concerns about buying a TV...help!

how common are stuck or dead pixels on new plasma tvs? i know LCD is way worse but is there still a problem on todays plasmas? can you fix stuck pixels with discs etc? if you get a plasma with a pixel perfect display is there a possibility of it developing dead/stuck pixels months or years into ownership or is it more a right out of the box thing? are stuck and dead pixels generally pretty easy to see on a 50 inch from 6-9 feet away or do most people not notice them?

would you let a manufacturers policy concerning dead pixels sway your decision on a new purchase? i would totally loose it if i spent 2k on a new high end tv got it home and there was a visual imperfection i could see from the couch...would be totally unacceptable to me.

i ask all this because i have been considering the pioneer KRP-500m but from what i have read there is a large number of pixel defects and pioneer wont really help you out unless there are several of them. i keep reading about people getting multiple REPLACEMENT sets and they all have some bad pixels. i just cant imagine being stuck with or having to cope with a less than 100% TV after i blow a ridiculous amount of money on it.

i have also been considering panasonic which seem to have less problems with bad pixels and their warranty policy seems more loose and laid back...seems they just want to keep the consumer happy and will replace the tv without much hassle (the way it should be for all manufacturers).

i know about valueelectronics but will any other online vendors do quality control for dead pixels before they ship the TV out to you? will online vendors let you return the TV if there are bad pixels or make you go through the manufacturer? will my credit card company help me out if the unit has bad pixels? i am just worried about the TV developing dead pixels down the road. if you buy a tv from an unauthorized dealer with no manufacturers warranty in effect can you buy a warranty through square deal or mack that will cover defective pixels?

sorry for the long post but do you think my concerns are legitimate?
what would you do in my situation?

thanks

Stuck/dead pixels are less of an issue with plasma vs LCD from what I have seen and not much of an issue. Dead pixels are indeed dead and will not come back. Stuck pixels (seen as a strait color like blue or green) can become unstuck. There are programs that you can download for free on the net to try and exercise these pixels and make them unstuck. Even if you have a dead or stuck pixel if sitting at a normal viewing distance, they are not noticable unless you have a few stuck close together or sitting close up to the TV. Pixels in even a 50'' 1080p display are sooooo tiny. If you buy a TV that has any and it is an issue for you out of the box, just exchange it. Pretty much all B&M stores have at least a 10 day and many a 30 day return/exchange policy, but e-net shopping may be different and a bigger pain in the ass to ship back. Out of the exchange period, most manufactures that I have seen have a basic pixel policy of at least 5 dead/stuck pixes, unless they are adjacent to each other. So read up on that specific manufacturer before purchase. And it is always a good idea to purchase from an "authorized" dealer.. Make sure to read all the fine print on the extended warranty page as many have different specs on dead pixels as well.

well thats somewhat comforting...i just picture a dead or stuck pixel as a big black/red/blue etc... spot over christain bales face while i watch the dark knight on blu ray. the TVs i am considering are 1080p and 50 inch so you are saying that they are not noticeable?

thanks for the reply

My friend had a LG 50" plasma that did not have any bad pixels when he got it, but after about 8 months he started getting them. It started with one pixel that annoyingly blinked red near the middle of the screen. It was only seen when the area was a dark scene, but it stood out. He then got 2nd, 3rd, & 4th pixels sticking shortly afterward with all of them blinking red. Some were in the area where the black bars are when watching 2.40:1 movies so they were noticeable at 8 feet away and of course anytime the screen had dark scenes where the blinking red pixels were they are noticeable as well.

This is one of the reasons I would not consider an LG plasma myself, when you add that to the 2 other LG plasmas he had issues with and the 5 LG DLPs I had troubles with.

that sucks...i am scared this will happen to me with poineer or panasonic. as far as developing bad pixels are pioneer and panasonic more reliable?

Panasonic and Samsung (and others too, I trust) will indeed honor their warranty on a new TV, even if purchased from a dealer who is not an "authorized dealer". With respect to dead and stuck pixels, I think VIZIO is the only manufacturer that guarantied NO stuck pixels.

Many times Authorized Dealers of products are REQUIRED to buy so many units to maintain their dealership--- even if they cant sell them at retail. These dealers often resell these products to other sellers who are not Authorized Dealers, who then sell them. The products are still brand new, brand name products; and most, not all, manufacturers will stand behind them. Often you can even get significantly better prices from unauthorized dealers because on some products, the manufacturer/distributor will not allow the Authorized Dealer to discount more that a certain amount.

Panasonic and Samsung (and others too, I trust) will indeed honor their warranty on a new TV, even if purchased from a dealer who is not an "authorized dealer". With respect to dead and stuck pixels, I think VIZIO is the only manufacturer that guarantied NO stuck pixels.

What is Panasonic's stated warranty for the dead pixels on plasma and how long a period it covers? Some manufacturers only cover them for 90 days...:(