Did you cheap out on a TV stand? It probably just got recalled.

Let's be honest -- after sinking a few large on a new HDTV, a few hundies on some overpriced cables and even more on HD programming, you weren't about to cough up another month's paycheck for a decent TV stand. For the 48,600 customers out there who purchased one of four different King Pao Enterprise TV Stands (likely sold and distributed by Studio RTA), you now have a product known for tipping over and ruining lives. The E Series, Fierro, Madison DLP and Madison 3000 -- all of which were sold at Best Buy and other big box retailers from May 2004 to August 2008 -- have been deemed unstable and unfit for use in your living room, and it's suggested that you cautiously remove your set and wait for a "repair kit" before it does the removing for you. Godspeed.

[bob sakamano @ Sep 24th 2008 3:12PM]

not to be insensitive, but this is the kind of thing that the ceo should be severely hurt for

not the guy yesterday! http://tinyurl.com/3r2u38

[tom @ Sep 24th 2008 3:53PM]

"Made in China" - Is that the reason why?

[Scythe @ Sep 24th 2008 3:12PM]

How do you f'up building a TV stand...that's just outright sad...

Good job investing in quality furniture companies, Best Buy.

[Samboini @ Sep 24th 2008 3:22PM]

IMO anyone that bought the stand deserves it. That thing is hideous!

[collegekid13 @ Sep 24th 2008 3:16PM]

ouch

[lawyer bird @ Sep 24th 2008 3:17PM]

I can't help but laugh whenever i read the reasons why something is being recalled: "could cause tv tip-over, resulting in injury or death" way to go

[konshuss @ Sep 24th 2008 3:19PM]

King Pao just fell through his throne.

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 24th 2008 3:25PM]

A TV Stand that can't hold up a TV without killing children is just all kinds of fail. It is designed for exactly one purpose only and when tasked to do it, it chooses murder instead.

[Harry @ Sep 24th 2008 5:30PM]

This is the best comment I've ever read on Engadget. I tip my hat to you, chefgon_ign.

[Christy McGrory @ Sep 24th 2008 3:28PM]

King Pao = King Pwnd

[MC Double Def DP @ Sep 24th 2008 3:30PM]

Looks like my crappy stand from Best Buy is in the clear. *phew*

[dvsbstrd @ Sep 24th 2008 6:18PM]

Oh man, just seeing that avatar made me nearly wet myself.

[omoks @ Sep 24th 2008 3:32PM]

" . . . and it's suggested that you cautiously remove your set and wait for a "repair kit" before it does the removing for you. Godspeed."

One of the reasons I read Engadget. That was funny. Serious but yet funny.

[kjb434 @ Sep 24th 2008 3:35PM]

If you are going to spend that much money on the electronics, you should have no problem paying for a quality stand or hang the thing on the wall.

It's your own fault for buying a cheapy piece of furniture to hold one of the more expensive pieces of electronics in your house.

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 24th 2008 3:51PM]

Yes, its possibly the cheapest cost in your 'HD upgrade'. HDTV ~$2000, surround sound receiver ~$600, you shouldn't place all your expensive equipment on a cheap Ikea fiberboard stand.

[gabe @ Sep 24th 2008 3:59PM]

$250 is very cheap.

want great stands - google Bello

itialian made stands that are durable and sexy looking

[phil @ Sep 24th 2008 4:29PM]

Yeah, that is pretty cheap. My stand cost around $650 and that sucker is *solid*. The stand alone weighs in at 80 lbs or so.

[Ignatius @ Sep 24th 2008 5:26PM]

I guess I should be worried because I paid $10 for mine.

[puhsitch @ Sep 24th 2008 7:22PM]

Shows you how absurd the TV stand economy is. I wonder how much $250 worth of particleboard actually costs to the manufacturer?

[jupiterthunder @ Sep 24th 2008 7:37PM]

@gabe

My Bello stand was priced at $300 but was free with my TV purchase. So which part of your post do you want to revise?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Sep 24th 2008 7:49PM]

So what? My Samsung 46" LCD cost $2300 and I put it on a $79 Ikea stand. The stand is very simple, black so it matches, and most importantly, nice and low -- most TV stands are too high for widescreen HDTVs.

Why should I spend a ton of money on something that just sits there? The piece I have does the job, looks great, and is sturdy as all hell. There's a difference between paying for quality, paying for style, paying for features, and just throwing money away.

PS: No, I didn't buy the extended warranty on the TV either.

[Jack Storm @ Sep 24th 2008 9:10PM]

@UnixSystemsEngineer

If you only paid 2300 for your 46" samsung, you probably didnt get one of sammy's top of the line models so it doesnt deserve to be on a good stand anyways.

[David @ Sep 25th 2008 1:04AM]

I got a 46" Sammy for 1600.. its a 650 which is pretty high up there.. Well it was until the 8 and 9 came out in the last month.......... How'd you pay 2300!?

