Thanks all for the comments/suggestions. Just thought I'd update as to how things are working out here.

My dead-in-the-water monitor was some 54 weeks old when the lights go out. So I (wrongly) assumed that I only had a one year warranty with Samsung. I purchased the LCD at Best Buy, but I did not think that I took a BB warranty. When I could not find my receipt, I ran back to BB yesterday and verified that I took no BB warranty. But I also learn that I had a 3 year warranty with Samsung ( and I got a duplicate receipt ).

So . . . today, I go online with Samsung and log into an account established in 2004 when I purchase my first LCD monitor before this one. Up pops my account with those two LCDs in the queue, the later indicating a valid warranty . . . along with a link to customer support where I answer questions and am prompted to e-mail a copy of my store receipt. After doing so, I'm issued an on-line claim number and instructed to call the 800 number.

A few more minutes spent talking with a rep who verifies that I've done all I can do on my end to trouble shoot things. Finally I'm given a choice of having Samsung either repair my LCD or to exhange mine for a new monitor ( of course I take the later option ). I'm to receive a shipping number in a few days, and in 7-14 business days a new monitor will arrive at the door. I need only switch out the old and put mine back in the UPS box and send it back. A credit card hold is placed against the unreturned monitor and released when SS gets it back.

In short, a relatively straightforward process. I am extremely impressed ^with Samsung's support service and how seamlessly I could begin on-line trying to troubleshoot and then quickly UL a receipt and get a case ticket number on-line and a resolution on the phone. To top it off, I'm not talking to offshore folks here. So samsung is spending some bucks on the customer service end to assure a good after purchase experience.

Of course the downside is that I now quell the building urge to get another monitor . . . Apple, & Gateway had caught my eye as I began to think bigger and had even ventured to the Eizo and LaCie sites to see what the big boys are all about. OTOH, we just learned on Friday that our vehicle needs a new catalytic converter ( $2500 installed ) and then this monitor dies on Sunday. I'm still awaiting the 3rd iteration in this series of events.

So it looks like it'll be the second incarnation of Samsung for the time being.

Barry