Dell said a dead pixel is normal

[moviegeek71]

I got a new Dell E207WFP monitor and it has a dead pixel, I contacted Dell and they said it was "normal" and I have to accept it. I sent them this email, quoted below, and am waiting for a reply.

The Product Information Guide states, "Dell branded hardware warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship", a dead pixel is a defect in materials and a dead pixel is also poor workmanship because the monitor should have been tested. I do not accept your demand that a deal pixel is "normal", it is not normal; it is a defect in material and workmanship.

Dell accepting a dead pixel as normal is not offering quality products and if it is your policy then Dell needs to advertise that the monitors have dead pixel(s). Should I write a letter to PC World Magazine and let them know that Dell sells products with defects and does not honor their warranty.

I need this defect fixed and it is covered by the warranty. A dead pixel is not normal. The monitor needs to be repaired or replaced.

[jagabo]

Every LCD manufacturer has a dead pixel policy that allows for a number of dead pixels. They don't consider the display defective until the levels defined in the policy are exceeded. For example:

http://erms.samsungusa.com/customer/sea/jsp/faqs/faqs_view.jsp?PG_ID=1&AT_ID=5608&PROD...D=28&PROD_ID=0

http://www.viewsonic.com.au/kbase/article.php?id=5

[moviegeek71]

Then they need to advertise that before the sale

I need to find a webpage like that with Dell's policy.

[jagabo]

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&cs=19&l=e...dhs&dn=1018431

[JohnnyMalaria]

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&dn=1018431

Guess what? Dell posted that just two days ago!

[jagabo]

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&dn=1018431

Guess what? Dell posted that just two days ago!

It might be an update but you can be sure they had a similar dead pixel policy before that.

[JohnnyMalaria]

Undoubtedly....

[moviegeek71]

This monitor has one "bright" dot, it totally ruins porn if the chic is black (that's a joke).

[terjeber]

This monitor has one "bright" dot, it totally ruins porn if the chic is black (that's a joke).

Dell's policy is bog standard. Every vendor has a similar policy. If you didn't know that you didn't research your purchase well enough beforehand. The whole purpose of the "informed consumer" is the "informed" part.

[thecoalman]

Another poster mentioned "massaging" the area gently where you have a dead pixel. I don't have a LCD myself and never tried it however in that post there was a few successes and I posted this in my own forum and some people had some success with it. Apparently it may come back and you may have to repeat the process.

If you break something don't complain to me.

[moviegeek71]

If you didn't know that you didn't research your purchase well enough beforehand.

I didn't think I would have to, I've been using Dell products for years to the tune of 14 computers total and this is the first time I've had a problem.

[AlanHK]

This article from 2005:

Consumers see red over dead pixels
By David Becker, CNET News.com on 18 February 2005

The trick comes in figuring out just what your gadget maker considers to be a defective screen. Some manufacturers, such as Dell, set specific policies laying out how many pixels have to conk out for a display to be defective.

While Dell's policy is relatively straightforward, some, such as those belonging to Acer and IBM, set complex formulas that distinguish between "bright dots" and "dark dots," the location on the screen and other factors.

Online retailer Newegg.com is one of the few stores that applies a uniform and widely publicised dead-pixel policy. Each LCD monitor listed on the site includes a reminder that the store will only replace if it has eight or more dead pixels.

"Not everybody's forthcoming with that kind of information," said Jommy Gayoso, director of sales and merchandising at Newegg. "We believe customers are better off if they know what they're getting into with a purchase."

Other manufacturers boast simple zero-tolerance policies on bad pixels as a way of boosting customer loyalty. Samsung last year began promoting a "no dead pixels" policy on some LCD monitors. And Nintendo has recently garnered praise for a lenient policy regarding replacing defective screens on its new DS handheld game player.

[Noahtuck]

This monitor has one "bright" dot, it totally ruins porn if the chic is black (that's a joke).

[rallynavvie]

I have 2 on my 24" Dell that I found within a few weeks but I knew Dell had a dead pixel policy like the rest that probably allowed for something like 10. If they're in clusters you can usually make a good argument but not if they're spread out.

