Just curious how often you guys notice dead pixels on TVs. Had a tiny black dot on a 7 series Samsung the other day out of the box. Customer noticed it and cant unnotice it any longer. Beyond 4 feet away I dont find it noticeable. Spent lots if time with Samsung and they refuse to do anything. Apparently they dont replace panels unless there are more than three dead pixels. I knew I should have just purchased from Bestbuy instead of a distributor to make a couple of bucks. I may have to take the hit on this one unless I can convince the customer it’s normal.

Ive seen very few panels with dead pixels. But like your client, once I see one, I cant overlook it

And there is usually a policy regarding how close multiple pixels are to each other. I don't recall ever having an issue with this, but this will not help your current situation -- the toothpaste is out of the tube.

Some distributors have a defective exchange policy, but it might not be as generous as a Best Buy exchange.

If it's a 4K TV there's no way they can see one pixel at a recommended sitting distance, as a 4K TV has more pixels than we have rods and cones... or they are sitting 17 inches from a 65" TV.

You don't find it noticeable beyond four feet. Hmmm. Try this. Mask around the dead pixel, leaving at least a 10" square area showing, and have them sit in their normal watching position and tell you where the dead pixel is. This removes the image edges as reference points and makes it more difficult for them to use their memory of its position relative to the edge to say where the dead pixel is.

Move the masking a few times to put the dead pixel in different visible places. Be sure to show them this area without the dead pixel showing at all. It'll be interesting if they see it.

If they can repeatedly find the pixel, they have a point. I predict they won't be able to see it, especially as you don't notice it beyond four feet. Even if they can see it, there's the manufacturer's policy.

I haven't seen a dead pixel since the plasma days. That said, I have seen a line of jacked pixels, top to bottom on a couple Samsung TVs in years past. Once, out of the box at install. Another, a few days after an install.

Just a question, how did you transport the TV in question? Was it standing up in a van? Or laying down in a truck bed? (the ones I had issues with had been laying down in my truck, way back in the day, pre-van. I always thought that could have done it.)

Maybe that could have done it, but back then I looked into what they were talking about with keeping the panels upright, and it seemed that they were saying one thing to make another happen. They were saying they had to be kept upright but what they wanted was for them never never never to fall over and go bang. Rapid deceleration of a box landing on its side can be quite damaging.

You don't have a "manufacturer warranty applies" statement in your contract?


Talk to you disty. Most actually do have a good return policy as well as price protection, even though they will deny it.

Why not take it back to the distributor. Don't even know why this is an issue.  I've turned dozens of Samsungs around and drove them right back to my distributor over the years.  Never had a problem with returning a TV that was broken out of the box, it happens.

last year i ordered a SONY from local disty and they luckily check each TV before delivery. mine had a area of dead pixels. it was the last one but had more coming in from another warehouse next day.
next day they get a new one ready to ship and plug in an more dead pixels. and then a 3rd AND a 4th. all in a row. never seen before.
the 5th TV from another warehouse was good.

The reason they wanted the panels upright was to prevent plasma leaks.

LOL...

There actually was a reason, but that is not it.


Laying flat put a lot of stress on the glass, and there was a lot of broken glass in the early days.

I did call the distributor a few times and they refused to take it back, saying that Samsung will not help them

Samsung changed a panel on a 75 inch for me. I can't remember how many pixels were out, but it was just a few.

Warn them you will stop payment on your credit card. Or box it up and exchange it for another one if they think it is no big deal.

There is no "eating this one" involved.

Not your problem.

This is why my distributor for Sony and Samsung has started to open each and every individual display that is delivered to them for stock. I feel bad for that delivery truck guy because he just sits there for hours waiting for my distributor to sign the delivery papers.

Both companies have changed their policies for returns, basically stating that if they accepted the delivery, then its on the distributor to replace the panel and not them.

At least it makes me feel a little more confident that I won't have a smashed panel or defective device.