Where is the best place to purchase a TV?

[treehugger]

I thought we were to avoid Plasma TVs? I am tech challenged, but am in the same boat. Looking to get a flat screen (refused to shop black friday) and was hoping that Americans would defy the consumer hype enmasse, allowing me to catch an awesome deal right after Christmas…..yeah I know, I still haven’t bought a house for the same logic.

Anyway, I am now considering cashing in my credit card points to get one (that and two ipod shuffles.)

This is the model I am considering and am wondering if anyone has any thoughts? Is it worthwhile to get 1080 vs 720? Is there a big difference between 37″ vs 42″??
LG 42″ HD 1080p LCD TV Features 1080p resolution, 50,000:1 contrast ratio, HDMI™ v.1.3 with Deep Color, 24p Real Cinema mode, and an invisible speaker system with Dolby® Digital 5.1 and Clear voice for richer more balanced sound. Includes remote control and stand.

[zzz]

I am with FLU, don’t buy large electronic items from the internet, returning it is a pain. Also you need to look at apples to apples comparison and evaluate if you’re getting the same thing. Say you’re looking at a 42″ LCD made by the same manufacturer, from the same year, and look to be the exact same model except different retailers have different model numbers, and you’re comparing solely on price. This is sometimes due to an extra item thrown into the packages ( IE a HDMI cable included in the box with the one at Costco), or it could also be due to differences in quality. Cheaper components or TVs with the same components but that batch passed the quality tests at a lower number.

Why do you think Best Buy vs Walmart versus XYZ Online only guy pay different prices to the manufacturer for what you think is the exact same TV? Some of it is in buying power and volume, but some of it is also different quality levels. You do get what you pay for.

Best Buy will negotiate, but if you’re looking to buy a lower end TV, you don’t have as much bargaining power. If you are looking to buy one of their newest 52″ TVs, then you can get them very close to what an Amazon charges, but they usually cannot beat them. If you need other items as well including accessories such as TV mounts, then you can start pushing them towards a price slightly above cost. The accessories are where there is often 300% margin, TVs have a lot less margin.

That said, I went to Best Buy over Costco because Costco simply didn’t carry the models I wanted. They tend to carry the lower end model in the same series of TVs ( IE Samsumg 5 series versus 7)

Also, don’t buy HDMI cables at a big name retailer, order them from http://www.monoprice.com where you can buy a $7 or $11 HDMI gold tipped cable ( versus $50).

[zzz]

I am with FLU, don’t buy large electronic items from the internet, returning it is a pain. Also you need to look at apples to apples comparison and evaluate if you’re getting the same thing. Say you’re looking at a 42″ LCD made by the same manufacturer, from the same year, and look to be the exact same model except different retailers have different model numbers, and you’re comparing solely on price. This is sometimes due to an extra item thrown into the packages ( IE a HDMI cable included in the box with the one at Costco), or it could also be due to differences in quality. Cheaper components or TVs with the same components but that batch passed the quality tests at a lower number.

Why do you think Best Buy vs Walmart versus XYZ Online only guy pay different prices to the manufacturer for what you think is the exact same TV? Some of it is in buying power and volume, but some of it is also different quality levels. You do get what you pay for.

Best Buy will negotiate, but if you’re looking to buy a lower end TV, you don’t have as much bargaining power. If you are looking to buy one of their newest 52″ TVs, then you can get them very close to what an Amazon charges, but they usually cannot beat them. If you need other items as well including accessories such as TV mounts, then you can start pushing them towards a price slightly above cost. The accessories are where there is often 300% margin, TVs have a lot less margin.

That said, I went to Best Buy over Costco because Costco simply didn’t carry the models I wanted. They tend to carry the lower end model in the same series of TVs ( IE Samsumg 5 series versus 7)

Also, don’t buy HDMI cables at a big name retailer, order them from http://www.monoprice.com where you can buy a $7 or $11 HDMI gold tipped cable ( versus $50).

[zzz]

I am with FLU, don’t buy large electronic items from the internet, returning it is a pain. Also you need to look at apples to apples comparison and evaluate if you’re getting the same thing. Say you’re looking at a 42″ LCD made by the same manufacturer, from the same year, and look to be the exact same model except different retailers have different model numbers, and you’re comparing solely on price. This is sometimes due to an extra item thrown into the packages ( IE a HDMI cable included in the box with the one at Costco), or it could also be due to differences in quality. Cheaper components or TVs with the same components but that batch passed the quality tests at a lower number.

