Purchase Yamaha RX-V663BL 665 Watt 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver

I've now tried ordering this item through Amazon with two different vendors. The first was Electronics Expo who, after I ordered the Yamaha RX-V663BL, sent me an email to tell me that they did not have this item in stock, and they wanted to replace my order with the RX-V665BL, claiming it was the newer version of the RX-663BL, which it is not. The V663 has more power (665 watts, 95/channel for V663 versus 630 watts, 90/channel for V665), and has S-video inputs which the V665 does not, which is why I order the V663. After I informed Electronics Expo that I did not wish to change my order, they sent me a second email in an attempt to substitute the RX-V765BL, which does have the same power output as the V663, but like the V665 has no S-video outputs. I again refused to accept this substitution and again requested they cancel my order. I then received a third email from Electronics Expo saying they were happy I accepted the order change and they had requested expedited shipping of the V765!!!!! Totally flabergasted, I immediately sent me an email to say that was totally against what I had requested, i.e. simply cancel my order. They then sent me a fourth email saying that the expedited shipment email was sent to me in error (????) and that my order had already been cancelled. At least they then sent me a cancellation confirmation email the next morning.

I then ordered this item through Tiger Direct, who as with Electronics Expo, indicated on Amazon (and if you look on Tiger Direct's own website as of this morning, October 21, 2009 for Yamaha RX-V663BL) that this item was in stock. This morning (10/21/09) I received an email notification from Tiger Direct they had shipped out to me on October 20th the Yamaha RX-V665BL (instead of the RX-V663BL I had ordered through Amazon)!!!!! I immediately called them, checking their own website as I was on the telephone with a customer service rep and finding they indicated on their own website, as I stated previously, that the RX-V663BL was in stock). The customer service reprentative, who had to check with her supervisor, informed me that the RX-V663BL was not in fact available, so they simply replaced my order with the RX-V665BL and shipped it out to me, with no prior consultation or approval from me to do so!!!! I again with the Tiger Direct customer service representative, as with the Electronics Expo representative, received the pitch that the V665 was the newer V663, which I proceeded to inform her of the reality that it is not! Upon my request, she sent a request to her supervisor to see if they could intercept and stop the shipment. If not, of course, she allowed that I can call them once I receive the incorrect shipment and they will provide me with a return authorization and shipping label. At this point, I suspect that is what I will wind up having to do.

Needless to say, I am fed up with both vendors, who I perceive to be playing the old bait and switch game. There is a third vendor listed on Amazon's page for the Yamaha RX-V663BL, but I'm not inclined to place yet another order, fearing that my results will be the same...no availability of the item and nothing but hassles as a result of placing my order. And just to pre-empt any responses about the RX-V663BL being last year's model, it is still listed on Yamaha's own website as being available, so trust me, I've done my homework and know clearly that which I still seek! In any event, I wanted to share my experiences with anyone trying to order the RX-V663BL, as I believe any such order to be a case of "Buyer Beware!!!".Yamaha RX-V663BL 665 Watt 7.1-Channel Home Theater ReceiverGet more detail about Yamaha RX-V663BL 665 Watt 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver.