Plasma/LCD TO BUY or Not to BUY?
 

should I buy a LCD or plasma TV that is an "open-box", "floor model, or "display/demo model"? This applies to futureshop/Bestbuy/Visions electronic

They are offering a 150$ off regular price. They don't have any new ones in stock, and I really like this model design and feature.


Looked everywhere and all they have is demos, buy or go for other brand?

Thanks

What TV? What's the normal price? $150 off doesn't sound like a whole lot. They'll probably try to make it up by jamming you with extended warranties, and high-margin accessories.

^^
werd. $150 off a TV ain't that hot a deal for a demo. Fuck it

their sale price was $999, but since FS sold out, the only ones left are demo ones, so salesman wants to cut $150 off for me,. but who knows if TV has been on all day long for 2 month or more.

Hell no ... They run over 8 hours/day (if Futureshop/Best Buy, they're open 13 hours/day on weekdays and they'll be on most of that time) plus customers poke the screens (especially on the lower shelves that are accessible to kids).

In 2 months on display, it'll likely have had half a year's worth of use by the average person plus a lot more cosmetic damage ...

personally, i would never buy demo/floor model.

wait till it comes in stock, or find another model.

this particular model is on the wall and has a one piece glass constructed over screen unlike the conventional LCD with a lip and frame.

So besides the poking, I guess the plasma life span has been shorten about a year--- since its on all the time?,

Do i have to worry about burn-ins? also what if They offer me extended waranty, will that be worth my time and money to buy it then?

I wouldn't.

I probably wouldn't buy an open box TV. I guess it's a little bit better that it's been protected by the plastic as you mention, but it's been on for quite a bit of time.

However, if you REALLY want this TV, and the price is good enough for you, then go for it. You mentioned that there's no new ones anywhere else so I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it's probably discontinued. If $150 off is all they are going to give you as a discount, then I'd probably try hit them up for the extended warranty for free as part of the deal. It costs them virtually nothing, and saves you a few bucks plus you have the peace of mind that it's got a longer warranty.

I personally have had 2 TVs that were demo units. The panel-life on newer LCDs are about 10-15 years if I remember correctly. Personally, I change TVs every 4-5 years MAX, so if I can save a good chuck of money, why not?

$150 is too little, for demo units they usually sell for about 35-40% less than original retail value. If you can get THAT deal, then I think it is worth to consider.

Furthermore, make sure you ask about warranty. Some demo units come with 1-2 year warranties

also note, most "open box" TV's are like anything else, they were opened then returned, quite often they were never even turned on. it also makes it easy to squeeze a free extended warranty from them if you make it sound like the only reason you're unsure about buying is that you don't know what happened to it before it was returned.

This model is floor model, 2 month in store, turned on daily. they offer me "extended waranty" for free, supposely it cost 399$ for the waranty. Also offer $150 off the regular price. I am leaving this deal, I find it very weird that they would say " $150 off is the best we can do, we are selling it at cost".
I smell bullshit, so i said i would think about it.

What is the single best way to get more discount from a salesperson who says " there is no room to move, we are selling it at cost already"

If they are selling it at cost, I doubt you're going to get much more out of them in terms of monetary discounts.

If anything, hit them up for accessories and extended warranties which don't cost them very much (but would cost you a significant amount if you were to buy them)

However, half them time when they say they are selling at cost, they are BS'ing since we have no idea what their cost price is.

they're BS'ing
if they really wont budge..ask them to throw in a stand/wall-mount for super cheap haha.

How bout you tell us the brand/size/model so people can recommend you something similar or maybe even a better deal?

You make him feel small.

I was looking at a hitachi P42A202 model. Its 42inches with native resolution of 1028X1080i. It is a 1080i ALiS plasma panel instead of conventional 720p progressive panal.