The New TV: Strike 1

I decided to be a grown-up and upgrade my current TV (Brand: Sansui, Screen: 13") for a reasonably sized TV (Brand: Philips HD, Screen: 30" widescreen) primarily because I was tired of not being able to read the scrolling news updates on CNN or see the hockey puck during Stars games from my desk chair. Today it was to be delivered by Best Buy. The delivery truck arrives early. I am cheered by the apparent efficiency.

I sit in my apartment as they bring the TV up the stairs to my 3rd floor apartment and hear a slightly concerning noise. THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP-THUMP. They have put my precious new TV on a dolly and are yanking it up the stairs one jarring step at at time. 30 thumps later they arrive at my door and carry the TV into my living room. They remove it from the box, plug it into the wall, attach the cable, press power....and nothing happens. One of the delivery men presses power on the remote. It beeps for a few seconds, but the screen remains blank. After using various outlets, pressing all buttons, and reading through the manual, the TV continues in its infuriating blankness.

I refuse delivery and the delivery people carry the TV back down the stairs after assuring me that delivery of a new TV should be able to be arranged for tomorrow. I immediately call the Customer Service line. After navigating through a veritable labyrinth of pushbutton menus, I am greeted by a semi-friendly customer service rep. After explaining 7 times that the TV doesn't work, I've already sent it back, and that I'm not merely a moron who can't press power, I am able to set up delivery of a new TV. "Okay, ma'am, the first free delivery date we have is April 20th." I ask that the order be cancelled immediately and my money be refunded. Considering that TV one could have been delivered within 4 days of ordering it, I'm not willing to wait a month for TV two when they won't bother to even treat a customer nicely when she has been delivered a faulty (or possibly broken in stair-transit) TV.

So I go to 4 stores all over North Dallas/Plano, feel very depressed upon seeing hundreds of televisions that I'm getting a 30" HD but not flat panel TV when I could be getting a 50" DLP HDTV (they were so much prettier even if they cost 5x more), and finally buy the same TV at another store. The TV actually costs slightly less at Circuit City...but once you add the $50 delivery charge and the Dallas-instead-of-Minnesota sales tax I paid due to internet ordering, I end up paying $2 more.

Supposedly the TV will be delivered tomorrow. Hopefully it will not be delivered broken.

If I see a dolly anywhere near TV two, I will turn into evil high-maintenance customer and demand it be carried up the stairs even if I have to chain myself to the dolly to prevent its use.