|
Review 3 of 16
Price Paid:
$458.00
from OneStop Summary: I purchased this unit on recommendation from several Stores. The "Biggest" attraction was "No monthly programming fee's" - like the TiVo unit.
I have had my system from Dec 23rd. I have placed over 18 documented calls to Panasonic. I have been sent two replacement units.
The average hold time to speak to a tech support rep. is 20 minutes. The consumer is supposed to call when the downloadable channel line-up isn't correct. With this unit, it is not possible to record a channel that is not found in the line-up. In my area, I use ATT Broadband Digital cable. 7 out of 14 Premium Channels are not listed in the channel lineup (which Replay T.V. gets from a listing company named TRIBUNE). If you want to record a movie from Cinemax, and it's not listed in the channel guide, you are out of luck.
In calling the company, you can report the problem with the incompatible channel listing, and you are told it should be taken care of in 48 - 72 hours. It is 4 months later, and still they haven't been able to make the correction. When pressed, they finally admit that the "Line-up" portion of the service is out of their hands, and they are at the mercy of REplay TV.
Upon contacting RePlay TV, they are very prompt to respond by email, however, 1 month later, only 2 channels have changed. I have written to both tech support managers, and the president of the company. It now has been passed off as "Tribune's" fault, and they must rely upon them to fix the inaccuracies.
Besides the channel line-up issue, I have had multiple connection problems, (which resulted in them sending the replacement units). Although I paid for a new unit, both replacement units (one DOA, the other working), have been remanufactured. The DOA unit came in scratched all over.
Most frustrating, is trying to work with Panasonic "Consumer relations". In calling, I was told that there was nothing they could do. I asked to speak to a supervisor, and was told that the supervisors where out, and would be back sometime on Sunday. I was promised a call, and three weeks later...still no word.
Although the concept of Digital recording seems promising, please don't waste your time with the "ShowStopper" unit. If I could send this back to where I bought it, even for 1/2 price refund, I would do it in a heartbeat!
Strengths: Good Idea when it works Weaknesses: The unit is only as good as it's channel Line-up Similar Products Used: NONE
|