Oh and Bello are the same as everything else, furniture in a box. I have two Z-line desgin stands and love them!

[Stephen Lang @ Sep 24th 2008 3:35PM]

They found melamine in the materials...

[Valicore @ Sep 24th 2008 3:48PM]

Well thank God I saved money and that stand so I don't have to eat it.

[CaptSaltyJack @ Sep 24th 2008 3:39PM]

Nice job, China. Not entirely surprised, though.

[Rob @ Sep 24th 2008 3:39PM]

I'm using my 5 year-old Panasonic stand. But, I'm working on building one. It'd be cheaper and stronger than the overpriced garbage sold everywhere.

[bob sakamano @ Sep 24th 2008 3:41PM]

the couch looks too close to the TV

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 24th 2008 3:55PM]

To catch the TV when the stand tips over.

[mykie @ Sep 24th 2008 3:41PM]

Not only did the family that bought the stand shown in the picture cheap out on the stand,

They also bought a cheap substandard (and noisy) Magnavox dvd player.

Yich!

[Dan @ Sep 24th 2008 4:00PM]

Worse yet, it's not a real TV. http://www.propsbyidm.com/Televisions.htm

[Adam Erickson @ Sep 24th 2008 4:11PM]

So wait - that family actually spent MORE money on the stand than they did the TV? This economic crisis is really hurting us...families can't even afford a real TV anymore!

[dvsbstrd @ Sep 24th 2008 8:37PM]

A 60" Plasma for $134?

Sign me up...oh damn.

[Valicore @ Sep 24th 2008 3:48PM]

Man, this is one time I have to say "How did you not see that coming?" The damn thing LOOKS like it's going to fall over any second the way it's designed.

[Bob Linger @ Sep 24th 2008 3:50PM]

wow, I'm glad I was smarter. My kids will have a safe vegetative state.

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 24th 2008 3:53PM]

Why would you buy something remotely close-sounding to one of the 'entrees' from Panda Express?

[Shadyman @ Sep 24th 2008 4:43PM]

Kung Pao King Pao!

[chris fredette @ Sep 24th 2008 3:57PM]

It is the tech that is important. No stand is too cheap if the opertunity cost was better tech. Is this because of heavy 120# plasma's?

[mrpoo @ Sep 24th 2008 3:59PM]

They do make a good chicken dish, but watch out if you're allergic to peanuts.

[Dah Cheet @ Sep 24th 2008 4:03PM]

Um, I don't know if this is just a wild and crazy idea, but if you slide the TV farther back, away from the front, wouldn't the weight of the TV counter the tipping forward? You don't have to have your TV that far forward on the stand plus with the couch that close wouldn't you want the TV to be as far back as possible? *shrugs*

[JeffM @ Sep 24th 2008 4:25PM]

Since you asked a legitimate question I'll give you a legitimate answer - if you have larger speakers (towers or big bookshelfs) your speakers will be out from the wall quite a bit. Have the TV at the back of the stand may not allow you to put the screen and speaker fronts on a single plane- unless the stand is really far away from the wall.

That said- most people that care that much about the physical design of their home theater probably aren't buying their stands at Best Buy- so your question is still somewhat relevant. :)

[Bill @ Sep 24th 2008 4:03PM]

I never eat cheap Kung Pao. Oh, wait... nevermind.

[barry99705 @ Sep 24th 2008 4:06PM]

"Repair Kit" = Two cinder blocks and a three foot long two by twelve.

[Echo1 @ Sep 24th 2008 5:52PM]

and I was half excepting duct tape and a prayer

[js14 @ Sep 24th 2008 4:11PM]

Nice job China.
We gave you a crisp twenty and told you we needed some TV stands.
We know you cut corners and bought a pack of cigarettes with some of that dough. That's why you failed.

In the future, utilize your children more productively. We need more goods for the American people. And investors need to make some money.

Sincerely,
Best Buy

[Ross @ Sep 24th 2008 4:23PM]

Hm.. i feel guilty for laughing at a racist joke **hopes somebody that's chinese will say "it's ok to laugh at us Ross"**... unlikely but it's nice to wish of a world where racism isn't taken so seriously.

[js14 @ Sep 24th 2008 4:51PM]

Most Americans support Child Labor.

Ask them: "Do you want the price of your Nikes ballooning up to $500 a pair?"

If they say "no," they are in love with Child Labor.

France is against Child Labor.

[Lowest Ranked @ Sep 24th 2008 5:49PM]

By that logic I guess I support child labor, but I know for a fact that no one supports France.

[matt merritt @ Sep 24th 2008 6:11PM]

Is it my fault that China was about 150 years late for the party that was the industrial revolution?

[js14 @ Sep 24th 2008 6:23PM]

America and China are crap.

To become legitimate, America must give back all its land to the Native Americans.

Same with China. China must give Tibet independence.

Haha, until then, France is morally superior. They are also intellectually superior. The greatest nation in the world... FRANCE.