Samsung TV - Removing Features, Still Under Warranty

97browng · 17 July 2017 at 3:15PM

Hi All,

I wonder if anyone can help. I bought a Smart Samsung TV from Marks and Spencer about 4.5 years ago. It came with a 5 year warranty and has been really great.

However recently Samsung has started removing many of the 'Smart' features. For example I can no longer access Youtube, Skype or Euro-sports with it.

As I said the TV was sold as a 'Smart TV' and specifically stated it could access these (it even has the logos of the above on the box).

While the TV is great, not being able to access these really makes it useless for me as I rarely watch standard TV and use the Smart functions all the time.

I know that I can buy an additional piece of hardware that will give me access to these, but I wanted to know if the retailer has any obligation to resolve the issue, as it is still in warranty. I would say it is not fit for purpose as a Smart TV anymore.

I wanted to know what your thoughts are. Please done go into what hardware I could buy (I am aware of that), I just want to know what to expect from Mark (or Samsung).

I hope this is in the correct place. Any help appreciated and thanks in advance.

S0litaire · 17 July 2017 at 3:23PM

Most of these services are listed as "Subject to Status"
So they have to rely on the providers (i.e. NetFlix, YouTube, Skype) to keep the apps up to date for that particular TV's OS.

Youtube and skype have changed their delivery format a lot over the past couple of years and now most Smart TV's will loose these services (if not already) because the apps won't be released for their TV's OS and older versions switched off.

They are basically forcing older "Smart TV" owners to either change TV's or buy something like an Amazon Firestick or Chrome Stick to give the old functionality back

esuhl · 17 July 2017 at 3:58PM

I'd check the advertising and description. As above, I imagine that these features are offered "subject to availability". If not, then you'd have a claim for the TV being not fit for purpose.

RumRat · 17 July 2017 at 4:41PM

Is it running the latest software for the model?

S0litaire · 17 July 2017 at 4:46PM

RumRat wrote: »

Is it running the latest software for the model?

If the TV's 4-5 Years old then their would probably not be a recent update.

They tend to only support a Smart TV for 3 years, or while it's still in production. (that's what I've seen in my experience!)

And you tend to get a warning message on screen when using features which are about to end telling you the date when the service is being withdrawn.

Example :
"Youtube" is stopping supporting all "Flash based" players this month. My LG Smart TV is one of the players affected so I will no longer be able to cast things from a Youtube tablet/phone app to my TV without getting a chromecast now

97browng · 17 July 2017 at 4:58PM

Yes it is running the latest version.

I know why the apps are not supported - the OS on the TV is very old (in IT Terms) and the developers are no longer writing applications in that code.

Youtube started moving away from Flash several years ago and are now stopping it completely. I assume its the same for the other Apps.

Just seems stupid that a 4 year old TV (that cost several hundred pounds) is now redundant because of this.

S0litaire · 17 July 2017 at 5:01PM

it's not redundant.
It still a functioning TV. (To be honest the thing I use the most on my Smart TV is the DNLA function to play Media from my MediaPC onto my TV.)

Shell out for a ChromeCast or Amazon stick.
Cheaper than a whole new TV

DCFC79 · 17 July 2017 at 6:21PM

This is why when buying a smart TV the smart functions should be way down the list of priorities when looking for a TV.

As suggested get yourself a Amazon Fire stick or a Chromecast.

JJ_Egan · 17 July 2017 at 6:28PM

Who is this extra 5 year warranty with ??

Vendor and not fit for purpose is different to a manufacturers warranty .

You could try claiming against a warranty but its almost certain that the terms and conditions would exclude your problem .

You could try to claim against the vendor but if successful you wont get much for a nearly 5 year old TV circa £50 .

dj1471 · 17 July 2017 at 9:24PM

This is why my next TV won't be smart. A dongle is much easier and cheaper to replace when technology moves on.

Skype has gone because Microsoft dropped support for the older Samsung TVs, nothing Samsung can do about this. I hadn't been informed that YouTube was going but I can see now that it's gone... It was old and annoying anyway (playback from mobile devices to the TV always failed). More annoying for me is that Netflix is well out of date and doesn't support multiple users.

The warranty won't help you and Samsung will argue that this is beyond their control (which it is). Just be grateful we still have iPlayer and the other channels' apps, their days will be numbered too...

littlerock · 17 July 2017 at 11:35PM

So we don't really need smart TVs then?

Samsung TV - Removing Features, Still Under Warranty

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