Where Do People Actually Buy Topfields From?

[Thomas Magnum]

Hi all,

I own two Toppy PVR's, a 4400 I bought several years ago from Hardly Normal, and a 7000 bought off eBay from a seller who doesn't seem to deal with Topfield anymore. Both have been great machines.

I have been trying to source a Toppy over the last week for a friend recently returned from China, and decided on the 5010 mainly because she doesn't need HD and this model has HDMI, so easy for her to connect. I did the rounds in Sydney of the usual store suspects and I noticed that hardly anyone seems to stock Topfields anymore, not in numbers or diversity - you're lucky if you spot a one-off.

I managed to track down a display 5010 at DSE Hurstville and snapped it up, but predictably (because I'm buying for someone else) it's turned out to be a complete bust, freezing numerous times within seconds of startup. When I asked for another one, I was told that no one in NSW has any left.

So I'm scratching my head in bemusement and wondering where other people are buying them. There seem to be a couple of sellers still on eBay but I'm not sure if I want to go down that route again. Is it just blind luck if you actually spot one of the many models featured on the website?

If I did go down the eBay path, is there any reputable and independent repair service for Topfield, if you buy a dud and the vendor doesn't want to help?

Thanks in advance for any info.

TM

[diesel]

I managed to track down a display 5010 at DSE Hurstville and snapped it up, but predictably (because I'm buying for someone else) it's turned out to be a complete bust, freezing numerous times within seconds of startup. When I asked for another one, I was told that no one in NSW has any left.

Go to the Topfield site and there is a Retailer section. It lists all the retailers they supply to, BiRite, Good Guys, Retravision, HN, DSE, etc

DSE just has a special $219 on the 5010 so I imagine they were all snapped up pretty quickly.

[JaffaMan]

If I did go down the eBay path, is there any reputable and independent repair service for Topfield, if you buy a dud and the vendor doesn't want to help?

In my experience, Topfield have been willing to repair their machines without any hassles about their source unless they are knock-offs (a few used to exist). Naturally if it is out of warranty or of unknown origin they will charge parts and labour. Being a manufacturer, with product that will only work here and hence can't really be grey imported, they really don't seem to mind who the vendor was.

Known larger retailers are Dick Smith (particularly power house stores which keep more around than the normal ones), JB HiFi, and The Good Guys. Sometimes you need to ask for them to get them in, but all of these list the products on their web sites. Places like Myer and David Jones have sold them as well, but again, you may need a co-operative salesperson. Sometimes the "we don't sell them anymore" is a salesman line and not a company line (although sometimes it is true as well).

[Thomas Magnum]

Thanks for the responses and info. I did not realise there had been a sale on the 5010 recently, that explains why no one has any stock left.

I will return to DSE Hurstville today and ask to have the unit repaired, hopefully that will do the trick.

Thanks again, TM.

[diesel]

I will return to DSE Hurstville today and ask to have the unit repaired, hopefully that will do the trick.

I hope you mean replaced

If it is less than 2 weeks old, they should just replace with a new one

[Thomas Magnum]

Thanks Mick - it is less than two weeks old, but I was going for the repair option as I was told yesterday no one had any more stock, and I'm not sure how often DSE get new stock in, esp. of this model which seems limited to Australia only.

Should I insist on a new one? I did not receive any discount or try to bargain with them, I paid full price $299 (in cash) for a display model but did get the extended 3 year warranty.

Ta, TM

[diesel]

I'd get a replacement if it were me...or better still, get your money back and bargain them for a better price (maybe go to a different DSE store) as the were $219 over Easter

[Thomas Magnum]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm a bloody hopeless haggler, my Chinese-Australian friend was outraged when I told her of my price failure, but I'll do my best.

TM

[technocat]

I bought a Topfield 5010t H a couple of weeks ago for $299.00 from Retravision and not complaining about the price. It gives a damn good performance and at 1080i SD on my 32" Viewsonic TV/monitor a PQ of excellence. After suffering the idiosyncrasy's of the dreaded Diginet 648 for the past three years before the HDD karked it and ending up as more chinese landfill it was reassuring to find a plethora of technical backup on the Topfield site. In the short time I have owned the 5010 I have found this piece of equipment to give faultless service. No wonder they were snapped up so quickly.

Cheers

BMG

[steelpaw]

I think this whole episode tends to support my theory that you should never buy the last one of anything from a DSE store. Their 14 day no questions asked returns policy means that a certain amount of their stock has been sold and then come back. However, they don't seem to have a good system for separating items that are returned because of faults from items that are returned because the customer doesn't like them. I have, at different times, bought the last alarm clock, the last DSE SD STB and the last Topfield PVR and they've all been duds straight out of the (previously opened) box. On the up side, they do give you your money back without any bother.

[technocat]

I think this whole episode tends to support my theory that you should never buy the last one of anything from a DSE store. Their 14 day no questions asked returns policy means that a certain amount of their stock has been sold and then come back. However, they don't seem to have a good system for separating items that are returned because of faults from items that are returned because the customer doesn't like them. I have, at different times, bought the last alarm clock, the last DSE SD STB and the last Topfield PVR and they've all been duds straight out of the (previously opened) box. On the up side, they do give you your money back without any bother.

Yes there is some truth in that but going on memory The Topfield 5000 series was well outside my financial reach when I bought the Diginet 648. At $299.00 the toppy is a much better deal and still going strong. I must admit the Diginet did teach me a hell of a lot about PVR's even though it had absolute zilch in technical backup and non existent firmware upgrade.