tv that has lasted 3 years which needed 2 repairs in that time span. And now it is unbearable to watch movies with the family! Something must be done! It is sad consumers are buying these tvs and they dont last! I dont know what to do!

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Jeanne in Long Beach
Long Beach, US
Oct 14, 2014 10:18 pm EDT

I bought a 40-inch (E400i-B2) Vizio from Costco for $385 in April. There were some minor problems with the remote and the TV occasionally froze but I could live with it. Five months later the bottom quarter of the screen started flickering, as in LEDs going bad. Customer service required me to send video of the problem, which I understand, and then determined that my TV needed to be replaced. But then they tried to slip an inferior model to me as the replacement saying my model was not available and this was the only replacement model being offered. They did say I could get a refund, but that did not work for me since I would lose the $ I paid for my extended warranty. After about four phone calls with two reps and two supervisors, the last one finally offered me an identical TV but in a 48-inch. Ok cool, that should have been the first offer. Minus the arguing and eating up my time, I’m satisfied. But… it takes 10 days for the replacement to arrive on a Friday afternoon. When I finally get around to sitting down and setting everything up it’s 11pm and I find that I can use the menus just fine, take my time setting things up, etc., but as soon as I try to stream anything (I tried YouTube, NetFlix, and Amazon Prime) the TV would just power down after 10-30 seconds. And now I have to wait until Monday to get ahold of customer service. When I reach them on Monday I actually get a really good rep who explains a lot of things to me, apologizes for the previous treatment I got, and arranges for another replacement 48-inch TV. That was on October 5th. Today (the 14th) I contacted the delivery company and was told that the unit was not actually released to them until just yesterday – 8 days after my phone call with Vizio – and the soonest they can schedule my delivery is Monday October 20th. So I will have been 15 days without a TV at that point. I’m overwhelmed by Vizio’s customer service in the worst way possible. If they can get a unit in my hands that actually works it will be a great TV, but I can’t possibly recommend this brand to any family or friends at this point. What a nightmare!

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David Baker
,
Nov 02, 2007 12:00 am EDT

My Vizio P42 HD stopped working, less then a month after my Warranty expired! Consumer beware!

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john mcmichael
Enid, US
Aug 26, 2014 10:56 pm EDT

my husband purchased 1a70 inch vizio 5-2013 not 2 months in black dot in middle of screen.walmart would not honor.
called vizio after numerous callsan badge numbers, vizio called walmart and got them to exchange for another.

by this time it is september.now second tv not even a year makes a popping noise and no picture.!
vizio says sounds like our backlight is out and it is out of warrenty! you see they go by the purchase date of first tv not second.

so we have a 1700.00 tv which we saved for, and can not use peice of junk.

tvshould last more than a year!

i say yes to class action suit!

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john mcmichael
Enid, US
Aug 26, 2014 10:40 pm EDT

my husband purchased a 70 inch vizio 1700.00 in may 2013 not 2 months later noticed a dot in middle of tv.
walmart said we were sol.callled vizio after several calls, finally got vizio to call walmart and tv was exchanged
for another.which took another month, second tv worked for not quite a year, then popped and picture came on a 4inch
blur in middle of tv then blak .had sound no picture.

called vizio they said we were sol sounded like our backlight is out and is unrepairable.
they go by the first tvs date of purchase not second, so it was out of warrenty even though second tv was not a year old.
so we too have a 1700.00 peice of junk hanging on the wall

anyone know how to start a class action law suit let us know

sincerly
john mcmichael

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Lawrence barr
Dayton, US
Jun 24, 2014 8:59 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Bought a co-star lite stream player and three days of waiting for an update called customer service I received better technical help from the monkeys at the zoo. They should stick to what they no which is tvs and remotes. The service when you call is comparable to calling the greyhound bus office which is not a compliment.

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Tina Faulkerson
Cleveland, US
Dec 19, 2013 1:37 pm EST

I have purchased a Vizio Tv for Christmas last year. The Tv is not even a year old and already dead... I have called Vizio and they said because it is ten days (ten days) after warranty they are not going to fix it... So please everyone reading this pass this on to your friends and family NOT to buy Vizio. The company does not care that the Tv was for Christmas and was not opened and used till the 25th. They go by the sale date... SO PLEASE IF YOU NEED A NEW TV, PLEASE DO NOT BUY VIZIO...Thanks all...So please people out there do not buy Vizio... Let them go out of business for all i care. I am also calling the news and have more bad news for them...

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Betty Melloch
Wildomar, US
Oct 10, 2012 8:28 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Purchased a 37" Vizio TV, (M370VA) at Target, in Murrieta, CA.. TV has bad sound. The sound shuts off every time a commercial comes on, have to flip channels to get sound back on. Lost sales receipt, so Target will not help. Went through Vizio repair, they sent out a Tech. with all new parts. New parts did not solve the problem. Tech said this model can not be repaired, faulty sound design. Vizio will replace TV with another. Need Sales Receipt. So, I am up the 'creek' with a crappy TV. Thanks Target. Thanks Vizio. Will think twice on the purchase of big ticket items from Target. Do not buy Vizio.

