Lite On LVW-5006 DVD Recorder

Bought for Christmas 2005, worked OK only about 3 weeks. Then one by one, things stopped working. First, it refused to record on DVD-R disks (only RW disks), Then it even stopped recording on RW disks. Then it even stopped playing DVDs from other sources - DVDs that still played fine in other players. I downloaded new firmware - no help at all. I misplaced my receipt so Sears won't take it back, even though they admit I must have bought it there since it is on my credit card bill. From what I have read, nobody can fix it - not even Lite-on. Credit card co only warrants against theft or damage, not defects. This is a total loss for me.