Poll: Poll: Should PCM2 buy the EW2420 *VA monitor for the good of the community?

Should I buy one to test?

  • yes

    Votes: 50 89.3%

  • no

    Votes: 6 10.7%
  • Total voters
    56
CaptainCrash said:
Yes it is possible - the DSRs are designed to give you the same opportunity to examine a product you've bought online as you'd get in a physical store, and you couldn't very well do that if you weren't allowed to take it out of the box. Having said that, it does seem a bit cynical and against the spirit of the DSRs if you have absolutely no intention of buying the product.
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Ah well, I was going by the T&Cs of a another site that I read a few days ago:

7. Cancellation Rights, Returns and Refunds

7.1 Under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 you have a right to cancel your purchase. However, to exercise this right you must notify us via email within 7 working days from the day after you receive your goods.

7.3 No right of cancellation, refund or return exists under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 once you have used your product, unless the product is defective and you are returning it for this reason.
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Maybe it's just their site which has that policy as I wanted to buy the EW2420, but if I was unhappy with it (ghosting/lag/black crush etc) then I would've wanted to return it.

Also I think the last time when I bought from an actual PCWorld store (many many moons ago), they said it was possible to return a product, but only if the product was unopened. So basically it meant I couldn't test it.
 
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Oh my... Just got back from work and I see you lot have been very busy in my absence ;). I voted yes. But this can run for a bit longer. I am still doing this FX2490HD review and my helpers are on holiday so the very earliest you should expect this review by is probably about 2-3 weeks from now - if I do decide to go for it. I hope this is satisfactory :).
 
PCM2 said:
... so the very earliest you should expect this review by is probably about 2-3 weeks from now - if I do decide to go for it. I hope this is satisfactory :).
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Given that it's coming out of your own pocket, I don't think anyone has the right to demand any sort of time on the review :)
 
crackerbear said:
Ah well, I was going by the T&Cs of a another site that I read a few days ago:

Maybe it's just their site which has that policy as I wanted to buy the EW2420, but if I was unhappy with it (ghosting/lag/black crush etc) then I would've wanted to return it.
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Going a bit OT for this thread (apologies PCM2), but your statutory rights will always trump a retailer's T&Cs. You can order the monitor, test it out, cancel under the DSRs if you don't like it, and if the company then tries to hide behind their T&Cs you can tell them to take a running jump.

Unfortunately it's still rather common for online retailers to play fast and loose with the DSRs in their published T&Cs - Trading Standards will make a note if you contact them, but they won't act until the number of complaints against a specific retailer reaches a certain trigger point.

crackerbear said:
Also I think the last time when I bought from an actual PCWorld store (many many moons ago), they said it was possible to return a product, but only if the product was unopened. So basically it meant I couldn't test it.
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For a bricks-and-mortar store you don't have an automatic right to a refund simply because you've changed your mind, and I guess you have to use your best judgement depending on the nature of the product - for example, it would be a bit unreasonable to try to return a USB stick once you'd ripped the packing apart (unless it was faulty of course). I wouldn't buy a something like a monitor though unless I had the chance to see it in action first, and if the store couldn't or wouldn't provide that facility I'd just go elsewhere.
 
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Hmm... The user comments on the TrustedReviews review of the VW2420 have put me off somewhat. It sounds as if people are experiencing the kind of issues I have come across with *VA panels in the past. I like the idea somebody had of getting Overclockers to send me one by asking nicely, but they don't stock it.
 
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PCM2 said:
Hmm... The user comments on the TrustedReviews review of the VW2420 have put me off somewhat. It sounds as if people are experiencing the kind of issues I have come across with *VA panels in the past.
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Yeah I've read those comments as well and am equally put off. It annoying how subjective monitors are though, while one person may not notice any flaws, another will pick up on them straight away.

All the reviews of the VW2420H, which for those who don't know uses the panel as the EW2420, pretty much sing praises about it and there are few "minor" problems. Those minor problems could well be major ones depending on the person.

I wish big brand stores such as PCWorld or Currys would stock new monitors so as I could at least see them in person to test out. As it is, I'm putting semi-blind faith into reviews and user feedback before purchasing a monitor.
 
crackerbear said:
I wish big brand stores such as PCWorld or Currys would stock new monitors so as I could at least see them in person to test out. As it is, I'm putting semi-blind faith into reviews and user feedback before purchasing a monitor.
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Yes, it's always a problem with monitors...

