Remember that Walmart Black Friday $98 32 inch TV super deal?

[Omaha Steve]

A friend that is hard of hearing bought one. The closed Captioning doesn't work. He called the maker. They told him to return it. But that will cost more for S&H both ways than the original $98. Walmart will only allow a store credit for $98 period. He can't get near as much of a TV even on after Christmas sales. Some deal.

Class action?

OS

[itsrobert]

1. Against who?

Walmart? TV manufacture? Has he read up on Walmart's return policy? How many like him are having the same problem?

[Brother Buzz]

2. Is the television suppose to have closed captioning....

or is your friend have difficulty locating it? Perhaps a twelve-year-old should be called in to have a look and confirm; they can iron out anything electronic.

[loli phabay]

3. i find my eight year old is sufficient at fixing this stuff.

[Brother Buzz]

4. Eight-year-olds are sufficient for the most part

By twelve, the whiz kids discover the second layer; the closed captioning option may be turned OFF at the start-up or the tools page and will not respond to simple commands from the remote control device.

[Omaha Steve]

5. Yes it has CC even customer service couldn't get it to work by phone instructions

http://funaiamerica.com/product/product.php?id=71

At the link >>>Closed Caption Decoder<<<

A Great addition to Any Room
LED LCD TV
LF320FX4F

Searching for a good TV with 720p HD picture and multiple AV inputs in affordable price? Look no further. This new LED backlight LCD TV provides superb video quality and 3 HDMI connections enable showing the best picture and sound available from your external HD devices.

[itsrobert]

8. I think CC is a mandatory requirement for all new televisions

government regulations and all.

[SharonAnn]

13. We fixed it by adjusting the cable box. That was the problem, not the TV itself.

The signal from the Cable wasn't set to CC, so the TV couldn't pick it up when we set the TV only.

Check with the cable company, assuming he's using cable (or Satellite).

[Brother Buzz]

15. That, indeed, could be the fix

[itsrobert]

18. Bump

this is good advice. If the close captioning from the source is not enabled, it wont work. Check with Sat or Cable company.

[Go Vols]

39. +1

thats how it is on mine

[valerief]

6. I thought Republicans made class action lawsuits illegal years ago. nt

[former9thward]

11. There are class actions brought in court every single day.

Have no idea where you got that from?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

23. They also outlawed humor.

[valerief]

54. Bwahahaha!

[Egalitarian Thug]

50. No, they made it much harder to bring and win them. n/t

[valerief]

57. Right!!! So I wasn't totally misremembering. nt

[X_Digger]

7. Class action for what, selling a TV so cheap that it doesn't pay to ship it for repair?

Are there many reports of these TV's having issues?

[KT2000]

9. isn't there a warranty?

the manufacturer needs to send a repair person to his house to fix it or cover the cost of shipping to send it to their repair location.
He needs to contact the manufacturer.

[Omaha Steve]

16. This Limited Warranty does not cover: • Shipping charges to return defective product (PDF)

http://funaiamerica.com/product/product.php?id=71

LF320FX4F Owner's Manual English

[Jim Lane]

21. That seems to eliminate the class action.

The defense will be "We're providing the service that we promised." That's a good defense unless the plaintiffs can show that there was a representation to the contrary (e.g. if a promotional brochure gave a broader scope to the warranty, then buyers wouldn't be held to a standard of having read the fine print).

[bananas]

10. Shoddy products are created specifically for Black Friday

Some of the “great deals” on electronics are actually products created specifically for Black Friday. They’re designed to resemble standard consumer electronics, but they’re manufactured with shoddier materials and fewer features.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2066184/black-friday-the-truth-about-its-dubious-deals.html

Don't know if it applies to this TV in particular or not, but it's something to be aware of.
The rest of that article is worth reading.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

28. They're more often "emerging market" products not usually sold in the US

I worked in supply chain for a major retailer and some of this stuff would come without english documentation and in one cringe worthy incident we received DVD players without english firmware. You could choose between Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. We were rushed software upgrade CD's to tape to the boxes.

[earthside]

12. Sorry to seem insensitive ...

... but, of course, you shop at Walmart at your own risk.

And how many articles and conversations have I had with all kinds of people who understand that Black Friday door-buster products are not the same as everyday-priced products; of course, Walmart has cheaper brands manufactured for them that are inferior quality all the time.

From Walmart this poor fellow got less than he paid for -- a whole $98 -- and Walmart still probably made some profit, especially if he bought something else there that day.

The lesson: don't shop Walmart; Black Friday is a suckers sales day.

