HD tvs

[fillintheblank]

So I want to buy an HD TV but I dont know where I should buy it. I have heard that whole salers like BJs and Costco can sell tvs for less because they arent as high in quality as say a comparable model found at Best Buy. Any input on this?

[pwnst*r]

So I want to buy an HD TV but I dont know where I should buy it. I have heard that whole salers like BJs and Costco can sell tvs for less because they arent as high in quality as say a comparable model found at Best Buy. Any input on this?

whoever told you that is full of it. just because someone's a wholesaler doesn't equate to lesser quality.

protip: buy big, buy brand, and buy one with the manufacture's warranty.

[cariboo]

I've heard the same thing too, but most of the things I've bought at Costco are better quality then what is available locally.

The best thing to do is to go out and have a look.

[samh785]

whoever told you that is full of it. just because someone's a wholesaler doesn't equate to lesser quality.

protip: buy big, buy brand, and buy one with the manufacture's warranty.
Wal-Mart forces companies to make the specific electronics they offer in Wal-Mart stores in China so Wal-Mart can buy them for cheaper prices and offer them for cheaper prices than the competition.

[pwnst*r]

Wal-Mart forces companies to make the specific electronics they offer in Wal-Mart stores in China so Wal-Mart can buy them for cheaper prices and offer them for cheaper prices than the competition.

i didnt realize walmart was a wholesaler.

also, walmart = lol by default, so your point is moot.

[doorknob60]

If you have a Costco near you, I recommend it, I've never been disappointed there. Also we bought a Sony LCD HDTV at Wal-Mart about a year ago and it was well priced and works great. Really, just pick a good brand, look around for the best prices, and go buy it :)

[drawkcab]

I have a Samsung from Sam's Club that I like quite a bit. Walmart stocks it as well for a bit more.

I'm not too keen on having large electronics shipped to my home. I'm sure you can find a hot deal online at buy.com or something, but what if something happens in transit? It is a pain in the butt to send it back and wait for a new one. Sams/Walmart doesn't offer the best service, but they will take care of you if your TV has been damaged or is a lemon out of the box.

If you want superior service, buy from a local dealer with the expertise to fix and repair HD TVs.

[laceration]

It would be hard for you to go wrong. I got a cheapo no name 1080p 42 in. lcd a couple of years ago from Costco. No complaints. The same thing is now more than $1000 cheaper! Also consider that your TV can be your computer monitor. Mine is -- 42 in is a bit of an overkill but it perfectly alright. I watch TV with a dvb card and just another software program on Ubuntu.

[Cowchip7]

I bought my TV from Target... Phillips 42 inch 1080P LCD. Great purchase.

[sudoer541]

I am buying a Samsung 32 inch TV from best buy.
I would highly recommend Samsung Tvs. I read everywhere excellent reviews about them.
Wallmart has them too. Make sure to get the extended warranty, you may need it for the future.

[CharlesA]

Got my 22" VIZIO HDTV at Costco, haven't had any problems with it. Plus: Concierge service is nice, extended warranty and whatnot.

[laceration]

Make sure to get the extended warranty
...not!
The way to figure out if you need an extended warranty is to estimate or get some data on the probability of failure or breakdown. Let's say it is 1 in 50. That means if theoretically you bought 50 of the items, 1 would break down. If the cost of the warranty exceeded 1/50 the price of repair/replacement it would not be cost effective. Being that generally you already get a 1 year warranty it is almost never cost effective to get the extended. This is proved by hard sell of salespeople in selling these. It is a big profit area for retailers. Its the same principal as to why Casinos are profitable.

[samh785]

walmart = lol by default, so your point is moot.
Not to be rude or anything, but you can say that about absolutely anything :P

[Maheriano]

If you want to shop for a television properly, the most important aspect of the television itself is the panel. If by some miracle grace of God the employee actually knows who made the panel, then you can compare them properly. I've seen 2 seven inch LCD screens, one made by Sony and the other by Audiovox. You'd think the Sony would be much better and it was more expensive but when I researched it I realized the panel inside both of them was exactly the same so they produced the same picture. So find out who made that and what the specifications are on the actual panel and the rest of the television is really unimportant.

[LowSky]

Maheriano is right, there is actually only a handfull of LCD makers, and anyone who sells a LCD TV is being made from that handful.

I own a 37" Vizio for the last 2+ years and it works really well. I Got it at Sears of all places. They actually had the lowest prices.

The differences between models is very little. People think Samsung is the best, but I thinkit the same thoughtline that bottled water is better than tap water.

Go to the store, find the cheapest model that you think looks awesome and buy it.

[CharlesA]

Go to the store, find the cheapest model that you think looks awesome and buy it.

This. Altho, I'm sure "Brand Loyalty" plays a part whenever buying something as expensive as a large HDTV.

[sudoer541]

TBH I dont want to get extended warranty but what about if my tv breaks down after a year?
can a service technician fix it for less $?
list the cheapest ways to fix a damaged LCD TV in Canada and the US.
I hate extended warranties but I have no choice.

[drawkcab]

I ended up with a samsung but I think the vizios look pretty nice, especially for the price.

[oobuntoo]

You get better deal buying online. Cut out the middle-man and save some money. Amazon.com is the place to start. If you want more inputs/opinions from people who are crazy and well educated about HDTV, go to avsforum.com and ask questions there. I bought a 42-inch LCD and a 50-inch plasma online (both free shipping) last year and have had no problems. I would have paid at least $400 more for each had I bought them from Best Buy.

