Shall I Rack Up Some Debt?

[FirstReflection]

Hi folks.

I'm pretty much just thinking "out loud" in this thread. Trying to make a decision. I've a chance to buy the Sharp 70" LC-70LE735U that I want rather strongly for my theatre. It's a local store. Only one in stock. And they're selling it off at a rather good price. Especially up here in Canada where the price is stupidly higher.

I need the larger 70" size for the plans that I have for my theatre. Actually, 74" would be ideal, but this is close enough This LCD is purely for "lights on" viewing. TV and videogames mostly. A 100-106" acoustically transparent screen will come down in front of it for movie viewing, giving me what is essentially a constant height setup for 2.35:1 movies and something closer to an IMAX-like effect when the entire 16:9 projection screen is filled.

Anywho, I've demoed the Sharp and enjoy its picture quality a lot. More to the point though, Sharp revealed their large screen lineup for 2012 at CES and I was disappointed with the details Sharp outlined. The LC-70LE735U that I'm considering here has a matte screen, is 3D capable, and has a full array LED backlight WITHOUT local dimming. It's a very rare LCD in that way.

All of the new Sharp 70" models for 2012 are using crappy edge-LED lighting. Except for the 900 series, which are local-dimming full-array LED backlit, but also have a substantially higher MSRP. So even with the expected lower street prices, the new 900 isn't likely to be anywhere near as inexpensive as this 735 unit.

So, to put it plainly, this is the only TV that has all the features an the picture quality that I want. There is no suitable replacement coming. And the price isn't likely going to get any lower than this deal before this 735 model is all sold out everywhere!

So go ahead and buy it, you say? Yes. I would very much like to. But there's that utterly stupid hold up that we call, "money". I JUST laid out some cash to bring some new on-wall Revel speakers into my home for a trial. I need on-walls to make my theatre plans work and these Revels seem like my best hope since most on walls sound like butt and the only other ones I like are the Paradigm Signature W on-wall speakers that are considerably more expensive and also already discontinued. These Revel on-walls impressed in the store and the price is right, so I have to hear how they do in my theatre now.

I've still got my new car payments. And my mortgage, of course. And I haven't topped up my RRSP

So I don't really have the cash on hand right at this moment for the TV. Do I float it on my line of credit for a few months? It's only 2.99% interest. But I hate carrying any debt.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[avnetguy]

Ummmmm, I'd probably wait a bit but that's just me, I don't like being in debt. Another reason is the 70" and up models are fairly new and they will very likely be reduced in price by next year's boxing day. Of course the model you like may be gone by then so you'll have to go out and get a nice 65" plasma!

Steve

P.S. Don't forget about your TFSA along with your RRSP!

 

[avnetguy]

If you don't mind me asking, what's the price they're quoting you and is it an open box/display model?

Steve

P.S. If it was a smoking good deal I might reverse my position.

 

[agarwalro]

For the cost of that TV you can get front protection and have funds left to up your speaker budget. So, why are you not?

But, to answer your question, sounds like some delayed gratification is in order .

 

[FirstReflection]

Darn you guys for being responsible and talking sense

The quote's $2600 + tax + delivery and installation for $160 (which is fine since it's a little large to mount on the wall by myself )

That price for the TV itself is about $1000 less than the going price up here in Canada (where we get so royally screwed on TV prices! )

The LC-70LE735U is new in box - not a store demo or open box unit.

It's the last of this particular model that this Audio/Video Unlimited location is getting. The new LC-70LE745U replacement models are coming in next month, so this is basically clearance time for this particular model. The new 745U model is $3500 MSRP, and it's now a crappy edge-lit LED

Best Buy is asking $3999, FutureShop is $3799, Visions is $3998, Top Choice is $3600 and B&H Photo (which is in the States, but has full Canadian service) is about $3280 after Canadian shipping is added. All of those would have tax on top. So this $2600 quote - even with the delivery and installation fee tagged on - really is the absolute best price going. And, like I say, the 735U is on its way out and its replacement 745U model is worse!

The 945U unit is supposed to be coming in the "summer". That's a local-dimming full-array LED backlit unit, which means "blooming" plus a substantially higher price. Don't have an MSRP on the 945U yet, but the 70" 847U (which is also crappy edge-lit) is $4200 MSRP, so I don't imagine the 945U is going to be less expensive than the 800 series!

I don't want to go any smaller, so the 65" plasmas are out. I also want this for "lights on" viewing and for playing videogames. I've got my 60" Kuro plasma in the living room. And while I agree that Panasonic's VT50 65" plasma is still the best display that will be available, plasmas still wash out a little bit with the lights on and I prefer not to game on them since traces of image retention still show up and freak me out too much for me to chance ANY sort of image retention on such a nice screen! The 735U is very well suited to "lights on" viewing and gaming, so I'm good on this particular choice

The only possible alternative is the 80" 844U unit coming in "spring" with a whopping $6200 MSRP I don't need 80" - as I say, 74" would actually be perfect. I'll have the front projector's tab tensioned drop down screen for movie and IMAX-like viewing. And I certainly don't need what's likely to be around a $5500-$5800 street price!

