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joeekaitis

joeekaitis

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And to think these people invented the Compact Cassette, the laser videodisc and co-developed the Compact Disc with Sony. Another shadow of a once great empire, kept barely afloat by Norelco and Philishave shavers. Our story begins. . .

1. Ordered a Philips 26PW9100D/37 26 inch widescreen TV on March 20 from the online Philips Electronics Store.

2. TV arrived on March 29 with 2 manufacturing defects: Front mask not fully seated to the cabinet and a "rainbow" spread of unsynchronized color in the picture. Called Philips Customer Support immediately. I was referred to a local TV repair tech who said the picture tube needed replacing.

3. Asked Philips Customer Support for a return authorization and a replacement set. I was told repairing the set was the only option. I refused because I would end up with a refurbished set at the price of a new set and would have lost a month of warranty coverage. I was told to take the matter up with the Philips Electronics Store.

4. Philips Electronics Store promised to schedule a pickup and upon receipt of the TV, issue a credit. Finally, someone who wants to provide something resembling customer service.

To be continued. . .
 
I'm quite suprised to see this sort of problem with Phillips electronics. I remember when I used to work for Sears, they sold their own model projection TV's that were actually manufactured by Phillips Magnavox.

The sets were beautifully engineered sets with a nice modular chassis. The cabinets were all wood, which was in stark contrast to other manufacturers that used a considerable amount of plastic in them. Very rarely did these things ever need service, but one problem does come to mind. The coolant in the picture tubes would go bad after about 10 years of use, and it would get hazy and cloudy. The most common repair I did to these sets was replacing the coolant in the picture tubes.

This is a very easy job that anyone slightly mechanically inclined with about $16 dollars to spare could do. Getting one of these TV's used was easy too, because many people would discard the sets if they didn't know about the coolant issue.
 
My first electric shaver was a Philips two headed rotary, back in 72 or 73. I still have it and it still works. Later I bought the TOL rechargeable triple-head and that thing lasted about 25 years with only a few cutter replacements and new batteries. Then I bought a MOL plug in only model about 2 years ago.. what a piece of junk they are now. Oh and I have my dads two headed recharable he bought back in the 80's still works well. I don't think the new ones are made in Holland anymore are they Louis?

As for the TV's..well SIL got a new Philips 27" for Xmas last year and it's broken down twice, nice when it works but for how long. It's a brand I wouldn't buy anymore.
 
I have mostly used Norelco razors as well-I also have a Braun-both are very good.Used to use sunbeam Shavemasters.
another cool but no longer made Norelco-Philips product-better than their TV's-was the DP-70 and AA2 film projectors-they could run either 35MM or 70MM films.They had two speed motors,reversible sprockets and soundheads for running 35MM or 70MM magnetic soundtracks-In most major cities-films such as "Sound Of Music","Patton","2001 Space Odessy","Around The World In 80 Days" were run on those projectors!These films used the Todd-AO system.It was an attempt(and succesful)to pry people from their TV's at home!After all folks didn't have 60Ft screens and multichannel magnetic soundtracks for their TVs then!!And the shows were beautiful color instead of BW as most TVs were then.
 
Philips Hi-Fi

A neighbor I used to know had Philips Hi-Fi products-amplifier,tuner,TT and Speakers that were imported-he had no problems with them and they were very nice.I used to have a Philips Turntable-now wished I still had it-was a very good one for a low price.They were sold in the 70's.It was a manual single play unit.Had an excellent tonearm and suspension.You could really dance to the tunes played on it-and no skipping!Its too bad their televisions didn't work out-most of their other electronic products were very good.
 
Hari-pullers

I can't stand the Norelco/Philips razors. They are notorius for pulling hair.

I like my Braun shaver. It used to have its own little washing machine that cleaned the razor and coated it with alcohol for a smooth, easy shave. Unfortunately, the washer for it broke but the razor is still going strong. After about 3 years of ownership, it's still shaving like new.
 
"Its too bad their televisions didn't work out-most of their other electronic products were very good."

The operative word is "were". It's a classic "dumb, but not stupid" policy.

