Browse Forums Home Theatre & Automation 1 Apr 18, 2009 2:10 pm Normally I buy just about everything online: computers, cameras etc, but so far not a TV. I see various OK deals, but they're sites I've never heard of. Has anyone got a recommendation on a good price, reputable online store ? (I'd need delivery to Tasmania) thanks Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 3Apr 18, 2009 6:35 pm I buy heaps of stuff on eBay... first pick the brand and model, then look at the seller's feedback and delivery terms. But I got my best deal from Harvey Norman - actually his name was Norman at Fountaingate Harvey Norman... just a straight out good deal without even a haggle. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 4Apr 19, 2009 7:53 am Be aware that 9 out of 10 of things like this (in fact, many different types of electronic products) being sold On-line here are grey market imports, as the are cheaper for the importers to buy in other territories and ship here (the fact is that the official importers/distributors for these products here in Aus don't allow 'flogging' of their products on-line at heavily discounted prices - it ruins the market for the retailers and they simply stop bothering to try to sell them - which in turn is no good for the distributors). This means that you can almost guarantee you'll have fun and games if you need to make a warranty claim (as the official distributors will, rightfully too, only support the officially distributed products)... Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 5Apr 19, 2009 8:27 am Rodda Be aware that 9 out of 10 of things like this (in fact, many different types of electronic products) being sold On-line here are grey market imports, as the are cheaper for the importers to buy in other territories and ship here (the fact is that the official importers/distributors for these products here in Aus don't allow 'flogging' of their products on-line at heavily discounted prices - it ruins the market for the retailers and they simply stop bothering to try to sell them - which in turn is no good for the distributors). This means that you can almost guarantee you'll have fun and games if you need to make a warranty claim (as the official distributors will, rightfully too, only support the officially distributed products)... I agree, some of the time this is correct. But manufacturers use this as a way of controlling the market and the market price. Just look at CD & DVD prices here vs USA. Look at consumer products like DeWalt drills in USA 40% of the price here (which is why I buy them for our factory from the USA). Look at cameras - half the price... why? They are not grey imports there. We are being overcharged, and the only way to fix that is to cut corners and buy from 3rd party importers or import yourself. Tough on retailers I know, but tougher on the buying public who pay $560 for a drill I can buy in the USA for under $200 - delivered to me. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 6Apr 19, 2009 11:59 am Thanks for the tips everyone. And I do agree with you Eco. The markup by local retailers on some items is utterly outrageous. Even with the Australian dollar now quite low it's still way cheaper to buy from the US for most items. For example, I've just ordered a DSLR lens from B&H in the US (big New York shopfront & online retailer). Delivered to my door it's roughly A$600. If I buy it in Australia it's around $1100. If I try to order through my local Tasmanian shop, they want $1300 ?! What price are they getting it for I wonder ? More than I'm paying ? There's something seriously wrong there. If it's not retailers fleecing customers then it mut be some other shadowy link in the local supply & import chain. Even with smaller, simple items I keep trying to buy locally in Tasmania, but 99% of the time it's cheaper to order elsewhere in Australia and get it couriered here. I've even told some of the local shops here about prices with delivery from Melbourne or Sydney etc, and say that if they can even get close (not cheaper, just close!) then I'll buy from them, but they're simply not interested. Perhaps they've just grown lazy with their near-monopoly status. I think a lot of these retailers will need to smarten up in the next few years if they want to stay in business. Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. - Dale Carnegie Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 7Apr 20, 2009 11:05 am ed @ EcoClassic Rodda Be aware that 9 out of 10 of things like this (in fact, many different types of electronic products) being sold On-line here are grey market imports, as the are cheaper for the importers to buy in other territories and ship here (the fact is that the official importers/distributors for these products here in Aus don't allow 'flogging' of their products on-line at heavily discounted prices - it ruins the market for the retailers and they simply stop bothering to try to sell them - which in turn is no good for the distributors). This means that you can almost guarantee you'll have fun and games if you need to make a warranty claim (as the official distributors will, rightfully too, only support the officially distributed products)... I agree, some of the time this is correct. But manufacturers use this as a way of controlling the market and the market price. Just look at CD & DVD prices here vs USA. Look at consumer products like DeWalt drills in USA 40% of the price here (which is why I buy them for our factory from the USA). Look at cameras - half the price... why? They are not grey imports there. We are being overcharged, and the only way to fix that is to cut corners and buy from 3rd party importers or import yourself. Tough on retailers I know, but tougher on the buying public who pay $560 for a drill I can buy in the USA for under $200 - delivered to me. Ed Actually, my comment above is not just correct some of the time - it's simply correct. My point was about the existence of grey market products here and the reason behind why the distributors don't want their officially distributed products plastered all over the internet at slashed prices (ie. a very good way to