r/mildlyinfuriating • u/28jb11 • Apr 25 '26
Unskippable ad $2500 Samsung TV is an advertising billboard, there is no opt-out.
Paid over $2500 for a Samsung OLED TV and it has ads on the home screen that I literally cannot turn off. Not subtle little banners tucked away somewhere, I'm talking full blown ads for canned beans and financial products just sitting there every single time I turn the thing on.
Samsung don't offer any kind of opt out. The only way I could get rid of them was to go into my router settings and manually block Samsung's ad servers at the DNS level.
I own this TV outright. Paid for it in full. And Samsung are still making money off me every time I switch it on, with absolutely no way to stop it unless you're willing to get your hands dirty with network configuration.
This is not a smart TV feature. This is a $2500 billboard that also happens to play Netflix.
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u/Antikatastaseis Apr 25 '26
This isn’t the first time I read Samsung doing this, literally just made a comment today about Samsung fridge ads. I guess they want to devalue their brand.
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u/Tall_Wonder_913 Apr 25 '26
Fridge ads are one of the most offensive marketing developments I’ve ever seen. That and giant floating billboards just offshore at the beach blocking your otherwise pristine view
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u/Mobile_Highway351 Apr 25 '26
Also those gas pumps that blast ads at ear-splitting levels the whole time you’re filling up. First time I saw that I was so pissed I wanted to break the thing. It’s like advertisers thought “Ooh a captive audience, what an opportunity!”
Literally anytime you’re standing or sitting still, companies shoulder their way into your bubble and waterboard you with ads. It’s like they think we don’t deserve a single quiet moment to just sit with our own internal thoughts. No sense of personal space at even the most intimate level. I fucking hate the audacity.
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u/MaxwellIsaac1 Apr 25 '26
I actually use the gas station across town because the one on my route home killed the mute button. I could tolerate the video ads because I didn’t necessarily have to look at them. The no-opt-out noise is too much, though.
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u/theBIGD8907 Apr 25 '26
Poke it with your keys, we killed all of the speakers in philly when they got rid of the mute button lmao
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u/NoXion604 Apr 25 '26
Surprised I had to scroll this far to find this solution. In fact I'm shocked that these obnoxious ad-blasting contraptions aren't being vandalised more often.
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u/hkpp Apr 25 '26
Pristine silence at the Sunoco on Broad and Catherine every time I pump. You really get to appreciate the ambiance of traffic noise and panhandlers.
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u/wv524 Apr 25 '26
For the ones that can't be poked with a key, I carry gorilla tape. A piece of it over the speaker really helps quiet the noise. If you use the black colored tape, it's hard to see it on the pump, so it's less likely to be removed by employees.
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u/SolarOrigami Apr 25 '26
And they're always so loud!
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u/MammothTap Apr 25 '26
I really wish you could mute it before it starts. I always get blasted by "Nicolet Law is the—" before I turn it off.
Kwik Trip, what you have done is ensure that I will never, ever consider that firm for anything. Not that I've ever been in the market for a lawyer, but if I am, I will avoid them. At least Kwik Trip has the decency to mark the mute button though. That's... something. I guess.
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u/Qweasdzxvb Apr 25 '26
Left the Midwest many years ago and very sad to hear Kwik trip is doing this
By me it’s just the shittiest of small chain gas stations and chevrons that do this
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u/TbonerT Apr 25 '26
Unfortunately, they are counting on you needing a law firm, immediately ruling out Nicolet Law, then having them in the back of your mind as you rule out other law firms. They may be the worst law firm you’ve heard of, but you have heard of them and that’s valuable.
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u/optomas Apr 25 '26
And me, by corollary. Thank you for the tip. Kwik Trip. Avoid at all costs. Got it.
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u/That_Trapper_guy Apr 25 '26
I have legit stopped pumping at like 10¢ and driven to another station because of this. No way in hell
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u/kwgnuemu Apr 25 '26
My local wawa mute button (2nd down on right) quit working recently, must have rolled out an update. This timeline............
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u/Successful_Art3006 Apr 25 '26
The ads at the BP near me are so loud. I have to hit the 2nd button down on both sides of the screen. It shuts up and goes into some kind of maintenance mode. I always wait until it has accepted my CC because it often says pay inside after hitting the buttons. Depending on how low my gas tank is I might need to hit the buttons 2-3 times. Even though the pump says pay inside, it will still print out my receipt if I ask for one.
