Same problems as everyone else

Bought in July of '98 (manufacture date May '98). Started having pixelation problems about 6 months ago, "no disc" problems a few months ago. Problem is getting progressively worse and worse--more and more DVDs (including ones which previously worked) exhibit the "no disc" message.

Audio and video quality

Remote control layout, occasional layer change issues

I've had mine for 18 months without a single major problem, and only a few instances of the notorious "layer change = chapter skip" problem. My main source of frustration is the remote control. The "eject" button is directly above the "play" button, which makes it far too easy to accidentally eject a paused disk, which then requires you to figure out where you were in the film. Still, the picture quality is terrific, so is the audio, and that's what makes this a very good player.

Similar Products Used:

Sony 7000

nice picture,decent sound,lots of options

people report lots of problems

I have used this product for almost two years and I guess that I have been really lucky because I have have not experienced any problems yet. Nice picture except it does not handle some enhanced 16:9 dvds that well. I have played over 200 dvds and a lot of them were rented and this unit played all with no problems.

Worked good for 2 1/2 years, Customer Service

Manufacturing/Design Defect with Laser/Optical Pickup

My A-110 which I bought in July 1998 began pixilating and locking up 45 minutes to an hour into just about every movie we tried to watch. I declared it dead last Saturday evening and began looking for a replacement.

During that search, I ran across the problems reported here. I saw all the work arounds that had been devised, and found them to be totally unnacceptable to me. A couple of those reporting here were succesful in getting a new player from Panasonic. So before buying another player, I decided to give it a shot.

My efforts met with very easy success. I packed up the A-110 tonight and am sending it back to Panasonic. Upon receipt, they will be sending me a brand spanking new DVD-RV65. I'm only out the shipping to return my A-110.

---------------
Here is the procedure:

1. Call 1-800-211-7262 and speak with a customer service rep. Tell him/her about your problem. Have model number, serial number, and date of purchase handy.

2. They will tell you that someone will be getting back in touch with you within 24-48 hours. They will give you a case number. Be sure to note the number.

3. Wait. (I got the call from the return department almost exactly 48 hours after my initial call). I suppose if you don't hear from them within that time frame you could call back the above number and inform them that the call is overdue.

4. Tell the return rep. your problem. Reference the fact that there was a design/manufacturing defect with the laser/ optical pickup that apparently existed on an extraordinarily high number of 110/310 players. I mentioned internet news groups, forums, etc. The rep. I dealt with was very friendly. After finishing my speil, she said that because the unit was 2 1/2 years old she didn't have to do anything. She said a repair would be very costly, and if I went with a repair, I would have to pay for it. But she said she talked with her supervisor, and she got clearance to really help me out. She said she wanted to send me a new player - the RV65 (I asked about upgrading to the RV80 for an additional charge, but they do not manufacture it any longer).

5. Return the 110/310 to the address provided.

6. Wait for new player to arrive.
----------

I found her approach, apparently dictated by Panasonic, to be quite interesting. It really appears Panasonic has decided to make quick offers of replacement to keep down the threat of more organized consumer action. I guess they figure that's cheaper than a full recall of all of the players. If those of us concerned enough to call are kept happy with new players, the chances of it going any further are slim. The first cust. serv. rep said that an entire department had been set up just to deal with the 110/310 problems.

So, if you have a 110/310 player that has given you trouble, I would highly recommend attempting to get a replacement player. You certainly have nothing to lose.

Those utilizing fans, special "open-air" placement tricks, 6 month regular lube jobs, etc. should give serious consideration to attempting to get a replacement. It's a pretty good deal to go from a faulty 2nd generation player to a brand new 4th generation player with component outputs for the price of shipping the A-110.

I give it 1 stars for obvious reasons, but really I am quite happy about the whole situation. You can't beat buying a 1998 player, using it for a couple of years, and then getting a free upgrade to a brand new player once the technology has matured somewhat.

Hope this helps,
Cliff

Excellent audio, video

Lasts about a year before self-destruct button kicks in

Very appropriate slogan
"slightly ahead of our time". Where
else have you the privilege of
purchasing the same product twice,
once as initial purchase and second
as repair with costs almost that of
original price. Like so many others
after slightly over a year my player
came down with the optical pick up,
lock up, no disc, pixilation problem.
See www.hometheaterforum.com/bbs/archive/
23342.html for interesting reading.
Would I purchase Panasonic again - not
without an extended warranty and then
only at a huge discount. What quality
they had appears to have gone the way
of the dinosaur.

