Consumerism

[Ryllharu]

I wouldn't buy a big screen TV online, but I have purchased monitors and they arrived in perfect condition. But the hassle of returning a damaged big screen wouldn't be worth it to me.

Many online purchases of televisions come with "complimentary white-glove" delivery service, rolled into the cost of the set. It is in their interest to ensure that the television arrives unbroken and in working order. It is as much about making sure that they are not being scammed in some way as much as it is about you getting a quality product. They'll test it to verify that it works, though they usually won't hook it up to your systems.

It's just like ordering furniture or mattresses, but they won't even charge you extra for it.

[Animeniax]

Many online purchases of televisions come with "complimentary white-glove" delivery service, rolled into the cost of the set. It is in their interest to ensure that the television arrives unbroken and in working order. It is as much about making sure that they are not being scammed in some way as much as it is about you getting a quality product. They'll test it to verify that it works, though they usually won't hook it up to your systems.

It's just like ordering furniture or mattresses, but they won't even charge you extra for it.

Ahh very nice, good to know. The last time I considered ordering a TV online was 3 years ago, and I felt the price that made it worthwhile to order online couldn't possibly include that kind of extra service. Plus I checked forums and people had the same concerns about damage and shipping that I did, though they might have been just as ill-informed as I was. Maybe the e-tailers realized these concerns and added the white-glove service?

The hang up for me then would be having strangers in my house to install a big ticket item like that. I know it's a bit of paranoia, but studying law enforcement and criminology has given me that mindset.

[Animeniax]

D'oh, double-posted on accident.

Yeah. I've been continuously disappointed by that. In ye olde times it felt like the sales personnel knew stuff, but now if you have read reviews and forums a couple of evenings before visiting the brick-and-mortar stores, it seems you will know more than 99% of the clerks (about the specific item you are interested in). So, the only reason I like to visit local stores is the ease of returning broken items and just chatting with the people, and I suppose to support their existence. But I won't pay premium for all that. I'm willing to pay a little bit more but not much.

When I worked at a Best Buy, it was a point of pride to be knowledgeable about what I sold in my department, but I was in the minority. Sales staff at places like Best Buy focus mostly on selling extended warranties.

[Kraco]

Sales staff at places like Best Buy focus mostly on selling extended warranties.

Haha, that's so bloody true. Extended warranties and trying to convince you why choosing just a little bit more expensive model would the wisest of decisions.