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General discussion

Buy TV's from COSTCO???

Sep 13, 2005 11:47PM PDT

I was originally looking to buy a panasonic 42PX50U plasma, but I think I'm going to wait until the resolution grows a little on those and save my money for a larger purchase in a couple years. Plus by that time I should be in a house and I'll switch over to DirecTV which will have tons of HD channels by then.

So now I'm looking at a 32" LCD. It'll move to the bedroom then in a couple years and be replaced by a bigger plasma or rear projection.

Anyway, long story short, Costco seems to have some good deals on LCD's, specifically Sharp and Philips. However, the models they carry don't seem to be carried by anyone else? In the store they look pretty good (warehouse in St. Peters, MO), but of course it's only broadcasting Vooms HDnet, so almost all look great. Anyway, any thoughts about buying a TV from Costco. The Sharp and Philips they have (32") sell for $1499. Thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

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Buy TV's from COSTCO???
Sep 14, 2005 12:40AM PDT

One thing to keep in mind is that every company makes MANY,MANY different models. No store that I have ever been in has ever carried evey model that Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, etc makes.
Fry's electronics has the biggest selection I have ever seen, but they don't carry them all.
The best thing to do is get the model# go to Sharp's web site also check out Cnet's TV reviews.
Yes most plamsa's are 720p (1280x720) at this time, there are some 1080i plamsas but they are in the $4000 ballpark.
Costco does have a great return policy.
FYI!! VOOM-DH went out of business, but Dish Network boughtthem, so what you were watching was from Dish Networks HD channels. John

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Costco Tv's not reviewed by CNET
Sep 14, 2005 5:40AM PDT

I forgot to say now owned by Dish....but yes, broadcasting HD nevertheless.

The thing about the costco TV's is that I see them on the company website, but I can't seem to find any reviews of that specific model by CNET. I understand CNET can't review everything obviously, but I just get confused when Sharp has like 4 or 5 different 32" LCD and they all seem to be the same. Hard to tell the differences from the website. I'm thinking about going with the philips though, but the costco one they carry is a different model number than anyone else seems to carry. Something that starts with a 7 vs. a 9. Are the "9" models those ones with "ambilight?" THanks.

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about going with the philips though
Sep 14, 2005 6:08AM PDT

Well the Phillips has a brighter picture.
A couple of things that large retailes do is have "special models" made for them, or maybe I should say just have "special model numbers" for the TVs that they sell. The same TV but with a slightly different number. Sucks, I know.
Some just buy up last years models at a low price to sell.
If it has a ATSC HD tunner it is this years model. John

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Specific model at Costco
Sep 14, 2005 6:32AM PDT
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Costco TV reviews
Sep 14, 2005 7:33AM PDT

The one thing I discovered is that places like Costco are given specific models of electronics that are typically 1-digit off of the same models found in other stores. I think they do this so there can't be any "direct comparison" to the same models found in the major electronic stores but which are sold at a discount at Costco. Good Guys, Best Buy, Circuit City and Fry's also have similar models with slightly different model numbers. I think it's a conspiracy so the consumer can't do any real comparisons. The bed mattress business is the worst. I can almost guarantee that you cannot find the same model at any two mattress stores. I think that's why Sit 'N Sleep can advertise "their mattress is free" if you can find the same model for less. You can't find the same model anywhere. Last week I bought a Panasonic mini-DV camera from Amazon, model GS-31. Costco had the exact same camera, but it was called a GS-32. The Panasonic site does not list the GS-32, only the 31. I think they do this to protect their retail stores.

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Very true....but......
Sep 14, 2005 11:35AM PDT

That's very true, and I guess somewhat expected. However, regardless of model numbers, the Philips website doesn't even have any 30" LCD TV listed, yet Costco carries a 30" LCD TV. Maybe the 30" is a 2004 model? I think I'm still going to go with the 32 though.

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You got it right
Sep 14, 2005 2:16PM PDT

It seems that a lot of the electronics are that way. I bought an HP printer there and the Model # was the same as the retail stores except it had an X after it. Prevents you from buying cheaper at Costco and returning to Best Buy or Circuit City. Compare the spec sheets, inputs, switches etc. If they are the same, it is probably the same item exactly. Many of their products have the exact same model number. If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck.........

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What if it's a smaller duck?
Sep 14, 2005 11:26PM PDT

Again though, what if the duck in the store is 30" and there is no 30" duck on the website, only a 32" duck?

If someone starts reading first at this post they might be thoroughly confused. Haha!