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YMMV - Best Buy Open Box Vizio 65โ H1 OLED $704.99 Excellent
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They do offer geeksquad protection, which if you are buying used you should buy it. There are problems with buying used OLED tvs but geeksquad warranty does cover burn in according to different associates that ive asked
I am usually pro 'open box' - E.g. had only bought 1 TV as open box (basically new for almost half off the replacement model); I had bought some certified mfr refurbs over the years and all fantastic and the remainder - majority were brand new).
So I had very limited experience with open box TVs (only 1 as noted above - great TV and still love that one); that is till recently:
Given the ultra low price (50% off), I RECENTLY stumbled onto and bought another OLED TV from Best Buy (twice! - details below - I had to return it both times - details below).
Note - Definition on BB site of 'EXCELLENT' says this "[I]Open-Box Excellent -
Looks brand new. Includes all original parts/accessories. Typically contains packaging[/I]"
Attempt 1 - Open Box 'Excellent' - OLED TV set 1 / BB store 1:
Strike 1- TV came with NO stand, NO remote and NO box.
I took it anyway, figuring if it worked fine and looked fine, I could get the stand for $25 and a replacement remote for $5 (or use a Logitech Harmony I own).
Strike 2 (and why I returned it) - It had noticeable burn-in (explains why it has to much dust build up on the back) in the center of the screen (not visible in demo mode, but visible in normal use on any app)!!!
Strike 3 - Screen was not clean - (minor but still how hard is it for them to clean a TV screen being sold as 'excellent'). Some TV screen spray cleaned it easily.
It was in excellent physical condition and demo mode looked great (did NOT expose then burn-in - only visible when I tried a streaming app and it was quickly obvious).
So I had to pack it back in the bubble wrap and drive to the store (not a local one - I combined it with an unplanned visit to relatives, so that was nice at least).
Attempt #2 - BB store #2 OLED TV #2. - I tried a second store (again listed as ' Excellent' condition):
Strike 1 - Again, despite the BB definition of 'Excellent' stating 'includes all accessories', it had NO remote, NO stand.
Strike 2 (and why I obviously returned it) - The TV had significant damage when I got home. I had wanted to inspect it in-store to see if accessories were included, but the rep was not helpful; but since it was only protected by bubble wrap and not the proper original styrofoam protective packaging), I figured, I would buy the accessories for about $30 and still be way ahead if it did not have burn-in. And if any issues with burn in, I could return it..
However, it was cracked and badly bent.
So either it was not inspected at all OR inspected but then mishandled while in the store storage area (not hard to damage if they dropped it or tossed it around in the back area when it only had bubble wrap).
The only good thing is that the BB employee who took it back was apologetic (when we explained that this was the second TV) and asked if we were interested in another TV, that maybe the manager could do something for us which they did indeed offer, but there was nothing in stock that worked for us (found one the next day though from BB).
Regarding this Vizio 65" OLED deal. The TV portion of that large piece of furniture cannot fit a 65" TV (not changing the quality furniture out just for a bigger TV in that one room - we do not watch much there anyway).
And anyway given my recent experience of these OLEDs being demo TVs being sold as open box excellent despite being used for countless hours (given burn-in and all the dust as evidence), I would pass anyway.
Lastly, the alternate Mini LED TV I got has received rave reviews and supports all the latest tech (HDR10, 10+, Dolby Vision, Atmos, HDMI 2.1, Google TV etc. etc.), I think I will stick with it.
We do not watch in that room much (we have a nice OLED + surround system setup in the movie viewing area).
Earlier this year, I did buy a small UHD TV from BB open box ' Excellent' for a GREAT price (news ones in that small size cost more than some of my large sets did, so open box was enticing).
It included the remote and stand (already attached).
It did not have a box and, as usual given what I observed with the TWO OLED TVs), the Samsung's screen was dirty.
I brought it in to the Customer Service desk to test it before I brought it home and it worked fine and they cleaned it (did knock it over in the process - luckily it is light and sustained no damage).
Luckily the screen was just very dirty (no scuffs or scratches) and cleaned up well.
Also that one was NOT a demo model (true customer return) and looks and works great.
That said, given my experience with the two consecutive OLED 'open box "excellent'' both being store demo TVs and that one had burn-in and the other one was badly cracked, I would be hesitant to buy them (read one horror story about BB on their forums, where the employees mishandled someone's $1,500 open box when putting it in their car - they then went back into the store! The customer went to the manager and mentioned it - he refused to accept the return - bought minutes earlier - and only offered $100 off a new TV, so that customer was out $1,500. As of 1 or 2 months later, BB still blamed it on the customer (the thread is easy to find).
I read that thread before I returned the 2nd OLED (the one with the existing physical damage that I noticed when I unpacked it).
