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New TC-P65V10 - column of dead pixels after <5 hours

post #1 of 11
8/24/10 at 6:46pm
Thread Starter 
I just had a brand new Panasonic TC-P65V10 delivered this morning. The shipping box was in excellent condition. After unboxing, the unit itself was in pristine condition. As suggested by another thread, my wife and I both used a flashlight and went over every square inch of the glass looking for any cracks or fractures. Zero problems, everything looked great!

I did a quick test with a Blu Ray; the picture looked great. I then put in an SD card with the break-in slides. I set the picture viewer to slideshow, and went about doing chores around the house.

After roughly five hours or so, I noticed that there's a whole column of dead pixels. No matter what slide was on the screen, there was a one (or maybe two) pixel wide black (or at least severely off color) column. The vertical line of dead pixels shows up regardless of the mode (i.e. even when using the TV's menus).

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions before I call the vendor to get a replacement?

Also, for what it's worth, the TV was ordered from Buy.com, but they actually sold it on behalf of World Wide Stereo. Anyone ever deal with either of these companies for a major return/exchange/refund such as this?
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post #2 of 11
8/25/10 at 4:37am
You don't mention where the row if dead pixels it located on the screen.

If it is on the side of the screen, check to make sure the pixel shift option is not turned on. If it is, turn it off and see if this restores the pixel function.

No experience with returning items from the vendor you selected. Might check both companies' return policies on their sites. I suspect it won't be an easy process.
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post #3 of 11
8/25/10 at 5:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by aydu View Post

You don't mention where the row if dead pixels it located on the screen.

If it is on the side of the screen, check to make sure the pixel shift option is not turned on. If it is, turn it off and see if this restores the pixel function.

Imagine about four equally-spaced vertical lines dividing the area of the screen up into fifths. The column of dead pixels is roughly where the left-most line would fall. In other words, it's maybe 10 or 15 inches from the left side of the screen.

Quote:
Originally Posted by aydu View Post

No experience with returning items from the vendor you selected. Might check both companies' return policies on their sites. I suspect it won't be an easy process.

I just checked. Buy.com says we have to contact World Wide Stereo. WWS's policy sounds like they don't do returns for TVs, even if defective, and that we'll need to contact our local authorized service depot. We'll call WWS anyway, but I feel like I'm already getting the run-around and I haven't even called anyone yet!
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post #4 of 11
8/25/10 at 6:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt_garman View Post

I just checked. Buy.com says we have to contact World Wide Stereo. WWS's policy sounds like they don't do returns for TVs, even if defective, and that we'll need to contact our local authorized service depot. We'll call WWS anyway, but I feel like I'm already getting the run-around and I haven't even called anyone yet!

This is SOP for online/mail order sales of TVs. This is the price you pay for the monetary savings when buying online vs local. Always read the fine print!

Good luck.

jeff
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post #5 of 11
8/25/10 at 9:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by greenjp View Post

This is SOP for online/mail order sales of TVs. This is the price you pay for the monetary savings when buying online vs local. Always read the fine print!

Good luck.

jeff

Nonsense. It's just as easy to get screwed locally. MANY online vendors sell with delivery and set up included AND will pick up, rebox and replace a defective set within a week, a month, or whatever.
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post #6 of 11
8/25/10 at 10:53am
If the return policy was available for review at the time of purchase, and the retailer is simply following that policy, in no way are you getting "screwed". You may be in an unfortunate situation, but if there was no deception there is no screwing. As I said, you need to read the fine print. I'm sorry the OPs TV is messed up, but it was his choice to buy from a retailer with this return policy.

Physical retailers typically have 14 or 30 day, no questions return policies. Just need the original packaging and your reciept. Some will charge a restocking fee on items like TVs. Some online retailers have similarly good return policies, but a great many more do not. The OP has found out the hard way.

FWIW, our fine forum sponsors Visual Apex and Cleveland Plasma both defer to the manufacturer in the event of a defective item:
Visual Apex - "All Panasonic consumer electronics products come with a limited one (1) year parts and labor warranty unless otherwise noted. You must contact Panasonic CE Customer Support directly for any returns or regarding any defective products."
Cleveland Plasma - "All defective items will be handled through the manufacturer."

jeff
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post #7 of 11
8/25/10 at 12:33pm
Thread Starter 
Just as a follow-up/clarification: I didn't mean to suggest I was getting screwed in any way by the retailer; I agree they are following their documented policy. Short of someone showing up immediately with a brand-new replacement (which I doubt anyone does!), it's always frustrating when a brand-new major purchase has problems.

