Modern televisions.

We brought a new Sony TV just before Christmas. I have accidentally dropped the remote and it bounced off the glass TV stand and hit the TV screen. The TV is now unusable. The screen has just had it, every thing else works. I have contacted a Sony authorised repair centre to be told the screens are now obsolete and the TV is scrap. How can a TV be obsolete in a few months. If the screen can get damaged so easily could it be classed has not of merchantable quality. Surely a item of the price of TV should be more robust. I am not covered on house insurance for accidental damage. Any advice welcome.

We brought a new Sony TV just before Christmas. I have accidentally dropped the remote and it bounced off the glass TV stand and hit the TV screen. The TV is now unusable. The screen has just had it, every thing else works. I have contacted a Sony authorised repair centre to be told the screens are now obsolete and the TV is scrap. How can a TV be obsolete in a few months. If the screen can get damaged so easily could it be classed has not of merchantable quality. Surely a item of the price of TV should be more robust.
I am not covered on house insurance for accidental damage. Any advice welcome.

I googled this as it is something that also happened to a friend of mine (her cat broke it) and it seems that Curry's offer a repair service. The bad news is that other sites say a broken screen cannot be repaired.

I googled this as it is something that also happened to a friend of mine (her cat broke it) and it seems that Curry's offer a repair service. The bad news is that other sites say a broken screen cannot be repaired.

I'd have thought that the screen, especially a large one, could well be the most expensive single component of a modern television. That was true in the old days of CRT. If this be true, it may be uneconomic to replace the screen because spare parts, stock controlled individually, are always a lot more expensive than the parts were originally.

I'd have thought that the screen, especially a large one, could well be the most expensive single component of a modern television. That was true in the old days of CRT.

If this be true, it may be uneconomic to replace the screen because spare parts, stock controlled individually, are always a lot more expensive than the parts were originally.

If you're near Birmingham, then Electronic World will replace screens of all types for far less than a replacement TV or Glenfield in Leicester. I'm guessing (probably wrong) that your Midlands based. However, a quick google brings up any number of repair centres around the UK.

If you're near Birmingham, then Electronic World will replace screens of all types for far less than a replacement TV or Glenfield in Leicester. I'm guessing (probably wrong) that your Midlands based.

However, a quick google brings up any number of repair centres around the UK.

[quote]If you're near Birmingham, then Electronic World will replace screens of all types for far less than a replacement TV or Glenfield in Leicester. I'm guessing (probably wrong) that your Midlands based. However, a quick google brings up any number of repair centres around the UK.[/quote] Thank you for all your reply. Can you tell me who in Glenfield do repairs. I am not to far from there. I have tried Electronics world but they are a no go.

Quote:If you're near Birmingham, then Electronic World will replace screens of all types for far less than a replacement TV or Glenfield in Leicester. I'm guessing (probably wrong) that your Midlands based.

However, a quick google brings up any number of repair centres around the UK.


Thank you for all your reply.

Can you tell me who in Glenfield do repairs. I am not to far from there. I have tried Electronics world but they are a no go.

Ask for a confirmation of the bottom-line price before you go ahead. When it's fixed, it'll still be a used TV.

Ask for a confirmation of the bottom-line price before you go ahead. When it's fixed, it'll still be a used TV.

You have obviously been very unlucky. However, if it were me, I would not worry and just claim the cost of a new TV from my insurance company which is what I pay them for. Dave

You have obviously been very unlucky. However, if it were me, I would not worry and just claim the cost of a new TV from my insurance company which is what I pay them for.


Dave

Dave - OP said it is not covered on his insurance.

Dave - OP said it is not covered on his insurance.

I would not let the comments from the manufacturer discourage you. They seem only interested in what's covered under warranty. And, what is not, they only want to sell you a new TV. Best bet would be to do as many above have suggested. Take it to a reputable repair facility and see what they can help you with. I wouldn't take it to a shop selling TV's. They may only want to sell you a new TV and keep your old one for free parts. Good luck.:D

I would not let the comments from the manufacturer discourage you. They seem only interested in what's covered under warranty. And, what is not, they only want to sell you a new TV. Best bet would be to do as many above have suggested. Take it to a reputable repair facility and see what they can help you with. I wouldn't take it to a shop selling TV's. They may only want to sell you a new TV and keep your old one for free parts. Good luck.

I am not sure it will help but a friend bought a new TV and reached behind it a few days later to close a curtain and knocked the TV over. It was similarly a complete write-off. Unfortunately he was not insured at all because his house had been the victim of an arson attack. A few months later he did get insurance again but obviously had to buy another new TV himself but re-arranged to room to avoid a repeat problem. If you really feel confident that Sony are at fault because the item in not of merchantable quality you need to go through the small claims court process though it would be best to initially seek independent advice from a Citizens Advice Bureaux. Many years ago I had a glass door on a NEFF oven shatter for no obvious reason. The oven was just over 5 years old and fitted as part of a kitchen refit. The local fitter tried Robert Bosch who, by then had taken over NEFF and initially refused to help. Then obtain the court papers and formally informed the fitter than in 3 weeks I would take court action (I meant it). I believe at that time it would have only cost me about £50 if I lost. Bosch had to consider the potential poor publicity if the fitter lost and a local (possibly national) newspaper picked up the story. RB sensibly contacted me directly the next day to make an appointment for a Bosch Engineer to call and make a full repair at no cost. Everyone seemed satisfied with this result. Dave

I am not sure it will help but a friend bought a new TV and reached behind it a few days later to close a curtain and knocked the TV over. It was similarly a complete write-off. Unfortunately he was not insured at all because his house had been the victim of an arson attack. A few months later he did get insurance again but obviously had to buy another new TV himself but re-arranged to room to avoid a repeat problem.


