Many problems Sony 46W4500

[Anonymous]

From Comet's website:
Things you've bought in store

If your product is brand new, unused and the box is unopened then all you do is take it back to a comet store within 28 days (14 days for a computer) and we'll give you either a full refund or a gift card to the same value - it's up to you.
Don't forget to take your receipt along.
If the product is too big to easily take to the store just call our customer care people on 08705 425 425 and we'll arrange a collection (charges apply).

If the product is brand new, unused and the box is opened then the process is almost the same except that, for products costing £25 or more, we deduct a restocking fee (10% of the original price up to a maximum of £99) from your refund to cover the cost of repackaging and restocking.
Alternatively you can choose a gift card credit for the full purchase price.
Remember to return all the original packaging.

One more thing - we can't accept the return of any product with missing parts such as remote control, leads or manuals, so make sure you hang on to everything that came with your product.

 

[Anonymous]

ah yes, you are right. I just checked online. However it is only for online or phone ordering!!

LOL! its ironic because i bought it from my local store incase i needed to return it, so i had a face to face service!!!

How twisted!!! oh well, you live and learn!

 

[Anonymous]

Well, perhaps thats one good thing to come out of this thread. If you are indeed fighting the urge to buy this TV. Buy it online and at any hint of clouding, take it to a store for a full refund under this policy.

I only wish that someone else was writing this and i read it last week!! Or at least read COMET terms and conditions more clearly!

 

[Anonymous]

Not quite true, they have two headings, one for 'Things you've bought in-store' and one for 'Things you've bought online'.

Reading it carefully, I would say that if you still had the packaging, using this part of their terms and conditions could get you a full refund.

 

[Anonymous]

I did buy in-store though so i don't think it will wash if i push for the refund under this policy.

If i had of read this properly lasy week. I would have bought it online, as i still have all the packaging and it would have been far simpler. Perhaps it might be worth another call to customer service.

 

[Anonymous]

alsina:
From Comet's website:
Things you've bought in store

If your product is brand new, unused and the box is unopened then all you do is take it back to a comet store within 28 days (14 days for a computer) and we'll give you either a full refund or a gift card to the same value - it's up to you.

Don't forget to take your receipt along.

If the product is too big to easily take to the store just call our customer care people on 08705 425 425 and we'll arrange a collection (charges apply).

I see a golden opportunity for you to get your money back using the above.

 

[Anonymous]

But it is used. So i don't see how they would allow me to return it under such a policy?

 

[Anonymous]

I am almost certain that anyone with a little bit of time and effort could make a 4 day old tv look like new if they really had to. Certainly new enough to satisfy your typical member of staff at your local Comet store when they check it. Cheeky I know, but so is taking that much money from you for a 'lemon' of a tv.

 

[professorhat]

They're certainly going to know it's been opened though unless you have a reel of the tape they use to seal it at the factory...

 

[rob_981]

Repackage it as well as possible, tape the box back up and bring it back to the shop and say you want a refund. If they ask why, say you read this thread shortly after getting the tv and thought better than to risk opening it, and decided just to take it back.

Or say you opened the box, realised the tv was bigger than you thought, and was too big for your room. As long as you are polite and friendly, and particularly if you want to buy another tv from them, I think most sales people would accept the tv back - I doubt they'd charge you 10% of the value just to tape up the box again.

Just a couple of suggestions. Or don't give a reason at all - just say you are within the allotted time, and you would like a refund. If it looks unopened, they might not even check.

 

[Anonymous]

Is there a way of stopping the auto-dimming feature on the 40W4500??

 

[Anonymous]

I think a lot depends on the retailer in regards to refunds. I informed electrosaver within two days of my sets fault and they flatly refused to help. I then involved Trading Standards and followed their advice. This was in Oct, we're now in Dec and it's still not been sorted.

I had a horrible feeling any action taken in the 14 day period would count for nothing and I was right, the set will arrive back at my expense tomorrow and then I'll have to fork out for an engineers report.

