In April, 2006, I bought my first HDTV. It was the Olevia/Syntax LCD HDTV Model # LT37HVS.

It was a good buy at CompUSA here in Minnesota. I remember the day specifically because I also bought my wife a Macbook and myself a Sony Laptop on the same day.

As I rolled it all up to the counter, people were asking me, seriously… “Whoa buddy.. did you win the lottery or something?”

I just smiled. Actually I think I made $15,000 that day, selling products over the net, so I treated myself to some toys.

Well, 22 months later…. my Olevia/Syntax LCD HDTV LT37HVS died.

I did some research online to see what happens when an HDTV dies and if there is a quick fix…there is no quick fix. Horror stories fill the net with people having dead HDTVs.

I was shocked to see many people posting on the review boards how they bought the same TV as me and 14, 16, 18 months later…. the “BLACK SCREEN” appeared.

Seeing there was no immediate or quick fix, I called up CompUSA to see what my warranty would be. Since they all went out of business up here in the Twin Cities… I was thinking I would be SOL.  But I was not!

CompUSA told me I could take another model for free, (which was not a good one) or take $699.99 check and do with it what I wanted (I bought the TV for $1200).

I did some research on their TV they were offering. I decided to take the money and go and get a new HDTV.

So I checked around.

Here is what I learned.

Alot of HDTVs go to a blackscreen right after their warranty expires. It’s pretty bad actually and a lot of owners are ticked off, understandably.

Here is the solution for the future HDTV buyers.

Buy your new HDTV from Walmart or Sam’s club.

Why?

Their return policy on HDTVs is the best. If your TV breaks, all you need to do, even if it is like 2-5 years later is bring the original receipt in, with the TV and you’ll get a replacement. (this is what the dude told me… did he lie to me?)

No warranty needed. No service plan - extra payment (even tho they offered it to me).

So, looks like Sam’s Club is aware of the problem of “blackscreens” and has a good solution. Just don’t lose your original receipt.

Now, how do you outsource getting rid of your old broken, useless HDTV?

You sell it on Craigslist!

So, wife says to me… “Jeff, that old TV better not sit around here for more than two weeks… or else!”

So, with the fear of God in me, I go to craigslist, and I post the broken TV for sale.

$150 - you pick it up.

4 phone calls later, a dude from Maple Grove comes over, picks it up and it’s gone. He knows it is broken, but thinks he can figure out how to fix it. Not a problem, I hope he can. But even better… tv is gone in 4 days, two week window schmimdow!

So, now I got a nice Phillips 50 inch Plasma, which looks awesome where my 37 inch used to be. Cost me 50% less with the rebate check from CompUSA.

My Apple TV looks simply awesome, especially watching their HD Movies too.

Morale of the story: Becareful which HDTV you buy - Check many of the consumer reviews from people who bought it before you buy yours. Also… if you can, PURCHASE the extended warranty or buy it from Sam’s or Walmart and make sure they have a return/replacement policy ready, as these TV’s do not last forever like the older ones did.

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