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lonnie01
Nashville, US
Jun 16, 2012 3:51 pm EDT
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vizio customer service is th rudist people i ever had dealing with. i purchase a 36in screen jan 12/2012 6 month old and i can't get a picture on the tv purchase at super walmart in hermitage teneesee it's the worse i have ever had to deal with service takes 7 day to get someone out to service. . i will never purchase another vizio anything and have inform all of my family and friends. it took 2 seconds to take my money 7 days ti get service on a tv just 6 months old how disgusting . it's just junk.

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MJW1
, US
Mar 30, 2012 10:21 am EDT
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I wish I read these customer service comments before I bought a Vizio. I kept thinking the problems was the cable co. but when we isolated it to the Vizio TV, I went through telephone-guided repairs, a repairman in person and then finally a replacement. The replacement they sent was a refurbished TV that had sound but no picture. I called in and they were going to send a new TV to me but needed to place a second hold on my credit card. The rep said the card was denied and I should fix my credit and call back. When I called the cc company, the hold was placed on the card. Calling Vizio back they wanted to place a third hold on my card in order to send out a new TV. What's wrong with this picture?

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jtpenno
, US
Dec 30, 2011 5:38 pm EST

first of all vizios warranty should cover the remote and after a year you call "new" the warranty company that sam's sells. After 90 days it has nothing to do with sams- which is at least 60 days longer than anybody else. Sams does not repair anything- this person is clueless - but would have given their money back within 90 days. Every company has a problem with a tv or remote here or there and vizio has less than most. In consumers report magazine dec 2009 vizio was tied for second least repairs with samsung .sharp, and toshiba, Jvc being number one, and sony in third behind these 5 companies. There are many remotes that work with vizio- you have to read the package and make sure it works with vizio, like you do buying a universal for any brand tv. It bothers me when uneducated people start blaming a store when it just sells the product you want. The manufacturer made the bad remote not sams. And I deal with vizio regularly and I know they would have taken care of the problem if you were a reasonable human being.

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TAKEN BYVIZIO
, US
Dec 19, 2011 5:50 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

the WORST customer service I have ever received from any company. Never again will I puyrchase a VIZIO TV and I will go on every website to warn everyone I can what a terrible company this is to deal with

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vizioSux
Smyrna, US
Nov 19, 2011 10:35 pm EST

Vizio firmware update rendered my Blue Ray player useless - no picture and DVD won't eject. Customer service could only recommend unplugging it for 45 sec and plugging it back in (like I wouldn't have tried that before looking up their number and calling). Then they said they couldn't help me without a receipt (which I don't have). Talked to manager and the same. It's their policy. Even though they damaged my equipment they wouldn't make it right without a receipt. I will never buy Vizio again - that's my new policy. Very disappointed.

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Willem F
Berkeley, US
Nov 13, 2011 8:56 pm EST
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Since Vizio will do nothing to help me on my Audio, On a set of 2 years old ( 32" ), I bought a Sound Bar and a Optical cord and now it works great. The speakers are to small for a flat screen TV, Next time i will make sure there is a good Audio out for a good speakers system to attache, There will not be a nother VIZIO in my home Ever !
I will stay with SHARP

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Mad in Air Cap
2568 North Greenleaf Court, US
Nov 13, 2011 7:24 pm EST
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I purchased a Vizio 26" flat screen from Sam's on August 25th, 2011 and it quit working completely on November 1, 2011. I had purchased the extended warranty from Sam's but when I called they congratulated me and said I needed to call Vizio for the first year. My calls to Vizio customer service made me want to go postal. The snit I spoke with on the phone would not put her supervisor on though I politely asked multiple times. I had a local company look at the t.v. and tell me the main board went out. Vizio is refusing to refund or give me a new t.v. I'm am livid to be out this money. I'd like to put Vizio out of busiess if they have no better product or customer service than what I'm reading and what I personally experienced.
While at the t.v. shop an exact model Vizio came in and it was the same thing and 2 mos. old.
Mad in Air Cap

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Willem F
Berkeley, US
Nov 04, 2011 3:38 am EDT
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I have a 32" the picture is great, only 1 year old.The audio of awful i called the Vizio tech and he told me to hook up a dvd player to test the speakers, I told him if the speakers are louse. it will be louse from a dvd player, They shined me on, I will toss it and get a Samsung. NO help wat so ever.

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CDP1960
Athens, US
Oct 21, 2011 6:34 pm EDT

Our vizio is only about 2 years old. It is a 42" Apparently the HDMI cable port has gone bad...funny because it has NEVER been unplugged or plugged back in since we bought it! I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO AVOID VIZIO TVS! The CEO of the company has his money from all of the junk he has sold...I am sure he will NOT miss your business.

