This past weekend was my birthday, and to me that still means one thing: presents. Lisa's "gift" was a new TV, and I use that term loosely because I was required to help pick it out, which doesn't seem like a big deal until you actually try to buy one of these things. From my experience, the reality is that it is absolutely impossible to walk out of any store with a TV the same day you want to purchase it, and I'm not talking about physical limitations here.
Being good little consumers, we did plenty of research first, looking at Consumer Reports and taking several for test runs at various electronics stores. When the big day came, we decided to go first to Best Buy (don't ask me why, considering that they're another one of my mortal enemies) - we had narrowed the selection down to about four models, and after an hour or so of the necessary hems and haws had picked our model. We grabbed one of those rosy-cheeked youngsters in the blue shirts and told him which one we wanted.
"Would you like an extended service plan?"
no, that's fine - we just want this
"I don't think we have that one in stock"
(runs off somewhere)
(I look at the display, the price tag, etc. - of course, no indication that they don't have this in stock)
(2 minutes later)
"Nope, we don't have it"
ok...
"Well, you can pay for one now, and pick it up when more come in...."
That's ok, thanks.... (me, to lisa, but hopefully loud enough so the store manager hears) ...Let's go to circuit city
So off we go to circuit city - it's getting late but we've borrowed a car with ample trunk space just for this purpose and we need to give it back soon, but circuit city is open relatively late. They didn't have the TV we saw at best buy, but had some others we were considering. Flexible as always, we found a good hiding place to get away from the commission hounds, and spent another half hour or so scrutinizing. After coming to a conclusion, we emerged back into plain view and, not surprisingly, had a salesperson in no time...
"Would you like an extended service plan?"
no, that's fine - we just want this
"I don't think we have that one in stock"
(runs off somewhere)
(I look at the display, the price tag, etc. - of course, no indication that they don't have this in stock)
(2 minutes later)
"Nope, we don't have it"
ok..
"...but we do have an opened one"
ok, can we take a look at it?
"sure"
(runs off somewhere, returns with manager-type person)
"we can't find it"
ok..
"Well, you can pay for one now, and pick it up when more come in...."
That's ok, thanks....
We call it a night and, although our TV carrying automobile is now gone, doggedly continue the next morning. We find a local store who's online website says they have the TV we want for $50 cheaper than Best Buy or Circuit City, and they have it in stock. So we head on down, and find the same TV for $50 more than circuit city or best buy.
"oh, that must be an online thing - sometimes they take a while to update online"
(so, the price went up 100?)
ok, how about this one...
"I don't think we have that one in stock"
...
Well, you get the idea. I believe we have things sorted out now, but I'll spare you the boring conclusion. For this much time effort, I should be trying to get a $3000 set instead of a $300 one. Of course that would be exactly what they want me to do....
