Oh, Look: Another Sony Quality Problem
from the walkman-with-broken-legs dept
Despite all its business troubles, Sony's products have managed to maintain a strong reputation. Despite sometimes carrying a premium price over other brands, many consumers felt that Sony made solid, reliable products, and they were content to pay for that quality. But a recent string of problematic products from the company makes you wonder if something is slipping at Sony: the PlayStation 3 was plagued by manufacturing delays, there was that little problem of all those Sony-made batteries getting recalled, and now it's had to announce a recall of several digital camera models after a problem first reported a year ago was found to be more widespread than first thought. Alongside the company's long-running rootkit fiasco, that's a lot of bad PR for the company to deal with, and it seems unlikely for Sony to come out unscathed. The company really is struggling to turn itself around, and the last thing it needs at this point is for its brand to take a hit and consumers to see its products as unreliable. So a note to Howard Stringer: while sorting out the company's content and technology mess is important, don't let it come at the expense of product quality. Sony can't afford to fail at either one at this point.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
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Re: sony all junk
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Re: Re: sony all junk
THANK YOU.
ROBERTO GILABERT.
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Re: Re: Re: sony all junk
Sony knows about the problem and refuses to help the customer. That's why he doesn't work on them anymore.
Some people did start a CLASS ACTION against Sony for problems with a similar model. Both models have a split optical block configuration which causes 99% of the problems. You can find the settlement on Sony's web site. I sent an email to one of the lawyers with my story. Maybe if enough of us send emails he will take some action. The lawyers got $1.6 million and the customers got their set repaired. The lawyer's email address is jon@bhfloridalaw.com. I would initiate the suit buy I simple do not have the money to even sit down and talk to an attorney. My email address is kingdaniell@juno.com. Please, anyone with a defective WS500 get in touch.
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Re: Re: Re: sony all junk
Ananda
Hawaii
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Re: Sony Projection TV's
I'll bet Sony doesn't sell their poor quality products in Japan - it would bring shame upon their name. TV's lasting 2-4 years !!??? Known defects that they refuse to correct. But hey - they think they look good when they sponsor multi-million dollar golf tournaments. The money would be better spent "doing the right thing"!
Maybe this is their revenge against Americans for Hiroshima and Nagasaki - I think there might be something to this.
Google "Sony TV problems" - it's shocking!
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Another Sony
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Re: Another Sony
As for Sony... i was very anti-sony for quite some time, and only recently have gotten back into their brand with the purchase of a laptop about 5 years ago, professional DV camcorder, superior (to Adobe, IMHO) video editing software (used to be SonicFoundry..... bought out), and cameras. I'm now looking at a Sony TV. The only thing i'd never touch EVER is Sony speakers of any kind (car or home). Other than that, i don't see how you can blame the company for trying to innovate. Sure they have lots of flash in the pan products, but they're just fishing, and you're all taking the bait. If you stick to Sony's solid products, there's no reason to complain. Cameras against Cannon, best vid-cameras, some great software... great looking TV's too! Kind of does it for me.
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Re: Re: Another Sony
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Re: sony products low on quality indeed
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AntiSony
But you think they've learned or even noticed? My experience while playing a Sony video game was bad enough YEARS ago that I won't chose a Sony product as my first choice. They've done nothing but treat the American customer like Cattle. But then again, the American consumers don't exactly tell them to stop do we?
All you can do is laugh at the gimps that bought an overpriced console with lack of games and hope their shit breaks while it's still impossible to get a replacement unit. I still laugh at the defective units on YouTube :)
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When looking at the quality of Sony products overall, it's hard to complain. They make a great many products that really are ahead of the competitors. The customer service and warranties are great and over-all customer satisfaction with their products is quite high. Yes, some products are exceptions to this but that is how it works in business.
When evaluating a company look at the overall picture, not just the few problems that were already blown out of proportion by the "news."
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Re:
I've looked at Sony and the 'overall picture' is bleak. If a company is immoral enough to do what Sony has been doing recently it raises a lot of questions about how they'll treat the rest of their business in the future.
