RCA Service Companies Terminated
NISC-T CONSUMER ALERT
Would you purchase a vehicle from a manufacturer that required you to take your new car to your local computer repairman for warranty service? Sounds ridiculous?
Consumers who purchase RCA products do so at their own risk. The RCA product warranty as we have known it for over 60 years has vanished by corporate greed much the same as our savings have in the financial markets. Since the advent of RCA products, a nationwide network of independent servicers and RCA factory service depots have provided support to consumers who purchased the RCA brand.
Quietly, the RCA name was sold to a Chinese conglomerate (TTL) whose sole focus is flooding the American market with cheap non-repairable products. Most recently what was left of the national service network of independent businesses working to support the RCA products was disbanded. Some of these companies have been servicing the RCA brand for over 60 years, and are now barred from providing further customer support.
In a very unwise and perhaps illegal move, TTL is working to set-up a network of individuals to work for substantially low rates, many of which may not be qualified, licensed or a full service business. Technicians who agree to this model are barred from handing out business cards, or even mentioning a business name. This “ghost technician” practice implies that the technician who visits your home is an employee of RCA when in fact that they are not. This business model is fraught with potential legal and ethical problems.
In the TTL business model, gone are the days of reputable businesses, team efforts, licensed and trained personnel. A glance at the majority of “repairmen” signed up in this venture to date, one will see mainly computer related experience. Without professional training and a professional background in consumer electronics experience, TTL is, like so many before, trying to create a service model doomed to certain failure - at the expense of the consumer and the loss of your local service company.
NISC-T joins NESDA, and other professional trade organizations to strongly OPPOSE this reckless business practice. Service companies, join us in spreading the word to consumers who may be considering a purchase of RCA Consumer Electronics products. In our opinion, the consumer will inevitably receive sub-par after sale service - or none.
Sadly when these failed business models fail and they leave the US market, it is the consumer who once again pays the price when they are left with worthless products.
Do you really want to spend $800 for a disposable flat screen?
Who’s “the master” now? A fortune cookie in every box too! Sianaroff, RCA.
I started working for RCA Service Company in 1968 installing antennas. This is when the “Meatball” was still there logo. I have had a relationship with RCA ever since then, working for RCA, their distrubtors, my own service company, etc. It is a very sad state to see a name like RCA go down this way. Only Walmart & Sams carry RCA today. Even worse, I am told that DEX has decided to cut out all parts in inventory that are over 5 years old. Since our company only services healthcare and lodging companies, there are still many TVs out there over this age. Parts will no longer be available other than generic parts. Service companies and consumers will be very disappointed in these actions.
I also go back nearly that far. It is a shame that our industry is being marginalized.
Japanese manufacturers seem to be as dedicated as ever to to quality product and service whereas China and Korea appears to be a culture of manufacturing for the sake of manufacturing. Why do you need service? Buy another one.
If the American public does not refuse to tolerate a short-life product without service, even the Japanese manufacturers will either exit the US TV market (Fujitsu, Pioneer) or go broke (Philips sells to Funai).
Our trade associations are just now waking up to the threat - but I fear too little, too late.
The Grump
I have been an ASC for over 30 years and I never saw this coming period. It is just a sign of the times that the industry is heading down the path of the portable tech who works out of his home with no overhead and very limited insurance. The appliance industry started this and now it has reached us. I will miss Nipper and what RCA was! It will join Hitachi, Pioneer, Philips and the others that have sold out…..
How many customers keep the name of a service company handy after a successful service call? 100%
In the confusing consumer electronics world customers need all the friends they can make. Why settle for anything less?
the bottom line is loyalty is dead, I tell you now it is about price, people want to negoitiate everything…
So it’s true. Nipper reallly is dead! I feel horrible for the poor consumer that “invests” in an RCA product. Caveat Emptor. Let the buyer beware.
I can’t wait to see how many federal laws these people have broken. They want MY techs to service their product, but they can’t mention our company? Here, why don’t you just hire me techs out from under me?
I used to take the positive when consumers asked which brands I recommend. When asked about a particular brand I failed to mention, I would tell them they were omitted for a reason and not go into details. No longer the case with RCA. I will mention them by name, as well as a few other companies, and warn the customer to avoid them.
is there a brand left to recommend, I wonder who will fall next.
This is a trunk monkey’s wet dream! no overhead, no insurance, etc.
What happens when one of these ghosts commits theft or sex crime??
It is what it is, this is akin to NEW promoting the wave of expansion using remote techs, what a
joke?
Are these DEX people out of their minds??????
They are going to charge us $15 bucks for each warranty call? That can’t be legal. I have serviced RCA for over 15 years. No more. It’s crap anyway.
Whether anything is what it was does not matter, it is the point that we will pay to do warranty work…Not!