Samsung Smart TV 2013 (no touch remote?)

[nickdalzell]

i was demoing some of the new 2013 Samsung TVs in the Best Buy here, and part of what grabbed me was not only the cleaner looking Smart Hub (vs. the finicky version i had on a Blu Ray player that was very unreliable) but this new smart remote. complete with a mic and the ability to voice control the TV (i've been clamoring for a voice mute for a long time). i then found that the model i wanted was on sale for more than half its original price. the 32" LED 5500 Series 5 Smart TV was the largest i can squeeze into my tiny trailer home's living room without purchasing an additional space consuming TV stand. so i got that.

Despite being an excellent TV with nice sound and a damn good picture, i was jipped. my TV despite having the new Smart Hub is missing the key remote control i was playing with in-store. instead it has last year's button remote. i am not sure but i *think* i was supposed to get the touch remote. tried searching online for anyone else with this problem but nothing comes up. Went back and the only accessory available is the Evolution kit but my TV isn't evolution compatible. so i'm missing key advertised Smart Hub features i feel should have come with this TV. so what do i do? did my TV come with the incorrect remote? or did i just become one of the unlucky few who got the very first of the new Smart Hub capable, but still last-year's model TVs? even the model i got is a demo in-store complete with S Recommendation and voice interaction. what gives?

 

[olbriar]

I would think that if what you purchased was not properly represented by the display, a return should be an option. If you do not have what was represented... foul as far as I'm concerned.

 

[mikedt]

According to the Samsung site that TV comes with the TM1250 remote, which is this...
http://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-Remote-Control-TM1250-Original/dp/B008KFE72O
Which is a button remote.

They might have been demonstrating with a remote from another Samsung TV, i.e. the touch one. Not necessarily deliberate deception, but it might be what the SA had handy. Usually stores keep remotes behind the counter or locked away to deter theft, and usually one manufacturer's remote is compatible with all of their current TVs, like one Samsung remote is compatible with all current Samsung TVs. If you press off, probably every Samsung TV in the immediate area will turn off...LOL. I've seen that happen and done it myself. If you're not happy or think you were deceived, suggest you take it up with the store.

 

[nickdalzell]

actually all the Samsung Smart TVs (including this one) were all in one demo. the demo was the entire Smart platform (Hub, apps, etc) and had advertised features that were even being shown on the TV i purchased's demo. including S Recommendation and the voice control. the E-manual on my TV even lists them as features. i'm going to go back and see if i can get someone to possibly trade remotes. the only TVs with the button remote i saw in store were the ones with the older smart hub (with the water background and icons/widgets) my TV has the new 2013-14 Smart Hub (honeycomb icons, five panels, etc) but without the Smart Touch remote it's only half-functional. great TV otherwise, the internet features work quite well.

EDIT: Yeah MikeDT that is the exact remote my TV has. but this contradicts the Samsung website on my TV model (which lists voice interaction and S recommendation as features for this TV but depend on the touch remote) and isn't the one shown with the 2013 Smart Hub demo in the store. the remote controls were right next to their respective models, of course, but had a security wire on them. most of the Smart TV remotes were behind glass in a display case. the only TVs listed with the remote my TV came with had the older Smart Hub. my TV has the brand new revamped Hub. so i think the manufacturer simply boxed the wrong remote for my TV. it works, but i am missing key features. and i've wanted voice mute for a long time. always wanted to say something along the lines of 'Computer! delete Audio!' instead of scrambling for the remote each time.

My TV did come with the IR Extender designed to allow the Smart Touch remote to control a set-top box (think: my TiVo) so this leads me to think that my TV was simply packaged with the 2012 era remote by mistake.