My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

[Dgtech]

I had to start a thread on this topic since there was some discussion on it earlier this week.

Please do not start another thread about, should I buy this TV I saw on craigslist. lol, there are so many of these. They go nowhere if the purchase isnt made and if it is made, Id rather see the thread named, Troubleshooting (make, model number) OR (Make, model number) has sound and no picture.... blah blah blah....

Here are some hints to buying these TV's.

1. Always ask for a model number - Use the search function here (the kickass Badcaps Forum) to find threads that may have the solutions for this model's problems. I sometimes search for a brand's similar size and model numbers too. For example... Vizio VW42L has the same problems as the Vizio VX42L, VO42L, etc... primarily because they use the same boards.

PRICING

2. At this time, 1/13/13, I only pay like $1.00 per inch size. So... $40 for a 42 inch, $30 for a 32 inch, but I would go as high as $80 for a 52 inch. I really try not to get 32's too much anymore unless I get a good deal. I don't buy anything less than a 32 at all - not worth it.

3. Always make sure to ask if it comes with it's stand and remote. Remote's are easier to replace than stands. Stands can be bulky and cost too much on ebay before the shipping cost.

INSPECTION

4. Inspect the screen - Try to have them send you a picture of the problem if the set powers up. If not, take a flashlight with you and check the screen for cracks. If it does power up with no picture on screen due to suspect backlight or inverters, use the flashlight to check the whole screen not only for cracks but other failures that might exist. Example... a set could have backlight problems and a bad t-conn board rendering a picture but a distorted one. On some tv's it's not worth replacing a t-conn board and fixing the backlight problem.

5. Inspect the back for all of the screws. It sucks to get a set that someone already worked on without having a clue. Also check the sides of the set for dig marks and breaks in the plastic.

6. If you experience a problem that a thread does not cover on your make and model, start a thread with the make and model in the title. This makes it easier for future searches. It also makes it easier for techs that want to help you. I skip over helping people who's thread just says somthing like "42 inch TV no picture". Most of my repairs were either Vizio's, Philips/Magnavox, and Polaroid/Memorex so if that's in the title, I will chime in if need be.

Happy hunting, and good luck!!!


Other techs, please feel free to add your experiences and advice.

[tom66]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

Good guide.

Some other notes:

- On eBay, where I buy TVs from time to time, take a look at their other items and feedback... are they selling TV parts or have they sold several in the past, did they recently buy this, etc.

- Lines on the display when working are almost always a sign of a bad panel, so if it's got a 2 seconds to black problem, then try to see if there are lines as well.

[kevinm34232]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

My 2 cents from experience..

Don't pay too much for TV's with broken screens. You will find out by research and experience when the parts are valuable and when they're not.

Look up model #'s, and price out the parts. I bought a 32" Samsung for $20 with a broken screen thinking it was a decent deal and all the boards are selling for $10-$20 each, was not worth all the trouble and still sitting on most or all of them.

The majority of TV's I come across have broken screens, I try not to pay more than $20 for them. Tv's that are bigger and screens are not broken I try to go by the $1 per inch rule. Sometimes you can get them for less, sometimes more.

If you pay too much a few times you'll figure it out the hard way.

As a side note the TV "buying" business has been very slow since after the first of the year, anyone else seeing this? But it seems selling has been no problem.

[DavidOH]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

All good points. For me the age of the TV counts in the price also. I don't bother with broken screens.

[tom66]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

I've only ever picked up one broken screen, and it took me 6 months to make my money back. So I don't bother any more, unless for some reason I need the parts for it.

[kevinm34232]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

I've made a lot of money with broken screens, it's just a lot of work and aggrevation to get there.

[MisterD]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

You say take a flashlight and check the screen for cracks, I have a 40" LCD with a cracked screen that was given to me, I can see the cracked screen with the set powered on and I was wondering if I could see the cracks with it powered off, so I tried using a flashlight with the TV off and could not see any cracks ( how bright and big or type of flashlight works for this?) but I did find a way to see the main crack and a running crack off that one, with it powered off and holding it at just the right angle with an overhead light and desk lamp both on the cracked area was a little lighter in color almost a chocolate color instead of the normal black colored LCD Screen, I'm not sure if this can always be seen. My concern is buying a non-working set with no light at all on the screen or a dead set thinking it's repairable, then buying and installing replacement parts only to find a broken screen once you get it powered on. Is there a proven method with a flashlight that will show a cracked/broken screen?

[tom66]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

Nope, depending on the design of the LCD, some will show visible cracks others will not.
For example the 32" Philips I picked up with a cracked screen did not show -any- visible signs. You would not know.