[pwnst*r]

Not to be rude or anything, but you can say that about absolutely anything :P

ok.

your post = lol by default. your opinion is moot.


;P

[laceration]

Sudoer541,
Don't get the extended warranty! The money you save over your lifetime will put more than enough in your back pocket where you can deal with the 1 in 50 breakdown. I am a man of reason, I go with averages. If you think you are an anomaly and through some black magic know you are going be unlucky, then get it. Conversely, if you know you are going to be lucky, go to the casinos.
What is the worst case scenario? If your TV breaks down it is not a catastrophe. It is not a longshot that you have to cover to avoid devastation, like health, home, life(if you have kids) and auto insurances.

[3rdalbum]

If you want to shop for a television properly, the most important aspect of the television itself is the panel. If by some miracle grace of God the employee actually knows who made the panel, then you can compare them properly. I've seen 2 seven inch LCD screens, one made by Sony and the other by Audiovox. You'd think the Sony would be much better and it was more expensive but when I researched it I realized the panel inside both of them was exactly the same so they produced the same picture. So find out who made that and what the specifications are on the actual panel and the rest of the television is really unimportant.

No no no no NO!

No! (sorry, I'm not trying to be rude)

You see lots of cheap TVs around that advertise that they have a "Samsung panel". The panel is simply the bit that converts the digital image to light; it's virtually the least important part in terms of picture quality and reliability.

I've seen Conia TVs with a "Samsung panel" being replaced TWICE because the electronics behind the panel has gone belly-up. The digital tuners in cheap TVs are also very likely to stop working.

ALWAYS buy the brand name. Always. And not one of your weird American brands like Vizio, buy a brand that is known across multiple countries. I used to work at an electrical retailer and god knows I've seen too many cheapo TVs have problems, and I've seen lots of those cheapo suppliers try and weasel out of their warranty obligations by putting hurdles in the way of their customers.

Salespeople will try and sell you an extended warranty and a surge protector. The extended warranty is up to you. The surge protector is a MUST, but only if it has a connected equipment warranty, and only if the salesperson can tell you the lifetime of the connected equipment warranty ("lifetime" is not a good answer; 10 years is). I've had loads of TVs and electrical devices being blown out by electrical storms and if anything gets through a surge protector with a CEW and damages your gear, you can claim the cost of getting your gear repaired.

I'd also say, buy electrical items from a specialist electrical store; they'll often try and make sure that you're not on your own should anything go wrong. I always used to. I can imagine going into Big W or K-Mart or some other department store and trying to claim a DOA (Dead On Arrival), and being politely told to go bother the manufacturer. And don't buy big electronics online; you've got no physical point of contact should anything go wrong. That's how the online retailers are so cheap - they don't have any responsibility once the courier picks up the product, and you're on your own after that.

[sudoer541]

Sudoer541,
Don't get the extended warranty! The money you save over your lifetime will put more than enough in your back pocket where you can deal with the 1 in 50 breakdown. I am a man of reason, I go with averages. If you think you are an anomaly and through some black magic know you are going be unlucky, then get it. Conversely, if you know you are going to be lucky, go to the casinos.
What is the worst case scenario? If your TV breaks down it is not a catastrophe. It is not a longshot that you have to cover to avoid devastation, like health, home, life(if you have kids) and auto insurances.

I dont know. I dont really want to get it. If my home insurance and my credit card company could offer me an extended warranty for a cheap price or even free would be great.

[johnboy1313]

So I want to buy an HD TV but I dont know where I should buy it. I have heard that whole salers like BJs and Costco can sell tvs for less because they arent as high in quality as say a comparable model found at Best Buy. Any input on this?

i bought my hdtv at a sams club for 550 last winter, the same tv retails at best buy for about $1200

[pwnst*r]

No no no no NO!

No! (sorry, I'm not trying to be rude)

You see lots of cheap TVs around that advertise that they have a "Samsung panel". The panel is simply the bit that converts the digital image to light; it's virtually the least important part in terms of picture quality and reliability.

I've seen Conia TVs with a "Samsung panel" being replaced TWICE because the electronics behind the panel has gone belly-up. The digital tuners in cheap TVs are also very likely to stop working.

ALWAYS buy the brand name. Always. And not one of your weird American brands like Vizio, buy a brand that is known across multiple countries. I used to work at an electrical retailer and god knows I've seen too many cheapo TVs have problems, and I've seen lots of those cheapo suppliers try and weasel out of their warranty obligations by putting hurdles in the way of their customers.

Salespeople will try and sell you an extended warranty and a surge protector. The extended warranty is up to you. The surge protector is a MUST, but only if it has a connected equipment warranty, and only if the salesperson can tell you the lifetime of the connected equipment warranty ("lifetime" is not a good answer; 10 years is). I've had loads of TVs and electrical devices being blown out by electrical storms and if anything gets through a surge protector with a CEW and damages your gear, you can claim the cost of getting your gear repaired.

I'd also say, buy electrical items from a specialist electrical store; they'll often try and make sure that you're not on your own should anything go wrong. I always used to. I can imagine going into Big W or K-Mart or some other department store and trying to claim a DOA (Dead On Arrival), and being politely told to go bother the manufacturer. And don't buy big electronics online; you've got no physical point of contact should anything go wrong. That's how the online retailers are so cheap - they don't have any responsibility once the courier picks up the product, and you're on your own after that.

^^exactly. those that think two different tv's are equal ONLY because of the same panel = lol.