Are you a mind reader? Have you been in my house to see the TV for yourself.
I am not jumping on any "it's actually broken wagon. "
The TV does have issues that I didn't mention in my original post because I just wanted to see what other people's experiences were. Sorry if I want to take advantage of Costco's return policy. I tend to procrastinate so that's partly why I am thinking of doing this far into the return period, that and my brother was in the hospital for a little while and I am sure I will need him if and when I return the set.
Man, you would think I'm taking money from some of the posters pockets. Such vitriol.
Actually, they may very well be the case. Part of the operating cost is handling loss in revenues from questionable returns. This can and often translated into higher annual membership fees.
If the product has a problem then by all means return it. I think the negative comments came in an appropriate manner since you said, and only said, that you didn't like the picture. That is completely different that a product not working as advertised.
And, to answer your original question (re: returns) ...
My first flat panel TV was a Vizio 42" 720P LCD. About 10 months into owning it the video board went nuts and everything on the screen was an LSD trip. I took a picture and posted to a forum (not this one), and then sent an email to the manufacturer.
Costco suggest I do this first since it was under the original Vizio warranty, but they also said I wasn't required to. I got Vizio to replace the unit on their dime, including in-home installation. Then about a year later the replacement unit's HDMI inputs all failed.
Now I was outside the Vizio warranty and Costco directed me to return the defective unit to them. They tested the HDMI inputs and all were dead. I got a Costco money card for $13xx. I turned around and bought a Vizio 50" plasma for $950 and put the rest on a DSLR.
The new unit is working fine and since then I've bought a Panasonic plasma, too and they still work. Unfortunately, in between the first flat panel purchase and the rest the Costco return policy changed, and I do not doubt for one minute it was due to abuse.
My closest store went from having 4-6 returned units sitting on the floor for a loss, to maybe one per month. If its defective, return it and they will not care. BTW, no need for purchase receipt as Costco keeps track of all purchases, minus the serial numbers. This was how I was able to return the replacement 42" LCD with no problems.