Luckily the store did not give me a hard time (although it refused to turn on when they tested it - IMO the damage to the bottom was enough that it did not work) - the return got approved by the system at that point, so it ended up being a non issue thankfully.
I used to be BB Elite (not sure if the system takes that into account or not). But I was prepared to fight hard IF they had given me a hard time. Especially since they are the ones who mishandled it and represented it as 'excellent' and 'inspected'. Also I was the one who had to unpack, re-pack and take a big heavy TV back and forth..
Do not let the 'inspected' on the sticker fool you.
So IF you get this TV, I would recommend you inspect it for physical defects / damage before even leaving the in-store pick-up area...
Till now, I thought 'open box excellent' was (mostly customer returns) and as good as or better than manufacturer refurb (since I thought open box is supposed to come with the full mfr warranty, but maybe that is not true at BB - know it does apply at Microcenter e.g.). So I considered open box (~97% of our BB purchases have been brand new, but we also bought a few open box items sprinkled in all of which worked out (really were customer returns in new condition) till this recent experience with the 2 OLED TVs).
But the friendly rep at the store we returned the 2nd OLED TV, did confirm (when I noted it was probably a display model given the amount dust) that these TVs could be display (demo) units...
Not good when they spend who knows how long on display, especially OLEDs (given burn-in risk and my experience above with burn in).
YMWV.
I am usually pro 'open box' - E.g. had only bought 1 TV as open box (basically new for almost half off the replacement model); I had bought some certified mfr refurbs over the years and all fantastic and the remainder - majority were brand new).
So I had very limited experience with open box TVs (only 1 as noted above - great TV and still love that one); that is till recently:
Given the ultra low price (50% off), I RECENTLY stumbled onto and bought another OLED TV from Best Buy (twice! - details below - I had to return it both times - details below).
Note - Definition on BB site of 'EXCELLENT' says this "[I]Open-Box Excellent -
Looks brand new. Includes all original parts/accessories. Typically contains packaging[/I]"
Attempt 1 - Open Box 'Excellent' - OLED TV set 1 / BB store 1:
Strike 1- TV came with NO stand, NO remote and NO box.
I took it anyway, figuring if it worked fine and looked fine, I could get the stand for $25 and a replacement remote for $5 (or use a Logitech Harmony I own).
Strike 2 (and why I returned it) - It had noticeable burn-in (explains why it has to much dust build up on the back) in the center of the screen (not visible in demo mode, but visible in normal use on any app)!!!
Strike 3 - Screen was not clean - (minor but still how hard is it for them to clean a TV screen being sold as 'excellent'). Some TV screen spray cleaned it easily.
It was in excellent physical condition and demo mode looked great (did NOT expose then burn-in - only visible when I tried a streaming app and it was quickly obvious).
So I had to pack it back in the bubble wrap and drive to the store (not a local one - I combined it with an unplanned visit to relatives, so that was nice at least).
Attempt #2 - BB store #2 OLED TV #2. - I tried a second store (again listed as ' Excellent' condition):
Strike 1 - Again, despite the BB definition of 'Excellent' stating 'includes all accessories', it had NO remote, NO stand.
Strike 2 (and why I obviously returned it) - The TV had significant damage when I got home. I had wanted to inspect it in-store to see if accessories were included, but the rep was not helpful; but since it was only protected by bubble wrap and not the proper original styrofoam protective packaging), I figured, I would buy the accessories for about $30 and still be way ahead if it did not have burn-in. And if any issues with burn in, I could return it..
However, it was cracked and badly bent.
So either it was not inspected at all OR inspected but then mishandled while in the store storage area (not hard to damage if they dropped it or tossed it around in the back area when it only had bubble wrap).
The only good thing is that the BB employee who took it back was apologetic (when we explained that this was the second TV) and asked if we were interested in another TV, that maybe the manager could do something for us which they did indeed offer, but there was nothing in stock that worked for us (found one the next day though from BB).
Regarding this Vizio 65" OLED deal. The TV portion of that large piece of furniture cannot fit a 65" TV (not changing the quality furniture out just for a bigger TV in that one room - we do not watch much there anyway).
And anyway given my recent experience of these OLEDs being demo TVs being sold as open box excellent despite being used for countless hours (given burn-in and all the dust as evidence), I would pass anyway.
Lastly, the alternate Mini LED TV I got has received rave reviews and supports all the latest tech (HDR10, 10+, Dolby Vision, Atmos, HDMI 2.1, Google TV etc. etc.), I think I will stick with it.
We do not watch in that room much (we have a nice OLED + surround system setup in the movie viewing area).
Earlier this year, I did buy a small UHD TV from BB open box ' Excellent' for a GREAT price (news ones in that small size cost more than some of my large sets did, so open box was enticing).
It included the remote and stand (already attached).