Why do you think Best Buy vs Walmart versus XYZ Online only guy pay different prices to the manufacturer for what you think is the exact same TV? Some of it is in buying power and volume, but some of it is also different quality levels. You do get what you pay for.

Best Buy will negotiate, but if you’re looking to buy a lower end TV, you don’t have as much bargaining power. If you are looking to buy one of their newest 52″ TVs, then you can get them very close to what an Amazon charges, but they usually cannot beat them. If you need other items as well including accessories such as TV mounts, then you can start pushing them towards a price slightly above cost. The accessories are where there is often 300% margin, TVs have a lot less margin.

That said, I went to Best Buy over Costco because Costco simply didn’t carry the models I wanted. They tend to carry the lower end model in the same series of TVs ( IE Samsumg 5 series versus 7)

Also, don’t buy HDMI cables at a big name retailer, order them from http://www.monoprice.com where you can buy a $7 or $11 HDMI gold tipped cable ( versus $50).

[zzz]

I am with FLU, don’t buy large electronic items from the internet, returning it is a pain. Also you need to look at apples to apples comparison and evaluate if you’re getting the same thing. Say you’re looking at a 42″ LCD made by the same manufacturer, from the same year, and look to be the exact same model except different retailers have different model numbers, and you’re comparing solely on price. This is sometimes due to an extra item thrown into the packages ( IE a HDMI cable included in the box with the one at Costco), or it could also be due to differences in quality. Cheaper components or TVs with the same components but that batch passed the quality tests at a lower number.

Why do you think Best Buy vs Walmart versus XYZ Online only guy pay different prices to the manufacturer for what you think is the exact same TV? Some of it is in buying power and volume, but some of it is also different quality levels. You do get what you pay for.

Best Buy will negotiate, but if you’re looking to buy a lower end TV, you don’t have as much bargaining power. If you are looking to buy one of their newest 52″ TVs, then you can get them very close to what an Amazon charges, but they usually cannot beat them. If you need other items as well including accessories such as TV mounts, then you can start pushing them towards a price slightly above cost. The accessories are where there is often 300% margin, TVs have a lot less margin.

That said, I went to Best Buy over Costco because Costco simply didn’t carry the models I wanted. They tend to carry the lower end model in the same series of TVs ( IE Samsumg 5 series versus 7)

Also, don’t buy HDMI cables at a big name retailer, order them from http://www.monoprice.com where you can buy a $7 or $11 HDMI gold tipped cable ( versus $50).

[zzz]

I am with FLU, don’t buy large electronic items from the internet, returning it is a pain. Also you need to look at apples to apples comparison and evaluate if you’re getting the same thing. Say you’re looking at a 42″ LCD made by the same manufacturer, from the same year, and look to be the exact same model except different retailers have different model numbers, and you’re comparing solely on price. This is sometimes due to an extra item thrown into the packages ( IE a HDMI cable included in the box with the one at Costco), or it could also be due to differences in quality. Cheaper components or TVs with the same components but that batch passed the quality tests at a lower number.

Why do you think Best Buy vs Walmart versus XYZ Online only guy pay different prices to the manufacturer for what you think is the exact same TV? Some of it is in buying power and volume, but some of it is also different quality levels. You do get what you pay for.

Best Buy will negotiate, but if you’re looking to buy a lower end TV, you don’t have as much bargaining power. If you are looking to buy one of their newest 52″ TVs, then you can get them very close to what an Amazon charges, but they usually cannot beat them. If you need other items as well including accessories such as TV mounts, then you can start pushing them towards a price slightly above cost. The accessories are where there is often 300% margin, TVs have a lot less margin.

That said, I went to Best Buy over Costco because Costco simply didn’t carry the models I wanted. They tend to carry the lower end model in the same series of TVs ( IE Samsumg 5 series versus 7)

Also, don’t buy HDMI cables at a big name retailer, order them from http://www.monoprice.com where you can buy a $7 or $11 HDMI gold tipped cable ( versus $50).

[sdduuuude]

What is the model number / Refresh rate / Price on that LG ?

Regarding returns, I have never done a return on such a big item for an online but it seems that a return to a big-box store is more of a pain because you have to schlep the thing down there yourself and do the transaction in person. With a quality online-order place, you use the phone and just put the TV in the box and have them pick it up. Probalby takes longer to get the transaction done, but takes less of your time and energy ?