Anyway, we got through to Panasonic, and they are sending someone out on Friday (though they called back and said they might be able to come sooner). So, really, the ball is in Panasonic's court now, and we'll just have to wait and see how they fair.

I meant for the retailer/return procedure mention in the original post to be kind of a side note.

So, to hopefully steer this thread back to discussion about the TV itself: I mentioned this story to a co-worker, and he said he had the exact same thing happen to a Samsung plasma: after a few hours of use, it developed a whole vertical line of dead pixels. He did say, however, that he saw the delivery guys carry the box out horizontally, despite the fact that plasmas are supposed to be kept vertical at all times.

It's funny, because when the tech guy called me back, he asked if we ever had the TV oriented any way but vertical. We had it vertical always, but who knows if was stored or transported horizontally at any point in the shipping and delivery chain. If plasma panels really are that sensitive, then it seems all too easy for just one person to not pay attention on how to handle these devices.
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post #8 of 11
8/25/10 at 1:12pm
It is a 'myth' that plasmas must be kept vertical at all times. As an authorized service tech, I know that for some repairs or disassembly, plasma tv's must be laid down. However, if a plasma is to be laid down, it should not be subjected to any undue shock or pressure simply because this orientation can flex the panel. It is true that tv's are most structurally sound when they are in an upright position.
I have seen many Panasonic panel failures as of late especially in brand new units as well as with replacement panels. Our service center has seen four popped/cracked panels in the last two months. These busted panels were not the result of customer abuse but had just popped while in use.
Good luck with your repair. From what it sounds like, the tech will be ordering a panel for you as well.
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post #9 of 11
8/25/10 at 3:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by matt_garman View Post

Just as a follow-up/clarification: I didn't mean to suggest I was getting screwed in any way by the retailer; I agree they are following their documented policy. Short of someone showing up immediately with a brand-new replacement (which I doubt anyone does!), it's always frustrating when a brand-new major purchase has problems.

Anyway, we got through to Panasonic, and they are sending someone out on Friday (though they called back and said they might be able to come sooner). So, really, the ball is in Panasonic's court now, and we'll just have to wait and see how they fair.

I meant for the retailer/return procedure mention in the original post to be kind of a side note.

So, to hopefully steer this thread back to discussion about the TV itself: I mentioned this story to a co-worker, and he said he had the exact same thing happen to a Samsung plasma: after a few hours of use, it developed a whole vertical line of dead pixels. He did say, however, that he saw the delivery guys carry the box out horizontally, despite the fact that plasmas are supposed to be kept vertical at all times.

It's funny, because when the tech guy called me back, he asked if we ever had the TV oriented any way but vertical. We had it vertical always, but who knows if was stored or transported horizontally at any point in the shipping and delivery chain. If plasma panels really are that sensitive, then it seems all too easy for just one person to not pay attention on how to handle these devices.

Yes, horizontal is bad for plasmas, but more likely it's a manufacturer defect. You may want to run break-in slides on your new plasma when the replacement comes. Sometimes plasmas have weird screen artifacts when they're fresh that go away after a while. Break-in speeds through that process so you know if artifacts are temporary or permanent (and the set needs to be returned).

Where did you go to school, if you don't mind me asking?
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post #10 of 11
8/25/10 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by EG3 View Post

It is a 'myth' that plasmas must be kept vertical at all times. As an authorized service tech, I know that for some repairs or disassembly, plasma tv's must be laid down. However, if a plasma is to be laid down, it should not be subjected to any undue shock or pressure simply because this orientation can flex the panel. It is true that tv's are most structurally sound when they are in an upright position.
I have seen many Panasonic panel failures as of late especially in brand new units as well as with replacement panels. Our service center has seen four popped/cracked panels in the last two months. These busted panels were not the result of customer abuse but had just popped while in use.
Good luck with your repair. From what it sounds like, the tech will be ordering a panel for you as well.

+1. have you run into any ultra thin panels damaged in shipping (such as those used on the samsung 6500/8000 series) .
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post #11 of 11
8/26/10 at 7:47am
I have serviced several of these thin units but have not yet seen any bad panels (surprisingly). All that I have serviced so far have been defective main boards and one with a bezel problem which affected the touch button control.
I am very wary of these ultra thin tv's as they seem very fragile. With these sets I always have help when handling as they have virtually no structural support even when fully assembled. I don't understand why anyone would need a tv so thin. I believe the 'thin tv' is a technical competition 'thing' among manufacturers.
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