I know where I went wrong, and I'd definitely say to anyone else, don't forget to check out feedback on the retailer first.

 

[Anonymous]

This might be of a great help !!!

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/24112008/404/rights-refunds-repairs-replacements.html

Thanks

 

[rob_981]

Can you not return it within 14 days for whatever reason? Or even with no reason? Or did they refuse to help because it had been opened?

You have to wonder why some retailers behave like that. Do they not realise that most people buying electrical goods, particularly big items, will research the retailer first, and that the lowest price isn't always the main consideration? Bad reviews will surely impact on future potential sales.

I bought my 40W4500 (I am seemingly one of the few happy users!) through empiredirect, and I was very impressed with their aftersales service, and would definitely use them again. Your post would make me think twice about using Electrosaver! Good luck getting it sorted.

 

[Anonymous]

professorhat:They're certainly going to know it's been opened though unless you have a reel of the tape they use to seal it at the factory...

The boxes on the big Sony's open from the bottom by undoing plastic clips and therefore not disturbing any tape.

 

[rob_981]

Ah yes, now you mention it, I do remember that.

 

[Anonymous]

rob_981:
Can you not return it within 14 days for whatever reason? Or even with no reason? Or did they refuse to help because it had been opened?

You have to wonder why some retailers behave like that. Do they not realise that most people buying electrical goods, particularly big items, will research the retailer first, and that the lowest price isn't always the main consideration? Bad reviews will surely impact on future potential sales.

I bought my 40W4500 (I am seemingly one of the few happy users!) through empiredirect, and I was very impressed with their aftersales service, and would definitely use them again. Your post would make me think twice about using Electrosaver! Good luck getting it sorted.

I saw some negative feedback over the retailer about two days before I received the set. There seemed little point in cancelling as this has come up as a problem for customers as well. I decided to check out the set, if it was a fine working order then maybe things would be ok.

Unfortunately for me there was a fault, I gave it a day then contacted the retailer. I was not asked for details, no names were given, phone manner was not appropriate and I was told the retailer would not collect the set. I'm aware I must remain objective and follow forum rules, but it's no secret as I've found out that there are large amount of complaints concerning this retailer.

With returns, their policy is you can return for refund unopened within seven days. From what I remember of their policy, within 28 days if there is a fault they will collect, take a look and issue a refund. But if no fault is found, you can either take it back at your own cost, or have a refund. Only that's not the case.

I've studied the sale of goods act and the distance of selling act, both of which supersede retailer policy as it's law. But neither has helped in my case. The retailer says there is no fault and I'm told my only option is to fork out to have it sent back.

Once it gets here tomorrow I'll have to see how it behaves and fork out for an engineers report.

 

[Anonymous]

Black,

do you know roughly how much an engineers report will be. I am concerned as i have an engineer coming tomorrow. I have a feeling that this whole clouding thing is going to go straight over his head (unless he actually knows about tvs to a good degree). Comet didnt inform me of any charge should it go that way (which i will mention show a chare be incured). If its more than £40 then i may start to grow concerned.

I noticed another thing last night. The clouds are totally absent but creep back in after 30/40mins of on time when the set is starting from cold. I think that it is likely a temperature thing, as some have suggested on this forum. Makes me think that it is a manufacturing/design fault. If that is the case, its likely that MANY w4500s have this problem, and people should check their screens in a darkened from after the tv has been on for a hour or so beforehand, to gauge wither the defect is there or not.

 

[Anonymous]

Sebastian, if you repackage the tv 'as new' and take it back to Comet you will be entitled to a full refund. As soon as an engineer is involved you are likely to be stuck with the set.

 

[Anonymous]

Sebastian, I've been told it can be at least £70 for an engineers report. On top of the £99 5 year warranty I didn't need, and £84 spent on couriers so far it's been a nightmare.

Unfortunately for me it's been different to most cases. From what I've read we can return 'as new' for refund as I have had to in the past, but because of the retailers discretion my expected consumer rights have not served me, and I'm one of many believe me. To be fair I've followed the rules of the road concerning my right to refund, but it's not worked out for me.

