Looking to buy first flat screen TV, but....

[Aldebaran]

.....I'm running into some roadblocks, and a few other concerns. First, I'm told to go for a 4K TV because that's the latest thing and prices have come way down to not much more than a 1080p. Then I've been told that a 1080 TV actually looks better when viewing 1080 content because a 4K set has to do things to the image that makes it less sharp. I even went to our major electronics retailer (not sure if I'm allowed to say the name or not) and saw the 4K set on display I was thinking of getting and thought it looked less sharp than the 1080 sets around it displaying the same video. Salesman told me that it looks less sharp because those sets are connected with coax cable instead of HDMI. Hmmmm. But wouldn't that affect all the sets equally?

Also, I've heard horror stories of people buying TV's and then opening the box when they got home only to find that the screen was broken, even if they transported it correctly. Then this retailer won't take it back for exchange or refund because they say that all sales are final on damaged merchandise, and of course they simply claim it was damaged by the customer. The only recourse I can think of for this is to have them open the box before I leave the store so I can see if it's broken or not, but I remember when my dad bought a TV and we unboxed it, it took quite awhile to do so and wouldn't be easy to rebox again. I've also heard that if the screen is cracked, it isn't always apparent until it's plugged it and turned on.

Has anyone here bought a broken TV from a major retailer and been refused a return or exchange?

 

[Mountainmanbob]

I even received a broken screen on a TV a while back I ordered on the internet returned it no problem.

Best Buy has good deals on TVs never a problem returning anything there don't even need a receipt all the information is kept in their computer.

Samsung excellent for the money spent.

M-Bob

 

[Go Braves]

We've bought most our TVs from Amazon or Walmart. It's delivered right to your doorstep so you don't have to worry about transporting it. Walmart's brand is better than you'd expect. I bought my girlfriend a 32 inch TV from Walmart for her bedroom, for $89. It's been great.

 

[Go Braves]

I even received a broken screen on a TV a while back I ordered on the internet returned it no problem.

Best Buy has good deals on TVs never a problem returning anything there don't even need a receipt all the information is kept in their computer.

Samsung excellent for the money spent.

M-Bob

Best Buy's store brand Dynex (think that's how you spell it) is pretty decent too. I find that their prices are usually higher on TVs but sometimes they've got good deals. Best deals are right before the Super Bowl. Folks think that Black Friday is where it's at, but pre-Super Bowl is usually better. Of course the nice thing about it is you can go & look at what you buy before you buy it, vs buying it on Amazon.

I agree that Samsung is a great brand. It's good for TVs that are going into the family room, what have you. Cheaper brands are fine for bedrooms, places like that.

 

[USincognito]

I traded my 26" CRT for a Sony Bravia 32" back in 2008 I believe. It still works fine (and I probably paid much more for it than Go Braves did).

 

[Aldebaran]

I even received a broken screen on a TV a while back I ordered on the internet returned it no problem.

Best Buy has good deals on TVs never a problem returning anything there don't even need a receipt all the information is kept in their computer.

Samsung excellent for the money spent.

M-Bob

Actually, BB the retailer I was talking about. Here's a thread from a different site about it: Return Policy on broken TVs • r/Bestbuy

People report that they are blamed for the breakage if the box shows no damage in the location of the damage. However, it's plenty easy to imagine how the box could have been banged around without damage to the box during the time it was shipped from the manufacturer to the store, and then handled by the employees of the store when stocking the shelves.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Return Policy on broken TVs • r/Bestbuy

According to what I read there on that site returns at Best Buy should not be a problem.

If you wish you can peek into the box before you leave the store. Or have an employee pull it from the box and then put it back in the box. Ask the salesman if there's a problem can I return it. Get their name.

I have taken things back to Best Buy that I couldn't get back in the Box pretty messy not a problem.

Hot mess returned no problem.

M-Bob

 

[Aldebaran]

According to what I read there on that site returns at Best Buy should not be a problem.

If you wish you can peek into the box before you leave the store. Or have an employee pull it from the box and then put it back in the box. Ask the salesman if there's a problem can I return it. Get their name.

I remember when my dad bought a TV and we unboxed it, it took quite awhile to do so and wouldn't be easy to rebox again. I've also heard that if the screen is cracked, it isn't always apparent until it's plugged it and turned on. I doubt they would allow me to go that far.
I agree with you about getting a statement from a salesman and getting their name, but I've done something like that before with a different company and then it turned out they were wrong. When confronted with the fact that it was one of their own people who made the statement, all they gave me was, "We apologize for the incorrect information you were given". I'm thinking I may have to have my smart phone recording everything, including when I open the box at home.

I just don't want to end up with the nightmare so many people have been experiencing. Buy a new TV, get it home, discover it's broken right out of the box, try to return it, be told "Sorry, damaged merchandise can't be returned", end up empty-handed.

 

[Aldebaran]

I even received a broken screen on a TV a while back I ordered on the internet returned it no problem.

In doing a search on the internet for the same model as the one I want from Best Buy, the best one I can find at about the same price is a used one on Amazon for only $5 less.

