55" Samsung UHD 4k Screen replacement?

To those looking to replace screens:

Only the manufacturer will have replacements at this time. In most cases, the cost of the replacement screen will exceed the cost of replacing the TV. One posted here indicated that he/she was able to get a replacement by calling Samsung directly. While I don't dispute this, it is news to me that this occurred. I was more surprised that Samsung sold the part at such a low price. If you can, pursue this for your sets as well. Replacing the screen is a fairly straight forward process. Keep in mind that you will be working with delicate ribbon cables that connect the boards and screen. These cables can easily tear and become useless. If you are not comfortable with the process, contact a service provider that can replace the part for you.

Be also aware that panels don't usually fail (other than from physical damage). All other options should be explored prior to screen replacement.

Dan

UPDATE on my previous problem and how it was fixed:

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Previous message:

“I bought a 55 Inch Samsung QLED TV UE55KS9000 in 2016, my kids broke the screen in Sept 2019.

Hard to contact the company appointed by Samsung to do the repair, but in the end I got the figures:

I bought it for 1500 GBP in 2016 in LONDON , now I live in PARIS and they want 792 EUR for the screen, plus 55 to look at the job and I am guessing/hoping they will charge another 100 EUR to fix it (could be more).

In the end I am still deciding if it is worth it: the tv is 3 years old so the cost of fixing it is almost as much as the current value.”

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Info: I am writing in Nov 2019 and my Samsung Tv UE55KS900 was bought in Dec 2016 for around 2000 EUR (after Xmas sale, otherwise the price would have been 2500 EUR).

After 2 and half months trying to get attention from the the external customer service appointed by Samsung in France my tv is NOW FIXED: I paid 792 EUR (incl 20% VAT) for the Screen, 96 EUR for the repair (incl 20% VAT) and 96 EUR (incl 20% VAT) to have them doing the repair job at my apartment (this is optional).

This is WHAT I LEARNED AND WHAT YOU SHOULD KEEP IN MIND:

1) if your TV is more than 4 years old just buy a new one as the value of your TV is probably getting too low to justify a 50% cost for repair, but until 3 years old I found it was a good deal.

Also: the replacement labour cost is the same either if you paid your tv 1000 EUR (accounting for 10% of the full cost) or 2500 EUR, so, being my TV so expensive (2000/2500 eur) it was not a big deal (5%)

2) Samsung customer service (at least here in France) is really bad, you can forget about a level of service like Apple. I will not buy a Samsung TV ever again.

3) It is paramount that you call the SAMSUNG customer service ASAP to get a cost estimate to decide if it is worth repairing or buying a new one.

4) You cannot find screen replacements online. You either buy it from the Samsung customer service or you have to find a way to buy it directly from Samsung in Korea or wherever they produce them in Korea/China contacting Samsung Korea, but I guess they will tell you to contact your country Samsung base.

5) When the technician came home to fix the TV QLED screen I was shocked to find out that (1) it took 5 minutes swap it with a new one because (2) the screen they send you is BASICALLY THE WHOLE TV (back and front) minus the stand and the hardware components inside the tv (which are basically two small motherboards connected by very delicate wiring). This could make you think that it is a very easy job, but it only is for a repair guy who knows what he is doing.

6) Even if you find and buy the screen directly from Korea/China I strongly recommend that you do not repair it yourself: there are too many bands and wires (linking the two motherboards) that can be damaged. Paying an extra 10% on top of the TV screen cost is a no brainer to avoid damaging the motherboards and destroying the TV a second time.

Only if you have seen someone doing the job before (and you have possibly filmed the process) you can attempt to do the job yourself. (Again, not recommended)

TO CONCLUDE: I think the cost of replacing the screen was a good choice in my specific case as buying a new top of the line (series 9 or equivalent Q09 line QE55Q90R) Samsung QLED Television would have costed me twice as much.

One more point : the only thing that was stopping me from repairing the TV was the fact that I contacted a couple of online TV sellers and they offered me a 2019 brand new QLED SAMSUNG 55" QE55Q90R model for 1899 EUR, but in the end I felt like I was throwing away 50% of the value of the old TV.

Replacement screens can be readily found on eBay and other non-auction sites, google search your model number and add replacement screen or other parts that are bad if the screen is fine. If you buy the replacement screen directly from the manufacturer then, of course, it’s going to be as much as the original cost of the set, it’s the same as going to the dealership to buy a replacement part for your car because the dealership bumps the price up by as much as %200.

Store your cracked screen TV until that model gets a little age and you may be able to buy one of the same size and model needing a board replacement for cheap or even for free on Craigslist. Then just change out your internal parts (boards) to that TV and have a good TV.