So yesterday I thought my xbox 360 broke for a third time, but upon further analysis I discovered that it is my TV that is broken. It is a Samsung 46 inch LCD, and the screen flickers as though it is being projected by a bad projector. I bought it two summers ago so I'm out of warranty and all that good stuff, but needless to say, I'm still a tad pissed.
I've decided to write a letter to samsung customer support saying that if I spend $1000 on a tv, it shouldn't break after less than two years. I was even away at college for this past year and it wasn't even being used. My only problem so far is I don't know who to address it to. Could you guys help me find somebody to mail this letter to?
@RadioFlyer: Same problem with mine. Using HDMI, it screen goes black for whatever amount of time it feels like not displaying anything, and then, it comes back (no sound during the blackout). It does that only with the Xbox, and only when it's on HDMI, no other device does that, and it seams to work fine in component. But I had the option to put it on another TV, so I didn't dig deeper.
But as suggested by Rusty, you should try to call them.
Most companies keep addresses hidden, but if you call, if the rep can't fix the problem, ask for a mailing address for the corporate office. They usually have an address SPECIFICALLY for customer complaints, and many companies will in fact bend over backwards for anyone who actually takes the time to mail a physical letter. I used to do tech for Logitech, and we referred to corporate as the cooperate office. I kid you not, a guy once got a replacement for his 400 dollar speaker system because we didn't say in the documentation not to shoot the subwoofer with a pellet gun, and so its not his fault he killed it, and we should give him a replacement. He mailed a letter, and had his new full system in a week....
I dont know if this is the same problem that you are having, but recently my Samsung TV broke. When I'd turn it on, it would take forever to finally power on.
I did some research and it turns out that Samsung sucks, at making Power Supplies for their TVs.
I called a Samsung Repair dude, and he wanted $300 to replace the power supply.... I thought, I can do that myself, how hard could it be.... found the part for $80 online and was about to order it when I came across some comments on the part's page.
It turns out that the major problem on these Samsung TVs is that their capacitors like to blow... they basically try to save money by using a 10V capacitor instead of a 25V ( I hope I'm using the right units, I'm no electronics guru ). SO, I busted my TV open ( ok I unscrewed it ) and I looked at the capacitors... there was about 6 or 8 of them, and I could immediately see that a couple of them were bulging which means they're blowing out... you can see the difference between good ones and bad ones, or just google it...
SO! I went to the local electronics store and bought 4 25V capacitors, I drove to my uncle's place and we removed, and replaced the capacitors with a soldering iron.
Time: 15 minutes
Price: $4
Now... you have to google if your symptom is a result of a similar capacitor problem, maybe on a different capacitor, but if it is, you might be able to save you self some time an energy...
BEFORE ALL THIS... TV WARRANTIES ARE 3 YEARS SO YOU SHOULD BE OK. CALL SAMSUNG! EVEN IF ITS $4, LET THEM DO THE WORK IF ITS FREE
keep in mind though, they will put in a Samsung Power Supply, with the 10V capacitors, and in 2/3 years your capacitors are likely to go again, and then you'll know how to fix it :D Or I could be way off, and at least you know the story of how I saved about $300 :D
So yesterday I thought my xbox 360 broke for a third time, but upon further analysis I discovered that it is my TV that is broken. It is a Samsung 46 inch LCD, and the screen flickers as though it is being projected by a bad projector. I bought it two summers ago so I'm out of warranty and all that good stuff, but needless to say, I'm still a tad pissed.
I've decided to write a letter to samsung customer support saying that if I spend $1000 on a tv, it shouldn't break after less than two years. I was even away at college for this past year and it wasn't even being used. My only problem so far is I don't know who to address it to. Could you guys help me find somebody to mail this letter to?
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/contact
No physical address though.
Call customer support, it's probably still under warranty. No need to freak out just yet.
@RadioFlyer: Same problem with mine. Using HDMI, it screen goes black for whatever amount of time it feels like not displaying anything, and then, it comes back (no sound during the blackout). It does that only with the Xbox, and only when it's on HDMI, no other device does that, and it seams to work fine in component. But I had the option to put it on another TV, so I didn't dig deeper.
But as suggested by Rusty, you should try to call them.
@RadioFlyer:
You should call them. I had good experience when my samsung TV went out. It even sounds like the same problem.
Most companies keep addresses hidden, but if you call, if the rep can't fix the problem, ask for a mailing address for the corporate office. They usually have an address SPECIFICALLY for customer complaints, and many companies will in fact bend over backwards for anyone who actually takes the time to mail a physical letter. I used to do tech for Logitech, and we referred to corporate as the cooperate office. I kid you not, a guy once got a replacement for his 400 dollar speaker system because we didn't say in the documentation not to shoot the subwoofer with a pellet gun, and so its not his fault he killed it, and we should give him a replacement. He mailed a letter, and had his new full system in a week....
lol wow o.o
@alexanderdsoso: Time to get a new TV, I'll get the shotgun. 00 buckshot's alright? Man you got to love america.
Never fun having something fail on you, it which is worth keeping in mind for future reference that Costco covers all TV purchases for 2 years.
____
For Email use this web form:
https://contactus.samsung.com/customer/contactus/formmail/mail/MailQuestionProduct.jsp?SITE_ID=1&titleCode=1
____
Samsung Consumer Electronics America
85 Challenger Road
Ridgefield Park,NJ. 07660
____
Samsung North American Contact Center
Tel: 1-800-SAMSUNG (726-7864)
Fax: 864-752-1632
I dont know if this is the same problem that you are having, but recently my Samsung TV broke. When I'd turn it on, it would take forever to finally power on.
I did some research and it turns out that Samsung sucks, at making Power Supplies for their TVs.
I called a Samsung Repair dude, and he wanted $300 to replace the power supply.... I thought, I can do that myself, how hard could it be.... found the part for $80 online and was about to order it when I came across some comments on the part's page.
It turns out that the major problem on these Samsung TVs is that their capacitors like to blow... they basically try to save money by using a 10V capacitor instead of a 25V ( I hope I'm using the right units, I'm no electronics guru ). SO, I busted my TV open ( ok I unscrewed it ) and I looked at the capacitors... there was about 6 or 8 of them, and I could immediately see that a couple of them were bulging which means they're blowing out... you can see the difference between good ones and bad ones, or just google it...
SO! I went to the local electronics store and bought 4 25V capacitors, I drove to my uncle's place and we removed, and replaced the capacitors with a soldering iron.
Time: 15 minutes
Price: $4
Now... you have to google if your symptom is a result of a similar capacitor problem, maybe on a different capacitor, but if it is, you might be able to save you self some time an energy...
BEFORE ALL THIS... TV WARRANTIES ARE 3 YEARS SO YOU SHOULD BE OK. CALL SAMSUNG! EVEN IF ITS $4, LET THEM DO THE WORK IF ITS FREE
keep in mind though, they will put in a Samsung Power Supply, with the 10V capacitors, and in 2/3 years your capacitors are likely to go again, and then you'll know how to fix it :D Or I could be way off, and at least you know the story of how I saved about $300 :D