 

[seventysevens]

Consider the price you are willing to spend as some TV are capable of 4k but not as well as others , you need 4k input in order to get 4k output
There are really good 1080p Tv's available at a good price that look as good or better than some 4k sets
take the time to research the model of TV you are thinking about buying as some TV makers will have a couple different screens on the same model with one screen being made by the TV maker and another screen option made by some other company that makes it of less quality and shows in the viewing , when the TV maker runs low on the quality screens they use the lesser quality to meet production requirements
Stay away from RCA/TCL they won't last long and are built with surplus left over parts that other companies got rid of as they don't use them anymore
check out the forums and ratings sites as they have good useful information
I have a couple sites bookmarked on another computer if you want to check them, out

 

[Aldebaran]

Consider the price you are willing to spend as some TV are capable of 4k but not as well as others , you need 4k input in order to get 4k output
There are really good 1080p Tv's available at a good price that look as good or better than some 4k sets
take the time to research the model of TV you are thinking about buying as some TV makers will have a couple different screens on the same model with one screen being made by the TV maker and another screen option made by some other company that makes it of less quality and shows in the viewing , when the TV maker runs low on the quality screens they use the lesser quality to meet production requirements
Stay away from RCA/TCL they won't last long and are built with surplus left over parts that other companies got rid of as they don't use them anymore
check out the forums and ratings sites as they have good useful information
I have a couple sites bookmarked on another computer if you want to check them, out

Thanks, but right now I'm actually mostly concerned about the issue of Best Buy not honoring their return policy if the TV is defective. There's an enormous number of people reporting that problem, and it seems widespread due to the fragility of the screens on current TV's.
I looked at the Better Business Bureau's rating for Best Buy, and they give it an A+, even though they have 23 positive reviews, 5 neutral reviews, and 619 negative reviews, along with 7,057 customer complaints: BBB Business Profile | Best Buy Stores, LP - US Headquarters

Perhaps A+ doesn't mean what it did when I was in school.

 

[seventysevens]

I remember when my dad bought a TV and we unboxed it, it took quite awhile to do so and wouldn't be easy to rebox again. I've also heard that if the screen is cracked, it isn't always apparent until it's plugged it and turned on. I doubt they would allow me to go that far.
I agree with you about getting a statement from a salesman and getting their name, but I've done something like that before with a different company and then it turned out they were wrong. When confronted with the fact that it was one of their own people who made the statement, all they gave me was, "We apologize for the incorrect information you were given". I'm thinking I may have to have my smart phone recording everything, including when I open the box at home.

I just don't want to end up with the nightmare so many people have been experiencing. Buy a new TV, get it home, discover it's broken right out of the box, try to return it, be told "Sorry, damaged merchandise can't be returned", end up empty-handed.

Ask for a cart big enough to move the TV and open the box and check the TV for damage before you buy it; if it is damaged ask for another TV

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

About Best Buy, most of out stuff in the house is from BB. Never had an issue with them. Though we also buy the BB protection plans. And while some claim they are money grabs, the one tv I bought a decade age stopped working right and I used the plan and they replaced the tv (it was a $1200 tv) for free with a whatever I wanted to pick out (up to $1200 would be put towards it). Then about a year later after a flood the tv had no real issue but we replaced it to be safe. The plan covered that too and we got yet another tv! So that was $2400+ of free TVs thanks to the plans! We've also had a dishwasher, fridge and other things go and get replaced for free thanks to the plans. Saved 6 digits over the decades we've been going there thanks to the plans.

As for bad feedback of BB, I will say ours does seem to be the exception. Its one of the only ones I ever see win awards for such good feedback and customer satisfaction. I have been to two others ones and they didn't seem as good. Most customers I've seen in store complaining are usually at fault but blame the store for their issue. Like buying a video game then mad they can't return it once opened. Or buying a product without a plan then complaining because BB won't replace it for them despite the fact its been months.

 

[Waterwerx]

.....I'm running into some roadblocks, and a few other concerns. First, I'm told to go for a 4K TV because that's the latest thing and prices have come way down to not much more than a 1080p. Then I've been told that a 1080 TV actually looks better when viewing 1080 content because a 4K set has to do things to the image that makes it less sharp. I even went to our major electronics retailer (not sure if I'm allowed to say the name or not) and saw the 4K set on display I was thinking of getting and thought it looked less sharp than the 1080 sets around it displaying the same video. Salesman told me that it looks less sharp because those sets are connected with coax cable instead of HDMI. Hmmmm. But wouldn't that affect all the sets equally?

Also, I've heard horror stories of people buying TV's and then opening the box when they got home only to find that the screen was broken, even if they transported it correctly. Then this retailer won't take it back for exchange or refund because they say that all sales are final on damaged merchandise, and of course they simply claim it was damaged by the customer. The only recourse I can think of for this is to have them open the box before I leave the store so I can see if it's broken or not, but I remember when my dad bought a TV and we unboxed it, it took quite awhile to do so and wouldn't be easy to rebox again. I've also heard that if the screen is cracked, it isn't always apparent until it's plugged it and turned on.

Has anyone here bought a broken TV from a major retailer and been refused a return or exchange?