[madokie]

14. I'd say someone just wants to be mad

more than anything. Everyone I know who have ever bought a product at walmart have been happy with their return policy.
Exchange it for another. Yes they'll get another to replace it with if they don't have one on hand.

I think there is more bash walmart involved.

[Omaha Steve]

17. How much TV does $98 buy at Walmart today?

http://www.walmart.com/browse/tv-video/tvs/3944_1060825_447913/?browsein=true&catNavId=1060825&ic=48_0&povid=cat1060825-env258601-moduleA051311-lLinkLHN6TVs

30 inch starts at $179. Almost price the original price.

[edhopper]

19. Wallmart sells shit

and their BF stuff is even shittier.

Caveat Emptor, maybe he shouldn't shop at Wallmart any more.

[Egnever]

20. This sounds like a configuration error

Has he tried it with a dvd?

[LeftyMom]

22. Class action? It wouldn't be worth the trouble of going to small claims court.

It's $98. Assuming he really can't get the closed captioning to work at all (I second the suggestion of getting a younger person to come fiddle with the menus, it really does sound like a PEBKAC issue to be honest) the most he has coming is a replacement tv if they have the same model in stock or a store credit if they don't.

If he's got cable he can probably also turn captions on through his cable menus.

[onenote]

24. I'm curious why someone who spent $98 for a TV expects to get more than $98 for returning it.

Are you saying that they have the identical item in stock and won't exchange it?

[Omaha Steve]

25. He would be happy with the same model that works

Walmart doesn't have any in stock, even online. And when they come back in a few months, the price will be closer to $$180.00.

[exboyfil]

38. Even though folks dislike shopping at Walmart

$98 store credit is as good as cash. Your friend could buy produce with it if nothing more. Also household paper products. Are you arguing lost opportunity cost (the purchase of another cheap Black Friday TV?) would be the reason for a class action? That really does not make sense.

[ryan_cats]

26. I love CC, I have a hard time hearing the Tv so I use CC

I love CC, I have a hard time hearing the Tv so I use CC. You have to set it up correctly. If you have satellite, you can get the CC from the receiver and the TV doesn't even need to have CC. If he's using a regular antenna, he needs to setup the CC on the TV and there's both digital and analog settings so it's best to have both on and there are different signals, some are a second language, some use different fonts or where it puts the text on the screen.

[Nye Bevan]

27. Here is one possible strategy that I admit may be considered unethical:

1. Buy a new TV, same model, at the current price. See whether the CC works.
2. If it does work, keep the new TV, and return the old TV for a full refund to whoever you bought the new TV from (which could be Walmart) (pretending, of course, that the old TV is the new TV).
3. If the CC does not work on the new TV, then the problem is probably not the TV. Simply return the new TV for a full refund.

[left on green only]

29. Damn, I Like The Way Your Mind Works. n/t

[Omaha Steve]

32. Walmart will not issue a refund

Or he would take it on what he has. He can only get a store credit.

Walmart doesn't stock this TV. Can't get it from their web site either.

[Locut0s]

30. They still make 32" TVs? ;) nt.

[Packerowner740]

31. I saw those ads and the first thing that came to mind was cheap Chinese crap

They are making them so they are almost disposable. I guess you get what you pay for. Sorry for your friend.

[onenote]

33. there doesn't seem to be any indication that this is widespread problem

There are thousands of Wal-Marts. Its unlikely that each store only had one of these sets to sell (although its conceivable that they only offered one at $98). In any event, if there were widespread problems with these sets, it would have surfaced by now. But searching the web, I can't find any indication of other complaints about this set.

It is possible, as others have suggested, that the OP's friend doesn't have the set connected properly for the CC to work. Or this might be a defect in the particular set that the OP's friend bought.

If there is "consumer watchdog" segment on any of local television stations, I'd suggest that the OP's friend contact them and see if they can intervene to address the situation.

[Agschmid]

34. I am curious as to why if he paid $98...

He thinks he thinks he'd get more back when returning it?

[Omaha Steve]

36. Second time for this question

Where does it say he wants more than he paid for returning it? He would be fine with a refund OR the same model that works. Walmart refuses to issue a refund. He can't get a TV the same size with a credit. He can only get one in the 20 inch range.

Walmart doesn't stock this TV. Can't get it from their web site either.

So he fought the crowds to end up with a TV that is defective he can't get replaced.

[Glassunion]

40. He can get it replaced, and the manufacturer is willing to replace it.

He just does not wish to pay for the shipping. What city is it shipping from and to? I cannot imagine it would cost more than the TV to ship.