So, excuse me when I laugh at all those who purchase Sony electronics because of their past reputation and then get their asses handed to them when Sony decides it's time to revamp those services to resemble the rest of their shitty business practices.
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Re: Sony Bologna
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Re:
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I stopped buying sony a long time ago...
Not to mention, my PS2 has constant problems, from the drive bay sticking, the drive not reading, and the console overheating, to their controller. I never cared for that controller anyway, I don't see why everyone was so excited about it. I find the sticks to be way too loose and imprecise. Can't aim in GTA worth crap. Aiming a first person weapon on the Xbox is far better.
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Re: I stopped buying sony a long time ago...
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Re: Re: I stopped buying sony a long time ago...
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Second strike, a $900 sony GPS system. Purchased it. I needed new updated maps. Sony said they would have updates every 6 months. 90 days later sony discontinued the product line. Never lasted long enough for a single update.
Strike 3. Sony Clie. granted I loved the palm. They killed it off. I'm bitter about that.
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Bad publicity
I feel bad for Sony here. They made great products, but people tend to associate the flaws of one part of the company to the rest of it.
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Re: Bad publicity
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Also...
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Done Already
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SonicStage Software Bugs
Sony just doesn't give a damn
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criminals
However - I'm with the other posters. I've said it before and I will make no appology for saying again.
Sony are a CRIMINAL ORGANISATION.
Nobody seems to understand the profound implications of the "rootkit fiasco". What Sony did, either by design or negligent subcontracting is a *criminal* offence in most European countries and in the USA.
Until they have been brought to book in a recognised court of criminal law, prosecuted, forced to pay proper compensation for their actions and those responsible serve real jail time for their crimes I will not stop harping on about it and making sure everybody I know understands what Sony represent. I will certainly not buy their untrustworthy products, regardless of their quality.
And, I will not stop drawing attention to the fact that firstforinternet, a British company were the subcontractors responsible for writing this malicious code. In the UK they are culpable under the Computer Misuse Act and the programmers must face prison terms for their deeds.
Until the double standard is addressed and Sony are treated the same way any other cracker should be treated no court of law in the world can convict a teenage cracker for defacing a website or an executive for industrial espionage and remain morally consistent.
We must continue to campaign for Sony to be properly prosecuted for their actions if the law is to maintain respect.
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Re: criminals
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Fast forward five years. I still have a desktop, a laptop, a video camera, a music player, and a still camera, but not a single one of them is from Sony and I no longer need proprietary software for them all to easily share content.
All the Sony replacements were a.) cheaper b.) use standard storage c.) use standard formats d.) easier to operate and inter-connect out of the box e.) have never broken.
Why would anyone continue to pay a premium for a Sony product? Even at the same price, I would choose a competitor.
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RE:
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I love my Sony Television
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Re: I love my Sony Television
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DO a few google searches on Sony Online Entertainment. What they did to the Star Wars MMORPG franchise they had is blasphemy to the force. They lost over 75% of their SWG customer base by doing exactly what their customers didn't want.
Judging by the recent and current track record, the PS3 is doomed. Blu-Ray will die off with it.
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Wouldn't touch anything with the sony brand
Probaly some grad fresh out of tech school desigining their products.
I also haven't purchased anything with the sony name stamped on it in over 2 and a half years.
BOTCOT sony.
The name is not worth enough respect to use it with a capitol S..
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Sony lost me a long time ago.
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Nothing new to see here folks, move along...
http://tinyurl.com/yclcsu
http://tinyurl.com/tgtak
http://tinyurl.com/ycsmjm
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Reminds me of Alpine in the 80's
My experiences with Sony products remind me of those Alpine days. I don't know how that they have maintained a reputation as good as they have. I think that they have offered lower quality at a higher price for many years. Unfortunately, I keep getting Sony gift certificates through work so I get suckered into trying products over and over, with no luck. The latest thing to die was a receiver that lasted maybe two weeks over the one year warrantly.
