I was shopping around CC and started talking with the sales associate about onkyo recievers. I'm very interested in getting the SR600 or SR700 when they come out. They had the 500 and 600 on display but none in stock. He said they expected the 600 in by may 14th at the latest. I mentioned that my old kenwood VR-407 receiver that I bought at CC still has three years left on the 5 year extended service plan, but it just wasn't meeting my needs anymore. Then the sales guy actually suggested that I try to intentionally damage my reciever, and since it was under warranty and out of program, and they would give me in-store credit towards a new one! He said the car audio guys had some amp thing that could blow it, so maybe I could find a friend to do it. What do you guys think? I couldn't believe it. Has anyone actually damaged their reciever to get a new one? Isn't this fraud? How would you go about doing it if it wasn't so unethical? I once returned a TV/VCR combo w/ESP to CC that wouldn't turn on anymore and they barely glanced at it before giving me instore credit for my present TV. Would they do the same with an older reciever? You'd think they'd test them out or something to test your claim. Just curious as to your reaction.

I have had salesmen tell me the same thing, I would just point out though... they catch you, you are out a receiver and they could pess charges.

Intentional damage would not be covered under the warranty.

Are you sure the guy wasn't simply joking?

Would it have to be to that exact store? I don't know if I would intentionally damage a receiver and bring it to the same store where it was suggested to do so. Also, have you thought about just eBaying it? If you do want to go through with this, I would suggest openning the case and pulling a wire. Preferablly, this would be a power wire, video wire, or audio wire. It doesn't have to even be on the board, you could pull it from where it connects to the rear of the case. Then turn it in to them saying "it won't turn on" or "i get no video/audio". It is a simple repair, but you will find out how deep they look into the problem. If they do the same thing that they did with your TV, then you will get the credit.

Ofcourse, this is illegal, which is why I said "i would suggest" rather than "i do suggest". Let us know what you decide to do.

They would never know that you intentionally blew it up. Id go for it and get your new one

most warranties don't cover "acts of god"
such as power surges, which I assume is the effect an amp would have

my best buy extended warranty covers surges. which is funny since they push surge suppressors with AVR to protect them and then the performance plan to protect the same thing

Power Surge Protection
Our PSP covers product damage due to power fluctuations, line spikes, or surge.

You could probably just take it back and tell them some sort of crap like a certain dsp doesn't work right or there are random audio dropouts and exchange it for a new one.

They probably won't check it and if they do and they bust you, you won't be out a receiver after you damage it intentionally!

Hey why don't we all start to defraud Circuit City and Best Buy and complain when they raise prices?

Sounds like fun

I don't know about you, but I use my equipment every day weather it is to watch a movie or listen to music. The reason why I use a surge protector is so I am not with out my equipment warranty or not. I didn't spend this much to blow one of my amps and just be dead in the water with no movies to watch or music to listen too.

remember the week night sales guys are temps for the most part they come and go. So I would not put much into it.

I too biught an RCA 25" TV a while ago and bought the extended coverage and the guy said to maybe drop a soda on the TV to get a new one near the end of the experation date of the warrenty. It will last for 6 years and buy then everything should of gone digital

I use a UPS with AVR myself and I bought the extended warranty on my HDTV. I just think it is amusing that they push both to protect the same thing

Yeah, but the warranty covers more, like when I get my new RPHDTV this summer. I am getting the warranty. I can make thme come out and re-calribrate and clean my TV any time I want. Plus I get in home service is something goes wrong, I sure as hell don't want to lug the TV around.

As for the surge protector, it is just common sense, and like I said. I don't want down time on my equipment due to stupidity warranty or no warranty. Power surges, spikes and what not can be averted by a simple and non-expensive little device.

A couple comments:

1) Someone above posted about BB doing "calibration" and stuff on a HD RPTV. Don't believe the hype, I'm an owner of an HD RPTV and a guru on an associated Internet forum for that model. BB and CC techs have damaged sets more often than improved them. They are there to repair, not to tweak and will never lavish your set with the love it deserves. Hire an ISF technician to calibrate, or learn to do it yourself. In short: BB/CC guys are woefully ill-equipped to "calibrate" an RPTV.

2) As for intentionally damaging a set to get credit/replacement under extended service contract ... please don't. Bite the bullet and buy a new one if that's what you want, but don't pass the cost of your "upgrade-itis" on to the rest of us - consumer goods, insurance and service prices are bad enough as it is. This goes under the same umbrella as stealing CATV, DSS and piracy of any sort. It's simply wrong and needs no further explaination.

I never said anything about buying a TV at BB or CC, those stores are below me now when it comes to quality. I am going to be buying from AK, I won't be able to spring for ISF right away, but Audio King does have ISF techs and I may be able to swing a deal paying for the difference since over a normal calibration since I know some people that work there.

I don't trust anyone working at BB or CC, I rarely ask them technical question because most stores just have high school students. I have run across the few ppl that know their stuff, or can fake it really well. But, like I said... I don't buy any major electronics from either of these stores due to salesmen being retards and my needs are beyond what they sell.

Re: ISFs

Just be forewarned that not all ISFs are created equal. To be called an ISF requires only that one has attended the seminar. many don't even own/use a color analyzer, and simply rely on the inferior optical comparator.

Furthermore, they often get their experience in the field, possibly on your TV. Some are really good, but many are simply dealers who have little technical knowledge of service modes and mechanics of TV sets. I have heard more than a few bad stories. Here's the worst: http://community-5.webtv.net/JWStegbauer/WARNINGISF/

You should definitely be selective when hiring an ISF.