Built-in Dolby 5.1 Decoder, Good quality video and audio.

Poor reliability. Lots of problems as a result of design/manufacturing flaws.

Ok, you're not going to believe this, but Panasonic just agreed to replace my DVD-A310 with a DVD-RV65 at no cost. My problem started a few months ago. The welcome message would scroll, and then the player would lock up with WELCOME displayed. If I pressed the power button, it would blink LOCKED, but I couldn't get the player to respond. Usually, unplugging the unit for 5 minutes would fix it, but this last time it stayed locked up. After trying several of the suggestions mentioned online, I finally gave up and called Panasonic. Maybe if you do the same, you can get your unit replaced. Here's what I did:

Last Saturday, I called the Panasonic Call Center at (800) 973-4071, since there were no service centers open. I explained the symtpoms to the lady, and she said that I needed the number of a service center. I then told her that I had heard of others having similar problems online, and that the problems were most likely design flaws. I asked if Panasonic was repairing these problems at no cost. She put me on hold for a minute. When she came back, to my surprise she said that Panasonic was repairing the units. She gave me a Case ID# and told me someone would contact me within two business days.

Well, I missed that call, but I called back today. I got transferred to the Panasonic Customer Care Center at (800) 973-4326. After getting some information together, she told me that it sounded like the player had a problem with the laser, and that replacing the laser would cost more than the player is worth. She also mentioned that it was well out of warranty and Panasonic was under no obligation to fix the player. She then said, however, it was not my fault that the laser failed, and that she wanted to help her customers. She told me next that they would replace my player with the 2000 model DVD-RV65, and that it was an upgrade from my model. I just need to ship mine back, and they'll get the new unit to me in about six weeks.

Needless to say, I'm very happy about the outcome, because I expected a total loss. Sure it's a hassle, so I can't give it a rating higher than 3. In other words, don't buy this particular unit, but you may have better success with other Panasonics. Hopefully, they have worked out the problems with the newer units. It appears that Panasonic is finally dealing with the problems to avoid a reputation of poor reliability. Hopefully, you will have the same success that I did in getting the unit fixed. To speed things up, have your serial number and approximate date of purchase handy when you call.

Gave a good picture when it worked

Pixellation, freezing problem after about 1 hr of operation. The DVD completely stops and cannot read after that

I have experienced the same problems as listed in all the reviews before. Panasonic took about 2 weeks to respond to my initial complaint. I drove the player to the South San Francisco service center. After a diagnosis similar to the ones below(optical pick up unit, flash memory) and an esimate of $237 for repair, they gave me the run around for about 4 weeks. Initially they refused to forward me to a supervisor. Yesterday after I threatened to write to the VP of Customer support, I was finally forwarded to Autumn, ph 1-800-211-7262/2106. Today morning Chris called me and said they would repair it for free and ship it back to me. When I told them about the fact that other people had been given replacements, she claimed that 'their situtation was different and she could only discuss my case with me'. After reading all the reviews, to me it seems my problem is the same as the one for which people got replacements. I am afraid the player may fail again after some time and this battle will start again.
I am really tired of Panasonic - after years of being a loyal customer of several products, I will not buy anything else from them again.
I may consider writing to the VP of customer support though I am not sure if it will go into a black hole.

Similar Products Used:

None - first DVD player

I have an update to my Panasonic A-310 problem. Recently i sent my player in to have it diagnosed my Panasonic. They replaced the faulty Optical Pickup in my player. I have to spoken with "Chris regarding my problem and she was very helpful. What I stongly recomend is that you be nice to these people. I work in retail and sell many electronic products and people will help you out if you don't snap at them. They are more likely to go out of their way for you if you give them some common courtesy. I still rate their player a 1 star ranking for all the crap i had to go through but at least i have a repaired unit without having to spend to much money.

Decent Picutre

Doesn't play a lot of dual layered dvds; Panasonic wanted $100 to fix it after it was 3 months old; Stay away from this company's dvd players and, in my opinion, everything else they make

Save yourself the time and skip past Panasonic's players. Their customer service doesn't want anything to do with their customers. I'd like to sell my player , but I haven't found anyone I dislike enough to unload it on them. The freezing problem surfaced 3 months into the player's life and Panasonic want $100 to install a new laser. The thing isn't even a year old yet. I'm glad I didn't do it because it sounds like their new lasers are no better than their old ones. Make mine Sony, or Toshiba, or Denon, or ...

