Hello KRJ,
Sorry to hear of your problems that so many of us have experienced. LET ME MAKE ONE THING REALLY CLEAR - I AM NOT A ROKU EMPLOYEE NOR AN EMPLOYEE OF ANY TELEVISION MAKER. I am a FF/Medic who got caught up in this shoddy workmanship mess like everyone else. (And yes, ROKU's attempt at deflecting the problem by telling customers to call the TV manufacturer for help has irritated more than a few of those customers. I find it interesting that they never come right out and say "Hey! This is not our problem as we only provide software!")
Unfortunately, many of today's TVs are made in China at the Hisense manufacturer plant and they don't give a rat's behind about what Americans think. Some say it's a ROKU problem (software maker/provider), some say that it's the fault of the electronics (lights, power boards, main boards) that are the guts of the TVs. I began exploring the issue of TVs made by Hisense two years ago when my 58" Sharp went belly-up literally 1 month after the 1 Year Warranty expired, and I have spent a lot of time posting on this ROKU blog since.
One thing that I did find interesting is that Hisense has a plant in Suwanee, GA right here in the USA, and has been making televisions for years, though it's a bit hard to discern if any of those are the same as the China manufacturing plant makes (such as Sharp, etc.) or not. Other than the name, I've not seen any connection between the two but if someone else has different info, they can speak to that. This is a quote from the Hisense USA website:
HISENSE USA's MISSION AND VISION.
Mission:
To improve consumers lives and add value to partners by developing high-quality, innovative and affordable products while also committing to exceed expectations and deliver results in the United States.
Vision:
To become the most trusted company and loved brand in the U.S. Consumer Electronic and Home Appliance industries by offering solutions that customers desire. We also strive to be a company that everyone wants to work for in the U.S.." End quote. (If you want to read more on Hisense USA or to contact them, just do a simple search under that exact heading and it will take you to their website.)
This is not to say that the American plant is responsible for the televisions that are giving up the ghost before their time. For instance, the last time I checked, all of the Sharp televisions sold in the US are made at the China Hisense facility. However, I've said this once but it bears repeating - Regardless of who is at fault for all of these televisions going out a few months after the 1 Year Warranty expires, the makers of the components and those adding the software know that answer. And if I shared my brand name with the guilty party, I would be raising all kinds of heck and letting them know that they need to rectify the problem. That being said, does the "innocent party" in all of this see it as a "cash cow" for them as well? I have my own opinion on that but I've tried hard to stick to the facts. So, unless something has changed in the past month or two, if that 1 Year Warranty has expired and you didn't purchase an extended warranty plan, you will be told that there is nothing they can do for you. Very sad, but true as I'm sure you are aware.
Be well, KJR.
