So are you saying that you wouldn't buy an LG television in DR from Plaza Lama, even if it came in an LG box, and would prefer to ship the same TV from the US paying a fortune in taxes to import it just because you don't trust Plaza Lama? I would say that as long as you are buying a branded product from a brand you know, you're pretty safe wherever you buy it.
Two points to consider here.
1. While Plaza Lama has/was/is rumored to be selling refurbed products at new prices..................2. they are NOT necessarily the same products as sold in US markets.
All manufacturers make goods to be sold in certain markets at certain price points. In order to achieve this they may have to use/source less expensive parts/components.
Ask a Dominican why they would rather incur the time/expense of importing a used US washing machine or a used refrigerator from the US .........rather than buying new in the DR.
The answer for that and many other electro domestico items is the quality/features etc.
TV's using refurbished boards/screens and with less HDMI ports, washing machines with smaller agitator motors, thinner gauge metal. Refrigerators with smaller compressors and thinner gauge metal.................the list goes on.
Products here are manufactured by sellers to fit emerging market price points................and so quality/longevity tends to suffer.
It affects almost everything auto related as well...............including tires, batteries etc.
That is part of the reason why being a mudanza in the US is such a good business..............used and imported is believed to be far superior than new in the DR.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2