I will be re-gifting any Sony gift certificates from now on.
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Sony projection TV- blue screen
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Re: Sony projection TV- blue screen
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Re: Sony projection TV- blue screen
Thanks for any help or light you can shed on this.
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Re: Sony projection TV- blue screen
Thanks for any help or light you can shed on this.
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Maybe there are a few good products...
When I speak, I speak for my entire family: parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, even friends... (Think about it - that's a lot of Sony products over a range of products lines), and all of them have confessed that no matter what the product (TV, Computer, Walkman...) with the exception of Sony Music as a production company for artists (can't screw up a CD too bad, can ya?), it has broken down/gone wrong/stopped working and usually just after the warranty expires. It's usually a build quality issue (ie: not a consumer-at-fault thing) or part that will be expensive to replace.
Customer Service? Plenty of websites and blogs speak of the third ring of hell that is Sony CS, so I won't get into it here.
Personal example: 1 1/2 years ago I had my eye out for a Digital Still Camera. I went to a "specialist" place in town and asked for their recommendation. They praised the Sony product line. I told them: "I'm not sure about this. My entire family has learned expensive lessons with regards to Sony and their lack of reliability." He assured me that in the case of the Digital Still Cameras, that's not the case. He agreed with me on several points, and continued to assure me that I shouldn't have any problems with the Sony. In fact, the internal workings of most DS Cameras are provided by Sony. (sobering thought)
So my girlfriend got one model, and I got the slightly upgraded model.
Just this past summer, approx. 16 months later, my camera's "still Image correction" device starts rattling around every time I turn the camera on...constantly. I have to shut it off then on, sometimes it fixes itself, sometimes it doesn't. Now my ability to pull out my camera and take a great shot of the moment is lost - the whole point of me getting one in the first place.
A search on the net finds that;
1- I'm not the only one with the problem
2- Sony is aware of the problem (just shy of admitting it's a fault in production/quality)
3- Sony Customer Service is not willing to offer any help
4- It's (you guessed it) an expensive fix
What gets me is that *I* should have known better. Now add me to the list of family members who learned an expensive lesson. I'm going back to that shop, BTW, and sharing this with them.
Panasonic? No issues on any of their products.
I should note that my girlfriend's Sony has shown no problems. (Lucky little Minx...)
They almost had me though. Great shots, great look, but (caveat) only while it WAS WORKING!
Sigh.
Rant off. I'm done. Thanks for reading.
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Sorry, did I say no CD problems?
Sony have lost another one.
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Sony the Sony Wega TV
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Sony FD Trinitron WEGA
I have other TV's ranging in age from 26 years down to 8 years - never had a problem with any of these!
My bottom line is that if you're in the market for a new TV, in my humble opinion, you should look at other brands such as Samsung and Phillips (I own both) that are a lot more reliable. I will never buy any Sony product again!!
Tom Wren
Alabama
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batery
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Sony Quality is Garbage
To put this BS in perspective I had a 13" Sony Trinitron that I bought when I was young and gave to charity 19 years later because it lacked remote control and the screen was just too small to be useful. I currently have a Mitsubishi 27" tube TV that I use in my bedroom that is 14 years old.
Sony sucks, their quality sucks, and they don't stand behind their products or their customers. I will NEVER BUY SONY AGAIN.
The HDTV fiasco
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Another Broken Sony
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Sony projection 57 inch TV model kp57ws500
now its gone for good I think ist now Blue with a red hase and will not kick on.
is it some projection bulb or is it trash? someone advise?
bulbs are $300.00 I'm hearing.
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Sony 57
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sony52 lcd xbr
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Samsung sucks
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Sony Reader Locks Up
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Faulty BDVE-370
Do not buy any products from sony they are useless
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Sony BIg Screen TV Recall
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Sony Bravia TV
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Sony Quality
I brought this to their attention but in their responses, they continue to state that they are not aware of the vibration problem. Sounds like Toyota.
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