Tottenham Ct Rd or Internet for TV purchase?

marco501

I have always bought electrical items on Tottenham Court Road where a good deal can always be negotiated.

It's a long time since I bought any electricals and now we have the internet. So before I traipse into town can anyone advise whether traditional shops can compete on price or would the internet be cheaper for an LCD TV?

ARTHUR

due to the recession the traditional shop is better if you are prepared to negotiate, check the price over the internet thet way you have a low price that you can ask most stores to match/beat, also dont be afraid to ask to speak to the supervision/manager as they will have more power to lower the price - also ask about free delivery, be prepared to walk away if they are not willing to budge much on price - there are plently of other stores - you cant negotiate much over the internet can you

marco501

ARTHUR wrote:

you cant negotiate much over the internet can you

True, but if the small independents can beat internet prices, then why are the likes of Comet and Currys with their immense buying power unable to get anywhere near to internet prices?

ARTHUR

marco501 wrote: »

True, but if the small independents can beat internet prices, then why are the likes of Comet and Currys with their immense buying power unable to get anywhere near to internet prices?

the large shops CAN beat internet prices but most people are too scared to haggle or ask for a discount, although shops do have more overheads than an internet warehouse they can usually beat an internet price as long as you have already checked the internet and got a low price for a particular make/model because then you have leverage and you are not asking them to give you a tv for an unrealistic price not to mention you can check out the quality of the picture of a particular tv in a shop.
be aware that when an assistant gives you a discount that the discount might be coming off his commission for the sale and the store manager has more power to lower prices, be polite but firm - in the recession all the shops are fighting for your sale, I have done this many times in the last couple of months at first they tell you that the item is already at rock bottom price but its amazing how much they will drop the price if you threaten to go elsewhere

vik1491

ARTHUR wrote: »

the large shops CAN beat internet prices but most people are too scared to haggle or ask for a discount, although shops do have more overheads than an internet warehouse they can usually beat an internet price as long as you have already checked the internet and got a low price for a particular make/model because then you have leverage and you are not asking them to give you a tv for an unrealistic price not to mention you can check out the quality of the picture of a particular tv in a shop.
be aware that when an assistant gives you a discount that the discount might be coming off his commission for the sale and the store manager has more power to lower prices, be polite but firm - in the recession all the shops are fighting for your sale, I have done this many times in the last couple of months at first they tell you that the item is already at rock bottom price but its amazing how much they will drop the price if you threaten to go elsewhere

Complete nonsense. I went to comet last week and the employee said he would give a £20 discount on a £1000+ tv. The offer was so pathetic I left the shop immediately. Also everyone knows these high street shops dont match internet prices, so asking them to price match the net isnt going to do you any good. Comet and currys are for looking. The net is for buying

ARTHUR

my sister got a telly from currys a couple of months ago, at first the assitant told her he couldn't reduce the price as the item was on sale, she told the assistant that she would see what comet would offer her, the assistant called her back as she reached the door and offered her a 10% discount plus free delivery and if she bought a stand for the telly he would give her a 50% discount on the stand, the assistants aren't happy at giving you a discount as it eats into their commission.
as well as being able to check out the quality of picture in a shop if anything goes wrong with the telly its easier to sort it out by going to a shop and discussing it face to face with an assistant rather than over the phone or by e-mail, but if the shops wont give you a decent discount then by all means buy from the internet.
but those large shops can buy in larger quantitys and they can get each item cheaper than internet warehouses, although internet warehouses dont have as many overhead expenses

marco501

Update...I was after a Samsung LCD tv which sells for around £550 online. Most shops on TCR couldn't get close to it - except one - which matched it.

Apparently one reason why the internet is cheaper (aside from the obvious lower overheads) is that they often buy from distributors who import them rather than the manufacturers direct.

Some of these distributors aren't interested if anything goes wrong with the tv and the retailer is then left holding the baby.

I chose the TCR shop over the internet (even though I had to pay an extra tenner to get the thing delivered) simply because I prefer to deal with an established business and a real person in case anything goes wrong.

But I think in general online is fine so long as the business has a good reputation - many don't.

moonrakerz

marco501 wrote: »

U
Some of these distributors aren't interested if anything goes wrong with the tv and the retailer is then left holding the baby.

That is what the Law says anyway.............

jamiec_3

I was recently in the same predicament... however I wanted the TV straight away to watch footy on.

The TV I bought was the same price in the store as on Amazon (when in Tott Crt Rd, I usually whack out my iPhone and get the price down to the Amazon price) so it was a no-brainer - however I ended up buying a TV more expensive than I would have done online because they didn't have the range in the store.

I paid £499 when I could have bought an equally good Sony Bravia for £399 online.