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earls96
worc, US
Sep 29, 2011 12:08 am EDT

I bought a 47" internet connected flat screen Vizio HDTV from SAM's Club in August 2010. The remote kept breaking (three times) each time I would have to call Vizio support and reprogram my TV! They refused to send me a new remote. Eventually we just got use to using our Charter Cable remote to change the channels but we are unable to use the internet options on the TV! I eventually had enough so I called vizio again and again they refuse to send me a new remote! Now they tell me that my 12month warranty ended two weeks ago! I tried to explain that it has been an ongoing problem they left me on on hold for 20 minutes so I gave up! PLEASE DO NOT BUY ANY PRODUCTS FROM VIZIO THEY DO NOT BACK THEM UP! From earls96@yahoo.com

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BASE1000
Las Vegas, US
Feb 07, 2011 7:30 pm EST

My Vizeo TV was just one month and a few days past warranty and they refused to help me. BAD SHOW! Vizeo because I will never purchase another also I will tell all my friends not to purchase also. What do they do build time bombs into there units?

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ColoradoCarl
Elizabeth, US
Dec 19, 2010 6:46 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

When they work vizio is ok
Color is good to flat
service even thou done thru USA folks in south Dakota is horrible and most of them dont care !
I bought from Costco who gave me my money back after vizio "repaired" th e22" twice! and still it would cut out and went blank.
i bough ta 26 stupidly from walmart who does NOT stand behind it and now am in week 3 waiting for call tag from s Dakota snooty vizio folk

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Tony Ruiz
Wildo, US
Nov 13, 2010 1:29 am EST

I bought a new 19" Vizio from Sam's Club and found the sound like a 1958 transistor radio. Also bought my daughter a nice 42" set but she's not complaining...yet. I think I'll return it while I still can. NMV (no more Vizio)

So, I bought a manufacturer refurbished Vizio on ebay, thinking what could go wrong with such a big name TV; everybody seems to have them. Wrong. The picture was dark and somewhat sepia toned, and the remote didn't work well. I returned it for full credit, but never again, Vizio. Buyer beware. Now I see people's Vizios and go tsk tsk.
Damage Resulting = Loss of time and a bunch of trouble picking up, returning, unboxing and boxing. Who needs it?

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rolex452
Sunny Isles Beach, US
Jul 14, 2016 3:02 am EDT

Thank you for your feedback on Vizio. Everybody please remember this: Vizio makes a BIG FREAKING DEAL that they assemble their TV sets IN AMERICA! (although with obviously cheap crap foreign parts, since the USA doesn't manufacture the component parts at all).

Now, we can see that "ASSEMBLED IN AMERICA" is just a bunch of wishful thinking B.S. the same as "made in America". That's too bad for us, but at least we know enough not to buy this junk. Thanks for sharing your complaint with the rest of us.

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Vizio Sucks
San Marcos, US
Jun 26, 2010 11:25 pm EDT
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Yes, apparently Vizio decided to install a "self-destruct" port without any warning to their consumers (neither in the manual or on the actual port itself) as to the potential outcome of accidentally utilizing this port...Complete B.S...
Customer service was a complete waste of time as well...apparently now they put a piece of tape or something over this port on the newer models and a more thorough description in the manual...A lot of good that does us...Unfortunately, the improvement of this product comes at the expense of the consumer that decided to take the risk on a relatively new product back in 2007...I will badmouth Vizio to anyone I see contemplating a purchase of one of their products or rolling around Costco with one in their cart. Something as simple as this should have been considered by the engineers, or maybe it was as a ploy to sell more replacement components. Either way, I am done with this janky product. $1200 hard earned bucks down the drain!

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elmanue
Kenosha, US
May 11, 2010 11:13 am EDT

CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT CONTACTS: I think these two lawyers are trying to do something about it? Happened to me too!

http://chimicles.com/case/vizio-televisions
TimothyMathews@chimicles.com

or call a lawyer named Steven Weisbrot at [protected]

Hopefully this helps! I hope they get the ball rolling FAST!

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tarynsmom
, US
Mar 29, 2010 7:25 pm EDT

I purchased vizio 42 in on Aug 2008, i did purchase the extended warranty. my tv make a loud crackling noise and wont shut up and cannot hear the tv programs on until i turn it off and on again, and that can happen 3-10 times a day. i had repairman come out, and he told me the problem with the vizio is that there components are not comprable to all the cable networks. i had comcast cable and it did it all the time, and now have att uverse and it too does it all the time. when i had standard apartment cable it did not do it at all. i think the parts inside the vizio tv are poor quality and they burn out due to the use of cable companies and vizio should direct more attention to that problem.

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