LCD TV Repair - Need Advice...help!

[pokee@shaw.ca]

Hi -

Does anyone know if an LCD screen with dead pixels (that form a dotted
line) will get worse over time (develop more lines)?

I have a 27" Norcent LCD TV that is about 8 months old for $1000 and
has developed a dead pixel problem (a green vertical dotted-line at the
side of the TV, really only noticeable up close or with bright colors
on the screen).

It is still under warranty BUT, I have to ship it (from Canada to the
U.S.) to the manufacturer for repair/replacement. I am very uneasy
about this, because in my research I have discovered that there is a
VERY high risk for damage for these types of items. I even have the
original packaging (thank GOD!) but only ONE courier company in Canada
will cover it in the event of a claim (Purolator).

If Norcent receives the TV damaged in any way, they will immediately
return it and I am liable for recovering any money from the courier
company for that damage. Hmmmm....how much is a used and faulty LCD TV
worth? Probably not a lot. Then there is a possiblility that the TV
returned to me is still faulty or is damaged on the return, so I may
have to do this whole thing all over again.

So, I have established that there is high risk and potenitally a lot of
headaches invovled with this situation. Now I have to factor in real
and potential costs to me.

There are the costs that I know of - shipping costs (close to $100) and
any customs fees (perhaps about $20). Then there are costs that MAY be
incurred and I may not be able to get refunded for - the returned TV
could have paperwork filled out incorrectly and I may get stuck paying
duty/taxes/customs fees just to receive the repaired/replaced TV.

Then there is the cost of not having a TV for a month (or longer).

I can barely afford to ship the TV for repair - let alone pay for
potential extras that could add up to what this thing is worth at the
moment. When I do the math it almost makes more sense just to live
with the TV as is.

Do you think I should take my chances, ship it off, incurr any extra
costs that may arise and hope to get refunded for them later?

Thanks,
Paula

 

[Dave D]

Hi -

Does anyone know if an LCD screen with dead pixels (that form a dotted
line) will get worse over time (develop more lines)?

If sufficient pixels have died to form a dotted line, then it sounds like
there's a manufacturing defect other than the usual random pixel failure. In
the usual random pixel fault, the chances of all the bad pixels being on the
same line must be pretty slim, and I wouldn't want to leave it and hope it
won't get any worse. I'd certainly want to look at getting it
repaired/replaced, and the shipping risk may be one you'll have to live with
I'm afraid.

Dave

 

[James Sweet]

Hi -

Does anyone know if an LCD screen with dead pixels (that form a dotted
line) will get worse over time (develop more lines)?

I have a 27" Norcent LCD TV that is about 8 months old for $1000 and
has developed a dead pixel problem (a green vertical dotted-line at the
side of the TV, really only noticeable up close or with bright colors
on the screen).

It is still under warranty BUT, I have to ship it (from Canada to the
U.S.) to the manufacturer for repair/replacement. I am very uneasy
about this, because in my research I have discovered that there is a
VERY high risk for damage for these types of items. I even have the
original packaging (thank GOD!) but only ONE courier company in Canada
will cover it in the event of a claim (Purolator).

If Norcent receives the TV damaged in any way, they will immediately
return it and I am liable for recovering any money from the courier
company for that damage. Hmmmm....how much is a used and faulty LCD TV
worth? Probably not a lot. Then there is a possiblility that the TV
returned to me is still faulty or is damaged on the return, so I may
have to do this whole thing all over again.

So, I have established that there is high risk and potenitally a lot of
headaches invovled with this situation. Now I have to factor in real
and potential costs to me.

There are the costs that I know of - shipping costs (close to $100) and
any customs fees (perhaps about $20). Then there are costs that MAY be
incurred and I may not be able to get refunded for - the returned TV
could have paperwork filled out incorrectly and I may get stuck paying
duty/taxes/customs fees just to receive the repaired/replaced TV.

Then there is the cost of not having a TV for a month (or longer).

I can barely afford to ship the TV for repair - let alone pay for
potential extras that could add up to what this thing is worth at the
moment. When I do the math it almost makes more sense just to live
with the TV as is.

Do you think I should take my chances, ship it off, incurr any extra
costs that may arise and hope to get refunded for them later?

Thanks,
Paula

That doesn't sound like a dead pixel, that sounds like a whole load of
dead pixels. I would most certainly return the set.

 

[JW]

That doesn't sound like a dead pixel, that sounds like a whole load of
dead pixels. I would most certainly return the set.

I agree. It sounds like either the bonding to the LCD glass is failing, or
one of the bonded chips on the flex circuit is crapping out. Send it back!

 

[Mike Berger]

If the TV is properly packed, the risk of shipping damage is
small. Ideally, ship it back in the original box with original
packing material, double-packed inside another larger box with
more packing material.

My experience with Canada to US is that UPS will ALWAYS send
things through a customs broker (for about a $ 40 US charge)
no matter how little or how much the item is worth. You can
circumvent that by filling out the customs paperwork yourself.
I don't know what Purolator does or what will happen on the
return.

This is one of the drawbacks of buying something other than a
well-known name brand. Service options may be very limited.