Panasonic DMR-ES35V DVD-/VHS-Recorder

I purchased this Panasonic DMR-ES35V new (unlike some of my other DVD/VCR's). Unlike the units I purchased used, this one has problems.

It tuned fine (no longer relevant because the tuner is analog) and plays with adequate quality. It recorded okay, too.

But, two years into its life, it stopped taking instruction from its remote. While it will accept limited instructions from a universal remote, it won't allow access to the "menu" so I can't, for example, add channel 3 which I need for my digital TV converter. It also won't accept a "skip" or "fast forward" command, which one really needs to watch most DVD's.

While Panasonic will pay the shipping, it wants the princely sum of $130 plus tax to fix the problem. To pay half again the price of a relatively young and lightly used unit to make it work as it should is not something that makes me want to buy a similar product of this brand.

In the room where we watch movies most often, the LG I acquired used has taken the place of this Panasonic.