Picture and sound quality.

None

I feel sorry for all the people that have had bad luck with the DVD-A110. I bought mine about 3 years ago and have had no problems with it at all and still use it on a regular basis. However, 2 years after I had mine, my brother went out and bought the same exact unit and within 6 months of ownership, it too died. Just like explained in other reviews here, "no disc" and I think his went to the extent of not even turning on after a short period after that.

Oh well, I guess Panisonic put out a few good ones. As long as mine is still working, that's all that matters to me.

Similar Products Used:

None

Picture and sound quality.

None

I feel sorry for all the people that have had bad luck with the DVD-A110. I bought mine about 3 years ago and have had no problems with it at all and still use it on a regular basis. However, 2 years after I had mine, my brother went out and bought the same exact unit and within 6 months of ownership, it too died. Just like explained in other reviews here, "no disc" and I think his went to the extent of not even turning on after a short period after that.

Oh well, I guess Panisonic put out a few good ones. As long as mine is still working, that's all that matters to me.

Similar Products Used:

None

Picture and sound quality.

None

I feel sorry for all the people that have had bad luck with the DVD-A110. I bought mine about 3 years ago and have had no problems with it at all and still use it on a regular basis. However, 2 years after I had mine, my brother went out and bought the same exact unit and within 6 months of ownership, it too died. Just like explained in other reviews here, "no disc" and I think his went to the extent of not even turning on after a short period after that.

Oh well, I guess Panisonic put out a few good ones. As long as mine is still working, that's all that matters to me.

Similar Products Used:

None

Be forewarned --- you may have no problems with your A-110. If you don't you're lucky - but if you start seeing pixels at the layer switch, you're hosed. Here is Panasonics to my plea for help.....
> Dear Panasonic,
>
> I am writing to find out what the status is for a recall of your
> DVD-A110. I have owned this player for only 8 months and its performance
> has disintegrated to the unusable level. Your service department claims
> to know of no inherent defects with the player. They instructed me to
> "send the player to Pennsylvania." I have been in contact with other A-110
> owners on internet message boards, and some of the owners have "sent
> the player to Pennsylvania", with no resolution of the problem at all -
> just expense. Are you ready to admit that this player is defective?
>
> I bought the Panasonic over models from Sony and Pioneer because I had
> purchased other Panasonic products without a problem. I have a VCR,
> Personal Stereo, Cordless Telephone/Answering Machine, 17" Computer
> Monitor, 27" Television, and other products that bear the Panasonic
> badge. I am very disappointed with the customer service that I have
> received from your company regarding the A-110. The problem is simple -
> The Panasonic A-110 cannot play dual-layered DVD's. Pixelization and
> lock-ups are inevitable.
>
> Please do the right thing and replace these players, I would even be
> willing to accept a discount on a newer Panasonic player in exchange for
> my A-110.
>
> I look forward to resolving this situation as soon as possible.
>
>
> Thank you,
>
> Russ Williams

Dear Mr. Williams,

Thank you for your inquiry. There is no recall on the model specified. The
warranty on the DVD-A110 is one year parts and ninety days labor. This
limited warranty addresses service only, there are no contingencies for
replacement. We can only reiterate what our service department has
recommended and ask that you ship your unit to our factory service center in
Langhorne, PA for repair.

We regret we cannot be of greater assistance. To eliminate delayed response
time, should it be necessary to send a response, please send reply to
consumerproducts@panasonic.com.

Sincerely Yours,
Panasonic Customer Call Center

----DO YOURSELF A BIG FAVOR-- Stay away from Panasonic DVD players (I for one will be staying away from Panasonic everything. Good riddance Panasonic

Worked for a few months.

Didn't work after a few months.

This is truly a piece of trash. I strongly discourage anyone from buying the Panasonic A-110. After a few months of using it maybe once a week, it started pixelating and locking up. I called Panasonic and they said it just does that with some movies. Well, I had no choice but to accept that answer since they wouldn't do anything for me. It continued to happen occasionally until a couple more months. It read "No Disc". I had to send it in to be repaired by Panasonic at a fee (they said they would pay for half of it. Woop dee doo!). They then promised that the player would work from then on. OK, 8 weeks later, I got the player back and it worked. Well, here I am a year later with the same problem. Am I going to send in the POS to be fixed a again for $100? or buy another brand?

Not only is the product terrible, the service and support are absolutely HORRENDOUS!