The idea of buying a demo HDTV..........

[zipper]

After reading the thread on X'ed warranties,I was curious of how good/bad of an idea it would be to buy a demo(LYs model) on sale. I have a chance to get a 56" Samsung DLP at about $2700 out the door($3500 list). I can kind of figure the pros & cons a bit, a pro(?) being that if the unit had issues it has obviously been addressed already................a con being that the bulb may have massive hours on it. It will still have the basic 1-year manu warr.

Anyone think it would be a bad/horrible purchase? Jockey for a discounted xtended warr. or an extra bulb?

This unit has all the latest connection capability(all the way to HDMI). Only major diff seems to be the design of the projector.

Can anyone add to the list of pros/cons?

 

[RLA]

Hi
IMOHO Buying a demo DLP,LCD or CRT display device from a large dealer or
chain store is a huge mistake.
These sets run for hours at a time,generally have the contrast and brightness turned way up and are consitantly played with by who know's?

Many of the DLP's and LCD's have short bulb life and bulb replacment can be costly I would run from a demo deal and dont look back

Hope this helps
Ray

 

[zipper]

Thanks Ray..............................my gut feeling is to agree with you. This thing could have anywhere from 1000-3000 hrs on it already, so unless they were willing to change out the bulb at no cost before I took it, it is probably not enough of a discount. That doesn't even take into acct the wear on the motor,which I have no clue what that would cost when it goes out.

 

[BMXTRIX]

DLP and LCD contrast are more a function of electronics and bulb wear than any actual additional wear on the set. This means that it is ONLY a deal if the bulb will be brand new or if you can buy a new bulb and still have a significant savings.

I always look at floor models on a lot of stuff and TVs really are not abused physically the way a lot of other stuff is. PCs are especially abused in my opinion.

Anyway, if you are concerned, then get the service plan. If you have the TV plus the service plan and it costs less than the TV would brand new, AND bulbs are covered in the service plan, then you are ahead of the game. I personally always keep one extra bulb for my projector so if it does go out, I can replace it immediately and then get a new one with zero down time.

 

[zipper]

Thanks for the reply BMX.................I've never dealt with the innards of a RP Tv. My ex has the 60" Pioneer Elite(which is fine because I hated the reflection on that thing) & we never had a lick of trouble with it. How involved is it to change out a bulb? I'm no EE but I do have a bit of an electronics background & am not uncomfortable getting into stuff. Another issue is the dreaded "Warranty voided if not serviced by an authorized dealer/repairman" thing.

If I could get them to throw in a bulb for future use, it may make the deal.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Bulbs are user replacable and a normal wear item. Typically you wait for the projector to cool down if it blew while it was on. Then you undo a couple of screws, the bulb pulls out, you push the new one in, and put the screws back on.

Bulbs should ALWAYS be user replacable, and almost always are. I don't know of any bulbs in an LCD/DLP/LCOS projector that aren't.

Any warranty you buy should cover the bulb and is worth it. Bulbs are typically 2-3 hundred dollars, so they are not cheap. So, warranty must cover it, or they should give you a brand new one so you don't run into bulb issues the first month you own it.

 

[RLA]

Hello
Working in a larger A/V store for 5 years I found that the most abused products were
Speakers, subwoofer 's and TV's In my showroom I totally control the demo and the products that I am showing If you are buying from a similar dealer the chance may be worth taking.
Knowing what I know I would not buy a demo model from a chain store or larger A/V store even if it were priced aggressively.
Hope this helps

 

[zumbo]

After reading the thread on X'ed warranties,I was curious of how good/bad of an idea it would be to buy a demo(LYs model) on sale. I have a chance to get a 56" Samsung DLP at about $2700 out the door($3500 list). I can kind of figure the pros & cons a bit, a pro(?) being that if the unit had issues it has obviously been addressed already................a con being that the bulb may have massive hours on it. It will still have the basic 1-year manu warr.

Anyone think it would be a bad/horrible purchase? Jockey for a discounted xtended warr. or an extra bulb?

