Why You Can Trust CNET Get a Vizio 70-inch TV for $1,498 shipped
Steep, yes, but hundreds less than the regular price -- and just in time for the big game.
You can be a cheapskate and still buy expensive things.
Case in point: For a limited time, Amazon has the Vizio E701i-A3 70-inch LED HDTV for $1,498 delivered. It typically sells at or near the list price of $1,699.
That purchase also entitles you to a 2 percent "reward" in the form of an Amazon credit that will appear in your account 35 days after the TV is delivered. In other words, you'll get roughly 30 bucks' worth of Amazon cash for splurging on, say, a Blu-ray copy of your favorite movie. Not a bad little bonus.
The TV also comes with "enhanced delivery," meaning a specialty shipper will bring it in the house, unpack it, inspect it for damage, and even dispose of the packaging if you want. Typically, you're lucky to get a TV brought as far as the front porch.
I mention all this because, yeah, this is a still a crazy-expensive item. But if you've been thinking about a really big screen, especially with the big game just around the corner, at least now you can save a couple hundred dollars.
By the way, if you're a Costco member, you can actually get the Vizio E701i-A3 for $1,479.99 shipped, though you'll most likely be on the hook for sales tax. Still, it would almost be worth buying a membership ($55) just to get this deal, because it also includes a second year on the warranty, toll-free phone support, and a 90-day return policy.
As for the E701i-A3 itself, it's widely regarded as a four-star model (as evidenced by the various reviews from Amazon and Costco customers and CNET's review). In addition to that mammoth 120Hz LED screen, it features built-in apps and Wi-Fi, four HDMI inputs, and a remote with a QWERTY keyboard on the underside.
Ironically, although that remote makes for much easier searches within apps, it does need to be pointed more or less directly at the front of the TV, a gripe shared by users and reviewers alike.
That aside, you're not likely to find a better deal on a 70-inch TV. The only real downside is that you may need a larger living room to accommodate it. ("Honey, we're moving!")
Bonus deal: Game time! Assuming you don't end up spending your weekend in front of your new TV, spend it at your PC: Steam is offering free weekend play of Company of Heroes 2 and Saints Row IV. (Specifically, free from now until 1 p.m. PT on Sunday). After clicking through to either game page, scroll down until you see the "Free Weekend" banner or link. Obviously you'll need a Steam account to play either of these top-rated games. And if you decide you like them, they're both available for purchase at hefty discounts.
Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.
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