Similar Products Used:

All Sony DVD Players; All Toshiba DVD Players

Great picture and sound for first 15 months

Now pixilates and then freezes solid on every DVD.

In the past nine years, I have purchased six Panasonic products (three Video Cassette Recorders, two TVs, and one DVD player). My recent experiences with Panasonic Product Support and the poor quality of this DVD-A310 player have soured me on buying any more Panasonic Products.

I waited five days for a call back from the Panasonic Factory Repair Service in South San Francisco -- their recorded message had promised a call back in 24 hours. I described my DVD problems and received the canned response:
$45 to look at the unit. The Panasonic person responded as if I was the only one that he had ever talked to about these type of problems. After thinking about it, I called Panasonic again to ask about potential repair charges and was informed that the standard repair cost was $89.95 if only cleaning was required. After further questioning, he finally said that it could be the optical pickup unit which could cost an additional $120 to $180. I told him how disatisfied I was with his responses and my DVD and hung up. I did some DVD research on the Internet and the next week I went to Fry's and purchased a Sony DVP-NS400D for $250. I will never buy a Panasonic product again and will share my experiences with my family and friends so they will think hard and long about buying a Panasonic product.

I just found these reviews and read through the ones on the A310 and A320. It appears that these expensive DVDs we purchased have a lifetime of about one year, and that Panasonic could care less about those of us who purchased these POOR Quality products.

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVP-NS400D

4 years of great pictures and sound. Only now am I thinking of upgrading to prog scan

A lot of whiners bought it

In a previous post I suggested that some of the other posts were fakes. I stand by this. I have used this machine for 4 years without any difficulty. Perhaps those with problems have been trying to stuff their false teeth into it.

Panasonic is a great company.Why else would the camelot $5000 player use the 310 as a base. Shame on those with nothing better to do then whine.I will post 3 stars so as not to skew the socalled rating.....

Unobtrusive menu in upper screen area, killer remote joystick, headphone jack, built in DD decoder, and nice graphic menu

digital freezing and pixellating
nothing else seems to be a drawback...I still like it alot!

Hi

I got mine because a friend had used it initially, and I was impressed with it's array of features, and teh good review it got in a notable magazine..soon to find most early Panasonic (& I guess, all others) players had firmware problems, most evident with Pannys is the digital pixillation and freeze ups caused by dual layer discs. With the one I just got, I had only one trouble DVD so far (Heartbreakers - MGM) and it froze up in every DVD I have except for my second, Toshiba SD-2109!

I would recommend this player on features for sure, but because of the gamble in condition, it is compromised. By all accounts, the A320 was a big improvement, if lackiong the style of the A310 cabinet and controls (Love that jog wheel!)

Similar Products Used:

Two Toshiba SD players, Samsung DVD-ROM, Sony DVP-S530D (used), JVC XV-D723GD, brand new (virtually no use) off eBay

A verifiable lemon

The jerk below who suggests that one or two people are responsible for the dismal rating is a moron (and apparently cannot read).

There is a reason why *PANASONIC* recently issued replacement players to some people: The DVD-A310 IS A VERIFIABLE LEMON, and I have email from Panasonic (from 1.5 years ago) to back this claim. And the reason why other people did NOT receive replacement players is because the quality of the A310 is second only to Panasonic Customer Service (i.e., both are failures).

Enjoying my new SONY player,

...SDeC

None

rip off

Hey, screw you Chucky! When you pay 500.00 for DVD player and only works for about a year and had to pay over 200.00 to get it fixed, what do you call that? You jerk!

DVD CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

Just recevied a claim form for a DVD Class Action Lawsuit Settlement for people who purchsed a DVD player from JVC or Panasonic.

The number given for further information is 1-800-805-2531.

The docket number of the case is: L-7552-00, Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division, Middlesex County.

I had purchased a Panasonic A110, but Panasonic was nice enough to fix it when it broke out of warranty.

Similar Products Used:

Panasonic A110