[Phentex]

35. This is not unique to Walmart...

many stores carry a limited number of certain items and when they are gone, they are gone. They don't have an item to replace it with so you are stuck with returning to the manufacturer or taking a store credit. Even stores with good return policies like Costco have limitations. It sucks to get a lemon but this doesn't come anywhere near class action status.

[Xyzse]

37. I thought with things like this you can go to any store that has it and just get an exchange.

I don't know.

[Omaha Steve]

42. NO Walmart stores have it in stock

It was a loss leader they only stocked a small number at each store for Black Friday.

[Xyzse]

44. Ah crud...

No way they can do a ship to the store exchange thing?
Sorry, no idea.

[bluestate10]

41. As the old saying goes "You get what you pay for". The set was likely made by people earning

$20 a day in wages, if that.

[pipi_k]

43. If this...

were me, I would say screw it and go for the store credit. I mean, it's not like it's money lost or anything.

Like others, I'm sorry this happened to your friend, but perhaps it's a good lesson learned. I've been screwed over in the past myself, so now before buying just about anything over $20, I look at consumer reviews of the product

and...

take note of the price. If it's outrageously low, I always wonder WHY.

[DesMoinesDem]

45. So you're mad that Walmart doesn't have TVs at Black Friday prices all the time.

LOL. Take the store credit and buy a TV somewhere else.

[Omaha Steve]

47. Did you even read the OP?

It isn't my TV. Your reading comp ain't great. LOL back at ya!

[DesMoinesDem]

48. Yes, I did. And your replies. You are mad a similar tv can't be bought now at Black Friday prices.

There is no problem with my reading comprehension.

"He can't get near as much of a TV even on after Christmas sales."

"How much TV does $98 buy at Walmart today?"

"He can't get a TV the same size with a credit. He can only get one in the 20 inch range."

[Omaha Steve]

49. Where does it say I'm mad?

My friend certainly is. He would take a cash refund has been repeated. He is done with Walmart though after this.

[DesMoinesDem]

51. You certainly seem mad. You made the this thread, not your friend.

[Omaha Steve]

52. We haven't shopped at Walmart (Sam's) for many years after we were enlightened

Same friend would have had 10 day approval on Black Friday electronics at NFM with no questions asked including a refund.

The CC doesn't work even when the cable box is bypassed. It is a TV problem.

[MineralMan]

46. I'm thinking this is probably an operator error.

Have your friend call the cable company about this. Closed Captioning comes with the signal. If the signal is not there, it can't be turned on with the TV. For over the air broadcasts, the TV's CC option should work, but if it's cable or dish, there may be a setting on the cable box.

It's important to follow through with all possibilities before going through the roof on something like this. Did the friend's previous TV display the CC information prior to this purchase?

ETA. You could also take a TV you've checked to make sure the CC worked over to your friend's place and hook it up there. If it works at your place but not at his, it's clearly a signal problem, rather than a TV set problem.

I think this can be fixed without returning the TV.

[LiberalArkie]

53. If it is over the air (antenna) then the TV controls Closed Captioning otherwise

it comes from the cable or satellite box.

[Ghost in the Machine]

55. My son bought a crossbow from the walmart.com website and it was shipped to our house...

When he opened it, you could tell someone has already tried to put it together before, plus some parts and hardware were missing. The instructions said to call the manufacturer, which we did, and they said they would overnight the parts to us. They kept their word... but sent the wrong parts. We called again and were told to send it back to them and they would send another one to replace, but may take up tp 4 weeks.... my son said "screw that shit!" and took it back to the local walmart store and they gave him his money back. He bought one from a different store, and it was a much better one and cost less.

Peace,

Ghost

[Rocket_Scientist65]

56. There's probably nothing wrong with the TV....

Just for example I took a look at the comcast site (my provider), and it seems there are multiple scenarios where CC may or may not work. Their standard digital set top boxes RARELY output the CC signal even if the TV is equipped to receive it. If however you use an HD set top box or HD DVR with an HD TV, CC can be enabled or disabled through the set top settings. If they're turned off the TV will NOT display. If both the HD box and the HDTV are both enabled, you'll get 2 layers of closed captioning, in which case the one for the TV must be turned off.

Unless he's watching over the air broadcast, the issue is most likely the cable equipment. The TV needs to be tested with a KNOWN good source that's outputting CC information. And $98 is an absolute steal for a 32" set with LED backlighting. Most are still well north of $200 and the ones that aren't are typically refurbs. Last year we picked up a 24" set on black friday for my daughters room...$78.....about half price on even the cheapest 24" set during the year.