I purchased a Samsung 50" Plasma TV on 3/2/08. On 8/3/08, it stopped working. No picture, no sound. I did the usual, checked the cable box, checked the connections, checked the surge protector, unplugged and replugged the unit. Nothing. I called Samsung customer service 8/3/08 at 10:53 PM, spoke to Peter. He suggested unplugging it and replugging the unit. Then suggested plugging directly into the wall by passing the surge protector. Nothing. He then gave the name of a service provider. Told me to call the service provider and they would come to my home within two days.

8/4/08 - called the service provider. He said he would not come to my area, too far away. Said he had told Samsung this on a number of occasions.

8/4/08, 10:41, called Samsung service and spoke to Anthony. He said he would find another service provider. He called two companies, neither would come to my area. Anthony told me I was in a "no service" area and would refer my call to the Executive Customer Relations group. Anthony told me some one from ECR would call me before noon of the same day.

8/4/08, 7:55 PM, called Samsung, spoke to Josh. He told me there was nothing in my records about "no service" area or ECR. He suggested I call ECR the next day as ECR closes at 5PM.

8/5/08, 11:33 AM, called Samsung, spoke to Kim in ECR. She said nothing to report, suggested I call the next day.

8/5/08, 11:32 AM, called Samsung, spoke to Cathy in ECR. She explained that Samsung would have to exhaust all efforts to find a service provider. I asked how long that would take. Cathy said she didn't know. I asked how they would find a provider, since the closest providers to my area would not come to my house. Cathy said she didn't know, that they do something with the computer to find a service provider. I asked if she could give me a ballpark range of how long it would take. I asked if I could speak to someone who could shed some light on the process. Cathy said there was no one else to speak to since I was dealing with the ECR which was as high as you could go. She again said she didn't know but told me I had only been waiting for three days, which isn't a long time. She suggested I call back on Friday, 8/7/08.

8/7/08, called Samsung, spoke to Debbie. Debbie said they had found a provider and placed me on hold to call and set appointment. When she came back on line, she told me that provider does not service my area. I asked how they were going to find a provider, since no one covers my area. She said they would have to work on it for 21 business days before they would consider any other options. I asked when the 21 days started, on my initial call, or when they found a service tech. She wasn't sure but assumed it would be from my initial call. She suggested I call back in a couple of days.

Here's my beef:

1. $2, 500, brand new Samsung 50" Plasma stops working 6 months after purchase.
2. Samsung can't find a repair technician in my area, but tells me to hang on for 21 business days while they try to round someone up.
3. I have to continually call them, instead of Samsung updating me on their progress.
4. What a pack of dopes.

I will never purchase another Samsung product.