LD1
Epic Contributor
I am not doing a very good job of picking vendors or something anymore. Just had an ordeal with a company who I will never do business with again. Heres the saga:
Last Friday 2-12 the DLP bulb went out in my TV. I knew it was about time as it was starting to get dim, and its been 4 years since last replacement. Now those unfamiliar with bulbs, there are basically 4 kinds you can buy.
1. Phillips OEM ~$75
2. Osram P-VIP OEM ~$65
Both of these are 6000+hr bulbs and the best of quality
3. Osram value line called "neolux". ~$40. Not as good as OEM, but better than chinese 1500hr bulbs.
4. Chinese bulbs. 1500hr at best, dimmer ~$20
I decided to go with a Osram P-VIP. Cause everything I read indicate it is as good as phillips, but saves $10. But this isnt about what bulb is best.
So upon my searching for a lamp to buy, it was important to find someone close to home. That way if it gets shipped out friday, and only has to travel 1-2 states, I should have tuesday (monday was a holiday).
So I purchased from a place in northern indiana....bout a 3hr drive. So though good.....will have tuesday. But was a little disappointed when I got the tracking info that it was coming from about 8 hrs away in PA :mur: but no issue, still showing for delivery tuesday. Just glad this wasnt coming from a "warehouse" out on the west coast.
So, Tuesday, package arrives. I am immediatly concerned, as the bulb I received was a Osram Neolux. NOT what I ordered. But I wasnt gonna wait another 2-3 days for a replacement, so I decided to install the cheaper quality bulb, and when the correct one arrives, I'll take the cheap bulb out and return. Good plan in theory, but bulb dont work.
So off to the computer. The bulb I need is a Mitsubishi 915b403001. But Osram uses their "own" part numbering system. The osram I got was a 69071. The bulb I need (different firing voltages I think) would have been a 69073 for the cheap neolux, or a 69788 for a P-VIP. SO that explains why it aint working.
Given the time of day, I couldnt get ahold of the vendor so I e-mailed them. Got a reply 6-minutes after they opened wanting a picture of what I actually received. I complied and let them know of the urgency of getting this resolved, as by now its getting late morning, and want to make sure another one gets on its way that day. (which is now wednesday 2-17). About an hour goes by, no reply. I send another message again, stating the urgency that this gets shipped out TODAY, and if thats not possible, I will order from someone who can get one on the way TODAY. Again, no reply, by now its 11am so I call. They are all apologetic and aparently the mistake wasnt on their end, as they told the warehouse to send me the correct one, but they grabbed the wrong part. (this warehouse is not really "their" warehouse, rather another vendor that only sells to distributors so....they are basically playing middle man). At the conclusion of the call, she said she would be e-mailing me a return label and I requested she send me the new tracking number as soon as she could, she said no problem. So I didnt think much more about it, thought this was resolved, and headed to the shop to tinker around.
Bout 4:45 I was getting concerned that I hadnt got a tracking number yet and that it wasnt going to be shipped. So I start scrolling through my phone to call them again and an e-mail comes in.
E-mail basically says sorry, we cannot ship a new one out til the old one is received or they charge me again. WHAT:mur: So I call immediately. And conviently the lady that sent the e-mail has went home for the day and the person I spoke to gave me this crap about company policy. I would be alot more understanding if I screwed up and ordered the wrong thing, but THEY screwed up and sent me the wrong thing. Now want me to float them a loan of $64 to cover their screwup with the vendor that shipped, or wait til the old one is returned........NO WAY. And why the h3ll wasnt I notified of this policy at 11AM when we spoke instead of at (5:00pm now). At least I would have had a chance to get one on the way, in hopes of having it by saturday. But since they waited til 5pm to tell me this.....probably wont have another bulb til monday. So their waiting 6 hours to notify me of their stupid policy, is gonna cost me 2 more days til I get my TV back.:mur:
Not that $64 is a big deal, but its the principal of the matter. If I am gonna get charged a second time and wait on my refund, that charge will be elsewhere. So thats what I did. And why the double standard.....they wont ship me one without charging me, yet expect me to ship it back prior to getting a credit?
So now its thursday morning, I sent them a professional but sternly worded e-mail requesting an immediate refund. And that I shouldnt have a $64 charge on my card for the next 3-4 days to cover their error. And at the very least, I should immediately be credited the price difference of what I paid for, and this cheaper bulb.
