I didn't mean in terms of responsibility/liability for the fault, but the fact that the OP's complaint is about inadequate and unprofessional service by Samsung's repair centre (which is the same regardless of where the camera was purchased from).

I know less than nothing about the technical workings of monitors, so I could be wrong. However my understanding is that TN panels do not have sufficient color accuracy in the first place to be worth calibrating: there will only be a substantive effect (compared to visual 'calibration' with Adobe Gamma or whatever) on more expensive IPS panels (e.g. Apple Cinema Displays, some of Dell's higher-end ones, etc.)

Surely the supplier it was bought from is irrelevant, since the OP's problem is with Samsung's repairers who would have been doing the repair regardless of where the camera was originally purchased?

Hmm somebody WAS trying to sell one of those Fotosniper stocks on here a couple of weeks ago

Just pulled the trigger on a Sigma (the 4-5.6 version). Of course with exams in a couple of weeks my chances to use it will be restricted, but I'll try to post some stuff up when it arrives

Except if your monitor is one of the ones with a TN panel (which is most of them), making calibration pointless

Sigma have an 85mm f1.4 coming out sometime this year - aside from the HSM autofocus, their previous modern reimagining of a classic fast lens (the 50mm f1.4 HSM) is very well regarded indeed. Still, it depends on whether you can wait long enough for the (as-yet unannounced) release date.

Hmm one of the two reviewers, either dpreview or photozone (can't remember which one) said that it was noticeably less sharp than the Sigma until f8 (and never achieved the same corner performance).

Klaus at Photozone kindly pointed me to Sigma's own MTF charts for their ultrawides, and the newer 10-20's is sufficiently discouraging that I've essentially discounted it. Since the 8-16 (good though it will no doubt be) will be selling at over £600 I'm therefore pretty set on the 4-5.6 Sigma. Some of the images people have produced with it are absolutely stunning - my own photographic ability will have to improve to get into that sort of region of course!

Realise that reviving this borders on necromancy, but with the last of the reasonably-priced DA12-24s gone and the Sigma 8-16 announced at north of £600 street price my options are now between the two Sigmas. Is the impression I'm getting from reviews - that the old Sigma is actually better than the new one - an accurate one?

The one caveat is the reputation of DSG stores for... less than perfect customer service. I got a front focusing one of these from Park last year, phoned them up and it was no problem getting it returned and refunded. Try explaining to the staff typically employed by PC World what front focusing is!