[sdduuuude]

What is the model number / Refresh rate / Price on that LG ?

Regarding returns, I have never done a return on such a big item for an online but it seems that a return to a big-box store is more of a pain because you have to schlep the thing down there yourself and do the transaction in person. With a quality online-order place, you use the phone and just put the TV in the box and have them pick it up. Probalby takes longer to get the transaction done, but takes less of your time and energy ?

[sdduuuude]

What is the model number / Refresh rate / Price on that LG ?

Regarding returns, I have never done a return on such a big item for an online but it seems that a return to a big-box store is more of a pain because you have to schlep the thing down there yourself and do the transaction in person. With a quality online-order place, you use the phone and just put the TV in the box and have them pick it up. Probalby takes longer to get the transaction done, but takes less of your time and energy ?

[sdduuuude]

What is the model number / Refresh rate / Price on that LG ?

Regarding returns, I have never done a return on such a big item for an online but it seems that a return to a big-box store is more of a pain because you have to schlep the thing down there yourself and do the transaction in person. With a quality online-order place, you use the phone and just put the TV in the box and have them pick it up. Probalby takes longer to get the transaction done, but takes less of your time and energy ?

[sdduuuude]

What is the model number / Refresh rate / Price on that LG ?

Regarding returns, I have never done a return on such a big item for an online but it seems that a return to a big-box store is more of a pain because you have to schlep the thing down there yourself and do the transaction in person. With a quality online-order place, you use the phone and just put the TV in the box and have them pick it up. Probalby takes longer to get the transaction done, but takes less of your time and energy ?

[temeculaguy]

I’ve been doing a little research in this area and I like that costco doubles the warranty and has the concierge service. My sister just told me about having to use the concierge service from costco, they pretty much act like your lawyer when dealing with a warranty issue, making sure you are happy and not having to make tons of calls. I’ve also found that the tv’s in the ads at many stores or online are the 60hz models or do not look very sharp when you see them in person.

One thing to look for is energy use, some models can use 2x to 4x the elecrictiy of others, some of the older big plasmas gobble up air conditioning amounts of juice.

The lowest energy use ones appear to be LED, but they are new and expensive at the moment, in two years, it’s likely plasma and lcd will be extinct, the LED’s look better and use less energy, significantly less.

[temeculaguy]

I’ve been doing a little research in this area and I like that costco doubles the warranty and has the concierge service. My sister just told me about having to use the concierge service from costco, they pretty much act like your lawyer when dealing with a warranty issue, making sure you are happy and not having to make tons of calls. I’ve also found that the tv’s in the ads at many stores or online are the 60hz models or do not look very sharp when you see them in person.

One thing to look for is energy use, some models can use 2x to 4x the elecrictiy of others, some of the older big plasmas gobble up air conditioning amounts of juice.

The lowest energy use ones appear to be LED, but they are new and expensive at the moment, in two years, it’s likely plasma and lcd will be extinct, the LED’s look better and use less energy, significantly less.

[temeculaguy]

I’ve been doing a little research in this area and I like that costco doubles the warranty and has the concierge service. My sister just told me about having to use the concierge service from costco, they pretty much act like your lawyer when dealing with a warranty issue, making sure you are happy and not having to make tons of calls. I’ve also found that the tv’s in the ads at many stores or online are the 60hz models or do not look very sharp when you see them in person.

One thing to look for is energy use, some models can use 2x to 4x the elecrictiy of others, some of the older big plasmas gobble up air conditioning amounts of juice.

The lowest energy use ones appear to be LED, but they are new and expensive at the moment, in two years, it’s likely plasma and lcd will be extinct, the LED’s look better and use less energy, significantly less.

[temeculaguy]

I’ve been doing a little research in this area and I like that costco doubles the warranty and has the concierge service. My sister just told me about having to use the concierge service from costco, they pretty much act like your lawyer when dealing with a warranty issue, making sure you are happy and not having to make tons of calls. I’ve also found that the tv’s in the ads at many stores or online are the 60hz models or do not look very sharp when you see them in person.

One thing to look for is energy use, some models can use 2x to 4x the elecrictiy of others, some of the older big plasmas gobble up air conditioning amounts of juice.

The lowest energy use ones appear to be LED, but they are new and expensive at the moment, in two years, it’s likely plasma and lcd will be extinct, the LED’s look better and use less energy, significantly less.

[Author]

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