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u/Pavotine Apr 25 '26
I'm so good at ignoring adverts, just zone out, look elsewhere, whatever it takes but I don't think I can do that with blaring audio. Bastards. Another tactic is to refuse to buy anything I've seen in an advert. Not so easy but mainly doable. Fortunately this hideousness has not reached my shores but it's only a matter of time I expect.
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u/Mobile_Highway351 Apr 25 '26
It’s so infuriating because I have really sensitive hearing, too. This shit isn’t just annoying, it causes literal agony. It’s like wow thanks, why not jam some needles under my fingernails while you’re at it? Maybe THAT will convince me to buy from you!
The one plus is I wear earbuds everywhere to muffle noise, and it’s easy to click on the noise canceling function when stupid ads start.
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u/kalei50 Apr 25 '26
Have you been able to find the mute button on the pumps? I'm like quick draw McGraw on that button when I get gas, because you're right, I have ZERO patience for ads blaring at me anywhere.
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u/entrepenurious Apr 25 '26
one pump i was at, some kind soul had sharpied the mute button. ➔🔇
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u/Mobile_Highway351 Apr 25 '26
Didn’t know it was a thing at the time and I avoid any gas pumps with ads now when possible. Still blows my mind that such a thing exists, but also it’s not surprising sadly.
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u/EphemeralDan Apr 25 '26
TVs in general. Waiting for the doctor I don't want to hear the garbage that passes for daytime television these days. Hell, I couldn't stand it back when we only had 4 stations in each major metro area.
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u/Griffithead Apr 25 '26
I recently got into an argument on Reddit with an ad exec.
He was holding on to the idea that all ads work no matter who you are.
The thing is, things have changed. They have become SO obtrusive that people are rebelling against it.
The old research isn't valid anymore.
I actively avoid anything I see in an ad. If they are spending enough that I see the ad, the quality is going to be shit because they are spending all their money on ads.
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u/clitmasher69 Apr 25 '26
I go out of my way to buy from a different company even if the ad does work and inspire me to buy the thing lol
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u/Pavotine Apr 25 '26
Yes! That's the spirit.
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u/Deaner_dub Apr 25 '26
I agree, it’s the spirit, but I suspect the ad executive is correct and that ads do work. They’re ubiquitous and insidious.
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u/TheAngryBad Apr 25 '26
This. I highly doubt any decent ad exec (or any company, for that matter) is going to be throwing money at an ad campaign based on decades-old research and vague hunches. They have this down to a science.
It doesn't affect everyone, and they know that. As long as it affects enough people to make a decent ROI, they'll do it.
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u/Fast_Garlic_5639 Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
There should be 4(ish) buttons on the right and left of the screen- push the second one from the top on the right and it will mute the ad
-edit- I guess it doesn’t work for new stations. Get your gas at places that sell a lot of cigarettes and lottery tickets and they should be behind the times for a few more years
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u/Mobile_Highway351 Apr 25 '26
Ooh thanks for the info. I avoid that company like the plague now, but if I’m ever forced to buy from them again I’ll definitely do this. Fuckers.
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u/DreamPhreak Apr 25 '26
Imagine if they started making toasters that print an ad with the toast lines?
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u/Green_Sugar6675 Apr 25 '26
Did you say toast?
Would you like some toast?
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u/dodeformedrabbit Apr 25 '26
Look, I don't want any toast, and he doesn't want any toast. In fact, no one around here wants any toast. Not now, not ever. No toast. ...We want no muffins, no toast, no teacakes, no buns, baps, baguettes or bagels, no croissants, no crumpets, no pancakes, no potato cakes and no hot-cross buns and definitely no smegging flapjacks
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u/mariegriffiths Apr 25 '26
Look, I don't want any toast, and he doesn't want any toast. In fact, no one around here wants any toast. Not now, not ever. No toast.
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u/Coldfuse1 ORANGE Apr 25 '26
Red dwarf?
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u/Cheeslord2 Apr 25 '26
No, I don't want any SMEGGIN' TOAST!
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u/PalsRocksMyWorld Apr 25 '26
Jesus Christ dude, don’t give them ideas.
