TCL TV Reviews
There is a good deal of uncertainty surrounding the TCL brand of consumer electronics, which has only emerged in North American markets within the past decade. Commonly considered a discount brand, or a generic offering, TCL televisions are imported to the United States from China, making TCL one of the first mainstream Chinese consumer electronics companies to penetrate the North American market. So far, reviews of the company’s products — which range from mobile phones to televisions and air conditioners — have been mostly positive. And that’s no surprise, as China’s commitment to quality almost directly mirrors that of similar manufacturers throughout Asia.
TCL TV Review Contents:
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TCL Overall Brand Review
While most consumers are new to the TCL brand in North America, there’s a hidden secret behind these Chinese television sets: even before they were sold in the Untied States under the TCL name their technology was actually sold to RCA for use in their consumer electronics equipment. So, in essence, American consumers have been using TCL technology and television sets since roughly 2000 in North America. Given RCA’s sterling reputation in that time, it goes without saying that Americans have taken pretty well to China’s take on home entertainment.
TCL positions itself as a discount brand, and its televisions are often offered at some of the lowest prices on the market. This is a typical business strategy for Chinese companies: inject a product into the market that offers superior technology at a discounted price, hooking consumers and increasing the value of the company’s exports. It works for China, and it works for American consumers who get top-notch tech for bargain basement prices.
TCL Product Quality
As noted earlier, TCL televisions were formerly sold as RCA models until the company stuck a deal with a different American manufacturer and parted ways with the legendary RCA brand. There have been no major issues of quality with either RCA or TCL television in that span of time, largely because Chinese brands are committed to thorough quality checks and high standards — much like Sony and Panasonic in neighboring Japan. The company’s televisions are known to be of a high quality, and they typically last just as long as the higher-priced models sold by competing generic and big-name competitors.
In customer reviews of TCL televisions, almost everyone who purchased one of the company’s HDTVs was impressed with both picture quality and responsiveness, and was satisfied with the modern but basic design of the company’s models. Unlike competing brands which are notoriously defective and short-lived, TCL has suffered no major rash of premature television malfunctions or end-of-life scenarios. That’s worth noting, as many lower-end television buyers find themselves seeking a replacement within five years of their initial purchase.
TCL Pricing & Value
On matters of price, TCL is safely in the low-end consumer electronics niche. That actually works for the company, as their products are well-designed and built to last, meaning that it can more effectively shut out the competition at the low end than at the higher-end, where many consumers have already become loyal to a different brand and are unwilling to make the gamble and switch horses. The company’s televisions are often hundreds of dollars less than those offered by major brands, giving them a leg up among consumers with a lesser cash flow.
The value of the company’s HDTVs is rather obvious from the start: their commitment to excellent product quality and longevity, combined with great design, means that consumers are getting a television with with grow, travel, and age with them — rather than dying out after a few short years. The company’ standard and extended warranty increases this value and gives customers extra peace of mind in the process.
TCL Customer Service
TCL is based in China, though the company does operate a moderately-sized North American division. Customer service is based out of this North American office, but it slightly limited and slow to respond to customer issues on account of its relatively smaller size. A 24-hour, toll-free customer hotline is provided to address warranty issues, technical support problems, or common customer questions. Hold times, though, are a bit on the long side for most customer tastes.
The company’s website provides a number of expected resources, from remote programing to television settings guides and product manuals. Frequently asked questions are also addressed on the company’s website, giving customers a reason to skip the telephone call and potentially extended hold time.
TCL Overall Rating
When it comes to a great discount brand, customers would be well-advised to take a chance on this Chinese manufacturer which is still introducing itself to the American shopper. TCL offers competitive prices that will compete for all budgets, and their commitment to quality means that consumers won’t be buying into something that will stop working in just a few short months or years.
