So here it goes. It will be quite a lengthy post (as promised, a story to share), so please bear with me.
Already posted but a small brief of the events just to refresh:
I had a horrible experience with TCL miracle 1.5 ton (in office) where the unit was finding it hard to cool the office measuring 16x11 even down to 26 C despite continuously consuming between 8 - 9 Amps through out the day.
Had no different experience with Gree 18000 BUT FITH1 which I installed in my bedroom measuring 22 x 13. It would consume 8 - 9 Amps continuously but wouldn't manage temp below 28C. Tested both, during day and night. Another thing was insanely high standby consumption of around 0.44 Amps.
I tried the unit for 2 - 3 days and seeing no change, sold it out.
Went to Murree Road for purchasing Gree 24000 BTU unit. Went to different shops and it was available for between 125,000 to 130,000. Don't know why but it just occurred to my mind that I should go for some Japanese unit instead. Probably one of those odd days where you are all destined to get screwed. A shop or two had Panasonic inverter 1.5 ton available for around 100K. Can't remember the model exactly but it was perhaps CS-YE18TKF-9. But bitten by Gree, I was skeptical of going for another 1.5 ton unit. Anyways, went to another shop and found a 2 Ton Panasonic unit. From the very first look, it didn't seem to be a quality Panasonic product (finish / aesthetics were poor) so I asked the shopkeeper if it was original/imported and not a Chinese crap / thappa?
Shopkeeper's reply "Sir, bilkul original hai. Aaj kal TV pe ad bhi chal raha hai is ka. Agar Chinese howa tau mein zimadar and all that bla bla crap...". Still unsatisfied, I asked him to show me its manual or some listing showing it a Panasonic product. He opened me a link on his PC and showed me it listed on Panasonic website, although 1.5 Ton unit and not 2 Ton which he was selling me. Still skeptical (could be some fake page he could have saved it on his PC), I opened Panasonic middle east website on my cellphone and there it was listed. I found the unit I was purchasing and it had a mention 'For Pakistan Market' or something like that. Seeing that gave me confidence that it in-fact was Panasonic original product. Here's the link to the product:
https://www.panasonic.com/middleeast/en/consumer/air-solutions/residential-air-conditioners/wall-type/cs-ue24wkf-9.html
So, I bought it for Rs 125K and brought the unit home. One thing I noted once the shopkeeper opened the packing for warranty card stamping was that warranty was being offered by PEL Pakistan. It gave more satisfaction that a bigger brand was managing Panasonic in Pakistan so product must be real good.
Anyways, brought the unit home and opened up the packing. Indoor had QC stamped and signed (by hand 
). Outdoor unit was gold plated and had a kit included alongside. Remote was quite pathetic to say the least. Out of curiosity tried looking for it on youtube and here everything turned upside down. Found a review of the exact model and couldn't sleep all night. WHAT A F***** SCAM. The indoor unit apparently was same as being sold with 2 to 3 other brands like PEL, DAWLANCE and probably another one. They just had it stamped (thappa) Panasonic. The remote was exactly the same. Not an iota of it changed. the outdoor unit was the 'EXACT SAME' as TCL ELITE 2 Ton. Infact, it was the same TCL outdoor unit, just stamped Panasonic (pretty terrible job there too), mofos couldn't even paint it right. This all was unearthed courtesy of a Youtube Video. Here's the link:
(This guy had taken both Panasonic / PEL to cleaners, each and every detail of the scam unearthed). The video has been removed or made private now. (I expected this so I downloaded it). Just don't think it can be uploaded here on these forums but do let me know if it can be uploaded somehow. It's 158 MB. Everybody here would love it, believe me. Had a terrible terrible sleepless night.
In the morning, I rang up PEL helpline (after all they are the one's selling the unit in Pakistan). I thought the body may be same but they might have changed some components (might have used Panasonic components). So, a lady from PEL answered.
Out of anger, I just asked her, "Ma'am ye jo aap Panasonic ka inverter Pakistan mein baich rahay hain mujay sirf itna bata dain kay is mein koi aik component jo Panasonic nai design kia ho ja manufacture kia ho", reply " Sir, ye ham nai bohat acha AC design kia hai. Ham nai isc mein bohat saray features diye hain, shower cooling and bla bla". Me "ma'am mujay mere sawal ka jawab dain". Reply, "Sir, wohi aap ko bata rahi houn, ye bohat acha AC hai and more nonsense". Me "Acha ye bata dain kay compressor Panasonic ka hai"? Reply " Nahi Sir, is mein ham nai Sanyo ka compressor use kia hai". I already knew that TCL had Sanyo compressors. I just lost my temper and she bore the brunt. After having her served with some expletives, I hung up. "HOW TERRIBLE IT CAN GET".
To those, who don't know much. TCL ELITE 2 Ton is available on Friends Corp for around 97K. Good bargain can save you few thousands more. Lets assume you get it for 90, it means you pay around 35k more for 'PANASONIC THAPPA'. Also, TCL elite probably has a better indoor unit than the crap being sold by PEL in this CS-UE24WKF-9 model. So, fakery and forgery all around. Utter shameless beings.
Frustrated, I sent an angry email to Panasonic Middle East. I already had anticipated that they must be hand in glove with PEL Pakistan, else these mofos here wouldn't be able to sell it in Panasonic's name and Panasonic won't have this item listed on their website. But even then, just to have their point of view, I went a head with email. Here's the reply (headers truncated) from Panasonic Middle East"
I leave the reply to your good judgement. There is hardly anything to say.
Anyways, called up the shopkeeper and told him all the story. Moron was still adamant about the product. Sent him that youtube review via whatsapp as well. After some carrot and stick, got my amount back with some deduction. I never installed the bloody unit.
PEL is a such a shameless company. I don't give an F to what they do, but atleast do tell your customers for F's sake what you are doing. This is plain and simple cheating. And their shamelessness knows no bounds. I personally believe, Panasonic gets equal blame. Thought to take PEL Pakistan to consumer court (still haven't let go of the idea) but unable to find time to work on that. This is how the ordeal ended, well, sort of.
Frustrated enough, I ordered Daikin 1.8 Inverter. Its available for 199,000 
but thought to give it a try. More on this in next post as this one has already taken a lot of space.
