[irishguy]

hi guys,
had the ghosting problem with my set,
used the spinal tap fix and solved all ghosting problems,
but now on the top of my screen i have a slightly brighter bar going across about 2 inches deep with a slight blue tint,
my set is 3 years old and has just under 6000 hours on the bulb,
would this have anything to do with it ?
any help greatly appreciated guys

[CSnoddon]

Originally Posted by irishguy

hi guys,
had the ghosting problem with my set,
used the spinal tap fix and solved all ghosting problems,
but now on the top of my screen i have a slightly brighter bar going across about 2 inches deep with a slight blue tint,
my set is 3 years old and has just under 6000 hours on the bulb,
would this have anything to do with it ?
any help greatly appreciated guys

I have exactly the same problem with mine gosting and then the lighter bar at the top, but 4 days ago mine decided to start turning itself off and now its generated a dark shaded bar at the bottom of the screen also. Think its maybe seen its last legs this one

[RichardBoult]

Did you get this sorted....?

I appear to have the same problem and have just been reading about optical block issues with american sets and legal class actions against Sony!!

[CSnoddon]

Hi there got it sorted , bought a Panasonic Viera instead and my broken sony is heading for the dump. £900 for a new optical block I dont think so

[andy2608]

Hi I have the same probs with the sony 50e 2012
Had put a new bulb in today when it fired up again i had noticed a pink coloured dar across the top of the screen from left to right could any one help please
andy

[RichardBoult]

I have just had the following exchange with Sony about this issue.....can anyone advise what next....I am under the impression a small claims court proceeding might get me somewhere....

Dear Mr Boult

Thank you for your reply.

I am sorry to read that you were not satisfied with my previous response.

The Sales of Goods Act is a contract held between yourself and the supplying retailer of the product, rather than the manufacturer. In the event that you wish to pursue a replacement television or assistance in repair cost I suggest that you contact your original retailer.

I have thoroughly investigated your enquiry, and can confirm that there are no known issues with the optical block in the KDF-E50A12U. When your television was manufactured, a 50" LCD panel would not have been available. Rear projection TVs were offered in this size for customers who wished to purchase a large screen LCD television. As technology has progressed since 2005 it is no longer necessary to use such rear projection components such as an optical block, as a 50" panel is available with standard LCD technology. This is the reason that an optical block is no longer used, rather than because of a design fault .

I am sorry I cannot be of greater assistance on this occasion, however I hope that my e-mail has gone some way to clarify this matter.

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth Woolard
Customer Information Centre
SONY UNITED KINGDOM LTD

Sony United Kingdom Limited, a company registered in England and Wales.
Registered office: The Heights, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0XW
Registered company number: 2422874





From:
Sent: 21 January 2010 15:02
To: suk.cic.customerreplies@eu.sony.com; SUK.GeneralCIC@eu.sony.com
Subject: RE: Optical Block?


Good afternoon and thank you for your swift response.

Unfortunately I cannot accept your refusal to contribute to the cost of my repair. Having researched this it would appear that under the Sale of Goods Act electrical goods are required to last a reasonable amount of time. Given that this television cost me in the region of £1400 when purchased I do not think it is unreasonable to expect the set to have lasted without fault more than the four years it has. There is also a growing amount of evidence online that Sony do in fact acknowledge an inherent and latent fault with the design of this particular television and it is notable that the use of this technology has now been stopped by Sony. I am sure however that in many cases your customers either do not complain or pursue this matter and that the real picture is a lot worse than the few cases recorded so far. Also, whilst I understand that sets are manufactured for the specific region they are sold, I cannot beleive that the specification for an 'optical block' would differ between regions as this is a highly specialised piece of equipment at the heart of the television and as such the design would be consistent in the interest of reduced cost.

As such I would appreciate it if you could reconsider your response below. I beleive that an acceptable offer would be for Sony to offer to meet the full cost of repair or provide me with a replacement television of equivalent or better specification.

A response within 7 days would be appreciated at which time I will be reconsidering my approach to this complaint.

Yours

Richard Boult



Sony Incoming <suk.cic.customerreplies@eu.sony.com>
21/01/2010 11:06
To: " cc:
Subject: RE: Optical Block?



Dear Mr. Boult

Thank you for your e-mail.

I have investigated your enquiry and can confirm that your letter was not received by the Customer Information Centre (Basingstoke), I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

I am sorry to read of the issue with your Sony KDF-E50A12U television and its subsequent need for service attention. Given your concerns, I can fully understand your wish to now bring this matter to our attention.

I can confirm that there is no known issue with the optical block on your television in the United Kingdom. Although it will have similar specifications, each television is manufactured for the specific region it is to be sold in. As this is the case, a reported fault in one country may not be evident in another.