 

[Anonymous]

Alsina,

I am already down on record for having called COMET and asking for an engineer. I'm also dubious about repacking the set. I can't see that washing. I also can't see them not quesitoning the different tape on the box and at least checking things are in order, as all the bags are open/torn etc.

Comet are very thorough when it comes to checking any return. I remember how strict Currys were when i went to the shop to return an LCD.

 

[Anonymous]

I admire your honesty. Good luck.

 

[Anonymous]

Clare Newsome:We're still pushing.....

Still awaiting response from Sony HQ (Japan)

Can you recommend any other Tele (in 46" size)

Thank you

 

[Clare Newsome]

Sony Japan declined to comment beyond the original statement - in short, they really don't think it's an issue, and claim to have shipped many thousands of sets....

Anyhow, onto the 46in - I would definitely check out the new Samsung 9 series 46in, as it has LED backlighting, so there just isn't the issue with bleed. We've tested the 55in and it was impressive, if not the best at its size. Check it out at your local retailer! (We'll be running a review as soon as we can).ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I followed this thread with interest before recently buying my 46W4500, so thought I'd share my experience after a week with the set.

Like other posters, I can detect some clouding on this set. As someone recently posted, it seems to come and go, particularly perhaps after the set has been on for a while, so my engineering brain suspects like others that it's temperature or perhaps static / gauss related - something that builds up a bit over use. (power cycle once "warm" doesn't help by the way). From a cold start there's no sign of it as others have mentioned. Not done any scientific tests with warmth of the room or anything like that.

Sony recommended settings make little difference as far as I can see, I get the same effect with the backlight all the way down as well as when it's up, with and without the light sensor on/off etc. I'd say some of the setting changes might help camoflage the clouding by making -everything- a bit darker but that's all. I'd disagree with those who say the people detecting clouding have their backlights way up, that just isn't the case, I can still see the effect on backlight min.

That said, the TV is staying with me, I'm not even going to bother trying to send it back, I'm happy with it.

Why?
The clouding on my set is only visible in a pitch black room, on a static black or extremely dark screen. For example I notice it sometimes during end credits over a black screen or when the input source is off (all input sources are identical by the way, it's nothing to do with input cable or source device). Even when I know where I'm looking, in a pitch black room, with dark content in the areas where I know there is clouding, I can barely see it when I'm viewing any content that actually moves. (i.e. I can watch like a hawk when a big patch of black sweeps right across the "clouded" areas and only just detect the clouding when I'm really looking hard.)

I've also noticed that I keep thinking the clouding went away even when I'm watching in a very dimly lit room because the picture quality and the blacks are just so good. Then just to check, I turn off all the lights and turn off the source, and sure, it's still there, but that tells me it's not affecting my viewing experience except when I look for it. I have a feeling the effect may be getting less significant over the days I've had the set now, but it's very hard to assess that with any confidence as the effect varies with time and with how hard I'm looking for it.

At the end of the day, I chose the set despite knowing I might see this issue because I liked the reviews, liked the not-too-glossy screen, liked the feature set and liked the look of the picture quality I saw in the stores. When I got the set, I went looking for the clouding issue, found that I had some, but I'm still blown away by the quality I get on this TV, and I'm happy I chose it.

I'm not trying to put down other posters, they may well have more severe cases than me, or more sophisticated expectations... but I wouldn't say the small number of reports on here means the issue isn't fairly widespread. But if many purchasers have the issue to the same extent I have it, I think most wouldn't detect it as a problem if they didn't go looking for it, and I think most people who bought this tv would think it was awesome because the picture really is flat out superb. I'm no what-hifi reviewer, but in all my research I didn't see an image quality like this one in a non-reflective panel (one of my requirements which wiped out the newer Samsungs in my shortlist).

Well, hope that helps people, I really struggled with the decision to buy after reading about the problems, but even with some clouding I'm still happy.

Cheers,

C