tell if you're looking at grey market goods). eg. Paradigm in Canada saw some stuff advertised on the net here at reduced prices and called the distributor to threaten to take the distributorship off them - then backed off when they discovered the cheap products weren't sourced from the distributor at all. If the retailers agree to sell a brand of products they do so with some understanding that they will in fact be able to sell some and make some profit on them (otherwise, why would they agree to take up valuable showroom space with products - that they have to buy (at demo discount) - that simply won't move if they can easily be obtained cheaper elsewhere?), so the distributor has some responsibility to try to stop one of their retailers from flogging them and potentially destroying the margin they and anyone else can potentially get on them - because if that happens then who the hell would want to sell them at all? As far as us being overcharged for Aussie landed stuff - that's a different arguement, and I like everyone else will always wish they were cheaper... P.S. The markup is not just by the retailers, in fact they probably make a lower % makup than the distributors, who in turn pay whatever the manufacturers tell them to. Everyone needs to make some money for their part in this chain of events, otherwise they would simply cease to exist (and you need all of them to do their part - unless you plan on making the products yourself)... Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 8Apr 20, 2009 11:48 am Rodda Actually, my comment above is not just correct some of the time - it's simply correct. My comment refers to controlling market prices globally to the benefit of the manufacturer... a practice which if it happened within Australia for an Australian manufacturer would be illegal... so in my opinion, grey market imports offer individuals the opportunity to cut across this practice - and may in the long run bring it to an end. Rodda As far as us being overcharged for Aussie landed stuff - that's a different arguement, and I like everyone else will always wish they were cheaper... P.S. The markup is not just by the retailers, in fact they probably make a lower % makup than the distributors, who in turn pay whatever the manufacturers tell them to. Everyone needs to make some money for their part in this chain of events, otherwise they would simply cease to exist (and you need all of them to do their part - unless you plan on making the products yourself)... I agree, it's not the retailers making huge margins - being the difference between Australian supply and grey market supply, but it is still the Australian public who pays. My drill example may realise the retailer a profit of $40. But the manufacturer would make over $300. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 9Apr 26, 2009 9:33 am try www.webprice.com.au or even better print out their price and try to get store to price match. "Catch of the day" site have LCD samsung from 42 to 55inch on sale 30 april. Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 10Apr 26, 2009 1:15 pm The Electrical Discounter sells TVs. Not a huge range... http://www.theelectricdiscounter.com.au ... fault1.asp Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 11Apr 27, 2009 11:39 am Has anyone bought a tv from Catchoftheday, I'mw ondering if the warranty they offer is genuine. A salesguy from a retailer told me, although the websites claim warranty, if u called Samsung with the serial number, they wouldnt actually acknowldge the warranty, since they could be imported ones. Did anyone buy a samsung the last time from COTD last time, do you if the manufacturer accepts the warranty on your tv? Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 12Apr 27, 2009 1:31 pm Another option is to look at the best deals that people are getting on the model you're interested in, at places like: http://hdtvprices.pbwiki.com/ http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?show ... start=6360 and then use these prices and scanned receipts that people post to get your local retailer to price match or discount. The prices you see on the links above are usually from big retailers so people in other locations get pretty good results from going to their local retail outlet and getting them to compare with what is available elsewhere. Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 13Apr 28, 2009 4:03 pm Check these prices out http://www.digitalcentre.com.au I'd say if you can haggle with the local bing lee guy to get a price like that you would be laughing.. Those prices are what everyone should be aiming to get. Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 14Apr 30, 2009 12:29 pm rarejunk_in Did anyone buy a samsung the last time from COTD last time, do you if the manufacturer accepts the warranty on your tv? I bought one, but I haven't had to use the warranty, so I have no idea if it would be accepted or not. Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 15Apr 30, 2009 12:47 pm Djelibeybi rarejunk_in Did anyone buy a samsung the last time from COTD last time, do you if the manufacturer accepts the warranty on your tv? I bought one, but I haven't had to use the warranty, so I have no idea if it would be accepted or not. You should be able to find out if you are covered by calling their helpline with your serial number and proof of purchase Re: Buying TVs online - recommendations ? 16Apr 30, 2009 2:00 pm purpleninja You should be able to find out if you are covered by calling their helpline with your serial number and proof of purchase All of that stuff is at home. If I remember after work, I'll check. Yeah I don't know why I came to a forum. Place is full of wierdos/pedos thought internet may help but I suppose I'll try my luck with someone in person. Cheers. I tried… 0 6448 Really tight at the top of the stairs- how to get furniture into those rooms? Study books - does anyone really use them these days? Large storage closet would be more functional. 2 6896 I do enjoy the drama:-D In his latest two videos he has started bringing security guards to site, I am waiting for the punch on to begin lol 6 45568 |