I have a Sony Bravia 37 model no.KLV37S400A Serial No.1205673. Due to lightning, the power function of the TV became non-functional. I made a complaint to Sony on 3rd October, 2015. The job was given to a Service Center in Kolkata represented by Dunamis Trade Services. A service engineer of Dunamis Trade Services attended the complaint on 5th October, 2015. The Service engineer gave a repair estimate and was assigned a job no. J52464476 dated October 5, 2015. I was asked to give a deposit of Rs.4000 by the Service Center that I deposited on 6th October, 2015.
On 23rd October, 2015, the Service Center sent an email stating that parts are not available and they want to give 25% discount on new TV and they will take the defective TV. It appears that they are forcing the customer to buy a new TV. This affected TV is only 5 years old and the lack of spare parts is questionable.
I contacted Sony India Ltd., via email, and on Nov 4, 2015, I received a response from the company. In this response, the company stated that although spare parts are available in limited quantities, they would prefer I buy a new TV, rather than replacing the damaged part.
In a country like India, it is unaffordable for the lower middle class to buy a TV every five years. I am 73 years, and for my wife and me, the TV is the only source of entertainment in the evenings. I feel Sony is playing on our emotions and creating undue financial burden by compelling me to buy a new TV for Rs. 60,000, while the repair cost is approximately Rs. 7500. This is an issue that is appropriate for redress by the consumer forum on behalf of customers like me to ensure that we are not unduly harassed by a company like Sony India Ltd., and that Sony provides spare parts to fix the defects in the television models it sells when they are available.