Although not necessarily reflected in your recent experience, we have always gone to great lengths at both the design and manufacture of each product to ensure they are as reliable as possible. These efforts have led to Sony products earning a very good reputation for reliability.

However, the nature of electrical components does mean it is simply not possible to eliminate all potential faults and we have to concede, to a point, that there will always be a chance of spontaneous failure.

In recognition of this, each product is supplied with a guarantee, to protect both the product and our customers from these potential failures. Once the guarantee has expired however, any required repair would have to be carried out on a chargeable basis.

As your KDF-E50A12U is now over two years it is now longer covered by the manufactures guarantee. With this in mind, I can confirm that Sony will not contribute towards the cost of the repair.

I am sorry that, in this instance, I cannot provide any direct assistance.

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth Woolard
Customer Information Centre
SONY UNITED KINGDOM LTD

Sony United Kingdom Limited, a company registered in England and Wales.
Registered office: The Heights, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0XW
Registered company number: 2422874

[NorvernRob]

So they're saying that the TV only needs to last 2 years (the length of the guarantee), and then if it dies tough. I don't think so!

As i've posted before, my optical block went and the guy that came to pick it up knew what was wrong before he even saw it - he said they're all the same and was suprised it had lasted 3 years before going.

In that 3 years mine has had £1300 worth of repairs (under extended warranty) - not exactly fit for purpose is it!

[LV426]

To the best of my knowledge, they ARE right, totally, to the extent that your contract and your recourse for any remedy, is with the retailer, and not with the manufacturer. The reaction may indeed be disappointing, and it may differ totally from the reaction you might have got from another manufacturer, but that doesn't make it any less valid.

[scooby do]

You need to contact your retailer who ARE liable. You need to send a similar letter stating that the TV should last a reasonable length of time etc etc and failure of them concluding it to your satisfaction you will start court proceedings

. Sony do not need to do anything. However other manufactuers have a better understanding of customer service (Toshiba DFS module & even microsoft xbox 360) and Sony are in denial about the whole optical block issue. I believe 100% that the same parts dichloric filters etc are common amongst the US sets and ours just the Sony UK are pig ignorant to the fact that the technology is inherently flawed. Do not bother pursuing any further with Sony and hit the retailer.

Who did you purchase from?

Also some of there statements are contradictary but I would give up pusuing with these jokers and go down the avenue that you have legal recourse against. I would really like to meet up with them in person and have it out with them rather than behind email. The only time Sony would be interested if there was a saftey recall other than that then just forget them. Also of relavance I believe is the fact that if our UK optical blocks were free from latent design defects why did the USA not adopt these optical blocks for the new models they bought out thereafter in the USA? And why did Sony dump all the KDS55a2000 onto John Lewis for such a heavily reduced price (I guess as they knew that all the sets sold through that outlet would be protected for 5 years).




Come on Sony jump in and give us the truth or even if someone had access to the data from John Lewis of how many have had problems would help. I did start a thread to get as many people together who had the problem but a lot have moved onto plasma/LCD now and dont look in here.

[RichardBoult]

There lies my dilemma...the retailer concerned is a small 'family run' (although maybe not so much now) independant retailer and I feel bad having to pursue them....but I suppose this is quite a lot of my money we're talking about!! Now if this were Curry's!!

The letters written, just need to put a stamp on it and get it in the post.....

[scooby do]

Let them deal with the jokers at Sony to try and get their money back for defective goods. After all they are the ones that made money out of it

[LV426]

I understand your moral dilemma. But sadly the legals are as they are - you have no contract or other direct relationship with Sony; only with whoever you bought it from. Their redress is to (presumably) Sony. That's how it works. That's part of the commitment retailers have to provide to earn their margin.

[RichardBoult]

OK letter sent and reply received to the effect that the money paid was reasonable at the time, the TV may well develop a fault and that my understanding of the law is flawed. I am thinking that a follow up reply suggesting small claims court may now be in order, is the right level of escalation?

Cheers

[scooby do]

Yes small claims court is the way to go. I am yet to send my letter off due to work committments (unable to take time of work at the moment), but my letter will state if it is not sorted to my complete satisfaction within 10 working days mediation will be sort through small claims court.


Making a Claim

[T150662]

I had these problems with this model. I bought it in april 2006 and the blue started feb 2009. I wrote to Comet explaining that it was Sony at fault but under UK law I need to deal with them. I also mentioned the class actions in the US and lawsuits in Australia and NZ. They rang me on receipt of the letter. I brought it back to the nearest Comet. It came back six weeks later as good as new.
BUT it's gone again after less than ten months so I'm starting all over again. I'll let you know what happens.