2407 Grade B with vertical red line

Question

I wonder if anyone from Dell can help me.... I ordered a 2407 Grade B monitor from a site called aria.co.uk  (for around £300/$600) It was a Grade B monitor with '2407 B', '2407FWb', 'Grade B' stickers all over the box. So it looks like it is a Grade B monitor from Dell, which is exactly what I ordered.   When I opened the box there was no cables or manuals (which I was expecting) just a white hand written note saying 'FAILED'. Plugged it in and it worked fine, there's a couple of dead sub pixels but nothing noticeable.   However I then noticed it has a flashing red vertical line down the left hand side. Looks exactly like this screen shot a previous owner of 2407 has taken (mikea423): http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n11/mikea423/vert-line.jpg   The monitor was stated as coming with a 30 day warranty, however after phoning up Dell they can't do anything without a service tag, or an order number. Aria customer service are impossible to get through to, so I can't get hold of a Dell order number (wish I'd read the reviews of Aria before ordering it!).   Is there anything Dell can do just with PPID number? (CZ0UY545705226AU085S) On the box it looks like there was an original PPID of CZ0UY5457705226BA16TS, so I don't know if this gets changed when its graded (or if the box is just from a different unit).   Thanks

DELL-Chris M · Answer

nicos_theo,The PPID number is only 20 digits long, so check yours again. I have never seen 'grade B' on any monitor here in the U.S., so I have no idea what that could mean. If the red line appears in the monitor STFC (Self-Test Feature Check) <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> , then it is defective.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

nicos_theo, No. They do not have service tag numbers.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

nicos_theo,

Does the line appear using the VGA connector? The monitor PPID number CZ0UY545705226AU085S shows the following:
Manf Date: October 30, 2006 (4.5 months old)
Part Number: UY545

In the U.S., it would be covered, but I cannot speak for UK policies.

nicos_theo · Answer

Thanks Chris, I've tried the self test feature and can't see the red line. However it only occurs with certain colors (same thing mikea423 reported with his 2407). With mine it occurs with the grey you get in windows menus. I created an image just with that color in, and you just about see the line here (the dots flash on and off):   http://www.hugeuploads.net//images/349870red_line.jpg   Tried it with a different PC/cable just to make sure and it still occurs (at all resolutions). Tried adjusting the pixel clock and this seems to shift the picture but the line stays in the same place.     As it only occurs with certain colors I can actually change the gamma on the graphics card which shifts what it effects so its not so obvious. Interestingly if I modify Red/Blue on the graphics card it has no effect, but the green does.   The PPID number I posted is 20 digits long I think. Here is a photo of the back of the monitor with it on (along with the other label that cut and paste in) http://www.hugeuploads.net//images/854746monitor_back.jpg   And this is the printed Grade B product label on the box http://www.hugeuploads.net//images/388004grade_b.jpg   Thanks

nicos_theo · Answer

Yep, the line appears using the VGA connector. I haven't been able to test it using DVI because I don't have a cable to hand. I know when mikea423 reported the same issue, he said it occured on both VGA and DVI.. http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=66742&view=by_date_ascending&page=1   Is there any way possible you can give me a service tag for the monitor so I can get Dell UK to support me? Thanks again.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

I don't suppose there is an order number associated with the PPID? * No.

nicos_theo · Answer

I don't suppose there is an order number associated with the PPID? Ironically if I lived in the US, for the same price I paid could have brought a brand new one. Over here they cost between $1200-$1500.:smileysad:

nicos_theo · Answer

Thanks for checking that out Chris.
I sent an email to Dell UK and this is some information they have sent so far... (probably useful for other people thinking of buying Grade B units).

"I have checked the serial number of the unit you have and it is indeed registered as a failed unit that has already been exchanged under its warranty with the original owner.

Dell Warranty does not apply to the unit that you have..
Therefore we could only do an Out of Warranty Exchange which would be effectively the same price as purchasing a new unit. "

As its registered as failed, that would explain the note which came with the monitor which said "failed".

For reference this is a description of Grade B monitor from the site I got it from:

"Grade B refurbished products are functional units which may have minor cosmetic damage. They may not be in their original packaging."

I have a feeling this particular unit probably shouldn't have been marked as Grade B.

BernardPD · Answer

Something does not compute here...

Dell UK says:

"I have checked the serial number of the unit you have and it is indeed registered as a failed unit that has already been exchanged under its warranty with the original owner."

I wonder what Dell UK does with those defective monitors they get back and exchange for new ones under warranty.

How could a defective Dell monitor, taken back by Dell UK, find itself for sale again through an independent retailer? The logical explanation is that Dell UK sold this defective monitor to the retailer.

Is it possible that the monitor was tested by Dell UK upon return and incorrectly judged to have no defect other than cosmetic? The red column is not so obvious at first glance.

Then, it seems that if Dell UK allowed a defective monitor to be sent out back in the channel on red.

It would normally be up to the retailer (Aria) to sort this out with Dell UK. But if Aria can't be reached, Dell would seem to have at least a moral obligation to make things right. After all, it is Dell UK who decided to let Aria sell its "failed" monitors.

Message Edited by BernardPD on 03-16-2007 02:18 PM

Message Edited by BernardPD on 03-16-2007 07:37 PM

nicos_theo · Answer

Yeh, I think there's probably been a mistake made at some point. The mistake I made is I thought the 30 day warranty it comes with would be with Dell. Infact its a return to base warranty with the place I bought it from. They currently don't have any 2407 grade B in stock, so I could be waiting some time for a replacement. Hence I'm going to keep hold of it. The fault its got is annoying, but I can work around it by changing the gamma settings on my graphics card so I can't see it. Other than that it is an incredible monitor.

all the facts · Answer

message won't post correctly so I'll put it in new thread :) Lines of colored pixels usually the only remedy is to exchange but I understand the spot you are in. Might try pixels. It's a long shot, but maybe it'll correct the red line. If I were in your place I'd let it run for 24 hours, it's your only hope. Find it here or google it. http://www.laptopshowcase.co.uk/downloads.php?id=1 I see one pixel wide red lines when my 37", another brand LCD, when it kicks in to a HDMI source but it clears almost immediately. On another note just FYI, as to an issue of a vertical line 2 pixels wide of blue pixels on the left side, inch or two from the edge of the screen, the only correction is an exchange, it's a known LCD manufacturing flaw and can't be fixed by the owner. Thought I would never see that flaw I had read about but bought a 37" LCD and sent it right back and got another one, no problem. Good Luck with Dead Pixel Buddy

Message Edited by all the facts on 03-20-2007 12:59 AM

nicos_theo · Answer

Thanks for the advice I'll give it a go. The red line is just made out of a load of dots that are constantly changing. It only occurs on certain colors, so tweaking the gamma settings on the graphics card means I can stop them showing up (in most cases).

Monitors

2407 Grade B with vertical red line

Was this post helpful?