What's On Your Mind? Sony, Mr. Coffee, Verizon, Vistaprint

Maybe some of the newer TV sets made these days work well year after year, but it's clear that many don't.

“Christmas of 2009, I bought a Sony 40" Bravia LCD,” Donna of Gloucester, Va., told ConsumerAffairs.com. “Within 18 months my TV started turning itself off and the red light on front blinks 14 times. After having a tv repairman look at it, he said it had to do with the t-con panel and Sony did not sell that part separate, it came with another part.”

The part, she was told, cost $1,100.

“That's what I paid for the TV,” she said.

This seems to be a common problem, not just with Sony but with other brands as well.

Time to switch to tea?

Gary, of Caledonia, Mich., says he has purchased five Mr. Coffee coffee makers in the last two year. Not because he likes them and wants one in each room.

“In every case within a week they either quit working totally or started coming apart,” Gary said. “One couldn't keep the fluid warm, the one I have now doesn't make a full 12 cups and it takes over two hours to make what it does. I used to be loyal to Mr. coffee, but this is stupid.”

Gary says he's 60 years old and can't afford to keep buying coffee makers. Maybe he should try another brand.

Picking on the kids

Hamid, of Pueblo, Colo., wants to know why third party vendors are sending expensive downloads to his 16-year old's cell phone, but not his. They are on the same account, after all.

“They know they can target these kids because they are unaware of these scams,” Hamid said. “The parents have to pay the price. My complaint to Verizon is being addressed at this time by them.”

It's possible Hamid's son entered his cell phone number at a particular site or ordered ring tones, games or other "content." That's all it takes to get on the radar screen of these third party marketers. Verizon, in fact, recently sued one such third party provider on behalf of its subscribers.

Happy ending

With all the poor service and run-arounds consumers seem to encounter on a daily basis, it's nice to know that sometimes a company steps up and makes things right, at least from one consumer's point of view.

In the past, Vistaprint has been the source of complaints from consumers who said they were charged for things they didn't order. Rocco, of Redmond, Ore., was one of them, and lodged a complaint on ConsumerAffairs.com and with Vistaprint.

“Vistaprint refunded me fully within two weeks and sent me a letter of apology,” Rocco said.

Rocco is now a happy customer and thinks Vistaprint should be commended for correcting this problem for him.