Audio Video News

Amazon Gets Aggressive with TV

SV Staff  |  Jun 29, 2016

Are you old enough to remember the days when electronics stores were everywhere? If you’re from the New York area you may recall Crazy Eddie’s “insane” radio and TV ads. If you’re on the West Coast you probably remember the one-time institution, Pacific Stereo. Today, the field is defined by Best Buy, which operates in every state, a handful of savvy regional players like hhgregg, and a smattering of veteran independents.

And then there’s Amazon, which is now the second largest player in consumer-electronics sales behind Best Buy, according to Media Post, which points out that it, too, may soon be overtaken by the e-commerce powerhouse.

Not that Best Buy is resting on its laurels. The electronics giant posted strong revenues last quarter and is testing a new in-home consulting service aimed at helping consumers get the most from the technology they buy.

Perhaps most telling in all of this is how aggressively Amazon can operate in the electronics space. A 24/7WallSt.com report notes how Amazon has shown it “will drop prices on popular items to extraordinarily low levels” and points to LG’s 65-inch 65UF8600 4K Ultra HDTV, a 2015 model it’s offering for $1,300 with free shipping (the price you get only when you add the TV to your shopping cart).

Yes, it is last year’s model and yes they’re looking to clear inventory but the price on lg.com is $2,200. Discounter B&H Photo displays a ridiculously inflated list price of $3,698 with an “instant savings” of $1,500 in a roundabout way of getting to $2,198, also with free shipping.

Have you bought, or would you buy, a TV from Amazon? And does the LG 65UF8600 qualify as a “trailing edge” technology worth going for? Leave a comment.

COMMENTS
brenro's picture
Submitted by brenro on June 29, 2016 - 10:33am

I'd have no problem buying a TV from Amazon but not this one. LG's LCD's are some of the lowest rated around.

jnemesh's picture
Submitted by jnemesh on June 29, 2016 - 2:47pm

It's not uncommon to see 65" 4k TVs in this price range...but, like the title of my comment says, you get what you pay for. If you aren't buying a model that supports HDR and Quantum Dot color (or OLED), you are buying last year's tech and will get a mediocre set with mediocre performance.

The best TVs are price protected, and every authorized dealer, including Amazon, will sell them at the same price.

IMHO the best "bang for the buck" right now in a 65" set is Samsung's UN65KS8000. Currently it's "Universal Protected Price" is $2299. Yes, $900 more expensive than the LG being discussed in the article...but go look at them side by side and tell me it's not worth it!

jcarys's picture
Submitted by jcarys on June 29, 2016 - 5:42pm

Yes, I bought my last plasma from them. They had a price as good as anyone else, plus two years no interest. It would have been a hassle returning the set if it had a problem, but I knew Amazon's customer service would have handled it fine. I would certainly consider them again.

JustinGN's picture
Submitted by JustinGN on June 29, 2016 - 6:07pm

My current Panasonic G20 came via Amazon, if I recall, and its replacement this year will as well (unless I go for that Vizio P65). White glove delivery service was included with Prime, no less.

welwer's picture
Submitted by welwer on July 20, 2016 - 8:12am

I remember that time. Doesn't matter where you are from you were surrounded by the electronic stores and often with those selling stolen equipment. I am not surprised Amazon took leading positions taking into account how trade moved online almost completely. I just had guys write my thesis for me and I pay for the order online.

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