Nintendo DS defects arise
Discovered a dead pixel or a technical flaw with your Nintendo DS? Find out how to get your unit repaired.
by | November 22, 2004
Nothing can be more disheartening to a gamer when they purchase a new product and discover - there's a defect, especially on its first day of operation. According to online reports, users have noted their Nintendo DS units carry a minor technical blemish - a dead pixel, located in the upper portion of the screen.
If you're among the crop of users also experiencing this dilemma can rest easy that Nintendo will repair the unit free of charge, as explained in customer service email responding to the issue. The correspondence reads as follows:
Hello and thank you for contacting Nintendo,
With a small number of Nintendo DS screens, one or two dots on the screen may appear to be "stuck" on a particular color, such as white or red. This effect is caused when a particular pixel (the dots that make up the screen) is not working properly, even with the high quality standards set by LCD manufacturers. You will find this situation is common in many LCD devices, (PC monitors, televisions, cell phones, etc.).
It's important to understand that this issue will remain limited to the pixels you have already noticed. The problem will not get any worse and you should not expect to see the problem in any other areas of the screen.
We suggest that you use your system for a few weeks to determine whether this interferes with your enjoyment of game play. If, after using your system for awhile, you feel that this tiny dot is too distracting, the Nintendo DS does carry a one-year warranty. We are happy to inspect and, if necessary, fix your system at no charge within the warranty period.
For warranty repair information, please visit the Customer Service section of our web site at www.nintendo.com. Below is the direct address to our Customer Service area:
http://www.nintendo.com/consumer
Once you're on our Customer Service page, select your system, then select the appropriate category and follow the directions. Please note that most Nintendo authorized retailers electronically register your system's serial number at the time of purchase. To view your system's warranty information, please check our warranty lookup page at the following:
If you have already visited the Customer Service section of our web site and did not find what you are looking for, or if you need additional assistance, please contact our Consumer Service Department by calling . Our representatives are available between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time, seven days a week.
Sincerely,
Nintendo of America Inc.
Greg Hamilton
It's unknown how widespread this dilemma is, but we encourage you to contact Nintendo as a final option should your local retailer refuse to honor a defective return.