It did not have a box and, as usual given what I observed with the TWO OLED TVs), the Samsung's screen was dirty.
I brought it in to the Customer Service desk to test it before I brought it home and it worked fine and they cleaned it (did knock it over in the process - luckily it is light and sustained no damage).
Luckily the screen was just very dirty (no scuffs or scratches) and cleaned up well.
Also that one was NOT a demo model (true customer return) and looks and works great.
That said, given my experience with the two consecutive OLED 'open box "excellent'' both being store demo TVs and that one had burn-in and the other one was badly cracked, I would be hesitant to buy them (read one horror story about BB on their forums, where the employees mishandled someone's $1,500 open box when putting it in their car - they then went back into the store! The customer went to the manager and mentioned it - he refused to accept the return - bought minutes earlier - and only offered $100 off a new TV, so that customer was out $1,500. As of 1 or 2 months later, BB still blamed it on the customer (the thread is easy to find).
I read that thread before I returned the 2nd OLED (the one with the existing physical damage that I noticed when I unpacked it).
Luckily the store did not give me a hard time (although it refused to turn on when they tested it - IMO the damage to the bottom was enough that it did not work) - the return got approved by the system at that point, so it ended up being a non issue thankfully.
I used to be BB Elite (not sure if the system takes that into account or not). But I was prepared to fight hard IF they had given me a hard time. Especially since they are the ones who mishandled it and represented it as 'excellent' and 'inspected'. Also I was the one who had to unpack, re-pack and take a big heavy TV back and forth..
Do not let the 'inspected' on the sticker fool you.
So IF you get this TV, I would recommend you inspect it for physical defects / damage before even leaving the in-store pick-up area...
Till now, I thought 'open box excellent' was (mostly customer returns) and as good as or better than manufacturer refurb (since I thought open box is supposed to come with the full mfr warranty, but maybe that is not true at BB - know it does apply at Microcenter e.g.). So I considered open box (~97% of our BB purchases have been brand new, but we also bought a few open box items sprinkled in all of which worked out (really were customer returns in new condition) till this recent experience with the 2 OLED TVs).
But the friendly rep at the store we returned the 2nd OLED TV, did confirm (when I noted it was probably a display model given the amount dust) that these TVs could be display (demo) units...
Not good when they spend who knows how long on display, especially OLEDs (given burn-in risk and my experience above with burn in).
YMWV.
Thanks for your feedback! See with me I got a satusfactory for 60% off. Online it doesnt mention that it does not include anything and it came with no remote or stand which I was not aware of and went inside to speak to a manager. They aknowleged that online does not state what it has missing. Then he said he could give a discount on a stand which was cool. Picked a stand and was checking out then another manager came by and said that the tv had burn in of something clear in the middle of the screen. I decided to keep it there is 15 day warranty. I am most likely going to end up returning it. But the fact that it did not say that on the sticker is very misleading as this machine is in a sense trash. Its like buying a car that has been in a bad accident and has the bumper dragging but they tell you the car can drive. I was thinking of calling Vizio and see if they can replace it or something if that does not work I will just replace it.
At the 1st location, I noted the lack of a stand and remote and I stated that online their definition of 'excellent' says "includes all accessories".
He responded that it should say what is included or not.
But, as you noted and I observed, they do NOT disclose online what is included and what is not when ordering an Open Box item for ISPU. (Microcenter does, although I have yet to buy Open Box from Microcenter; always bought new)
Good luck with it. If they can replace it, great. Otherwise, make sure you return it given the burn-in. I would not keep an open box TV that comes with burn in since not only is the burn in annoying visually, it also means it was likely powered on for a few thousand hours or more (depending on how much static content was displayed daily).
https://www.rtings.com/tv/learn/r...rn-in-test
Edit: I did go back to best buy the same day and asked about the stand since it didn't list it as missing. They did find the stand and I took it home but it was missing the parts that go onto it and therefore wouldn't work. I went back the next day and talked to a manager who refunded me as mentioned above. Maybe mine was not a display since they kept the stand, not sure.
Edit: I did go back to best buy the same day and asked about the stand since it didn't list it as missing. They did find the stand and I took it home but it was missing the parts that go onto it and therefore wouldn't work. I went back the next day and talked to a manager who refunded me as mentioned above. Maybe mine was not a display since they kept the stand, not sure.
Glad yours had no sign of burn-in and, presumably, no physical defects.
If the set does not come with the stand, then was likely a display model / demo set (based on what my I have read).
If it does have the stand, then it is less likely it was a display model / demo.
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Edit: I did go back to best buy the same day and asked about the stand since it didn't list it as missing. They did find the stand and I took it home but it was missing the parts that go onto it and therefore wouldn't work. I went back the next day and talked to a manager who refunded me as mentioned above. Maybe mine was not a display since they kept the stand, not sure.