5/5

posted Nov-09-2011

So many consumers buy into the misimpression that purchasing a television naturally entails a visit to one’s local Bestbuy, or punching in the site of a well known online electronics seller (a la Crutchfield). Considering the magnitude of the expenditure, it makes perfect sense to go with a trusted source, right? Well, yes, that is right. What really is a ‘trusted source’, though? By my thinking, it is a seller of goods that provides you with the promised merchandise, in new condition, at a fair price, and within a reasonable period of time. If you’re in the market for a television (or other high-end electronics), this review highlights an online seller that deserves to be at the forefront of your consideration: Cleveland Plasma.

I had been in the market for a Sony XBR 65HX929 more or less from the first day this new series of Smart TVs was announced. My goal was to have an ass-kicking set on which to play the next installment in the Elder Scrolls franchise (Skyrim), which releases this Friday, November 11th. When Sony delayed the release of the 65” display from September to a target of November, I was all but convinced that I would not have my new TV in time.

Much to my joy, the 65” 929 appeared ‘in stock’ on the Sonystyle site toward the end of October. I refused, however, to pay the full retail price of nearly $6,000. In a market of heavy demand and limited supply, Sony, of course, was not going to budge at all on the price. Again I was faced with the disconsolate reality of not having my new TV by November 11th.

Enter Chris Majoros, proprietor of Cleveland Plasma.

Cleveland Plasma is the real deal, a small, high quality gem among an assortment of much larger, but vastly flawed diamonds. After taking stock on the AVS forum of Cleveland Plasma and Chris’s well-advertised reputation for competitive pricing, integrity, and uncompromising customer service, I dropped him a mail and requested that he put me on his list for a 65” 929 (whenever it was that he received them). Again, I didn’t expect to have my television by November 11th. Beginning with this expectation, Chris renewed my faith in optimism.

Last week, on Thursday, Chris contacted me to let me know that he had received a small stock of 65” 929s. We spoke on the phone soon thereafter and finalized the purchase. Within 24 hours, I had the invoice and the requisite tracking information. My television was on the way. At this point, I was still less than hopeful that I would receive the set by the next Friday, Skyrim’s release. Chris, however, has been in the business of online electronics sales for a very long time, which apparently has afforded him ample opportunity to assess the performance of the shippers he uses.

On Monday of the following week, the set had already arrived to the shipper’s location in my state. By Tuesday at 10:00 AM, the set was sitting in my living room. It took only 2.5 business days for Chris to get me the television. 2.5 days. Considering BestBuy and Crutchfield don’t even yet have this set in stock, how can you not be impressed by Chris and Cleveland Plasma? If that’s not service, I don’t know what is.

Chris is a no-nonsense guy who explains things in a very polite and equally direct way. You won’t get the slimy lip-service that the reps (who ‘don’t work on commission’) lay on you when you roll into Bestbuy. Nor will Chris tell you what you want to hear just so you’ll purchase from him. If he has in stock the television you want, he’ll give you his price and explain very clearly his protocols for ensuring the best service possible. He makes the process exceptionally clear and straightforward.

I should also mention that Chris beat everyone else’s price (keep in mind that by beating their price, he was beating their pre-sale price; almost no one outside Sony even has the 65” 929 in stock!) by such a considerable margin, I was able to afford a full surround-sound system to go with my new set.

With Chris and Cleveland Plasma, you get everything: price, integrity, convenience, and service. This is an outfit that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to customer service. My lasting impression of Cleveland Plasma is that they genuinely want to make you happy. After all, their branding is not being shoved in your face every time your favorite show goes to commercial. Word of Cleveland Plasma’s efficient and honorable business practices are spread by people like me, satisfied customers who did their research and decided wisely to spend their money (and less of it) with a truly reputable online vendor.

Do yourself a favor before purchasing from any of the cliché stores. Give Chris at Cleveland Plasma a call. You won’t regret it.

Thanks for making it possible, Chris, for me to see Skyrim for the first time on the full array, locally dimmed beauty of my new Sony!

--David from New Jersey

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