With CPUs / memory, you can buy entirely on spec. With GPUs the performance you see in benchmarks is fairly representative of what you will experience (at least it is until you start adding in multiple GPUs, but that's a whole other kettle of fish). But with monitors it's all so subjective... you have to rely on good quality reviews from people you trust really, and look at multiple sources.
 
PCM2 said:
Hmm... The user comments on the TrustedReviews review of the VW2420 have put me off somewhat. It sounds as if people are experiencing the kind of issues I have come across with *VA panels in the past. I like the idea somebody had of getting Overclockers to send me one by asking nicely, but they don't stock it.
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It didn't seem that discouraging for me. For the price the consensus seemed to be that it is much better than all the TN panels that it competes with.
 
Looking through threads like this coupled with my previous experience though does make me wonder. To be fair I'm in quite a privileged position. The reason most people won't just go out and buy a monitor like this on a whim is because, obviously £160 is quite a lot of money these days. What if they don't like it? They might be stuck with it as their main monitor and that wouldn't be a nice feeling. Maybe they'd end up selling it on eBay for a bit less than they bought it for. Although some of this applies to me if I was 'stuck with it' it would only be on a computer I rarely use and I have a pretty much constant throughflow of review sample monitors to keep me occupied these days. Also I could claim back the VAT and I'd only be using money generated from my website and really this monitor is for my website (and of course you guys :)).
 
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PCM2 said:
The reason most people won't just go out and buy a monitor like this on a whim is because, obviously £160 is quite a lot of money these days. What if they don't like it? They might be stuck with it as their main monitor and that wouldn't be a nice feeling.
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Surely that's exactly the scenario the DSRs are intended to cover?

As for yourself, if you're really intending to buy a monitor for your private use (as well as reviewing it), then you're as entitled as anyone else to send it back if you don't like it. If you're a *business* customer then you're not covered by consumer protection legislation, but I guess you'd be the best judge of that. :)
 
I would buy it on the premise of using it as just any other consumer - if I would like to claim it as a business expense and claim back the VAT at a later date that is also a possibility (although sometimes it isn't worth the hassle). I am not confident in the DSR or the whole process. It seems abundantly clear that unless there is a fault with the monitor they only accept "I changed my mind" type returns within 7 days if the product has been unused. I know this seems ridiculous but I have looked at the terms and conditions of several online retailers and, apart from one I can't actually buy from, they echo the same.
 
Trifid said:
It didn't seem that discouraging for me. For the price the consensus seemed to be that it is much better than all the TN panels that it competes with.
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I think it'll depend on what you're using it for.

For general purpose use and light gaming, it's likely to be perfect because as you say, it does seem better than any TN panel in the same price range. However personally, the slow response time is a killer. Whilst various reviews and people seem to have varying opinions of the extent of it, one thing for sure is that it's definitely more noticeable - purely for the fact people are mentioning it as opposed to a fast TN panel where everyone says it's ghosting/lag free.
 
PCM2 said:
I am not confident in the DSR or the whole process. It seems abundantly clear that unless there is a fault with the monitor they only accept "I changed my mind" type returns within 7 days if the product has been unused. I know this seems ridiculous but I have looked at the terms and conditions of several online retailers and, apart from one I can't actually buy from, they echo the same.
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Yeah, that's the conclusion I came to as well.

Even if the DSR law dictates stores should take back a product, even if used, I'm not sure I can be bothered to deal with the hassle of making that particular store conform to it.
 
PCM2 said:
II am not confident in the DSR or the whole process. It seems abundantly clear that unless there is a fault with the monitor they only accept "I changed my mind" type returns within 7 days if the product has been unused. I know this seems ridiculous but I have looked at the terms and conditions of several online retailers and, apart from one I can't actually buy from, they echo the same.
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In that case, those terms and conditions are unenforceable - if you reject the goods within seven working days of receipt, then the law states that they *have* to refund you in full within the following thirty days, and whether or not the goods have been opened or used is immaterial. You're only liable for the return carriage, and even then the retailer must make this clear beforehand.

Honestly, the DSRs are very clear and rock solid - I've only ever personally encountered one retailer who tried to weasel out of their obligations, and they changed their mind after a robust exchange of views. :)
 
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