2011 Official LGP HDTV Buying Guide

[FanofUlf]

HDTV repair problem.
I have a 40 inch Samsung Model Number: LN40A630M1F
About two weeks ago, it began flickering. It only happens within the 1st 30 minutes of it being turned on...it will have a fade, flickering on most of the screen. It goes away after 20 minutes. If you "touch" the side panel, that helps too.

My TV is 3 years old and not under warranty. SOL or can I get a cheap fix or Samsung to pay. Angers me, I paid 1200 and researched good models for about one year.

[mac5155]

I helped a buddy move in to his new place yesterday and we mounted his 40" samsung on the wall. Man it looks sick. He got a fireplace/mantle thing from a furniture store and mounted the tv right above it with a low profile mount.

I suggested to him to leave all his peripherals in the closet behind the TV. Are there universal IR blasters that work with any cable box? Or do you have to get a model specific one?

[pittsoccer33]

HDTV repair problem.
I have a 40 inch Samsung Model Number: LN40A630M1F
About two weeks ago, it began flickering. It only happens within the 1st 30 minutes of it being turned on...it will have a fade, flickering on most of the screen. It goes away after 20 minutes. If you "touch" the side panel, that helps too.

My TV is 3 years old and not under warranty. SOL or can I get a cheap fix or Samsung to pay. Angers me, I paid 1200 and researched good models for about one year.

there isnt much you can do. if it helps take the sting out of it, you could buy the 40D630 (2011 model) for half of what you paid.

its going to be over $100 for someone to even look at it. if its the backlight, that might be a (relatively) inexpensive repair. if the panel is going bad it would never be worth it.

you have to keep in mind though that when something begins failing on a tv it typically puts abnormal stress on other components inside the set. so even if it is something in the power supply that you fix it could be damaging the backlight or panel while its failing.

I suggested to him to leave all his peripherals in the closet behind the TV. Are there universal IR blasters that work with any cable box? Or do you have to get a model specific one?

yes there are. basically its a wire that you will stick somewhere that you can point your remote at, and then run the wire to wherever the hidden component is and stick that end of it right over top of the ir receiver on the component. there are other more complex expensive set ups (involving rf) that you can do if you want to stash it in the closet and not run wires.

another option (what im going to do today actually) is run the hdmi cord thru the wall and into a cabinet somewhere that fits aesthetically. bachelor pad ftw!

[FanofUlf]

Absurd. Samsung won't help? 20 years you bought a 200 buck tv no probs.

I buy consumer rec 1200 Samsung and it breaks in 3? This is quality nowadays?

[skullman80]

A chance you take if you don't buy an extended warranty. It sucks, but how it is for electronics.

[FanofUlf]

A chance you take if you don't buy an extended warranty. It sucks, but how it is for electronics.

I paid 200 to best buy for two year ins. What kind of crap is this? A 1200 dollar top of line Samsung lasts THREE years???????

That is 21st century improvement?

[pittsoccer33]

They're mass produced on assembly lines overseas. When I'm presenting an extended service plan I say realisitically you will get 3 to 7 years out of it. They have a one year manufacuters warranty, and even that does not cover much. They would chalk whatever happened up to normal wear and tear (most likely). Samsung held up their end of the deal by giving you a working product for one year. Best Buy did by it by superceding that coverage for two years. It wasn't supposed to die this quickly, but parts do go bad, just like in a car. Its just that car repairs are much easier. To make tvs as cheap as possible they solder everything together so one bad part means the whole board is done.

If it was a Vizio, fixing it would even be out of the question. If it breaks in warranty you get another tv. Out of warranty and they think of them as disposable products.

When people make comments to me along the lines of "well its a $2400 television, it better last more than a year" I don't want to come back at them with a smart alec response, but that's not the way you should think of something produced by the millions in an automated factory.

[FanofUlf]

SO that's it?
20 years ago, you get a goldstar and it last a good 15 years.
Now, you spend 1200 and THIS IS THE RESULT?
That is unacceptable. What kind of company can get away with ripping people off? Thought we had better tech than 1990? I am so furious. NEVER ever buy a samsung. Ever. They told me a samsung is a great product. TVs cost 4X what they used to and last 3 years? Are you serious? No, this is wrong. HOW can you make a product that costs so much last for 3 years. I don;t understand, new tech=better. So 1990 TV last 15 years, 2009 last 3? Something doesn't add up.

[pittsoccer33]

well, Goldstar is now LG and they do have the highest reliability rate (or is it lowest failure rate?) in the industry. Though my friend's 50" LG Plasma went right at the 3 year mark.

That problem isn't limited to Samsung. I certainly understand why you would be frustrated, but they are all made from parts that come off the same assembly lines. Samsung and Sony made theirs in the same factory until just recently.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 53118.html

[JS©]

I understand you're not happy, but you have to look at the technology. Either pay $500 for a tube TV back in the day that has old pic technology with "meh' pic quality or pay anywhere between 400-1200 for a bigger screen with better clarity.

I'm not saying every TV has a shelf life of 3-7 years like pittsoccer is. I have an Olevia....actually my sister has it now, that's going on 7 years old and it hasn't lost a step. I'd hardly call it a top of the line set. At best, it might have been a lower-mid level set, but that thing is still running like a boss.

[FanofUlf]

Just called Samsung, demanded a supervisor, was told to call tomorrow and for executive customer care. Might be worked out.

