I've been lurking in this thread for a week or so, trying to make up my mind about this tv. Finally deciding to get it! It's obviously out of stock everywhere, but on the JL page, if you scroll down below the 'out of stock' statement there's an option to 'check in-store stock' and there's 3 or 4 stores with 1 left. I managed to nab one of these from a london branch. The salesman on the phone assured me this was not a display or return item - that it was unopened in the stockroom and it'll be with me next week.
I'm hoping no one here has reason to tell me that's a mistake and that there's a reason not to buy the 'one left in-store' tv... But if so, then i'd appreciate that heads up, as i can still cancel. If not, then i suggest anyone not willing to hold out on the hope that a new late December batch is tint-free and at the same 2200 price, then check out the in-store stock on JL.
Side note... I asked about the JL famous return policy, asking that since i've not had the opportunity to view this tv in store, if it's not to my liking for any reason am ok to return it, no questions?
Worryingly, he said i can only do that if it hasn't been switched on and returned to it's box without any signs of opening it... Was i wrong about this, or was he? I asked if this was because i was making a telephone purchase from store stock and he said no, that applies to online purchase too; that once used they'd have to sell it at a discount. Well, i appreciate that, but i thought the attraction of JL was that you could indeed return even if used, so long as there was no damage (hence their constant in-store 'manager's special' section).
An earlier conversation with JL customer service told me that online, telephone and in-store purchases all had the same return rule regarding the return window being until Jan 28. I failed to ask that person exactly what that policy was, assuming it's fine to return even if used.
Anyhow, looking forward to getting the telly. The draw for me was obviously the reviewed pic quality and extra tweaked brightness. Though i'd rather not have paid extra for its built in sound system, as i won't use it.
Any tips, or links to calibration for a living room setting (sometimes bright, but often lowish light - never blackout cinema conditions; i usually have led strip light behind the tv on dim-yellow to alleviate contrast induced eyestrain -- a gimmick i got used to and now can't go without after owning a Philips ambilight for several years. When i swapped that for a Samsung KS9500 i missed the ambilight so much i bought the strip lights. I'm guessing it'll be seen as sacrilege to put strip lights behind this premium telly, but i stare at monitors all day and need to do whatever i can to mitigate the eyestrain.
Fingers crossed i get a tint-free panel (famous last words).