Buying an LCD Flat Panel TV Online

A few short years ago not many people would have seriously considered buying a piece of highly regarded electronics equipment such as an LCD flat panel tv online. Buying online was considered risky by many. Conventional wisdom recommended the local electronics store as the best place to purchase electronics equipment.

The Internet has revolutionized the way we shop for many items, and highly regarded electronics equipment is no exception. Buying an LCD flat panel online can literally save you hundreds of dollars, but you need to make sure that you do your homework in order to ensure that you can buy with confidence.

Best online retailer for an LCD flat panel tv

In my opinion, the best place to buy an LCD flat panel tv is Amazon.com. Many people still think of Amazon as solely an online bookstore, but Amazon and it's associated sellers have expanded far beyond just books and is now one of the most widely respected and trusted online stores for things ranging from books and movies to apparel, home and garden and a wide range of electronics and home theater equipment.

Guide to shopping online for an LCD

Shopping online for electronics can be a fun and rewarding experience, but there are many things to consider before typing your credit card number into a site and parting with your hard earned dollars. Consider the following factors when buying online.

Price

The number one reason most people choose to shop online instead of at the local electronics specialty store or national electronics chain is price. Online retailers have less overhead costs such as retail store space, employees and utility costs just to name a few. The prices that you can find online can save you hundreds of dollars.

When comparing prices however make sure that you are comparing apples to apples. Make sure to check out not just the product cost, but also any applicable taxes as well as shipping, handling and delivery fees that may apply.

This is where Amazon.com stands out from the crowd. When I compare prices, Amazon has consistently had the best prices or nearly the best prices compared to other online retailers as well as brick and mortar stores. I have had many people tell me thanks for recommending Amazon. Some have literally said they saved hundreds of dollars, particularly on mid and high end displays such as the Samsung LN52A650 52-Inch 1080p 120Hz... tv.

Information

Some feel that one of the advantages of brick and mortar stores is that you can actually talk to a salesperson and get more information about the tv that is right for you. Generally I would agree with this statement for the local specialty home theater stores. They can help you custom design your home theater room and give a lot of helpful information about which LCD flat panel tv or other items that would be best for you.

On the other hand there are the chain electronics stores where it is hit or miss. You may get some helpful information, but I have overheard a lot of downright foolish advice given to innocent buyers new to the world of high definition tv. The Internet has given buyers a wealth of reliable information to sift through on your own time as opposed to the being pressured by the high school sales kid at the national electronics chain store down the street.

One thing I like about  Amazon.com is reading through the customer reviews on their site. Customers can share their reviews of the product as well as their shopping experience which can give a wealth of helpful information, especially on popular selling items where there could be tens or even hundreds of reviews on the one product. Of course there is also a wealth of customary product information, specifications and reviews on the site as well to help you make an informed decision.  For example, check out the product description information for a wealth of information about this tv and see all of the customer reviews of this popular LCD tv. Samsung LN46A650 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz...

Reputation

When ordering online it is very important to know a little bit about the company that you are buying from. You may be able to find a cheap price somewhere, but is the retailer legit? Are they a recognized reseller? Are they selling new products or are they repackaging used or reconditioned products and selling them as new? Will they even be around a week from now or are they a scam trying to get your money and run? We have all heard horror stories about unreliable retailers.

So how do you determine if a site is trustworthy? Are there phone numbers and addresses on the site? Are your purchases made on a secure connection?

Amazon.com is the clear leader in online retail sales dwarfing the next closest competitor in terms of the volume of web sales. It is no wonder as Amazon has a clean interactive interface and a widely respected customer service record. Amazon has certainly earned it's reputation over the years and certainly looks poised to continue to be one of the most respected retaillers on the web. 

Return Policy

An extremely important consideration for purchasing an LCD flat screen tv or any other piece of home theater gear is the return policy. An LCD tv contains a lot of delicate parts that could be damaged in shipping. What is the online retaillers policy for returning a faulty or damaged product? Who pays for the return shipping? Is there a restocking fee?

Some enthusiasts say they would never buy a piece of home theater gear without being able to see it or listen to it. Keep in mind that viewing a tv or listening to a speaker in a store is a much different environment then your own home. Nothing can truly replicate the experience of viewing the LCD tv or listening to a set of speakers in your own home. Make sure you know what the retailers return policy is for exchanges in case your tv or other equipment do not quite meet your expectations.

The return policy is another area where  Amazon.com simply shines. Their excellent return policy is comparable or better then even most brick and mortar stores. If the product is damaged they will exchange with no shipping cost. They will pick up the damaged one when delivering the new one. For exchanges they will help arrange a pickup and delivery date, often times with little or no fee depending on the tv. If you choose to return, you pay shipping however there is no restocking fee. They have learned that if they can take the risk out of online shopping, they will build trust and in turn a loyal following of satisfied customers. 

Shipping options

Also keep in mind shipping options. What is the expected delivery date? Are there special delivery service and set up services available?

What kind of reputation does the retailer have in terms of shipping? Some people feel that they can't trust shipping a large LCD flat screen because of the potential for damage in transit. Keep in mind that even at your local store the tv has been shipped from manufacture to one warehouse to another, sometimes spending even more time in transit then when ordering from a large online retailer.

It is important to also know the shipping costs that will be added. It is not uncommon to think you found a bargain deal only to realize that the shipping and handling costs boost the cost higher then a competing online retailer with more competitive or even free shipping.

Once again  Amazon.com has found a way to offer multiple shipping services for a great price, including an option for white glove delivery service. Amazon's delivery times are second to none and they include online tracking to find out the current location of your package. And best of all shipping fees on many flat panel LCDs incredibily are often times even free.

Summary

Buying a new LCD flat panel tv or any other piece of home theater equipment is a big decision, but with a little bit of research you do not need to fear the process of ordering online.  Buying from a reputable online dealer with a strong return policy along with flexible and reliable shipping can easily save you hundreds of dollars.  Amazon.com is currently the cream of the crop when it comes to online sales and I would highly recommend that you consider checking them out for your LCD flat panel tv purchase as well any other home theater components and accessories.