Video Asylum

Posted by Some Guy on May 08, 2003 at 10:35:25

In Reply to: Any VCR Brands With A One Year Labor Warranty? posted by Doublej on May 06, 2003 at 19:26:41:

I usually don't worry about the warranty and just trust brands with a decent history. I've got a Toshiba VCR I picked up in 1996 that's still in perfect shape after heavy use. I also have an RCA S-VHS that's been in service for almost as long that's a champ.

The other brand I can recommend is Sharp. I have been using them since 1997 in a duplication facility that I designed and built... out of over 100 units and constant, grueling service over the past 5 years or more, only about 5-10 units developed problems which required maintenance.

That may sound like a lot, but the wear on these decks is about 20 times worse than any normal deck will ever see:

12-24 hour operation
5 days a week
9-11 months a year
SLP mode
most cleanings done by cleaning tape

I get to come in about once a year to pull all the decks and give them a proper manual cleaning and I'm amazed at how well they've held up. I honestly expected full replacement every year, but they're holding up. Admittedly they use virgin tape 99% of the time, but even then you get flake problems.

The only brand I actively avoid when it comes to moving parts is Sony. I used to swear by them, but then my CD player, VTR, and receiver all died within a year. The CD player lost alignment completely, the VTR's brakes and rubber went bad, and the receiver started turning on automatically with the volume pegged while switched to the lowest FM station... oh yes, that'll wake you up! Too bad... it's a really nice receiver to this day (AV970).

My final bit about warranty is that most manufacturers are a bit lame when it comes to warranty work. Where the real problem happens, though, is with extended warranties. They'll fight up and down about doing work and deny a problem exists or find a way around it before they'll honor the warranty. A nuisance and a scam in almost all cases. Do your research on the extended warranty provider before signing up for anything... I found that out with my home warranty, too... a total nightmare.