Bad customer service and not standing behind the quality of one's products is dumb.

But it's not stupid because it only benefits Philips. If I had agreed to the repairs, most of the 90-day parts and labor warranty would been eaten up waiting for the delivery and replacement of the parts. I wouldn't be surprised if Philips had charged me for the labor if the repairs weren't completed until after the 90 days. I know it sounds conspiratorial but they seem to be willing to sell defective products because it hastens the expiration of the warranty.

Dumb, but as the great philosopher Wile E. Coyote put it:

"Brilliance! Sheer unadulterated BRILLIANCE!"
 
Sorry guys, I'm a traditionalist. I refuse to use an electric razor, I don't get a close enough shave. I use a safety razor, although I inherited a bunch of straight razors from my grandfather, I'm not suicidal. I do have the honing stones and leather strops to go with them though.
 
Bill:

Yep. American Express says if the Philips Store doesn't credit the purchase price within a few days of the billing date, I can dispute it. Right now, I'm waiting for the carrier to come and pick up this <s>stinking pile of shi-</s>, er, uh, improperly assembled unit.

Joe E
 
My Braun Razor has its "little washing machine" and it still works.Its now a couple years old.Norelco,Remington,Panasonic-now have "little washers" for their razors-I like the washer-does a great job-and lubes the razors blades.The cleaning solution used in the washers has a slight amount of lube in it to lube the shavers cutters.-Neat- cleans and lubes at the same time.also the washer charges the razor as well-when its done cleaning.
 
Philips TV broadcast equipment

During the 60's and 70's and small amount of Philips-Pye television broadcast equipment was imported into the US-it did meet FCC specs.The cameras were quite common-but the Philips transmitters were quite rare.The Philips broadcast equipment was a good line.
 
Amperex tubes and semiconductors

Yet ANOTHER Philips product-Amperex tubes still available today in very limited amounts--NOS. The semiconductor division still operates.their tube division made receiving tubes,transmitter tubes,camera tubes,and x-ray tubes.-Oh yes-Norelco made X-Ray machines too-look next time you are at the dentist or doctors office-their X-Ray machine may be a Philips or Norelco.
 
Now, THAT'S reassuring.

"look next time you are at the dentist or doctors office-their X-Ray machine may be a Philips or Norelco."

Imagine, your life and health in the very hands of a company that won't take back a defective TV.

Scary, ain't it?
 
I think the Norelco razors have gone to crap lately as well, and have cheapened in quality and construction.

So far, all of the razors I've had have been older Norelcos, and believe it or not, I've never tried "wet-shaving" yet; it's always been electric for me. 3 years ago, my first razor was a 1993 Norelco Speedrazor 300SX dual-head rechargeable from eBay that I since got rid of, but here is what I shave with on a daily basis: a vintage 1980 Norelco Rotatract electric, that I also bought on eBay. I cleaned, completely disassembled, & rebuilt it in March 2005 and have used it ever since. It gives a great, close shave, and I don't notice any "pulling" problem either. Talk about a solid piece of equipment...this thing is HEAVY and powerful; the sound the motor makes when powering up is too cool!

I also have a 1981 Norelco Tripleheader electric. I don't use it as frequently because it's more or less BOL. Lacks a pop-up trimmer, has a smaller head, and doesn't give as smooth a shave. Still a very nice razor though, and makes the same cool sound as the Rotatract when powering up!

--Austin
 
Speaking of shavers

I have a mid-'70s Schick electric shaver that's the best.

Best.

Has a nice, hefty feel and the case is made out of vinyl covered metal. You could drive a truck over that thing and it would emerge unscathed.

From now on, I'll only be using NOS OLD shavers. None of the new crap for me.

veg
 
This is the shaver I ended up buying.

Interestingly, the company that I work for has 3 vacuum stores and a shaver store thats also in the main store. So I have been learning a lot about shavers. I had no idea that there were shaver store before I saw this one. The new shaers are a lot more cheaply made than the older ones. So far the peopleon the shaver side of ths store seem to like Braun and Remington the best.

Has anyone here tried the Norelco shaver with the lotion despenser thing in it?

 

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