What is the Difference Between an LCD TV and a Plasma TV?.................
Answer: Outward appearances are definitely deceiving when it comes to LCD and Plasma televisions. Although both types of televisions are flat and thin, they employ different technology in an attempt to deliver similar results.....................
Is it better to buy online?...................
Online sites such as Amazon will usually give you the best price. But is that the best choice?................
1. Price
Advantage: ONLINE
On-line deals are almost always better than brick & mortar store price tags, often by hundreds of dollars. By checking websites like Amazon and Pricegrabber you can compare dozens of etailers’ prices instantly. You can also price check many brick & mortar stores such as national chains (Best Buy, Walmart, etc.) and regional chains that have an on-line presence (the brick & mortar websites usually provide the same prices as in the store)...................................
2. Selection
Advantage: ONLINE
With the exception of a very few models that are not permitted to be sold on-line (i.e. Panasonic’s VT25 3DTV series), the vast majority of HDTVs can be purchased using a few keystrokes. We don’t know of any retailer – online or brick & mortar — that has the depth of brands and models like Amazon. It is truly one stop shopping...................................
3. Convenience
Advantage: ONLINE
With on-line TV purchases you don’t have to leave your home, a perfect situation for the agoraphobics out there. You also don’t have to deal with sales clerks who try to pressure you into buying questionable or overpriced add-ons, such as extended warranties or power conditioners. And you’ll also have a bigger selection of peripherals, like HDMI cables, at much lower prices than in stores...........................
4. Deciding Which TV to Buy
Advantage: TIE
Whether you’re buying online or from a brick & mortar, you should read reviews from both expert sites, such as ours (read our HDTV Buying Guide), and actual customer ratings on Amazon. You can also go into an actual brick & mortar store to look at the sets in person, but there is limited value in doing that. Except in specialty locations, like Best Buy’s Magnolia or boutique home theater dealers, the TVs will almost certainly be mis-calibrated and the lighting poorly designed for comparing picture quality. Worse, many of the salespeople in brick & mortars simply don’t know what they’re talking about.
So do your research on TVs in both places, but don’t let that be the deciding factor of where you’re going to ultimately buy.....................
5. Setting up Your New TV
Advantage: BRICK & MORTAR
If you have never owned an flat panel HDTV and don’t know anyone that knows about stand assembly, connection to sources and configuring picture and network settings, you may find buying one online fraught with challenges...........................
Often the table stand must be assembled and mounted to the TV. It’s not very difficult, typically requiring attaching eight supplied screws, but requires at least two people for a 42″ and three for a larger flat panel. Do you have people that are available and able to lift and hold the TV to attach it to the stand? If not, you would need special delivery that includes this service or consider a purchase from a brick & mortar retailer. And if you’re going to be wall-mounting your TV, you better be comfortable using a stud finder and power drill if you’re going the online route...................................
Best Buy has its own “Geek Squad”. They currently offer “Premium Delivery” for free (normally $99.99) with TV purchases over $999. It consists of delivery, unpacking, table stand attachment and connection to one source component. And for $149.99 Geek Squad provides “Whole Room Service”, which consists of all the above plus connection of up to seven source components, a surround sound system, basic remote control set-up and system operating instructions........................
Best Buy’s Geek Squad services are also available if you purchased your TV elsewhere, even online, though they may not be as familiar with your equipment if it’s not a brand stocked by Best Buy. And if something isn’t working, you may get finger pointing between the online seller and your setup service over who is at fault...........................
Beware of brick & mortars that contract with third-parties for set up services. We’ve seen poor results and flat-out incompetence from these guys.............................
Most independent specialty stores offer their own custom installation crews that do it all, from simple to complex installations including custom in-wall wiring. With the selling dealer doing the install, there can be no finger pointing. Discuss and agree upon the cost of installation at the time of purchase, never afterward. Some companies’ price out jobs with flat rates by the work involved such as wall mounting an HDTV. Others will give a written estimate for the entire job. The selling dealer should provide a maximum cost within 10% of the estimated cost (assuming the you don’t make changes)..............................
6. Shipping
Advantage: BRICK & MORTAR
We’ve seen online retailers charging $200 or more to ship an HDTV. And even then, it may just be “curbside”, which is exactly what it sounds like – they deliver it to the curb and then it’s your job to haul it into the house. Though some online retailers, like Amazon, ship for free. On the other hand, Best Buy’s free “Premium Delivery” service (with the purchase of a TV over $999) even includes basic set up.............................
7. Returns
Advantage: BRICK & MORTAR
Unless the retailer is also setting up your TV, you won’t be able to inspect it to ensure it is functioning properly before the driver leaves your home. If not, what happens if there is hidden damage? If the TV will be a gift, and isn’t opened until Christmas day, will the seller claim you took too long to report damage? And what if you simply don’t like the way the set performs or you realize that it is too small/big for your room?..................................
Circuit City (now an online seller) charges a whopping 25% restocking fee, and most online sellers don’t allow returns at all unless the TV is defective. Some don’t allow returns even if it is defective. Yikes!..............................
Amazon is one of the few online exceptions. It charges nothing on TVs bought directly from them (not another retailer in the Amazon Marketplace) as long as it is returned within 30 days. And for the holidays, you can return it any time before Jan. 31, 2011 if shipped between now and December 31, 2010. Follow the guidelines and you pay nothing for the return shipping costs either.......................................
The brick & mortars often have more liberal return policies. Best Buy allows returns within 30 days for any reason on HDTVs, and Costco up to 90 days from purchase. You’re still responsible for getting the TV back to the store, though........................................