[eddysnake]

well those are pretty much the best two tv's on the market (ill lump in the elite models as well).

i cant imagine being displeased with either of them. only the pickiest people in the world could find a fault with either set.

there isnt much else to say. its like picking a ferarri or a lamborghini. you win with either.

My pop got the Sony 55" 929. Hooked that up with a new Pioneer 1121 AVR and Panny BD210 BD player last night. Watched a few scenes from different movies, pretty much straight out of the box, I haven't seen a better looking picture ever on a tv. I didn't think it would be that big a difference, but I was wrong, that tv is spectacular. I have a 61" Samsung LED DLP and it's been 3 years and the picture is still great (I actually think content on tv looks better than the sony did) but the quality of the bluray was gorgeous.

[mac5155]

Attn FanOfUlf..

http://www.samsung.com/us/capacitorsettlement/

http://slickdeals.net/f/3977028-Samsung ... nt-Lawsuit



Not sure if this helps you.. just passing information along.

[pittsoccer33]

I am also interested to hear how that phone conversation went. Sometimes it can be helpful. Sony has faced a similar class action lawsuit over their SXRD line, and I know of people who were authorized to buy $2000ish dollar new 55" 3D LED tvs from Sony directly for $400 because of problems with their Sony sets.

[mac5155]

I am also interested to hear how that phone conversation went. Sometimes it can be helpful. Sony has faced a similar class action lawsuit over their SXRD line, and I know of people who were authorized to buy $2000ish dollar new 55" 3D LED tvs from Sony directly for $400 because of problems with their Sony sets.

Perhaps the $2000 TVs only cost Sony $400?

[pittsoccer33]

Ulf this definitely pertains to you:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400675,00.asp

SEA said in a statement that "[a]pproximately 1 percent of Samsung televisions sold in the U.S. from 2006 to 2008 have experienced some performance issues" caused by capacitor problems and that it had "voluntarily provided free repairs for U.S. customers with affected televisions" since confirming the problem in early 2010.

[mac5155]

Ulf is the 1%

[canaan]

Ulf this definitely pertains to you:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400675,00.asp

SEA said in a statement that "[a]pproximately 1 percent of Samsung televisions sold in the U.S. from 2006 to 2008 have experienced some performance issues" caused by capacitor problems and that it had "voluntarily provided free repairs for U.S. customers with affected televisions" since confirming the problem in early 2010.

i got a 32" samsung at a xmas party in 2008 that made a sweet whistling "tea kettle" kind of noise the first time i turned it on, i called samsung and a guy was there the next day and replaced the mobo and said something about a capacitor issue--shes still kicking today.

[mac5155]

I'm trying to think when my parents bought their Samsung.. I think Black Friday, 2008. Luckily, knock on wood, it's still kicking fine.

[JeffDFD]

Not sure replacing the mobo and Ulf's prob are related to the capacitor issue.

I bought a samsung a while back and had that exact issue. Whenever I went to turn on the TV it wouldn't turn on immediately and would click on....click off...click on....click off...do this a few times and then finally turn on. Looked it up online and it was because a couple of the capacitors on the board were wrong or cheap/from Mexico or something and that was the sound of them overheating and failing.

I was out of warranty but called Samsung and they sent someone out who opened up the TV and took off the two bad capacitors and replaced them with 2 new ones...TV has been fine ever since.

I suppose if the capacitors go completely bad they can cause other issues maybe.

Doesn't hurt to call Samsung and tell them what is going on and see what they say. Even if it isn't the capacitor issue, they may help you out (or give a discount). Doesn't hurt to ask. I was debating trying to fix it myself (online instructions on how to get and replace the bad capacitors) because it was out of warranty, but I called and they said no problem.

[FanofUlf]

Mac+Pitsoccer...THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I just read your links, and my model IS covered. They will call me within 24-48 hours to schedule an appointment. It will cover the service, the capacitors, and the power supply. If something other is the problem, I am responsible for the visit. So this may not be the problem and I am stuck with a bill, but I figure it's worth the gamble.

My symptoms again:
-It can be delayed turning on
-within the first 30-45 minutes the screen fades, flickers, and has ghost images.

As well, if I touch the panel, it can actually cause it stop. We had speculated this might be just a bad HDMI cable or something was loose. But I doubt the HDMI cable theory since this happens with cable and blue-ray.

Boy I am SO glad I randomly came to LGP today to post the google policy and just happened to browse down the page, because you have to report it by 3/2!

Funny thing is I called Samsung many times and they NEVER EVER mentioned this, very dishonest.

Unreal! Thanks folks!

[FanofUlf]

Well, I just wanted to thank you folks again. I have an appointment set up next week. If not for you, I would never have known and been out hundreds of dollars. Much love to you from me.

[mac5155]

I don't think you can blame Samsung for being dishonest. Glad we could help. The internet is an amazing thing. You can learn a lot by browsing forums, not just this one!

[PghSkins]

I don't think you can blame Samsung for being dishonest. Glad we could help. The internet is an amazing thing. You can learn a lot by browsing forums, not just this one!

There are other forums?

[mac5155]

I don't think you can blame Samsung for being dishonest. Glad we could help. The internet is an amazing thing. You can learn a lot by browsing forums, not just this one!

There are other forums?

Not other hockey ones