Home Media Store
Home Electronics and Entertainment Store
Getting the Best Price on Your Next Television
There is plenty of good news for those shopping for a new television. Prices on newer technology televisions such as plasma and LCD continued to drop through the end of last year while their performance has been enhanced: improved anti-burn in technology, higher resolution, larger screen sizes, and so forth. Still, with a price tag of up to $3,500 for a 40-46 inch plasma or LCD television, shopping for a bargain can be important.
For smart shoppers, bargains are certainly to be had; potentially saving them up to 50% on their purchase. For many consumers however, knowing some of the finer details of finding the ideal television buy might require a few tips.
The Basics
- Comparison shop- Never buy an item that has a large price tag without checking to see what other competitors offer. It is common that 3 or 4 competitors offer virtually the same price but yet another may offer a 20% savings. Use of newspaper ads, the phone, and, of course, the internet can be a quick and convenient way to comparison shop for a television.
- Shop sales- Often having the patience to wait a few weeks or perhaps a few months for a sales event can net a buyer a significant savings as well. Sales are common during the summer and around the holidays but many stores, especially on line, offer specials on select models all year.
- Don't buy more than is wanted-Yes, experts tell everyone to get the biggest screen they can afford, but is this really what they want? In some cases, bigger doesn't really improve the viewing experience in some rooms. The same holds true for features and other attributes. If the buyer can't see the difference between 1080p and 720p, why pay for the higher resolution?
Skip the Extended Warranty
Most failures with a television will occur during the first year, when it is covered by the standard manufacturers warranty or several years later when any extended warranty is out of effect. Thus the price of the extended warranty, at least statistically speaking, is seldom worth the added cost. Even if a buyer decides they want the extended warranty several months later, they usually get the opportunity to purchase it before the standard warranty expires; in this way, the decision to buy it is made with less pressure from the salesperson.
Shop Online
There are often bargains to be had online. In some instances, the shipping fees however can outweigh the savings on the television; therefore, be sure to use a retailer that offers free shipping. In some instances, there are also savings online related to sales taxes.
Look for Rebates, Model Closeouts, & Returns
Shoppers who don't get swept up in getting the latest gadgets fare better in getting the best bargain. Rapid technology changes result in new features constantly so recent models become somewhat dated quickly allowing buyers to get better deals. Following a big sale it is also not uncommon to find buyers who return their nearly new set within a few days when they had time to rethink their decision about spending their money. Both situations provide prime picking at better than average prices for consumers.
Get a Price Guarantee
Whether buying a television online or not, a price guarantee can assure that the price paid is the best possible even if further mark downs occur within a few weeks.
Certainly, with larger and more sophisticated televisions on the market the price tag for a new set is significant for many families. However, with a bit of patience and some research, most shoppers should be able to find the television they want at a price they can afford.
Return to the Article Directory or the Home Page.
Your Old Television: Finding a Final Resting Place
From ever increasing screen size to newer technologies for better pictures and sound, rapid advancements in the electronics industry age the television in your living room well before it ceases to function. Whether a television is displaced from the center of our homes due to a simple desire to upgrade or due to poor performance, millions of us need to find a way of disposing of an older set each year.
Are landfills an option?
Like most electronics devices, a television can contain a number of elements that are potentially harmful to both people and the environment, making them poor residents for landfills. The various carcinogens and neurotoxins within them can potentially leach into the water system and into the air through burning, with deadly results. Not only do these oversized devices which are disposed of in the millions each year push landfills to their capacity, but many of their more valuable materials are wasted when they are not recycled. Materials such as glass, copper, and precious metals are sacrificed when an old television is relegated to a landfill.
How about donating or giving away an old television?
Certainly charity organizations such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill will take a working television and, in many instances, will arrange convenient pick up. There are even individuals who seek out yard sales looking for old electronics devices to repair as a hobby, so this presents another option for finding people interested in an old set. There are however, more convenient methods of finding others who want a castaway television if it is in working order.
Freecycle.org is an online network that allows users to post items locally at no charge. The purpose of the site is to keep hazardous waste out of landfills by connecting people who wish to dispose of items with others who are looking for those same products.
Are there recycling options?
Manufacturers are beginning to take on greater responsibility to assure that recycling becomes an easier task in the future. Reducing the number of parts, increasing the ease of disassembly, and using materials that readily recycle are examples of some of the strategies that are the focus during the design and manufacture stage. These efforts can help assure that a television or other device can be easily and inexpensively recycled. In addition, some companies are making strides in reducing the use of potentially harmful elements in the products they produce for consumers. Panasonic, for example, began manufacturing plasma displays without lead in 2006.
For the time being however there are a number of efforts related to recycling in the
As the volume of electronics waste continues to escalate and awareness of the need to recycle expands, some retailers such as Best Buy, host recycling drives. When looking for a place to take an unwanted television, it might be useful to start with a simple phone call to a few local retailers.
Although the problems posed by unwanted televisions and other electronics devices continue to grow, there are a few resources available to reduce the effect of this glut. Once consumers find they have a television they no longer need, whether it is working or not, there are others who will take it off of their hands and put it to the best possible use.
Return to the Article Directory or the Home Page.