Scratched screen! (1 Viewer)

[Wayne Phillips]

Before I go into detail about my PROBLEM, can I just say what an excellent forum this is! I have learned more from 2 days browsing this forum than I have from 6 months of asking questions of sales staff in retail outlets!

Okay, this is my situation! I have just bought a Toshiba 40" widescreen rear projection TV, brand new, for just under £800! This sounds like an incredible bargain and hence my decision to purchase! However, the reason I was given a 40% discount was that the screen has an inch and a half long scratch towards the bottom right hand corner!

At the time of purchase, the 'bargain' factor outweighed my usual penchant for being a bit of a perfectionist! However, as I await delivery next week, I am already engaged in psychological mind games about how distracting the scratch will be when viewing a movie! The only thing I can actually remember about the scratch is that from close up in the store, it seemed to take on a yellowish tint (with TV on). Is this possibly because of a tinted coating having been removed?

I hope that when it does arrive next week, it will be hardly noticeable from a 12ft viewing distance. However, I would be very grateful for any suggestions about anything I could possibly do to minimise the distraction to viewing. Thanking you in advance.

 

[Allan Jayne]

Are you sure it is brand new as opposed to a demo or store display unit?
A yellow tint is probably not due to the scratch or any polishing to remove it. A yellow tint can be due to excesive wear and tear on the CRT's down below which commonly happens in store display TV sets.
If the salesman said the set was New except for the scratch and it turns out to have problems (such as CRT burn) caused by Usage, then you have the right to return the set because it was misrepresented.
If the front of the screen is smooth, the screen layer with the scratch can be removed completely and optionally replaced. If not (the front has fine up and down ribs), the screen layer with the scratch is required and must be replaced if removed and also cannot be polished without blurring the picture.
Replacing the lenticular lens panel (the screen layer with up and down ribs) does not ahve to be an exact match. Differences result in differences in how far to the side viewers can sit and still see a reasonably bright picture, and in some cases (rib pitch) whether the picture is coarser of finer.
Video hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/video.htm

 

[Bill_Weinreich]

The outer screen covers are usually removable and replaceable, but the replacement may be costly. Depending on the depth of the scratch, a good plastic polish (marine stores) may do the trick. Another option is to remove it and take it to a glass shop to have them buff it out.

Bill

 

[Wayne Phillips]

The front of the screen is ribbed! The yellow tint is restricted to within the scratch line itself so I don't think it is CRT burn. If the outer tinted layer is scratched, might it be possible to apply some sort of coating to the scratch itself to prevent its 'bright' appearance? (Possibly turning down the contrast may reduce the effect?)

I think I will have to wait until it arrives and clean the scratched area. Depending on the result of the cleaning (hopeful rather than expectant!), I shall have to consider carefully whether the flaw is going to annoy the hell out of me. All suggestions gratefully accepted, thank you in advance.