[Danberg]

Getting ready to pull the trigger on purchasing a 60in - 70in. LED TV.  Should I avoid considering purchasing from a on-line retailer?  General comments or specific recommendations (actual experience) would be appreciated.

[this_is_vv]

not 60in but bought a 55in LED/LCD of LG from amazon on dec 11.....great delivery ...had a issue called LG everything went smooth....

V

[Gopher]

I just had a headache with a 60inch TV arriving with a cracked screen and otherwise doa.  The company (Panasonic)took a month for new stock to come in and screwed up the freight instructions to remove the broken one when bringing my replacement TV.

It was a headache, but the box was huge and wouldn't even fit in NY wife's mdx, so whether purchased locally or online we were at the mercy of a courier.

[BobM]

If purchasing from any on-line vendor you should expect a "white glove" treatment. Meaning a TV this large should be shipped via a freight carrier. They should unbox it on delivery and let you fully inspect it, then plug it in and show you it is functional and without any mars or broken pixels. All that before you fully accept delivery. If it is not working or the screen is broken in any way they should take it back and schedule a delivery of a new unit and do it all over again.

[Gopher]

If it is not working or the screen is broken in any way they should take it back and schedule a delivery of a new unit and do it all over again.

Agreed!!!  Panasonic left me with the gigantic box sitting in the bedroom of my relatively small condo for weeks.  It was quite obnoxious that I became a warehouse for DOA gear.

[electricbear]

You should buy from a local AV specialist for two reasons. Firstly, you will get better service. If you have an issue there is someone to take care of you. Secondly, we need to support our local dealers. Where else can you audition products ( not just tvs)? Typically local dealers are locally owned so any money you spend with them goes directly back into the local economy. 

[uriah380]

My purchase was for a 55" as a 60" would have been slightly to big. Anyway I bought the Sony KDL-55HX850 after comparing it against the LG and a Samsung. I thought the Sony had the better picture when I had all three TV's picture frozen. The details of the people's clothes and the color of the white walls were all more natural on the Sony. This TV I bought was last year's model and the last one my local dealer had. I received a decent price, picked it up, and set it up myself. My next step is to get the High Definition Box from my local cable company and put together a sound system that I have laying around. All in all I do feel better in buying my set from my local dealer who has a small store in a small town.

[Phil A]

I've bought the last few TVs from Costco.  They extend the warranty as well (I think they give you an extra year).  The TVs I bought were not for the main system (bedroom, kitchen) as I have a projector in the main system.  If it were fro the main system, I might go for the local AV specialist as besides better service, I might want to go for quality beyond what the wholesale warehouses carry.  Depends on your budget and goals.  I'll probably never have a TV in the main system.  I'm in process of having a house built and plan to have a projector in the main system and the bedroom system.  I find those are easier to buy over the web, lightly used or get a deal from a local retailer (meet somewhere closer to web price but a bit better service).

[Gopher]

You should buy from a local AV specialist for two reasons. Firstly, you will get better service. If you have an issue there is someone to take care of you. Secondly, we need to support our local dealers. Where else can you audition products ( not just tvs)? Typically local dealers are locally owned so any money you spend with them goes directly back into the local economy.

For audio gear, maybe--but I see no need to support my local Bestbuy when items are cheaper online, offer free shipping and don't charge sales tax...   

[BobM]

I've bought the last few TVs from Costco. 

Agreed. I would have no problem buying a TV, or anything else from them. However, they don't typically carry TV's this large, and also don;t have much of a selection to choose from. It's this model from this brand, or the highway in many cases.

[Phil A]

Agreed. I would have no problem buying a TV, or anything else from them. However, they don't typically carry TV's this large, and also don;t have much of a selection to choose from. It's this model from this brand, or the highway in many cases.

They do, but a very limited selection - ususally 3 or 4 and that's why I noted if it were my main system and I had the budget I might look elsewhere.  For what I buy them for (bedroom, spare bedrooms, kitchen), I'm fine with their selection.

[jarcher]

I've never bought a large flat screen by mail order, and if the price difference is 10% or less, my inclination would be to get it locally.  In either case, unless you drag it home yourself, it's going to have to be delivered.  It just seems that dealing with a local company if there is damage or problem with the delivery, it's easier & quicker to sort out vs dealing with an e-tailer.  I could be wrong about this & dealing w/ shipping damage / returns is just as easy with an e-tailer.  Again - how much of a price difference seems to be the key to weigh risk vs reward.