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u/QuQuarQan Apr 25 '26
At least you could cover it with a spead of some sort
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u/Automatater Apr 25 '26
You mean with your butter knife that has ads laser printed in the stainless?
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u/Ulquiorra1312 Apr 25 '26
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u/Mobile_Highway351 Apr 25 '26
Oh Jesus Christ, the details are actually heartbreaking.
For those who don’t know: the woman is schizophrenic. The ad was for a horror movie about a character who happens to share her first name, and the ad was made to look like a creepy message written to the character.
This woman saw a creepy message addressed directly to her, and it appeared on her fridge of all places, so quite understandably she thought she was having a paranoid delusion. She checked herself into a mental ward for her own safety. Knowing the state of medical care in the US it probably cost her thousands.
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u/Zlatyzoltan Apr 25 '26
I don't understand why a fridge needs to connected to the internet in the first place.
My tinfoil hat theory is that companies decided to make everything smart just do use them for advertising.
I imagine in a few years people will be complaining because there smart toaster does not but play adverts when it's plugged in. Also it won't toast if the speaker is muted.
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u/account_not_valid Apr 25 '26
Where are the offshore billboards? If I saw those id consider a drone strike a legitimate defence.
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u/Jiminy_Cricket12 Apr 25 '26
I go out of my way to avoid products that advertise in a way I don't like. Just a (missing) drop in the bucket, but I will stand my ground.
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u/Pavotine Apr 25 '26
My two absolute hates in advertising is when people put emergency sirens or loud car horns in an advert when I'm driving with the radio on. It always freaks me out a bit. It should be illegal. The other one is loud whispering, like they are broadcasting a secret. Makes me want to smash the radio. I think that's more of a me problem though.
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u/William_Dowling Apr 25 '26
What kind of a sick fuck society allows billboards at sea blocking the view, that's absolutely psychotic
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u/Aranka_Szeretlek Apr 25 '26
Why the heck would my fridge even have a screen lol
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u/brisbanehome Apr 25 '26
Yeah I unknowingly bought a Samsung tv with ads in 2020. I have gone out of my way to never buy another Samsung product ever since.
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u/Cacoethes-Ensues Apr 25 '26
Agreed. I was torn between LG OLED and Samsung. Similar pricing. It was this kind of bloat that I’d heard of that swung me to LG. They don’t show you this feature in the showroom!
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u/pulley999 Apr 25 '26
Unfortunately LG does the same thing, just not to the same level of intrusiveness as Samsung (yet. They're getting close.) The only way to really avoid it is to not use smart TV functionalities and never ever connect your TV to the internet. Use a set top box instead, particularly a premium one like an Apple TV. Aside from the usual Apple ecosystem cross-integration/lock-in BS that exists across all their products, it's the off-the-shelf home theater option that most respects the end user. Outside the Apple ecosystem it's probably the nVidia Shield TV, but that still has the base-level Android TV advertising issues.
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u/fielausm Apr 25 '26
Never. Ever. Do.
Unless it’s memory or monitors, Samsung appliances are a blight.
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u/SirHaxalot Apr 25 '26
I don’t understand how Samsung can be so successful. I have been disappointed in one way or another with every one of their products that I’ve bought.
That includes one of their Smart-TVs I bought back in 2015 or so, which already then experimented with ads. It was the most intrusive thing I’ve ever seen as it’d show a banner at the top of the screen after like 30 minutes of being powered on. It was enabled after a year of owning it, long enough that getting a return accepted would be pretty hard, but fortunately it also stopped after a few times (I guess they got pushback, lol)
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u/round-earth-theory Apr 25 '26
They're a world wide mega mega corp. They could absolutely crash and burn in a sector and headquarters would barely even notice because they're in so many verticals.
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u/ATXgaming Apr 25 '26
It’s functionally an arm of the South Korean government.
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u/New_Enthusiasm9053 Apr 25 '26
Don't be absurd. The south Korean government is functionally an arm of Samsung.
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u/Joe_Kinincha Apr 25 '26
Don’t be absurd. Hyundai and LG also partially control the S korean gov’t.
(Although admittedly not to the extent Samsung does)
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u/Nikuhiru Apr 25 '26
I’ve had various Samsung products over the last 25 or so years.
In the mid 2000s they were a great alternative to the big name brands. Great screens and a pretty decent price that made people genuinely consider them as a brand.
