TV repars Con men and their tricks...!

[Tarka Dal]

Firstly, I have or had a Samsung 46" LCD TV. I bought it nearly 3 years ago from a Currys in the UK. Last week it developed a fault, whereby it would take some 10 or 15 minutes to switch on. I called a TV repairman who didn't seem that interested in answering his phone messages and so, therefore I phoned another one. He said I had to take it to the shop, which I could not as I am not well enough to move the TV around. So I phoned a third TV repairman, and then he would come around and fix my TV from home great I thought. First, he said it was probably the power-board. (Now, there are three main boards in a Samsung TV the Power-board, the Motherboard and the T-con board (Timing control board)). The power-board was in perfect condition, this led him to believe it was the Motherboard which he could not say it was for certain. Then, he had a look at the T-con board, now he has taken the board off the TV examined it, and found no fault. So eventually he said he had to take the TV in to the workshop to find the fault. Eventually, he tells me that the repairs to the TV will cost (If the board has broken) Motherboard £180, T-con board £130 and the Power-board £250. Plus call out charge etc.
So, he calls me the next day saying he had to change 2 boards but, will only charge me for the one. He said he changed the Power-board and the T-con board which was at fault and charge me £235. Both boards were from salvaged TV parts and neither was new. On switching on TV I was happy to see new picture, and after some fiddling with the menu picture settings, found that I could not get the TV picture to lighten up to a picture that was nice and clear to see. So, I phoned him again to get him back to fix it.
During trying to fix it the picture went all fuzzy, and he was not able to fix it. He has now taken the TV away again and said he had to send off for a new T-con board and that I would not be charge for this. At this point I knew I was being duped into believing I had paid good money for a new T-con board in the first place. So, I went looking Online to see if I could purchase a T-con board and sure enough I found one here! samsung t board | eBay and on various other sites around the net. I could pick one up for £35 inc P+P. This, has led me to believe he had a spare T-con board costing £35 for which he charged me £180 Guaranteed for 1 year. If it broke down in that year, he could just get another card and do it again. So, this has led me to believe my friends, that you cannot trust a TV repairman and that it is best to take out the Insurance offered to you via Currys and have the repairs done via a reputable company such as Currys. I am never buying a TV without a Insurance again...
He probably just changed my Power-board so he could change it for as new on another TV. I now don't care for TV repairmen...

 

[Kari]

Someone who can read this, please translate it to English. With paragraphs and grammar and stuff; as the post above is at the moment it is impossible to understand.

Kari

 

[A Guy]

I'm a TV tech. The T board is actually a Tcon board (Timing control, sometimes called a LCD control board). I'll guarantee it wasn't involved in your problem. I'll bet $1000 your set only had some bad capacitors on the power board. Less then $10 in parts + labor. Very common problem, have a read here:

Capacitor plague - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

He does a disservice to all honest, competent service people. A Guy

 

[F5ing]

WOW! Never knew that capacitor issue may have originated due to industrial espionage. Good link A Guy!

 

[kado897]

The problem is of course that we don't have the knowledge to know any better. As for the insurance they try to sell you. They press it so hard that I guess they are making a good profit on it.

 

[A Guy]

They do indeed make a great profit on selling the extended warranties. Better then the profit margin on the TVs. But I'd say approx. 85-90% of my work is extended warranties, so I am a believer. With todays TV prices however, many are opting to take their chances. A Guy

 

[smarteyeball]

They do indeed make a great profit on selling the extended warranties. Better then the profit margin on the TVs. But I'd say approx. 85-90% of my work is extended warranties, so I am a believer. With todays TV prices however, many are opting to take their chances. A Guy

Too bad you're USA based

 

[A Guy]

Why? You need a house call? :roflmao:

A Guy

 

[F5ing]

Why? You need a house call? :roflmao:

A Guy

You always seem to come up with the best retorts! Need any help on that trip?

 

[kado897]

They do indeed make a great profit on selling the extended warranties. Better then the profit margin on the TVs. But I'd say approx. 85-90% of my work is extended warranties, so I am a believer. With todays TV prices however, many are opting to take their chances. A Guy

That'a what I did Bill and I've not had a problem with my last TV so far (4 years).

 

[smarteyeball]

Why? You need a house call? :roflmao:

A Guy

As a matter of fact I do

 

[A Guy]

Bummer, give me the details, and I'll give you my opinion. A Guy

 

[Tarka Dal]

Someone who can read this, please translate it to English. With paragraphs and grammar and stuff; as the post above is at the moment it is impossible to understand.

Kari

Sorry Kari.
I wasn't that good at English due to the fact I'm Welsh! Also the fact I did this very late at night. And also, I am losing my memory...

 

[smarteyeball]

Bummer, give me the details, and I'll give you my opinion. A Guy

Samsung 58" C7000 Plasma (sold as C8000 in the states I believe)

Has what's called the 'pink screen/band of death'.

It started out as a small .5 inch pink band in the top right of the screen. Over time the band is now 3-5 inch right across the top and also occurs halfway down the panel.

It's most noticeable on white/light backgrounds. When I use the TV as a monitor the banding would come and go when either scrolling or panning when gaming etc.

It started when the panel was about 13 months old.

It also sporadically buzzes very loudly in the bottom right hand corner of the screen - mostly when using a HDMI input.



I've been meaning to get it looked at under the extended warranty, but with more pressing R/L matters and not being able to find the receipt/documentation - I've just put up with it.

 

[A Guy]

I am familiar with it. You will need a new plasma panel. The servicer might try to replace the Y Main, X Main, even the Logic or Main board, but my experience has been 100% a panel replacement is the only fix. Even though it may be hard to see, put on the screen burn scrolling function. Also go to the support section of menu, and self diagnostics, pull up the picture test. Again, it may be harder to see, but should also show there.

This is not diffusion (red sparkles throughout), that can sometimes be adjusted out. But rather a reddish/pinkish "rash". It would be very obvious on a total white screen (possible for you if you save a white image to a USB and view it on the set).

Depending on the servicers walking orders from the extended warranty company (IE: keep the repair as cheap as possible, order only 1 part at a time, etc.), they may want to try parts (mentioned above). But I will wager it will require a panel replacement in the end.

A Guy

P.S. If the sporadic buzzing is from the actual TV, and not through the speaker, then likely the panel replacement will fix both issues. The buzzing could be a drive board buzzing with certain picture content.