How to Wisely Buy a LCD TV

Last summer I found myself on the market for a LCD television for my bedroom at college. As this TV would be my only one for quite some time, I simply don't have enough money to buy TVs every year, I spent quite some time deciding which one to buy. In fact, it ended up taking me three full months, almost my entire summer between semesters, to finally decide on a television.

While I am not close to an expert on LCDs, I do have some advice for those who are looking for one to add to their home or room.

Ask For Advice - I had no idea what made one LCD TV better than another when I started my search in May. Rather than buying a television with no knowledge on the matter, I turned to a friend I trusted. Most of us know that one person who knows more about technology than most. If you are lucky to have a friend who is willing to help you out, take the opportunity and talk to them. My friend pointed out that response time, a specification I was wholly ignoring, should be a critical factor in my decision. In addition he reviewed every television I considered and gave me his opinion throughout the process.

Look For Online Reviews - I found an online site, www.pricegrabber.com, where users can not only search for the best price on all goods, they can also read reader reviews of the product. Even the best companies in the world can made bad products now and then. While online reviews should always be taken with a grain of salt, they are certainly worth reading when available.

Check The TV in Stores - While LCD TVs are not always working to their full capacity in stores, they are still worth looking at. When I bought my TV it was available both online, for $700, and at Circuit City, for $900. I still took the time to walk into Circuit City and look at the TV. I even asked questions about what the salesperson thought about the particular model. It was well worth the time to see that my investment worked properly and looked terrific.

Don't Be Afraid to Buy Online - Some people are very against putting their information online and that is fine. Others just don't want to risk buying something as big as a television online. I bought my LCD off of a relatively small online store which had received over a thousand positive reviews off of the above mentioned site. It was at my home within a business week and in perfect condition. If the site has good customer support and offers shipping tracking, chances are that your transaction will be as smooth as mine was.

And online stores will almost always have lower prices than brick-and-mortar stores do. As mentioned above, buying online saved me over $200 when all was said and done.

Buying a new piece of technology can be daunting, especially in situations where money does not grow on trees. Spending extra time and getting good advice goes a long way in making the right decision. If you are like me, you will use this TV for at least a couple of years. Make sure it will still be the product you want in the near future. Good luck shopping!