New TCL P8 TV gone bellyup after 2 weeks.

[giddyup 14,633]

Lost half the cable TV programs this morning, tried to rescan channels with no luck. Called out a technician from Numchai (the store) and he couldn't do either, so looks like it goes back for replacement. Now the screen is completely black. No way I'll buy a TCL again if this is the kind of quality to expect. Have two other TV's both Panasonic, the Plasma 10 years old, never a problem, same with the 5 year old LED. Not sure if I'm stuck with a replacement TCL or not, hoping I can change brands even if I have to pay more.

[johng 11,303]

12 minutes ago, giddyup said:

so looks like it goes back for replacement. Now the screen is completely black. No way I'll buy a TCL again

Well its ( kind of) good that it went wrong so early still under warranty.. it can happen with any brand,though obviously some are more prone to failure than others.

 

When you say  "completely black" have you tried  selecting different inputs other than the Cable TV..no on screen messages at all ?

[giddyup 14,633]

Just now, johng said:

Well its ( kind of) good that it went wrong so early still under warranty.. it can happen with any brand,though obviously some are more prone to failure than others.

 

When you say  "completely black" have you tried  selecting different inputs other than the Cable TV..no on screen messages at all ?

I unplugged it a plugged it back in, but it won't scan channels for local cable network. To be quite honest I haven't been happy with it since the get-go. It did a system upgrade yesterday and half the apps I installed disappeared. The technician says the tuner is kaput. Not a good result for a 2 week old TV.

[david555 2,943]

I guess both of your 10 years old had also much higher pricing as the TCL , but even the present A labels went down in price much , looks more like with our smartphones , quick replacements...

 

BTW:  my Samsung smart Screen is for me worthless as a smart TV, partly as many programs are blocked (provider) or useless pay systems , playing SmartScreen  by a box or laptop is easier, if you see what is inside present flat screens is only a computer mainboard and not  much more besides the led tapes and a small electric component .

I had a replacement once by Samsung Naklua side , not yet 15 minutes , they just took out that mainboard and screwed another in and ready, cost 2600 baht (no money for it comparing before western repair prices for TV's....).TV became a throw away thing almost now if faulty  

[giddyup 14,633]

1 minute ago, david555 said:

I guess both of your 10 years old had also much higher pricing as the TCL , but even the present A labels went down in price much , looks more like with our smartphones , quick replacements...

 

BTW:  my Samsung smart Screen is for me worthless as a smart TV, partly as many programs are blocked (provider) or useless pay systems , playing SmartScreen  by a box or laptop is easier, if you see what is inside present flat screens is only a computer mainboard and not  much more besides the led tapes and a small electric component .

I had a replacement once by Samsung Naklua side , not yet 15 minutes , they just took out that mainboard and screwed another in and ready, cost 2600 baht (no money for it comparing before western repair prices for TV's....).TV became a throw away thing almost now if faulty  

There's not that much in it between budget and premium brands. The equivalent size 55 inch 4K, UHD, Android Panasonic is only about 2000 baht more, ie 14000 instead of 12000 for the TCL.

[david555 2,943]

3 minutes ago, giddyup said:

There's not that much in it between budget and premium brands. The equivalent size 55 inch 4K, UHD, Android Panasonic is only about 2000 baht more, ie 14000 instead of 12000 for the TCL.

So you know what to try next … and hope it is different quality , I stick with Samsung just because that excellent quick repair shop in Naklua nua 

Edited January 18 by david555

[giddyup 14,633]

10 minutes ago, david555 said:

So you know what to try next … and hope it is different quality , I stick with Samsung just because that excellent quick repair shop in Naklua nua 

Maybe just bad luck with the tCL, did quite a bit of research before buying and TCL came up trumps, but when a TV fails after 2 weeks it kind of sours you for that brand.

[petermik 11,115]

7 hours ago, giddyup said:

Maybe just bad luck with the tCL, did quite a bit of research before buying and TCL came up trumps, but when a TV fails after 2 weeks it kind of sours you for that brand.

Correct me if I,m wrong but haven,t the latest TCL,s got a 3 or 5 year warranty?

[giddyup 14,633]

4 hours ago, petermik said:

Correct me if I,m wrong but haven,t the latest TCL,s got a 3 or 5 year warranty?

3 years yes, but as I said, I'm leery of the brand now and would rather replace it with something else. The shop where I bought it is taking it back tomorrow.

[john terry1001 219]

On 1/18/2020 at 3:45 PM, giddyup said:

Lost half the cable TV programs this morning, tried to rescan channels with no luck. Called out a technician from Numchai (the store) and he couldn't do either, so looks like it goes back for replacement. Now the screen is completely black. No way I'll buy a TCL again if this is the kind of quality to expect. Have two other TV's both Panasonic, the Plasma 10 years old, never a problem, same with the 5 year old LED. Not sure if I'm stuck with a replacement TCL or not, hoping I can change brands even if I have to pay more.

That type of bad luck can happen to any make of TV. As an ex-TV engineer with 40 years of experience and close connections with most major manufacturers technical/research departments I personally have a preference for LG. The first one I bought in Thailand about 13 years ago is still going strong (now in the bedroom) but the second one I bought about 5 years ago packed up after just 10 days. It was repaired next days and is still going strong now, never another problem.

 

As for TCL, I bought one for the wife's family at the same time as our LG thirteen years ago and it's still going strong today never had a moments problem. I've also bought two 24" TCL's, one used 24-7 as the CCTV monitor and the other I use as a second monitor connected to my PC which, apart from using as a second PC monitor I mainly watch watch TV on. Never had any problems with all three TCL TV's.

[Henryford 2,495]

I've had Samsung and LG TVs pack up in a short time, it's just luck of the draw. Doesn't matter what you spend.

[Pravda 2,355]

Sorry... TCL has always been <deleted>. 

 

Don't believe any internet reviews. I work with Amazon and know first hand how reviews can be padded, especially the ones that show on top of Google search engine. 

[ThomasThBKK 4,090]

my TCL is going strong, did u not fill out the warranty card? They have 2 years warranty.

 

And no TCL isn't anymore <deleted> than Samsung and LG.

[metempsychotic 1,588]

On 1/18/2020 at 4:05 PM, giddyup said:

I unplugged it a plugged it back in, but it won't scan channels for local cable network. To be quite honest I haven't been happy with it since the get-go. It did a system upgrade yesterday and half the apps I installed disappeared. The technician says the tuner is kaput. Not a good result for a 2 week old TV.

Who watches cable tv anymore? (But that is another discussion)

 

Have you tried inputting a video source, are other tv's in the house working?

 

If so return it.

[giddyup 14,633]

The technicians from where I bought the TCL came and picked it up today, they both agreed that the 55 inch TCL P8 just wasn't scanning TV channels correctly and therefore faulty. Their opinion of TCL was very negative, they said buy another model like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic or LG but don't touch another TCL as they have had nothing but problems with them. So tomorrow I go back to pick something else even if I have to pay more, my preferences are either Panasonic or Sony Android 4k UHD 55 inch TV's, which only work out to be a couple of 1000 baht more expensive that the TCL.