Buying a 4k TV doesn't mean its going to display content from whatever is connected to it in 4k resolution. When it comes to your cable, this is dictated by your cable company, which at present, most are 1080p. For 4k, assuming they offer it, you're going to pay more for your cable subscription, and even then, you're not guaranteed to get all of your channels to display in 4k.

 

[Aldebaran]

Buying a 4k TV doesn't mean its going to display content from whatever is connected to it in 4k resolution. When it comes to your cable, this is dictated by your cable company, which at present, most are 1080p. For 4k, assuming they offer it, you're going to pay more for your cable subscription, and even then, you're not guaranteed to get all of your channels to display in 4k.

I know this. I was just surprised that the 4K had a worse image than the 1080 sets had. If both sets are receiving the same 1080 signal, wouldn't the images on both sets be at least the same rather than the 4K actually looking worse?

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

As for TVs and 4k and what not. Almost no one needs 4K. Even with prices down more they aren't worth it yet because almost nothing uses them really. More so nothing takes advantage of the 4K. I'd stick to something that is at least 1080. Not under (like 720). However with 1080 it again really isn't a big noticeable difference until you get a good sized screen. Also only use HDMI. And make sure its a good HDMI cable. Not a cheap one.

If you get lets say a 32'' 1080 HD TV, its sort of a waste of the 1080. If you really want to see 1080 in all its glory then get at least a 50''. If you can afford a 4k then I'd get 50'' or higher. BUT... to make it evenb more confusing (or maybe more simple) it really depends also on how close or far you will be from your tv. To far and you won't notice the 4k details as well, to close and its to much. This may help:
Upgrading To 4K HDR TV: How Far You Sit From The Screen Is Critical

There are also all kinds of other details that you should research depending on what you will use it for like upscaling, if its a smart tv, is it curved (prevents glare), does it have UHD, does it have black features (dimming and what not)...etc. List goes on and on. It can also be confusing. But that stuff matters more on what you need it for.

My tv is a Samsung Smart TV1080 HD 64'' (with some other nice features) as our main tv for games, blurays, tv shows...etc. It was only a couple hundred over a year ago when we bought it. My older Samsung 1080 HD 42'' is now with my parents. And we have a Samsung 720 HD 32'' in the basement for when people stay over/and our security system. I will get a 4k but probably not until around 2020 or after. By then I'm sure they will have 8k or 16k or something that sounds even more amazing.... that no one will really need yet either lol. As you noticed we prefer Samsung. I used to like Westinghouse for gaming setups. But they have gone down hill recently. We also prefer screens that are more bright and vivid.

Lastly heres a good one depending on how much you want to spend, its $200 off:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsun...-smart-4k-ultra-hd-tv/5754306.p?skuId=5754306

However if you got alot of money then this tv is $700 off and REALLLLLY nice. Its "Magnolia" which is essentially the "rich mans" section of Best Buy. Don't have any by us, but in floridia Magnolia sections are at BBs there:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsun...th-high-dynamic-range/5774200.p?skuId=5774200

 

[Neostarwcc]

I bought a 4k Samsung Smart TV last September (I forget the model) and I have to say I love the picture on it. I spent about $500 but it was well worth the money. 4k TVs have a lot better picture than 1080's but you kind of need a cable company that supports 4k resolution like Spectrum or Comcast to get 4k picture. If you're not sure if your cable company supports 4k resolution you can ask and you can get 4k tvs cheaper than $500 I just bought middle of the line. If your cable company doesn't support 4k resolution I'd just get a 1080p TV. As for your concern about getting a damaged TV you can always ask best buy if they accept returns on broken TVs they probably do. I don't really have a best buy in my area (I bought my TV on Amazon) so I can't tell you. But, I'm sure they do. If they don't I'd just go with Amazon because Amazon does have warranties on their tvs.

 

[Aldebaran]

I bought a 4k Samsung Smart TV last September (I forget the model) and I have to say I love the picture on it. I spent about $500 but it was well worth the money. 4k TVs have a lot better picture than 1080's but you kind of need a cable company that supports 4k resolution like Spectrum or Comcast to get 4k picture. If you're not sure if your cable company supports 4k resolution you can ask and you can get 4k tvs cheaper than $500 I just bought middle of the line. If your cable company doesn't support 4k resolution I'd just get a 1080p TV. As for your concern about getting a damaged TV you can always ask best buy if they accept returns on broken TVs they probably do. I don't really have a best buy in my area (I bought my TV on Amazon) so I can't tell you. But, I'm sure they do. If they don't I'd just go with Amazon because Amazon does have warranties on their tvs.

My TV signal would come from antenna. As for my source of 4K, it would be my computer. Youtube has an increasing number of vids that can be viewed in 4K. Some can even be seen in 8K, although that seems a bit overkill.

I've never bought anything from Amazon before. I don't understand them. I've looked at their ads and it looks like Amazon is just a grouping of a bunch of different companies. Not sure how that works if you have a problem with something.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Better off with Best Buy or even Sears or Walmart.
MB

 

[Willie T]

Taking a guess is fine for some people. But, my wife and I consult Consumer Report for any major purchase.