WARNING!! Display issue on Samsung LE40B550/51

[admin_exported]

Hi all,

Having read the March/April 2010 version of What Hi-Fi, where the big TV Super Test was done, i went ahead and bought the Samsung LE40B550 or 551 as some retailers are calling it. Am impressed with it. Don't get me wrong.

Right, now for 2 months it worked absolutely fine. After that, whilst playing PS3 on a 1080p resolution, the screen ... out of the blue ... would start to flicker! After a minute or so it would be fine.

Then whilst playing it would go blank, completely blank and the Power LED on the panel would start to flash. I thought maybe my son or someone initiated the Sleep or some sort of Power Save function. But that was not the case. I tried to swicth the television back on using the Power, Numeric Key Pad keys on the remote and even the Power button on the front panel. It would not work. I would have to switch it off and back on. A few tries later it returned to normal. The only thing is, its hard to recreate the issue. It happens when it wants to happen.

Since then I changed the HDMI resolution to 576, 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p and the issue occurs on all resolutions regardless of what source i choose (AV, HDMI, DTV). Now even watching TV using the integrated Freeview recreates the problem. I searched for online forums and other people had similar issues with different Samsung televisions. In short it is a hardware problem. One guy even suggested that if you tap the TV on the left hand bottom or middle side, the TV will turn back on. Low and behold it worked. Who would have thought .... i thought those days of banging the TV to get a picture were gone. Obviously not!

I spoke to Dixons (who i purchased the TV from), they told me as its within the 12 month warranty period that i should speak to Samsung.

After having spoken to Samsung, they have decided to send a Technician, who is due to arrive today between 12 and 4. He is basically going to replace the hardware/board for me. Judging by the response of the Technician and Helpdesk person, i think they are aware of the issue. Hence they had no hesitation to send the Technician out and didn't even ask any questions.

Samsung also said, if the issue still occurs then, they sort me out with something. What that means, just yet, i dont know.

Anyway, just thought i should share my problem with the forum. Shall keep you posted.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Before you go any further, with a TV that new, don't accept a repair. Tell Dixons the fault isn't acceptable, and neither is a major repair to a set only a few months old, and that you want either a replacement set or a refund. Simple as that.

 

[chudleighpaul]

Agreed!!!

Quote sale of goods act. The TV is clearly not for for purpose.

 

[Anonymous]

Samsung are really good with repairs and they will do anything, as my fridge was 1 year out of warranty and I advised no acceptble length of time for a 1000.00 fridge and they were out in 2 days and fixed the fridge, no questions.

But dixons are wrong passing the buck, they need to replace or refund within a year, not tell you to go speak to samsung.

I would phone dixons back and advise you want a replacement or refund, its in your consumer rights withi one year as andrew said.

No way I would want a repair on a new TV.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree also.

My Samsung has just packed in after 7 weeks. On plugging the set on nothing happens apart from the stanby light glowing very dimly. It won't turn on at all. I used the ringback service on Amazon (the seller) and they advised on a replacement/ refund. They told me to phone Samsung to see what they had to say. I think it was just in case Samsung could sort the problem out over the phone. I did that got a reference number from them. Amazon phoned back 24 hours later. I gave them the ref. number and they e-mailed me a returns shipping label. It all has gone really smoothly apart from the fact that we don't have a tv at all now.

 

[Andrew Everard]

No reflection on Amazon, but that's one of the problems buying a major product like this mail order rather than from bricks and mortar: I'd like to think a physical retailer would be able to swap out the set on the spot.

But I'd like to reinforce the point that the OP should put pressure on the supplying retailer to sort this - passing responsibility over to the manufacturer 'because it's within the 12 month warranty' just isn't on...

 

[Anonymous]

Andrew Everard:

No reflection on Amazon, but that's one of the problems buying a major product like this mail order rather than from bricks and mortar: I'd like to think a physical retailer would be able to swap out the set on the spot.

But I'd like to reinforce the point that the OP should put pressure on the supplying retailer to sort this - passing responsibility over to the manufacturer 'because it's within the 12 month warranty' just isn't on...

I totally agree but at the time nobody locally had a c750 at price which was near Amazon's. In fact I got the tv and an extended warranty cheaper than the best shop price. It was through reading another thread where you advised on replacement/refund that made me aware I could demand it. So thanks.

 

[matengawhat]

dixons and the rest of the group do tend to direct you these days back to the manufacturers which i guess is wrong although on the plus side i would prefer the manufactures to fix my item than send it to one of the mastercare fix centres if thats still who they are using - when i have ever had problems and been unfortuante enough to have had to deal with them stuff has been sent back and usually returned without the fault being fixed then further arguments for a refund!

 

[matengawhat]

Andrew Everard:

No reflection on Amazon, but that's one of the problems buying a major product like this mail order rather than from bricks and mortar: I'd like to think a physical retailer would be able to swap out the set on the spot.

But I'd like to reinforce the point that the OP should put pressure on the supplying retailer to sort this - passing responsibility over to the manufacturer 'because it's within the 12 month warranty' just isn't on...

even dealing with brick n mortar retailers i don't think i have ever had one say just bring it back in and we will swap it with a high value item they normally make some excuse about sending it off to have the fault verified etc before even entering into a conversation!