Damaged TV screen LG 65 UH8500

I bought an LG 65UG8500. The shipper cut the top of the box off. They removed the packing foam from the top of the television and pulled back the cover. The screen is now visible. They turn on the television. The screen looks fine and I don’t see mechanical damage. I sign the invoice. They leave. The next day, I power on the television. There is horizontal banding, pixilation, and a small crack along the border. Aside from plugging it in, I never touched the television.

The shipper was the only one to handle the television, so I figured they must have squeezed the screen after I saw it. I call the shipper. The shipper says to call the store. I call the store. The store says: 1) this extent of damage can’t happen from squeezing, 3) the television must have been dropped, and 3) I signed the delivery form so they aren’t responsible. LG says physical damage is not covered by the warranty.

I start wondering, how delicate are these screens? How much force can be applied safely to a television screen? I do a Google search and find this post. Someone else (also an LG tv) has the same problem with the same questions.

Further investigations shows that someone else has a similar problem with the screen being cracked from the inside. I take a closer look at my television. Sure enough, the crack is on the inside. You can’t feel it. You can’t even see it with the television off. Is this really physical damage? Should this be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty?

The television is inside every last bit of its packaging. It wasn’t dropped. It wasn’t even touched. But don’t take my word for it. The television is in a patio with concrete pavers. There is no carpeting. Had it been dropped onto concrete, there would have been extensive damage and it would be visible. But there isn’t a scratch. Even all the thin and delicate plastic along the edges of the bezel is in pristine condition without a scratch. What about impact from a blunt object? There would still be some sign of damage. The screen has no external damage. I’ve looked at it with a magnifying glass. Nothing.

Questions are:
1) How much force can you safely apply to a television screen with your fingers? Of course, the correct answer is, ‘don’t squeeze it at all.’ But the bezel is only ¼ inch, so some part of your fingers will have to come in contact with the screen.
2) Is it even possible for physical force to create a crack that is internal and cannot be seen or felt when the television is off?
3) Is this infant mortality?
4) Did it fall off a fork lift before I got it and just now failed?

This should be covered somehow. No way the end customer should be left holding the bag the day after delivery without any sign of physical damage.