This unit has all the latest connection capability(all the way to HDMI). Only major diff seems to be the design of the projector.

Can anyone add to the list of pros/cons?

I vote NO!

 

[zipper]

RLA.......................the store in question is a Magnolia Hi-Fi that I pop in to 1-2 times a month & have a good rapport with a particular salesman..........good guy. Will bs with me for an hour if not busy & never tries to sell me anything. He has actually steered me toward less expensive items in the store at times(1st salesman to expose Blows speakers to me when they used to carry a lot of them).
They do control the A/V rooms there(no remotes laying around).....................since DLP's don't suffer from screen burn, what other abuse could they be subject to?


Zumbo............thanks for the vote

 

[RLA]

You are putting me in a tuff position but here goes
Many of the so-called extended warranty are not worth the e paper they are written on. The companies that produce these warranties most often subcontract the work to lowball So called authorized service centers.

These centers may repair your problem but in the process of disassembly they will often Recreate others.

Another thing to be leery of Demo TV's This occurs around the Holidays through Super Bowl Big screen display devices are sold then returned to the store, the store then uses that perticular set as a display model, why? Because it can no longer be sold as new .You the unsuspecting consumer
Buys the TV at say 10% above cost and you get a TV that has been bumped around back and forth then used as a display in a showroom.

Then you are told not to worry because you will get an extended warranty ... please refer to point number one. There are some decent extended warranty's out there but they cost big bucks If Magnolia is willing to spring for one of those In home warranties that have genuine authorized service Tec’s doing the work you may be ok but is it worth the chance?

 

[zipper]

Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh..................gotcha. The warranty thing I've heard about but I neglected to consider the sold & returned issue.................thanks. I appreciate the input.

 

[plhart]

Again RLA knows of what he speaks. I was the V.P. for major audio/video service center back in the early ninties and I can tell you that we absolutely hated to do the out-of-factory-warranty work because the companies who had gladly offered the "extended" warranties through big retailers were akin to HMOs and doctors. The paperwork and time-to-get-paid the paltry minimums from the third party warranty folks was almost not worth the hassle.

You may buy such a warranty but see how many service centers are actually available in your area and willing to honor that warranty when you have a problem down the road.

 

[stiletto pat]

Demo TVs

Zip,

I have to also agree with RLA. I've had numerous conversations with the sales staff while shopping HD sets, and have listened to the same sales speils about demo sets. After finding one fairly direct sales guy at a Circuit City, he admitted that almost all of his demo stock were returned units. He even advised, as a selling point for CC, buying a new unit from him, and if I didn't like it for whatever reason, return it w/in 30 days, no questions asked. This would be how I could decide if a LCD projection or DLP set would work for me in my house. (I believe I'm going to need a plasma, because I live on the water, with windows front a back - i.e., too much ambient light for a projection set...)

I was shocked at suggesting this approach, but one can see the value of his sales pitch, and as most of us know, salesmen don't have a high sense of fiduciary duty to their company. Additionally, he was also "honest" enough to admit, by the end of the conversation, that he couldn't tell the difference between many of the better units.

Go figure... but the bottom line is, be forewarned. If you know and TRUST the guy at your store, maybe it could be alright. Otherwise, be very careful.

Pat

 

[zipper]

Thanks Pat & Pl.....................haven't been back to the store since Tuesday when I 1st entertained the thought of this deal, but by the look on the salesmans' face I could tell he was skeptical although he didn't poo-poo the idea. I trust the guy but I have to remember that he's trying to make a living too.

I'll go back in this weekend & throw some direct ? at him & see what happens..........I got nothing to lose by waiting. I don't NEED this tv.

 

[bbakken82]

Most manufactures only cover the bulb for 30 days. The only exception I know of is the Mits which is covered for a full year. The warranty is only worth it if it covers the bulb. What is the model # of that tv?

 

[zipper]

I believe it was the hlp 5663 but my issue was resolved for me...........went back 3 days later & it was gone

Just as well..........I'm leaving my 1 brm flat & am looking for a house. Found one with an unfinished basement..........woohoo! Now if they'll just come off about $10k......