Tips For Buying Plasma TV's at a Discount

Think plasma TV and chances are, you're basically thinking about two things: size and price. Size is a given - plasma TVs are built to impress and they make a good show of their capabilities but if price is the main factor that keeps you away, you might be glad to know that you can, indeed, get your hands on a plasma TV at a discount - for real. Here's how:

Check out name brands.

Before you wince and say, 'Name brands are premium brands, so no way they're going to offer discount plasma TVs', read on. Even established names have created plasma TV units that make it easier for you to part with your hard-earned money. Here are some of the brands you might want to check out:

LG

LG is a top contributor to the plasma TV arena and is considered as a very reliable brand, offering high quality products for home theatre systems. You could get a 32-inch LG plasma TV with an HDMI input and 1440 x 900 resolution for just £350. The unit with an integrated digital tuner costs about £30 more.

Westinghouse

Granted, Westinghouse isn't as big a name as other top contenders in plasma TVs but it's a recognizable name on its own. It's also a very good brand to look at if you prefer a discount-priced plasma TV. Other off-brand plasma TV manufacturers to consider: Maxent and Syntax Olevia. They offer 50 Inch plasma TVs that are perfect for budget watchers and penny pinchers.

Buy used.

If you want a name brand and don't mind paying for something that someone previously owned, then buy your plasma TV used. Second-hand plasma TVs can be obtained at very good discount prices, depending of course on the source, the brand, the age of the unit and its condition.

If you go this route, however, be very careful especially if you're buying from an online auction site such as eBay. A few drawbacks: if you can't inspect the unit in person, you only have to rely on the seller's word and the image you see on the monitor to judge how good a condition the TV is still in. Furthermore, you can't test the TV yourself to see if you still like its performance.

Buy refurbished.

Buyers looking for discounted plasma TVs can consider looking at name brands offering refurbished units. 'Refurbished' refers to electronics that have been returned by buyers or distributors to their origin, which is the manufacturer. These items are then tested once again for functionality and quality checks are performed. If there are any damaged parts or defective chips, these are replaced by the manufacturer. The refurbished plasma TV is then packed once again and sold as such.

Where to find these: authorized dealers of manufacturers frequently sell these units at discounted prices so you might want to check with the manufacturers themselves. You could also go online and search for sites belonging to distributors and retailers.

Refurbished plasma TVs are offered at really great discounts, allowing you to purchase a unit for as much as 50% off the original price. To buy a product of this nature, always check if the dealer is authorized by the manufacturer and ask for the dealer/retailer's return policy. This typically starts at about 15 days from purchase. Warranty should cover at least 45 days for parts and labour.