As you can probably tell...I'm trying to talk myself into this purchase It's a bit like when I bought my Kuro. I got it after the Kuro's were discontinued and I knew nothing better was coming. It was more than I honestly wanted to pay back then too, but I don't regret that decision. All these years later and it's STILL the best 2D image available - although the VT50 Pannys look like they might FINALLY have caught up.

If there were a decent alternative coming, I'd wait for sure. But it's all going back to crappy edge-lighting and who knows, the lovely matte screen might get replaced with the stupid glossy mirror screens that every other LCD uses!

So I wanna jump on this. Might be the last matte screen LCD with no blooming and an even backlight at an affordable price ever made! Not even joking.

But yeah... Debt. Never fun. Turned out to be a good decision with my Kuro though. Will I think the same about this?

hmmmmmmm...........

 

[afterlife2]

Buy it looks like it will make you happy. That's what it's all about what makes you happy in the end. I assume the reviews have been good, right? Warranty Warranty Warranty!

 

[tcarcio]

Snap out of it....If you can't afford it don't buy it till you can. Or suffer the dire consequences........ This is your conscience speaking...

 

[Adam]

Hi, FR. Well, you know your financial situation better than any of us, so it's tough for us to say if it's a good idea or not. "Debt" doesn't have to be a four-letter word. Ummm, okay, I guess it does in English...but you know what I mean. You're one smart guy, so I know that you've done the math in terms of your job security, employment opportunities, and other financial obligations. If this was a clearcut decision, though, you wouldn't have posted about it.

Since this does involve debt, that means that there's going to be a trade-off. If you buy this TV, then you'll need to put off (or eliminate) getting something(s) else. Only you can decide if that matters to you. You clearly want this TV, though.

One way that I view purchases is to think about how long would I need to work to buy it. For example, I can look at a TV and think about how many days or weeks I'd need to work to earn enough money to buy it. A car is in terms of months, and a house in years. That helps me think about it. For example - do I want to work another year of 11+ hour days just to drive that car?

That thinking relies on me being in control of whether I leave my job or not. In this economy, I also look at purchases in terms of how much less time could I go without a job if I bought it. I have a sense of how long my savings and assets could keep me afloat, and any purchase eats into that buffer.

Just some comments. Perhaps you can tell that I'm a risk-averse person.

 

[96cobra10101]

If you don't mind being handcuffed by debt, buy the TV. If it was me, I wouldn't, unless I could pay cash. But then again, I paid off a 30 year mortgage on my home in 5 years. I say save the money, or pay off a loan before you buy the TV. Just my $.02.

 

[FirstReflection]

Me too, Adam. Me too. Wouldn't it be nice sometimes to be one of those folks who just buys on credit without a second thought and doesn't notice that making minimum payments on their credit cards means it will literally take 150 years to pay off, like, $2000

lol

I really do wanna thank everyone who's replied though. I know I'm just sort of rambling in this thread, but I'm sure I'm not the only person who's ever argued with himself over something like this. Nice to know other folks can sympathize

You're right though, I wouldn't be making this thread if I were honestly comfortable with this purchase. It's really only come up because the replacement models are such a disappointment, no other brand is making good, reasonably priced 70" displays with a matte screen, and this is very likely the best price I'm going to find on this model. I'm sure I'll still be able to track one down later though when I have the money in hand. I just think it's likely that I might end up paying more at that point is all

To be honest, I think the majority of people here have it right. This is purely a luxury. Absolutely a want and not a need. And I WILL buy this TV later. It just might be for a few hundred extra by then. But having all the money in order with no guess work and no unplanned debt. That is the way I normally do things and I wouldn't be posting and hmm'ing and haw'ing about it like I am now

So yeah, I think I'll wait. As planned. Darn you all for being mature, responsible people. But I guess we really are all adults here.

What a bummer

 

[Irvrobinson]

My rule: never accumulate debt for things that depreciate quickly. Anything in electronics probably falls into this category. Unfortunately for my other material passion, so do most cars.

 

[cpp]

Debt in this economy is the last thing I would want. Since you have car payment, mortgage not to forget insurance, health care, food and the normal household expenses and then there is gas your in debt already. But I agree with Irvrobinson;

My rule: never accumulate debt for things that depreciate quickly.

 

[avnetguy]

Wow, for $2600 I have that baby in my house already, super deal there!

Steve

P.S. Just kidding, wait it out.

 

[Lulimet]

If you don't mind being handcuffed by debt, buy the TV. If it was me, I wouldn't, unless I could pay cash. But then again, I paid off a 30 year mortgage on my home in 5 years. I say save the money, or pay off a loan before you buy the TV. Just my $.02.

+1 . I would not get $3k in debt for a TV or any other hobby things.
Only buy when you have the funds.