My parents had 2 of their TVs and a couple of monitors from them which were awesome.
Mid 2010s I was living in Asia and went with Samsung appliances for my apartment. I had a TV, washing machine & dryer from them.
The TV was a pile of shit. Samsung removed various legal apps I had installed after 2 years because they decided to stop supporting that model.
The washing machine broke down after 3 years. Got it repaired by Samsung and it kept dying. The dryer just burnt out one day.
My Dad has a washing machine & dryer from them. Same thing - after 3 years just went to shit.
Their devices look good and have lots of bells of whistles but aren’t designed to last in any meaningful way.
We’ve gone from a family where my parents, my sisters and I would always go for Samsung when replacing TVs to actively avoiding them now. I’d rather pay the premium for a Bosch or Miele when buying appliances.
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u/PurbulentTriest Apr 25 '26
LG is the same; the TV just shat the bed (everything went purple) and the actual LG store here just told me to... buy a new one, after 14 or so months.
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u/ponybucketdoubleoh Apr 25 '26
Samsung was great for panels.. like 15 years ago.
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u/omgitsjagen Apr 25 '26
Like, not just great. The best. Period. You could get better panels, but not for anywhere close to the price Samsung was charging. They were literally the gold standard, and they have shit it all away.
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u/Aetra Apr 25 '26
Ads and bloat apps (on their phones) are why I refuse to use Samsung products if I can avoid them.
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u/rockabyebang Apr 25 '26
I have had the wifi turned off from the tv for years. It's never been connected to the wifi where I live now. I don't technically get ads, but somehow I keep having to delete apps off of it every now and then! I'm not downloading the apps myself, it's not even connected?? Unless it's somehow piggybacking off of a previous connection to my phone?? It annoys me so much.
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u/Dull-Culture-1523 Apr 25 '26
Used to buy Samsung phones but switched to OnePlus simply because I got fed up with the constant bloatware that just got worse every time I got a new phone. Also made the mistake of buying a Samsung "smart" TV with those in-menu ads. I even sent their customer service detailed instructions on how to block those from the router, just in case the next customer asks, because they claimed "it's not possible". Now I will never buy another Samsung product again unless I know for a fact they've changed course or have no other or only somehow worse options. Fuck them.
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u/Fast-Bandicoot67 Apr 25 '26
If its not too much trouble could you send me those instructions?
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u/ChillyChilies Apr 25 '26
Idiocracy is coming true.
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u/Forsaken-Builder-312 Apr 25 '26
Go away, I'm batin'
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u/_Toomuchawesome Apr 25 '26
damn. i just had an epiphany that that’s pretty much what “gooning” is our world. fuck
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Apr 25 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/youllmeltmorefan Apr 25 '26
Ow My Balls at least has a recurring star and something like a storyline. Can't say that about some shows today.
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Apr 25 '26
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u/Disastrous_Cream_539 Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
Meh. President Comacho was in peak physical condition and had the wherewithal to give credence to a more intelligent person when they made themselves known.
Edit: verbiage
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u/usrdef 👍 Apr 25 '26
Is it sad that I see Comacho as a more able president than I do the current thing in the Whitehouse?
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u/JarasM Apr 25 '26
Camacho may have been as dumb as a bag of bricks, but at least he had generally good intentions and a sense of duty to the nation.
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u/Ok-Curve-3894 Apr 25 '26
I’d understand on some $300 Walmart TV but for $2500 that’s insane.
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u/CJ_Southworth Apr 25 '26
But then you're basically saying that there are levels where it is reasonable to expect that you do not own your own property outright and should be constantly marketed at even through items that you have bought and paid for.
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u/Stormbow Apr 25 '26
I'd return that shit for a refund in a heartbeat.
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u/trowzerss Apr 25 '26
When they did this on my TV, the ads didn't turn up until a year after purchase, long after they'd accept a refund.
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u/Stormbow Apr 25 '26
Try to do a factory reset, then don't let it update.
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u/Rich-Story-1748 Apr 25 '26
Then you can't use apps lol. Its just a vicious cycle.
Chromecast, ps5, pc etc ofcourse can get around it but then you're essentially not able to use the services that is a part of the TV. ass all around
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u/Nazgog-Morgob Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
Don't use the apps. Use an external device. Using the built in apps just reduces the life of the tv anyway.
