I finally pulled the trigger on a Sammy 67" HL67A750. I ordered it online from US Appliance. I was hoping some of you could offer some advice on things to do/look for when the TV arrives. I spoke with a rep at the store and she said without white glove service (what I ordered), they will simply put the TV on my doorstep and leave. I can refuse it if the box is damaged, but they won't wait around for me to test it. She said white glove is almost no different except that they will put the TV where I want it and take the box (won't wait for me to test either) - that wasn't worth $90 to me. She said if it was damaged, to let them know within 48 hours.

I've read some tidbits of info here and there, but I thought it would be helpful to get online purchasing information centrally located. So that being said, please offer advice on how to handle an online vendor's delivery of a RPTV. What issues should I look out for (bowing, dead pixels, geometry, etc.)? Which issues are non-issues? Which can I fix myself?

Any information is welcomed.

BTW, I have 48 hours to cancel my order if I deem necessary. So if any of you recommend doing so based on previous online experience in general or with US Appliance, I'd like to hear from you.

Bought a 65" CRTRP Hitachi from US appliance about 1 1/2 years ago.

Delivery was slow, but I'd done some homework and knew they weren't Acme (Wile E. Coyote's delivery co.) so I knew to be patient. Package arrived in excellent condition and the truckers were careful unloading.

Really happy I went this route as the savings were huge, roughly $800 less than locally.

Again, they are SLOOOOOW, and at least 18 months ago, communication was non-existant, but a very good deal.

Good luck.

They told me 7-10 business days. Did they tell you something similar?

Back then, they didn't specify a shipping time target, but it took about 5 weeks. Sounds like they've tightened up the operation.

Anyone else have some advice on buying TVs online?

There isn't much too it. Do research first about the TV, second about the seller. Make sure about their policies, warranties, and delivery options. I got mine from 1-call, and it was flawless. It is hit or miss, as I've seen plenty of good and bad stories about buying online.

Once the TV arrives inspect the box and check for damage. Mine had shock guards on the box. Note any issues. Open the box, set up the tv and look for issues:
dead pixels, scuffs, scratches, dents, geometry issues, non working inputs (HDMI, Component, etc), check the sound...

Enjoy your set!

There isn't much too it. Do research first about the TV, second about the seller. Make sure about their policies, warranties, and delivery options. I got mine from 1-call, and it was flawless. It is hit or miss, as I've seen plenty of good and bad stories about buying online.

Once the TV arrives inspect the box and check for damage. Mine had shock guards on the box. Note any issues. Open the box, set up the tv and look for issues:
dead pixels, scuffs, scratches, dents, geometry issues, non working inputs (HDMI, Component, etc), check the sound...

Enjoy your set!
Ok, so Us Appliance said they would not wait for me to do all of this (I imagine most online retailers won't), but they said to check this and let them know of any issues within 48 hours.

What exactly are geometry issues? How do I detect them? Are they correctable? Also, isn't there an allowable number of dead pixels by the manufacturer?

Dead pixels vary by manufacturer, so I don't know exact numbers. For me any more then zero is unacceptable. DLP don't have dead pixels, they have stuck mirrors but the result is the same. Geometry issues are easy to spot, but I don't know what TV you are buying so I am not sure what method you'd use (I see you got a Sammy, check this for sure). This is a problem on DLP TVs where the image doesn't stay straight and square across the TV. You'll notice stuff like lines that are supposed to be straight and level seem to curve or they aren't level. With DLP TV's I believe they say around 1/8" skew is acceptable.

Most new TVs have some sort of USB stick or other way to view photos. Get a high def photo of a geometry pattern and see if any of the lines are skewed.
http://feldoncentral.2150.com/HDNet/large/TestPattern_01.jpg

A simple method would be to put up a news channel and check that the bottom crawl area is level all the way across the screen.

To ease your mind, I have an older Sammy 6187s LED TV and it is wonderful. I imagine a bigger and newer set like yours is even more impressive.

The deliver the set and you have 48 hours to tell them if its ok. What happens if you say no? You have to pay and ship it back?

How would you package it for the return trip the way most TVs are boxed these days? I don't know too many people with strapping tools.

Every HDTV I have purchased has had issues that occured longer than 48 hours after delivery. Virtually every one was later swapped by the local store with no hassle.

Furthermore, I have been able to negotiate with most local stores to within $100 of the online price (when everything is included in both cases) so I always go locally for these reasons.

One only has to read about someone with their Samsung replacement (in another thread) where if they had purchase locally they probably would not be having the issue with Samsung now.

Dead pixels vary by manufacturer, so I don't know exact numbers. For me any more then zero is unacceptable. DLP don't have dead pixels, they have stuck mirrors but the result is the same. Geometry issues are easy to spot, but I don't know what TV you are buying so I am not sure what method you'd use (I see you got a Sammy, check this for sure). This is a problem on DLP TVs where the image doesn't stay straight and square across the TV. You'll notice stuff like lines that are supposed to be straight and level seem to curve or they aren't level. With DLP TV's I believe they say around 1/8" skew is acceptable.

