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Just a quick story about my experience with Sharp Canada.

I purchased my LC46D62U from an authorized dealer at the end of Nov/start Dec in 06.

Using Avia Test Disc, static .jpgs, and various PS2 loading screens all via DVI to HDMI output, I was able to 100% reliably reproduce both vertical and horizontal banding, confirmed yet again by using the Service Menu's built-in greyscale images.

I exchanged the unit after showing it to the dealer that I bought it from. Great service, he immediately gave me another boxed unit from their stock without hassle.

However, that unit also showed severe banding, which the dealer agrees after I showed him on his showroom floor with the signals that he provided.

So I called Sharp, and in March of 07, they provided me with a replacement model.

When it was brought to my house, I again ran through the gamut of my test signals, videos, etc, and again, saw that I could easily identify both vertical and horizontal banding, confirmed by the service personnel that brought me that new TV. His verdict was that there was no such thing as "non-banding" units. I disagreed.

Maybe I'm unlucky, as all three units had obvious banding that different people said they also saw - these weren't "laymen" per se, they all worked in the LCD industry in one capacity or another be it a salesman or a service repair guy.

I called Sharp again to complain. Lots of phone calls later, in July - they asked if I wanted to "upgrade" to their newer 42" panels for the price of $600. You read right. They offered me the privilege of paying more for a smaller panel just to solve a problem that had nothing to do with me. Of course I politely declined.

Jump to September, I finally get someone who sort of cared, but first she had to tell me that there's no such thing as a perfect product. I don't know how respond to that, as I paid over three thousand dollars for a TV that has a built-in flaw.

She offered me an exact same panel replacement (which was fine by me) except that I had to bring my current panel in, set up a side-by-side comparison, and with the new panel that they were to give me - I had to pick the "best one" of the two - even if my older one was better.

I was a little cocky, and agreed - figuring my 2001 Golf GTI could probably fit the panel in the car as long as I folded my seats down.

October. No new panel, no phone calls. So I call them back, and they say that a panel had actually come in, but Nadia (the person I was dealing with at Sharp Canada's headquarter) said she looked at it and one pixel was burnt, so she refused it for me. That's fine, at least they're making an effort.

I also inform her that I cannot drive to their head office anymore with my current panel for comparison. I sold my Golf and bought an S2000 convertible with only 2 seats and not enough of a trunk to even call it that.... At the time I had every intention of selling the Golf, but right now it's just sitting in my garage. I digress.

Early Nov. of this year. Still no panel - but I get a phone call from Nadia that they're sourcing me a slight upgraded LC46D64U. Same specs, thinner form-factor. Great.

One caveat. I have to sign an agreement that there's no warranty on the new TV. None. Zip. Zero. Nada. If it craps out, tough cookie.

I don't have much to play with here. The banding is bad enough that I don't watch TV with it much at all. As of Friday, Nov. 24th, 2007, I still have all the original packaging, and the tape that protects the edges are still left on. I even put the white plastic cover back on whenever I am done watching any amount of TV.

I do this because I'm not out to scam anyone. I am not going to abuse my current unit just because I want a new one. I keep it as gently used as possible. I try to catch up on some TV shows that I d/l off the net, and it equates to maybe 4 hours of TV every week. I actually watch most of them off the laptop, just because I don't want to over-run the TV. I know they'll probably repackage my unit as an openbox/refurbed, and I want the next person who can't notice the banding to enjoy it as long as s/he can.

Anyway.

My new unit came on Saturday morning of 11/25/07. I have not attempted to run any media that may show any signs of banding. I'm too scared. I don't want to ruin it for myself.

As for Sharp, I think it's a love/hate relationship. Yes, I got a TV replaced, and I'm grateful for Nadia in helping me out. But to force my hand in surrendering my warranty sort of sucks. Fingers crossed nothing happens.

At the end of the day, I still love my panel. The colour reproduction and picture performance is excellent. Although my next panel may be a different brand, I would still recommend Sharp to anyone else looking for an LCD panel.

....Not so short post. posted by losir at 1:33 AM