Ok, Rant off
Last Friday 2-12 the DLP bulb went out in my TV. I knew it was about time as it was starting to get dim, and its been 4 years since last replacement. Now those unfamiliar with bulbs, there are basically 4 kinds you can buy.
1. Phillips OEM ~$75
2. Osram P-VIP OEM ~$65
Both of these are 6000+hr bulbs and the best of quality
3. Osram value line called "neolux". ~$40. Not as good as OEM, but better than chinese 1500hr bulbs.
4. Chinese bulbs. 1500hr at best, dimmer ~$20
I decided to go with a Osram P-VIP. Cause everything I read indicate it is as good as phillips, but saves $10. But this isnt about what bulb is best.
So upon my searching for a lamp to buy, it was important to find someone close to home. That way if it gets shipped out friday, and only has to travel 1-2 states, I should have tuesday (monday was a holiday).
So I purchased from a place in northern indiana....bout a 3hr drive. So though good.....will have tuesday. But was a little disappointed when I got the tracking info that it was coming from about 8 hrs away in PA :mur: but no issue, still showing for delivery tuesday. Just glad this wasnt coming from a "warehouse" out on the west coast.
So, Tuesday, package arrives. I am immediatly concerned, as the bulb I received was a Osram Neolux. NOT what I ordered. But I wasnt gonna wait another 2-3 days for a replacement, so I decided to install the cheaper quality bulb, and when the correct one arrives, I'll take the cheap bulb out and return. Good plan in theory, but bulb dont work.
So off to the computer. The bulb I need is a Mitsubishi 915b403001. But Osram uses their "own" part numbering system. The osram I got was a 69071. The bulb I need (different firing voltages I think) would have been a 69073 for the cheap neolux, or a 69788 for a P-VIP. SO that explains why it aint working.
Given the time of day, I couldnt get ahold of the vendor so I e-mailed them. Got a reply 6-minutes after they opened wanting a picture of what I actually received. I complied and let them know of the urgency of getting this resolved, as by now its getting late morning, and want to make sure another one gets on its way that day. (which is now wednesday 2-17). About an hour goes by, no reply. I send another message again, stating the urgency that this gets shipped out TODAY, and if thats not possible, I will order from someone who can get one on the way TODAY. Again, no reply, by now its 11am so I call. They are all apologetic and aparently the mistake wasnt on their end, as they told the warehouse to send me the correct one, but they grabbed the wrong part. (this warehouse is not really "their" warehouse, rather another vendor that only sells to distributors so....they are basically playing middle man). At the conclusion of the call, she said she would be e-mailing me a return label and I requested she send me the new tracking number as soon as she could, she said no problem. So I didnt think much more about it, thought this was resolved, and headed to the shop to tinker around.
Bout 4:45 I was getting concerned that I hadnt got a tracking number yet and that it wasnt going to be shipped. So I start scrolling through my phone to call them again and an e-mail comes in.
E-mail basically says sorry, we cannot ship a new one out til the old one is received or they charge me again. WHAT:mur: So I call immediately. And conviently the lady that sent the e-mail has went home for the day and the person I spoke to gave me this crap about company policy. I would be alot more understanding if I screwed up and ordered the wrong thing, but THEY screwed up and sent me the wrong thing. Now want me to float them a loan of $64 to cover their screwup with the vendor that shipped, or wait til the old one is returned........NO WAY. And why the h3ll wasnt I notified of this policy at 11AM when we spoke instead of at (5:00pm now). At least I would have had a chance to get one on the way, in hopes of having it by saturday. But since they waited til 5pm to tell me this.....probably wont have another bulb til monday. So their waiting 6 hours to notify me of their stupid policy, is gonna cost me 2 more days til I get my TV back.:mur:
Not that $64 is a big deal, but its the principal of the matter. If I am gonna get charged a second time and wait on my refund, that charge will be elsewhere. So thats what I did. And why the double standard.....they wont ship me one without charging me, yet expect me to ship it back prior to getting a credit?
So now its thursday morning, I sent them a professional but sternly worded e-mail requesting an immediate refund. And that I shouldnt have a $64 charge on my card for the next 3-4 days to cover their error. And at the very least, I should immediately be credited the price difference of what I paid for, and this cheaper bulb.
Ok, Rant off