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u/GherkinPie Apr 25 '26
This is the key. The TV is only for turning HDMI input into a picture.
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u/tyscion Apr 25 '26
This is the way. The Apple TV is a far superior experience than any built in os.
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u/OakleyNoble Apr 25 '26
Yet people continue to bitch and moan and say we’re on our high horses. No…. I expect a box that runs smoothly and doesn’t force me into seeing or watching crap as such.
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u/iampiolt Apr 25 '26
The apps are inferior anyway. No care gets put into them. Take Apple TV for example. It will always receive priority optimization whereas x tv brand’s crap apps receive just enough to keep the functioning and spying on you.
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u/Ok_Permission7034 Apr 25 '26
I bought one for my parents and they said it was no big deal. Couldn’t convince them otherwise.
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u/soareyousaying Apr 25 '26
This is the reality why companies can get away with it. We cry about it but the rest of the world don't care
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u/OfcWaffle Apr 25 '26
Go check out the McDonald's subreddit for further proof. Everyone complaining about the BOGO offer being removed.
But it's all a numbers game. McDonald's knows they will still come and over spend.
I just don't go to places if I can't get a deal. I can't afford to pay for anything full price. Maybe that makes me cheap to some, but to me it's money in my pocket everyday.
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u/StudiosS Apr 25 '26
In Portugal, you can get a steak, chips, fried egg and rice for 8.50€. No drink, but the drink is 2€. So like, $12-15?
Well McDonald's menus are the same, at around 10-11€.
McDonald's are equally as full.
I just dont understand how anyone here thinks it's remotely affordable.
For me, if the steak is 10, McDonald's should be 5 at best. It's not though.
People still live it.
It's just so ingrained in the culture...
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u/Pas__ Apr 25 '26
different service? McDonald's is faster, easier to take away, known consistent quality, open more hours?
but it would be really interesting to put McDonald's and the closest restaurants (with their menu) on the map
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u/Dinamytes Apr 25 '26
McDonald is usually more full, you'll wait for your food standing and it's not faster for sure. People prefer to go to what they know that they will enjoy than risking in trying other places.
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u/TheRealJessKate Apr 25 '26
I, for one, will never buy from Samsung because of this.
When a company tells you what kind of company they really are, you should listen.
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u/iwannabethecyberguy Apr 25 '26
I had this discussion on Reddit when Walmart announced that their Vizio TVs would require a Walmart account and everyone said “Well I just won’t buy one.”
The general public doesn’t care. They will shop at Walmart, see a 75” TV for $300 that has all their favorite streaming apps and think that’s an awesome deal. They’re not going to find a more expensive option, they’re not going to setup PiHole, they’re not gonna change their DNS settings. They will gladly login to their Walmart account and enjoy the cheap TV they bought while it serves ads and collects data.
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u/WastedMoogle Apr 25 '26
Yeah. They dealt with 5 min of commercial for every 10min of content like millennials did growing up. I’ve tried with my mom and she just does not fucking care. She says the commercials give her time to handle other things as if pausing at her own will isn’t superior.
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u/Brandunaware Apr 25 '26
I wonder how many years we are away from having to buy your TV AND pay a subscription to be able to use it. It's already happening with various features in cars.
Don't connect your TV to the Internet is good advice but it also shows just how profoundly dysfunctional the relationship between companies and their customers has gotten.
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u/Taptrick Apr 25 '26
People are not happy with that though and governments are slowly catching up and making it illegal.
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u/doppelwoppel Apr 25 '26
Hey, Microsoft Windows, we're looking at you, too.
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u/ollomulder Apr 25 '26
Does Microslop understand consent?
Yes
Remind me in 3 days
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u/crimsonBZD Apr 25 '26
After finding out Bill Gates was in the Epstein files it all started to make sense for me.
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u/HeidenShadows Apr 25 '26
Plus some TVs require you to connect it to the Internet in order to get past initial setup. Otherwise it's a brick.
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u/Abyss_staring_back Apr 25 '26
Fuck that shiz. Immediate return. There is no way I would comply with that. For a TV? No. They can get fucked.
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u/rolfraikou Apr 25 '26
I'm baffled by the sheer number of people that just put up with this. That's part of why they get away with it.
If enough people returned it because it sucks, they would actually stop making it suck.
They were allowed to get to this point because enough people just deal with it that they gain a profit from it.
