(Editor’s Note: Lots of deals on HDTV’s as prices continue to fall. Wal-Mart has declared war on Best Buy and Circuit City when it comes to HDTV prices but they are not prepared to give up market share either. All this plays into the consumer’s hands this holiday season. Find out how to get the best deal from Phillip Swann of TV Predictions.)
Consumer advice group offers help for bargain shoppers.
By Phillip Swann
Washington, D.C. (November 15, 2006) -- By now, you've heard that retailers will offer sharp discounts on High-Definition TVs on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.
However, the bargains are usually available for short periods of time. So, how can you make sure that you don't get shut out.
Consumer World, a non-profit consumer advice group, has released 10 tips for landing that great deal on Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.And here they are:
1. Read the Ads
Consumer World suggests that you carefully review your local newspapers on Thanksgiving Day. Usually, they will be stuffed with Black Friday ads and coupons. Bring them with you on the big day.
2. Evaluate the Deals
Don't assume every "deal" is a deal. Compare the "Black Friday" special price with the HDTV's normal price before buying. You can do that at various e-commerce web sites such as Amazon.com and BestBuy.com.
3. Buy a Good Product
A low price doesn't guarantee a high-quality television. Do some research and read product reviews at sites such as CNET.com.
4. Look For More Discounts
Some stores issue coupons or rebates on high-def sets. Find out if the discounts apply to the Black Friday specials.
5. Come Early
Some stores will offer special prices if you come in at a specific time, such as between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. Check out those Thanksgiving ads for "time restricted" specials.
6. Beat the Early Birds
Some Black Friday deals may be available at the store's web site. Check out the site in the wee hours of Friday morning and you might save yourself a trip to the store.
7. Check the Return Policy
Before buying, find out the store's return policy. Consumer World says some stores are discouraging returns by imposing restocking fees or placing frequent "returners" on blacklists.
8. Get a Gift Receipt
You can make a return easier for gift recipients by asking the store to place a receipt in a gift box. Without it, the store may not accept it.
9. Use the Right Credit Card
Some credit cards offer free benefits such as a return protection guarantee or purchase points that can be redeemed for other products. When you're buying a big-ticket item like a HDTV, that could pay off.
10. Save More With Price Guarantees
After buying the high-def set, keep your eye on the TV's price at other stores in the next month. Some stores will give you the difference between your price and a competitor's price during the holiday season.
(Editor's Number 11:)
When you buy your HD, then call WICU, WSEE, WJET and WFXP and demand they get their ass in gear and deliver the HD that you just paid out your hard earned money to get.
Click TVPredictions.com to see today's Swanni Sez.
© TVPredictions.com
"Congress passed a law on February 1, 2006, setting a final deadline for the DTV transition of February 17, 2009. Most television stations will continue broadcasting both analog and digital programming until February 17, 2009, when all analog broadcasting will stop.." FCC http://www.dtv.gov/
Tuesday.... HD Sports....The New Viagra!
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10 comments:
I bought a beautiful Samsung HDTV over the weekend. Shelled out $2000!
Anyways, I took your advice and called WICU and asked about HDTV. Was told by a nice receptionist the Chief Engineer was in a meeting and would be glad to call me back if I left my number. I did.
Called WSEE. Gee, they must have been having a bad day. I was able to speak to Tracy (can't remember her last name) and was treated very rudely. I was told they didn't have time to answer trivial questions and was hung up on. Guess they don't like talking to their viewers?
Called WJET. Actually spoke with their Chief Engineer, Lorne. A very nice man who told me that WJET is owned by Nexstar and that the issue of HD is being worked on at the corporate level. He coudln't give me a definite date but it looks to be "somewhere during quarter 4 of 2008!"
OK. I paid a lot of money for my TV. What should I now do? Keep Time Warner for HD. Go Dish? Go DirecTV? At least I got an answer from the locals - well, at least not WSEE.
From working at Best Buy for four years selling HDTV and other electronic items, it has been my experience that the Black Friday items are usually really basic products and off-name brands.
I remember customers asking us to go direct traffic so they could get out of Best Buy and get to the next store so they could challenge some other sale-obsessed maniac to a shopping cart duel.
I remember people being lined up around the store at 4AM to get the best deal, as the snow came down and the winds howled. I remember the doors shaking and people tripping to get in the store. You people are crazy. Apparently, I'm still not 100% recovered from working retail through college.
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Here’s a tip:
It isn't always the case but unless you're going to DIE if you don't get the deal, save your shopping for the PM. It is a great idea to do your homework online.
Chances are, if you are ordering an HDTV from Best Buy, you’re going to get it delivered anyway, and they will probably order it from their warehouse so it’s going to be at least a couple of days before you get it.
HDTV buys are usually not impulsive so people won’t be tearing down the doors for them (however if you are buying a smaller LCD HDTV, you may have a bigger fight on your hands… however the merchandise will probably be locked up and you’ll have to hunt down a man/woman in blue to help you).
Here's my tip, Anon...
Get a great DVD Player (one of the new HD Players, perhaps) and start stocking up on movies, because if you want to get the most out of your tv right now, that is the way to do it.
Satellite and Cable Programming does offer some HDTV but programming is limited (at least it is growing though)
I've had an HD set for 6 months now. Took your advice and called the locals. John at WICU was friendly (even if he didn't tell me what I wanted to hear) but told me HD was years away - "If corporate approves the expenditure."
Lorne at WJET told me the same as the previous poster - "somewhere in the 4th quarter of 2008."
I called WSEE and was told "to stop calling and bothering them!" I guess they thought I was the first poster? I guess I won't get an answer from them?
If we are going to shell out big bucks don't you think we should have a local choice for DTV and HDTV?
You guys are great to call. I think anyone who has a HDTV or is planning on buying on shortly should call the stations.
I can tell you that they do take note of it of the interest. As I have said before WICU and WJET have a special problem with getting to HD quickly. They both have been newsly assigned the same channel numbers for digital that they have for analog. That means the analog has to go off before the digital can be turned on.
WFXP and WSEE don't have that problem their DT channel numbers will be different from analog. So it is just money and guts keeping them from doing it.
It is my own feeling that WSEE will be HD sooner than we expect but not with the current owners.
I hope all the local stations get to HD soon. I would hate to think I have spent all this money for nothing.
Almost makes you wonder why they are so shy about committing to full Digital and High Definition?
I know the answer: MONEY! MONEY! MONEY! MONEY!
Why buy a TV station if you won't or aren't able to give the public what it wants?
Based on the conversation I had with him I would have to say the friendliest Chief Engineer is Lorne Earle at WJET-TV.
Lorne answered all my questions in a friendly and accurate manner. It may not have been what I wanted to hear (wait for HD) but he was a gentleman about it.
Thank You!
Lorne is a gentlemen and also wishes he could turn on HD yesterday.
At least he gave all of you an answer and he knows there is interest in WJET and WFXP going HD.
It helps him and their management get that message accross to their superiors at Nexstar.
For those who haven't made the calls, try to do it. It does make a difference.
A friendly suggestion. If anyone tries to call WSEE-TV ask for Dan Nungesser their Chief Engineer.
DO NOT ask for Station Manager Tracy Stufft. Ms. Stufft is far too busy to concern herself with such mundane details as High Definition broadcasting.
Black Friday Deals announced early:
http://bfads.net
And there are some non-advertised Best Buy specials here:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat104300050017&type=category
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