If you really feel confident that Sony are at fault because the item in not of merchantable quality you need to go through the small claims court process though it would be best to initially seek independent advice from a Citizens Advice Bureaux. Many years ago I had a glass door on a NEFF oven shatter for no obvious reason. The oven was just over 5 years old and fitted as part of a kitchen refit. The local fitter tried Robert Bosch who, by then had taken over NEFF and initially refused to help. Then obtain the court papers and formally informed the fitter than in 3 weeks I would take court action (I meant it). I believe at that time it would have only cost me about £50 if I lost. Bosch had to consider the potential poor publicity if the fitter lost and a local (possibly national) newspaper picked up the story. RB sensibly contacted me directly the next day to make an appointment for a Bosch Engineer to call and make a full repair at no cost. Everyone seemed satisfied with this result.


Dave

Thank you for all your replies. I will contact citizens advice this week and see what they say.

Thank you for all your replies. I will contact citizens advice this week and see what they say.

If you claim that the TV is not of merchantable quality, wasn't sufficiently durable etc then the [i]burden of proof[/i] will rest with you. Sony don't have to prove themselves innocent, nevertheless Sony will have manufacturing test data that shows how strong their screens are, what impacts they are designed to handle etc. What evidence will you have apart from your own 'eye witness' testimony? You would have to convince a court that 1) a tv should be able to withstand the impact of an object, such as a remote control, hitting it on the screen without the screen being damaged or it should not be on sale and 2) That's all that ever happened to it, there was no prior damage. Even if you could prove how hard the TV was hit and the court agreed that it should be able to sustain a greater impact you would then have to prove it was Sony's fault as manufacturer. Accidents happen that the manufacturers can't mitigate for, and that's why insurers sell accidental damage policies. I don't think it should break that easily, but I know they can. Perhaps a retailer had handled it roughly prior to delivery. By the way, usually it's the retailer who your contract is with. I think unless you bought the TV directly from Sony it's the retailer you would have to take to court.

If you claim that the TV is not of merchantable quality, wasn't sufficiently durable etc then the burden of proof will rest with you. Sony don't have to prove themselves innocent, nevertheless Sony will have manufacturing test data that shows how strong their screens are, what impacts they are designed to handle etc. What evidence will you have apart from your own 'eye witness' testimony?

You would have to convince a court that 1) a tv should be able to withstand the impact of an object, such as a remote control, hitting it on the screen without the screen being damaged or it should not be on sale and 2) That's all that ever happened to it, there was no prior damage.

Even if you could prove how hard the TV was hit and the court agreed that it should be able to sustain a greater impact you would then have to prove it was Sony's fault as manufacturer.

Accidents happen that the manufacturers can't mitigate for, and that's why insurers sell accidental damage policies.

I don't think it should break that easily, but I know they can. Perhaps a retailer had handled it roughly prior to delivery.

By the way, usually it's the retailer who your contract is with. I think unless you bought the TV directly from Sony it's the retailer you would have to take to court.

Have a look at your local auctioneers - a relative decided that our 18" screen TV needed upgrading. He went and bought us a Panasonic 42" (?) screen TV, for about £40 at a nearby auctioneer. Might save you the trouble of hunting re repairs, etc. Best of luck.

Have a look at your local auctioneers - a relative decided that our 18" screen TV needed upgrading. He went and bought us a Panasonic 42" (?) screen TV, for about £40 at a nearby auctioneer. Might save you the trouble of hunting re repairs, etc. Best of luck.

I do not disagree with Chris. There are complexities in this case which may make it difficult. Chris is right that any claim under the Sale of Goods Act is with the seller not the manufacturer which is why I had to threaten to take the fitting company to court. I was reluctant to do so as they were not to blame but felt able to do so once Bosch had offered them support. A few years later, I employed the same fitting company to re-furbish a Shower Room and they remembered the issue and were not all offended particularly as we achieved the right result. Under the SOGA, in the first 6 months if the goods are faulty (i.e. do not operate as described) you do not have to prove anything, it is up to the seller to prove that you are wrong. Unfortunately, I doubt that accidental damage will fall into this category. Lord Denning has already ruled that Merchantable Quality does not mean perfect. Because of these complexities, it does make sense to obtain advice from the CAB who will probably have a lot more experience and can usually consult to odd solicitor, if required. Best of Luck. Dave

I do not disagree with Chris. There are complexities in this case which may make it difficult. Chris is right that any claim under the Sale of Goods Act is with the seller not the manufacturer which is why I had to threaten to take the fitting company to court. I was reluctant to do so as they were not to blame but felt able to do so once Bosch had offered them support. A few years later, I employed the same fitting company to re-furbish a Shower Room and they remembered the issue and were not all offended particularly as we achieved the right result.

Under the SOGA, in the first 6 months if the goods are faulty (i.e. do not operate as described) you do not have to prove anything, it is up to the seller to prove that you are wrong. Unfortunately, I doubt that accidental damage will fall into this category. Lord Denning has already ruled that Merchantable Quality does not mean perfect. Because of these complexities, it does make sense to obtain advice from the CAB who will probably have a lot more experience and can usually consult to odd solicitor, if required. Best of Luck.


Dave

The screen on the TV looks like it is made from a thin perspex where has the screens you get on a computer monitor or tablet seem to be glass or a lot thicker perspex then this TV. If the TV was meant to be wall mounted I could understand it but when it comes with feet and is going to be in a position were it could get knocked I would have thought they would have made it stronger.

The screen on the TV looks like it is made from a thin perspex where has the screens you get on a computer monitor or tablet seem to be glass or a lot thicker perspex then this TV. If the TV was meant to be wall mounted I could understand it but when it comes with feet and is going to be in a position were it could get knocked I would have thought they would have made it stronger.