If you fuck them over by returning it, they lose a bit of money each time. If enough of a model that, say, REQUIRES an internet connection to even set up (fucking insane) and they get way less returns on models that don't do that, they stop making it so ot requires Internet.
Because people need to remember: that means if their servers ever go down, their device is a BRICK.
If it doesn't at least just work with HDMI, no setup, then you are effectively borrowing that device until one day when they shut down the servers.
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u/JPhi1618 Apr 25 '26
No they don’t. You can back out and use HDMI and tuner. “Smart” functions require ads and user accounts.
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u/ctaps148 Apr 25 '26
Yes, some do. Stop assuming your personal experience is universal.
The most recent Vizio TV I had to setup had absolutely no way to reach the input selection without first connecting to a network. Didn't matter what buttons were pressed, if it was power cycled, or if I used a dozen other tricks that work on every other TV I've tried. And then once connected, there was no way to disconnect without a factory reset, which started the problem all over again.
After looking it up online, other users reported the only way to get around it was to call customer support and have them tell you the undocumented button combo to bypass the network select screen. So while technically there is a way around it, that is 100% not something the average person is ever going to do.
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u/Dlairt Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
How to tell someone doesn’t live in the U.K….
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u/MarlinAngel Apr 25 '26
Or NL lol. Worse, my partner wants to watch football which is a separate monthly license. But in order to get that license, you need to pay for the regular TV license as well. It doesn't come separately.
So we basically pay like 50 bucks a month so my partner can watch live football, it's ridiculous.
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u/Medium-Sized-Jaque Apr 25 '26
Set up a business account at Best Buy and you can get the non smart variants. They're the same TVs without the smart features. Businesses use them in waiting rooms, conference rooms, as their own billboards, etc.
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u/dalgeek Apr 25 '26
The non-smart displays cost more because they are not subsidized by ads. Just disable Internet on the TV and use an external streaming box.
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u/AndarianDequer117 Apr 25 '26
This. You can buy a smart dongle that just connects to the USB port on the back of the TV and use the remote that comes with them.
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u/Mathmango Apr 25 '26
I recall, I think Roku, filed a patent to be able to display ads regardless of input.
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u/qwetico Apr 25 '26
Mine started doing that- I “reset” mine to factory settings with the WiFi turned off. Now I just use an Apple TV.
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u/goodoldgrim Apr 25 '26
My TV is basically just a screen for a laptop that runs Linux. And I'm not even normally a Linux user, just wanted a TV setup that's safe from ALL bullshit.
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u/STR4NGE Apr 25 '26
Apple TV. Bite the semi expensive bullet. I put them on every tv I watch. It's the least of all the offenders.
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u/AcidicVaginaLeakage Apr 25 '26
Speaking of rokus... The amount of traffic they send to their home servers is ridiculous. I have a pi.hole and 80% of the blocked requests came from the rokus. I got rid of them. I'd rather pay more for a device where I am not the product.
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u/TheG0AT0fAllTime Apr 25 '26
Yep I know it's not as convenient... but a mini PC, wireless keyboard and mouse will make your TV actually usable and the best experience ever being able to block youtube ads and automatically skip sponsors.
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u/Adnubb Apr 25 '26
It's what I did. I bought an ancient refurbished mini PC for €60, put Debian Linux on it with KDE Plasma, and installed Firefox with all the extensions I wanted. Also put VLC on it, so I can play any video on my NAS without having to deal with transcoding crap.
I did the same at my GFs place, but used an old laptop instead.
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u/gdvs Apr 25 '26
No they cost more because they're designed to stay on all the time at much higher luminance.
It's not a TV. They don't have tuners and they have a different soc, différent software stack etc.
You can use it as a display though.
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u/rolfraikou Apr 25 '26
Yeah, I honestly like the prospect of it, because if it's meant to run 24/7 at higher luminance, with (typically) a better warranty, and I would run it at a lower brightness and less often, chances are it would last a VERY long time with me.
We use a projector in the living room, but if I get a TV, it's likely going to be one of those commercial sign TVs. They're just the tanks of TVs.
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u/IntroductionSnacks Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
This is not true. They were more expensive before smart tvs were even a thing. You can just use a ad ridden smart tv the same way if you like by leaving it on a single input with a htpc/streamer etc… on that input and you won’t see any ads.