After 40 TVs, I've had one where the guy pulled the fuse & my dad didn't notice the cracked screen (I wasn't there.) £20 wasted, but if I make £100~£200 on each TV, it's the cost of doing business.

[jetadm123]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

My 2 cents from experience..

As a side note the TV "buying" business has been very slow since after the first of the year, anyone else seeing this? But it seems selling has been no problem.

Yes, I agree that there are fewer broken sets (including LCD monitors) on the market (at least in my area). It seems the stuff that's out there is too costly (time/gas) to get to or the seller is asking some outrageous price. One thing's for sure, there is no shortage of people on Craigslist trying to give away their old CRT TVs for free.

[Dgtech]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

I wanted to add that I'm not so sure about LED pricing. I haven't had any LED repairs yet. Anyone want to touch on that subject? I know its more expensive than LCD's are. How much would you guys pay for one of those?

[tom66]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

I'd pay at most 30% more, because the lower end LED TVs cost only a little more than LCD TVs. Though I am on the look out for one too, so for some personal training experience, I may pay more.

[Techstar]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

I can say from personal experience buying faulty flat panel tv's on e bay
that if you average the prices out at what they tend to sell for then expect
to pay about £1 per inch screen size. The 1 pound an inch is realistic.
I would love to buy at 50p per inch but it's hard to find them.

I have bought off friends or people i know at 25p per inch but on e bay
well err , forget that idea....

The 50 inchers though on average seem to go for about £2 to £2.50 per inch screen size.
I distrust some sellers on ebay , i have bought plasma's that when opened it's obvious
the telly has been left out doors for some time , rust can be seen on some metal bits.
Regards .. Never lay plasma's down horizontally , i guess you all know this but i have
made this mistake once. The screen will or could fail within hours of use if moved in the car and
laid down it horizontally . I damaged a mint plasma doing this, no obvious cracks or anything. Just went bad

[tom66]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

I've always laid down my plasma and LCDs horizontally while servicing them. Only had one mishap -- when I stepped on the metal plate and cracked the plasma display.

[jamesharris]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

Never lay plasma's down horizontally

Never had a problem laying them down but always transport them in a vertical position. You may have had a weak panel to start with. I had one crack internally once. No sign of external impact, just a big crack appeared out of nowhere underneath the glass. I put it down to a weak panel and scrapped it.

[MisterD]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

Does anyone know much about or ever heard of a "VIORE" brand LCD TV?

[tom66]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

http://www.viore.com/
Just another re-badging shop.

[tibimakai]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

It's no way that I could apply the $1/inch here in LA. People are posting almost every TV for $100. Even if they broken screen. How can I offer $40 for it?
The competition is pretty big.
The TVs are gone within hours, most of the time.
It's more like $1.50-$2/inch.
Yesterday somebody was selling a 58 Panasonic for $40(he said that it was a plasma in his ad, but I think that it was an LCD with tab issue).
I have sent the E-mail and he answered that it's already gone. The TV it was far from the city and it was still sold very fast.
Sometimes I drive 60 miles(one way) to pick up a bigger TV, or maybe two smaller ones at the same time.
Now back to the subject , I'm inquiring only about weird screen issues which I don't know what could be the problem and sometimes I need the answer asap, because of the competition.
The business it's very slow, I can't imagine why?
I thought that the holidays should help, but I was wrong.
I haven't picked up a TV for a couple of months now, except a Vizio GV47L the other day which had the known bad pico fuse(1.5A) on the mainboard problem.

[tom66]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

I'm lucky, very little competition.

Sometimes you have to find alternate sources like posting ads saying you will buy faulty TVs. Or looking for misspelt/incorrectly listed items.

[tibimakai]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

Last week, I have found an ad with a weird title:
"Baby Girl Sale"
Or
"Lenovo Dual core 1.73GHZ, 3GB, 320GB HDD Finger ($100)"

[Techstar]

Re: My guide to buying Non-Working LCD & Plasma TV's

They should ideally be serviced in a vertical position if possible tom. The bench area the flat panel tv is laid on must be at least the size of the screen area. Don't let the screen over hang the end of the bench as stresses can cause premature failure of the screen. Never ever lay them down flat when transporting , this is like russian roulette to the panel , a one in six chance of damage ! . Soo fragile these sexy flat panels , don't wanna hurt em .. :-)
Gotta lovely 2 year old 42 incher today working for a steal @ £30 . . Life is good..Built in freeview too.
Bye the way this forum is just superb for those into tv / electronics repair . No others come close except maybe one other forum i know.
The patience some of the guys have with some faults is amazing.. I must learn the art.