| So you have been thinking about the purchase of an | | | | 4. Company reputation - Make sure the retailer is |
| LCD Flat Screen Tv. | | | | reliable. What good is it to save a bundle of money on |
| In days past the choices on where to purchase highly | | | | a new tv only to find out that the retailer is shipping |
| regarded home theater equipment was pretty limited. If | | | | faulty products. Is there a company phone number to |
| you were lucky enough to live near a big city you had | | | | contact with questions? Is the site professional? Are all |
| several specialty electronics stores to choose from. If | | | | transactions placed on a secure connection? Have |
| you lived in suburban America you had one or two big | | | | you heard of the retailer before? Check out customer |
| name electronics stores, while if you lived in rural | | | | rankings and reviews online. A good, reliable site will |
| America you were sometimes out of luck until you | | | | allow customers to place reviews of the product, but |
| made an excursion out to the "big city". | | | | also of the service that they received from the retailer. |
| Today, that has all changed with the arrival of the | | | | 5. Return policy - Another extremely important |
| Internet. Anyone with access to the Internet now has | | | | consideration for buying an LCD tv online is what is the |
| access to a gigantic specialty electronics store right in | | | | return policy? If the tv is damaged will they return it, no |
| their own home. Practically any LCD flat screen tv | | | | questions asked? If so, who is responsible for the |
| known to mankind can be purchase online with the | | | | shipping fee? Will they pay shipping or are you |
| click of a few buttons. | | | | responsible for shipping? What if you want to |
| While the choices are limitless, it is more important then | | | | exchange the tv? One of the things about going into a |
| ever to do your research and become a smart | | | | store is that you can actually take a look at the tv. |
| consumer. The following 7 things will help you be an | | | | What if you order the LCD, get it sent home and then |
| educated consumer and help you get the best bang | | | | realize it is not what you were expecting? Can you |
| for your hard earned buck. | | | | exchange the tv and if so what is the restocking fee if |
| 1. What size tv do you need? - Know the size of your | | | | any? An upfront knowledge of the return policy is |
| room and how much space you have available, but | | | | essential when purchasing an LCD online. The good |
| also know what is the best size for optimum viewing. If | | | | online retailers will have a return fee that is as good or |
| you sit to close you take the risk of noticing scan lines | | | | better then many of the brick and mortar stores. |
| or pixels, but sit too far away and you begin to lose | | | | 6. Shipping - It is important to understand several things |
| out on picture details and the immersive feel of a wide | | | | about shipping. What are the shipping costs? Will the |
| screen tv. It is recommended that you can sit | | | | product get damaged in shipping and if so who is |
| anywhere between 1.5 and 3 times your HDTV | | | | responsible. Some people feel that there is a much |
| screen size for the best viewing experience. So for a | | | | greater chance of receiving a damaged product when |
| viewing distance of 8 feet (96inches) you would want | | | | buying online and having it shipped, however many |
| an LCD that is at least 32 inches, but not more then | | | | times there is less handling of a tv from a large online |
| 63inches. If your viewing distance was 12 feet (144 | | | | retailer who ships the tv from their warehouse then |
| inches) you would want a screen size with a minimum | | | | there is in some of the local stores where tvs are |
| of 46 inches and a maximum of 96 inches for the | | | | shipped from one warehouse to another until it |
| best viewing experience. | | | | eventually enters the stores warehouse and then |
| 2. Know what features are important - Most people | | | | delivered to your home. Is white glove delivery |
| are going to want a 1080p tv, but what about contrast | | | | available to bring the LCD directly into your home? Can |
| ratio, response times and refresh rates. Do you watch | | | | you have someone setup the tv for you and if so |
| sports or movies with a lot of fast action? If you do | | | | what is the cost. |
| then you will want something with low response times | | | | 7. What about cables, accessories and extended |
| and may want to consider a 120Hz LCD for smooth | | | | warranties? - Cables, accessories and extended |
| motion. Is the look of the tv important. Some | | | | warranties have long been a major profit center for |
| manufacturers have begun releasing LCDs with stylish | | | | the brick and mortar stores. Do you ever notice how |
| bezels where the tv looks great when turned off as | | | | the sales personnel seem to save there most |
| well as on. Some people will say that one of the | | | | passionate sales pitches for the extended warranties? |
| disadvantages of shopping online is that you don't have | | | | Many times that is when they have the opportunity to |
| the benefit of a helpful salesperson to guide you | | | | earn a larger commission based on the warranty |
| through the buying process. While that may be true of | | | | sales. Today's flat panel LCD tvs are much more |
| a specialty home theater store I would argue that you | | | | reliable then in years past and it is generally not worth |
| can get much more helpful information by doing a little | | | | the extra cost of an extended warranty. Not to |
| research yourself online then you can from listening to | | | | mention cables. Stores often push the sales of |
| some of the downright bad advice that is shared in | | | | overpriced cables saying that you need them in order |
| some of the big electronic chain stores. | | | | to get a quality video and audio experience. These |
| 3. Price - Lets face it, the biggest advantage of buying | | | | cables are one of the areas where a store can make |
| online by far is the price. The local brick and mortar | | | | a lot of money. The truth is that there is very little |
| stores with there overhead costs simply can't match | | | | difference between cables, particularly the digital cable |
| some of the prices that can be found online for the | | | | such as HDMI. Local stores won't carry the discount |
| same exact LCD flat screen tv. But prices can also | | | | cables, so ordering cables online is a perfect way to |
| vary greatly from one online retailer to another. When | | | | save a great deal of money. |
| you compare price make sure to take all things into | | | | Buying an LCD flat screen tv online is a great way to |
| consideration such as shipping fees and taxes when | | | | get a high quality tv and save a lot of money at the |
| determining the actual cost of the LCD. The price | | | | same time. With a little bit of online research you can |
| savings can be significant, particularly on the mid to high | | | | buy that perfect tv from a reliable retailer and have it |
| end displays. At the same time, you can't simply rely | | | | conveniently shipped home where you and your family |
| on price alone when buying an LCD online which brings | | | | will be able to enjoy the latest movie release or sports |
| us to the next consideration. | | | | event on your new big screen tv. |