[creakndale]

When I bought my first LCD monitor I knew I was taking a chance by buying online due to the manufacturer's dead pixel policy. I made up the attached PowerPoint file that cycles from:

Black to pure White to pure Red to pure Green to pure Blue by using the arrow keys. Press esc to quit. You need PowerPoint or a PowerPoint viewer to run the test.

monitor_pixel_loop_test.pps

[budz]

Which is why I never buy a lcd monitor from a online retailer. Buy from a local retail store like Office Depot or Best Buy where you can always return it for a dead pixel.

[AlanHK]

When I bought my first LCD monitor I knew I was taking a chance by buying online due to the manufacturer's dead pixel policy. I made up the attached PowerPoint file that cycles from:

Black to pure White to pure Red to pure Green to pure Blue by using the arrow keys. Press esc to quit. You need PowerPoint or a PowerPoint viewer to run the test.

monitor_pixel_loop_test.pps

Nokia Monitor Test has that (full screen pure colours) and a bunch of test patterns. Says it's for "CRT monitors" but works as well for any kind.

[videobread]

I have had problems with Dell component and have stayed away from Dell for that reason. They buy low bidder components for their computers and a lot of times make the components Dell specific - not interchangeable with PC parts. Stay away from Dell. Bad mouth them on forum's. Their pixel policy is crap. I'm shure they put their name on the cheapest monitor they could find in all of China.

[thecoalman]

Their pixel policy is crap. I'm shure they put their name on the cheapest monitor they could find in all of China.

I think its pretty standard policy no matter who it is. It's ironic that I'm sitting here in front of my DELL rebranded 19 inch Sony trinitron which is best damn monitor I ever had. :wink: Bought it used and unfortunately it appears to be on its last legs but it's probably 5 or 6 years old and used heavily.

[aedipuss]

if it weren't for the 2 thin horizontal lines in trinitrons they would have been perfect. i had a couple 19 and 21 inch samsung/sony crts that were fast and lovely displays. took an entire nuke power plant to light them up though.

lcds i buy local also, circuit city or best buy mostly. no problems returning anything i don't like the quality of.

[hech54]

I have had problems with Dell component and have stayed away from Dell for that reason. They buy low bidder components for their computers and a lot of times make the components Dell specific - not interchangeable with PC parts. Stay away from Dell. Bad mouth them on forum's. Their pixel policy is crap. I'm shure they put their name on the cheapest monitor they could find in all of China.

I'm sitting here at my 6 year old Dell Dimension 4500 computer and looking at my two year old "pixel perfect"
Dell monitor laughing at you and your vague, proof-less, link-less drabble.

[jagabo]

Doesn't Dell have a 30 day satisfaction guaranteed return policy? Don't tell them about the dead pixel(s). Just say you weren't satisfied.

[moviegeek71]

I'm sitting here at my 6 year old Dell Dimension 4500 computer and looking at my two year old "pixel perfect" Dell monitor laughing at you and your vague, proof-less, link-less drabble.

If this is directed toward me, for what it's worth, the 17" FP that this 20" WFP replaced is "pixel perfect" and it has been since March of 2004 when I bought the Dimension 8300 that I've had no problems at all with over the years.

[RickA]

Greets,

A search for Image Persistence - the LCD equivalent of Image Burn-in for CRT monitors you may find some helpful info. Also Hot Pixel, Stuck Pixel or Dead Pixel.

There is a site http://www.jscreenfix.com/ that uses a Java app to supposedly correct some of these problems. You may want to give it a try. Could not hurt, plus it makes an interesting screen saver.

I've tried the free one they have when an old LCD monitor showed signs of image persistence. But it seemed to clear up faster if I just shut the monitor off for a few minutes.

Cheers,
Rick

[moviegeek71]

Looking at a monitor with dead pixel(s) is the equivalent of dating Pamela Anderson with one of her front teeth missing.

[jagabo]

Who notices Pamela Anderson's teeth?

[budz]

Who notices Pamela Anderson's teeth?

Good one! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[moviegeek71]

I guess I need to lower my standards in life when dealing with women and monitors.

[AlanHK]

Looking at a monitor with dead pixel(s) is the equivalent of dating Pamela Anderson with one of her front teeth missing.

Pamela, I am not attracted to you any more -- Not!

[ViRaL1]

Perfect teeth still don't overshadow the Hepatitis. Then again, maybe MY standards need to be lowered.