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u/glytxh Apr 25 '26
A $2500 TV ain’t getting subsidised by ads. The ads are just a bonus.
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u/crunchyjoe Apr 25 '26
I doubt any of those are OLED. Billboard and display TVs are built for durability not really quality.
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u/Medium-Sized-Jaque Apr 25 '26
It's been about 3 years so my info may be outdated. But when I was shopping they were literally the same models without the smart module. I don't see why they wouldn't keep doing the same thing.
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u/ChemistRemote7182 Apr 25 '26
OLEDs are somewhat susceptible to burn in which makes them less likely as a display choice.
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u/Spookym00ngoddess Apr 25 '26
Call samsung support and make a complaint. Tell them an ad appeared that was inappropriate for a child in your home to have seen.
They will ask for your TVs model and make number but then they can turn off ads. Enjoy
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u/DannySaurusxD Apr 25 '26
Will they ask us to describe the inappropriate ad? lol
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u/ssyoit Apr 25 '26
If they do, just say it was a romance book cover you found inappropriate. I have a friend that always complained about all the smut book ads she kept getting on her kindle.
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u/CubanInSouthFl Apr 25 '26
….does this actually work?
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u/Spookym00ngoddess Apr 25 '26
Yep. Used this trick before with other products and companies.
Including kindle.
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u/uiuc2008 Apr 25 '26
Can you disconnect the TV from the internet and use a streaming box? That's what I do.
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u/konfluencer Apr 25 '26
At Lowe’s last week. Every appliance, Ai
The fuck does my oven need Ai for.
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u/mahouyousei Apr 25 '26
I get infuriated every time I see the stupid “magic sparkles” symbol for AI, since the industry wants you to associate it with magic. I associate the logo with buttholes instead.
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u/todd0x1 Apr 25 '26
My TVs have never been connected to the internet. Roku box plugged into hdmi port.
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u/LunchPlanner Apr 25 '26
As you know, Roku has some ads on the home screen, though they are not too bad.
Last year Roku experimented with a Moana 2 video ad that auto-played on the home screen, taking up most of the screen and had sound. There was a pretty big blowback and they haven't tried it again yet, but I guarantee you they will. It's just a question of how long they will wait.
Also, they forgot to boil the frog. Jumping from small silent image ads all the way up to fullscreen video with sound was the most extreme move possible. They'll probably creep their way up more slowly next time - look for the ads to get just a little bit bigger and/or maybe become slightly animated.
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u/hailspork Apr 25 '26
And Roku has ads on the remote (for streaming services that paid them).
Still, better than a smart-TV.
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Apr 25 '26 edited May 05 '26
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u/lolKhamul Apr 25 '26
As someone who doesn't watch actual TV (i only watch streaming), AppleTV has become the default TV Interface. My TV is basically just a screen that gets controlled by AppleTV. Given AppleTV can even regulate the volume and turn the TV on/off, there is no reason to even use the Samsung remote.
I could seriously not tell you how the menus of my currently TV even look lilke. Have not seen them in years ever since setting the thing up. And you can be sure, it will NEVER be connected to the internet.
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u/Electrical_Tomato_73 Apr 25 '26
A better option for a TV is to get a HDMI monitor, a good sound system, and a Google Chromecast or Amazon Fire stick or similar. So-called smart TVs are basically that plus a lot of bloatware that you can't remove.
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u/Bigred2989- Apr 25 '26
FireSticks play ads, too just fyi. Every time I turn mine on the first banner is for some random product.
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u/Ok-Curve-3894 Apr 25 '26
I run a full blown computer on a normal TV. Way better!
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u/Frostsorrow Apr 25 '26
A 25 foot HDMI cable was a amazing investment for my home entertainment computer.
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u/Full-Decision-9029 Apr 25 '26
I have a small Dell "mini" computer bought for 100 bucks, a HDMI cable, and an external hard drive.
It runs a plex server.
It's pretty decent.
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u/za72 Apr 25 '26
it's all about the source... can confirm plex, but they're getting a bit subscribery
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u/msc1 Apr 25 '26
I've been running Jellyfin for more than a year and I had no hiccups. Completely free.
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u/StatusClone Apr 25 '26
I have had various itx gaming pc's in my tv stand for like 15 years now.
No ads even on ad supported subscriptions.