Most new TVs have some sort of USB stick or other way to view photos. Get a high def photo of a geometry pattern and see if any of the lines are skewed.
http://feldoncentral.2150.com/HDNet/large/TestPattern_01.jpg

A simple method would be to put up a news channel and check that the bottom crawl area is level all the way across the screen.

To ease your mind, I have an older Sammy 6187s LED TV and it is wonderful. I imagine a bigger and newer set like yours is even more impressive.
Thanks. So when watching something in 2.35:1, we get those wonderful black bars. If the bars arch near the edge of the TV, is that considered bowing (I've seen this on Mits')?

If I have geometry issues, is that fixable? Covered under warranty?

The deliver the set and you have 48 hours to tell them if its ok. What happens if you say no? You have to pay and ship it back?

How would you package it for the return trip the way most TVs are boxed these days? I don't know too many people with strapping tools.

Every HDTV I have purchased has had issues that occured longer than 48 hours after delivery. Virtually every one was later swapped by the local store with no hassle.

Furthermore, I have been able to negotiate with most local stores to within $100 of the online price (when everything is included in both cases) so I always go locally for these reasons.

One only has to read about someone with their Samsung replacement (in another thread) where if they had purchase locally they probably would not be having the issue with Samsung now.
If something wrong, they send a Sammy rep out. If he can't fix, I get a new one at no cost to me.

When you had issues, how did you swap? You truck it back up there?

Well the best I've seen locally was a CC two day special, that after tax and delivery was still $250+ more than online retailers. If I could get it within $100 total, I'd definitely go local.

Can you point me to the thread you speak of with the Sammy replacement problems?

Anyone know of a online store that let's you swap TVs at little or no cost to you if for instance it had one dead pixel, which is within the manufacture's accepted range? Does a B&M allow this?

If something wrong, they send a Sammy rep out. If he can't fix, I get a new one at no cost to me.

Great....after they get a Sammy rep out....and if they have it in stock.....see reference to the other thread below. If it is BB or Circuit City or Tweeter or local, its much easier...


When you had issues, how did you swap? You truck it back up there?


They brought a new one out in their truck, put in place and took away the old one. With your online retailer, I suspect you have to pay return shipping of hundreds of dollars.


Well the best I've seen locally was a CC two day special, that after tax and delivery was still $250+ more than online retailers. If I could get it within $100 total, I'd definitely go local.


It's called negotiation - and this is the PERFECT time. Its end of September - end of the Quarter. Take your info and don't waste time with a Saleman. Just go in, ask for the Manager of the TV Department. Show him what you can get it for all told and that you are prepared to buy today - if he can match the bottom line price. He won't (or he might these days) but see how close he comes. Tell him you'd rather buy local but willing to go Mail Order and will do it this afternoon if you cannot buy local.

It's really not that hard.


Can you point me to the thread you speak of with the Sammy replacement problems?

i bought it at 6ave.com for just under $1,900, shipped and no place has it for that cheap now. i am working with Samsung's support directly and they don't know when they'll be getting them back in stock. apparently, they are "approving" me for a replacement and until that process is complete (24-72 hours), they can't talk about the alternatives...even though, the first rep i talked to offered me the 72" as a replacement. without thinking about it too much, i said "sure" because i thought bigger was better...until i found out that they don't make a 72" in the series 7 model. i called back 20 minutes later to change my mind and see what else we could do...that's when i got the "we have to wait until it's approved" line.

ideally, i would like them to be able to work something out with Circuit City or Best Buy because they have the 67" in stock and they're right down the road from me.

sturmie

If he had done the deal locally with Circuit City or Best Buy, odds are he would not be having this issue today.

Also, B&M will basically let you return a TV in first 2 weeks for any issue:

Anyone know of a online store that let's you swap TVs at little or no cost to you if for instance it had one dead pixel, which is within the manufacture's accepted range? Does a B&M allow this?

Lots of luck getting swaps from online for little to no cost.

It's called negotiation - and this is the PERFECT time. Its end of September - end of the Quarter. Take your info and don't waste time with a Saleman. Just go in, ask for the Manager of the TV Department. Show him what you can get it for all told and that you are prepared to buy today - if he can match the bottom line price. He won't (or he might these days) but see how close he comes. Tell him you'd rather buy local but willing to go Mail Order and will do it this afternoon if you cannot buy local.

It's really not that hard.

I asked the sales person their match policy and they said nothing online. Guess I'll go try the manager.

Thanks for th einfo.

I asked the sales person their match policy and they said nothing online. Guess I'll go try the manager.

Thanks for th einfo.

And that is store policy. However, they clearly do have the ability to adjust if it makes sense - and as you are there, stating you are ready to buy but don't want to waste the sales people's time as you know what you want and don't care where you get it from - its a simple negotiation.

And if he says no, just walk out....and hit the next place. By the end of the day, someone will have your money. And with Wall Street in a mess, they will look to get money to help end of quarter.

So I was out the door to go to BB and CC and wen tto go print my invoice from US Appliance. Well, the have shipped my TV. They told me I would have 48 hours from the time of my confirmation email to cancel, but it looks like I had 48 hours from the time of my order. Now it has been shipped I can't cancel (which is what I would have done had BB or CC given me a good price). Oh well, at least my TV is on its way. Hopefully I'll have no issues.