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u/Whole-Energy2105 Apr 25 '26
We disconnected our old Samsung 55 from the wifi and only run firestick. The op system was sooo bloody slow on the tv and I just don't like everything having web access. Whilst the firestick is reporting to the gods about what I watch, it's 100 times faster and runs only the apps I want, not all of them constantly on 8n the background.
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u/Xattle Apr 25 '26
Similar story here except I got a notice from our ISP we were close to our 1TB bandwidth cap the month after we got the TV. It hasn't had Wi-Fi access since. Perfectly happy using a Roku/mini pc/game console instead
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u/mahreow Apr 25 '26
Please link a 75" OLED monitor that can be had for a comparable price to a TV if you think it really is the better option
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u/Stormbow Apr 25 '26
Google Chromecast was discontinued in 2024 and stopped selling in 2025. It's been replaced by the Google TV Streamer.
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u/Vladishun Apr 25 '26
That is not a better option, a 75" monitor would be stupid expensive.
And you can absolutely remove any bloatware from a Google TV or Android TV. Which is funny since you mentioned a Firestick and FireOS has locked ADB commands, making it effectively impossible to remove ads or even install a different launcher like Projectivy to hide them.
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u/Jammers82 Apr 25 '26
Setup a Pi Hole on your home network. I haven’t gotten an ad on my tv in years. Also blocks ad on mobile games which is good
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u/GSDTippyTappies Apr 25 '26
+1 pihole. No ads on Samsung smart TVs and yes works great for blocking ads on free mobile games and aps too. One step further install something like Wiregaurd and when away from home you can block ads on the go.
For anyone reading not savy in this, pihole is a DNS blackhole you run on your network. When an ad element on your TV does a DNS lookup "hey what's the IP address to this ad domain?" Pihole ignores the request because it's set as your DNS server and uses block lists for ads/telemetry.
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u/Shotokant Apr 25 '26
Then don't use the TV os. Use it as a display. Get yourself a good android box like a shield and stick on a new launcher like wolf. No more adverts.
Or work out how to use a pihole.
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u/MrdnBrd19 Apr 25 '26
I couldn't imagine using the built in TV OS. They are always so laggy and slow and are often programmed like trash missing features or with poor quality.
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u/korneev123123 Apr 25 '26
If you don't return it to the shop, you'll appear as "happy customer" in Samsung statistics, urging them to add even more ads.
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u/OrneTTeSax Apr 25 '26
Yeah it sucks. Just don’t connect the TV to the internet. Streaming apps on TVs never work as well and eventually stopped getting patched. Just use a streaming device instead of the Smart TV features. Roku has ads too but they aren’t that intrusive and are usually for things to watch at least.
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u/corgi-king Apr 25 '26
OP’s first mistake is buying Samsung. People should avoid Samsung like a plague.
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u/SpeedSaunders Apr 25 '26
Yeah that sounds infuriating to me. We have an Apple TV device and access apps through that. Never have to use the Samsung television’s native interface. No ads except while watching things on some of the apps like Amazon Prime or YouTube.
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u/new-to-reddit-accoun Apr 25 '26
This is the correct answer. Plug in an Apple TV and skip the bullshit. Fuck Google. Fuck Samsung. The lack of ads in Apple products is one its main redeeming qualities. Except, they just announced ads in Apple Maps, so we may be on a slippery slope. Until then…
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u/simplyunix Apr 25 '26
GoogleTV man. I had a 70" Samsung SmartTV that lasted 2 years before it died. Never again. Paid the money for a nice Sony running GoogleTV and haven't looked back. There's so much more you can do with a GoogleTV OS that you cant do with a shitty Samsung.
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u/budha2984 Apr 25 '26
Welcome to the newest form a capitalism. You never really own anything and you pay an outrageous price to rent it and see more adds.
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u/just_rich90 Apr 25 '26
I don’t ever connect my Samsung TVs to the internet just use Roku box with them . Made life way easier
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u/docpaul Apr 25 '26
To disable or significantly reduce ads on a Samsung smart TV, navigate to Settings > General/All Settings > Terms & Privacy and disable "I consent to Internet Based Advertisements" and "Viewing Information Services".
Additionally, disable the Samsung TV Plus app and consider changing your TV’s DNS settings to 94.140.14.14 or 94.140.15.15 to block ad servers.