What current sales pitches have you heard lately.

I was looking at displays today, for a coulda, shouda, woulda session. While looking at one of the Samsung led edge-lighted units, a salesman found me. I inquired local led and was answered that they had a display unit, however, the first sales pitch was that the unit is thicker than the edge-lighted, and CCFL models. I mentioned color gamut and a couple other of our pretentious requisites and he was clueless. If only there were an avs certification for knowledgeable employees.

What current sales pitches have you heard lately.

I was looking at displays today, for a coulda, shouda, woulda session. While looking at one of the Samsung led edge-lighted units, a salesman found me. I inquired local led and was answered that they had a display unit, however, the first sales pitch was that the unit is thicker than the edge-lighted, and CCFL models. I mentioned color gamut and a couple other of our pretentious requisites and he was clueless. If only there were an avs certification for knowledgeable employees.

Still, from your description it may have been a step in the right direction... did he admit to being clueless, or did he try and fake his way through until you proved you knew more than he did?

What current sales pitches have you heard lately.

I was looking at displays today, for a coulda, shouda, woulda session. While looking at one of the Samsung led edge-lighted units, a salesman found me. I inquired local led and was answered that they had a display unit, however, the first sales pitch was that the unit is thicker than the edge-lighted, and CCFL models. I mentioned color gamut and a couple other of our pretentious requisites and he was clueless. If only there were an avs certification for knowledgeable employees.

I had a guy try to steer me away from the "LCD" Tv's to the new Samsung "LED" Tv's. I made the statement a "LED TV" was a "LCD TV" I received a LONG blank stare...

Still, from your description it may have been a step in the right direction... did he admit to being clueless, or did he try and fake his way through until you proved you knew more than he did?

I believe the salesperson found me to be too difficult and immediately threw in the towel. I should apply to work there a couple days a week. They would sell more plasma sets because I would sell the kind that don't need to be refilled.

I believe the salesperson found me to be too difficult and immediately threw in the towel. I should apply to work there a couple days a week. They would sell more plasma sets because I would sell the kind that don't need to be refilled.

Oh, please. Stop spreading misinformation. ALL plasmas need to be refilled periodically, but that's a small concern compared to the fact that they're so dim that you can barely see the picture with a lightbulb on, or that if you leave a static picture for a couple seconds you'll have it on your screen forever. Come on! Everybody knows that, whereas LCD is the most problem-free, perfect, heaven-ordained display ever conceived of...

Yes, I jest ;)

That TNs have superior viewing angles. :rolleyes:

Oh, please. Stop spreading misinformation. ALL plasmas need to be refilled periodically, but that's a small concern compared to the fact that they're so dim that you can barely see the picture with a lightbulb on, or that if you leave a static picture for a couple seconds you'll have it on your screen forever. Come on! Everybody knows that, whereas LCD is the most problem-free, perfect, heaven-ordained display ever conceived of...

Yes, I jest ;)

You forgot to mention how highly flammable/explosive the plasma gas is.:)

Edit: I forgot to mention its also radioactive.:eek:

With an LCD you need to hold it horizontally and give it a good shake every now again to redistribute the liquid crystals evenly, just like for an Etch-A-Sketch or a Duvet. Otherwise they sink to the bottom.

There is a plasma bank in my town. I donate there regularly, in case my set needs to be recharged.

You can't be too careful.

There is a plasma bank in my town. I donate there regularly, in case my set needs to be recharged.

You can't be too careful.

You win +1 internets.

I had a guy try to steer me away from the "LCD" Tv's to the new Samsung "LED" Tv's. I made the statement a "LED TV" was a "LCD TV" I received a LONG blank stare...
I DO love doing that to them...
I've actually had my wife threaten to walk out of stores for the way I embarass the salepeople I catch lying to me...
If they don't know, and they admit it, while I'm annoyed, I let it go...
But I can't stand when they are so clearly lying to my face to try and make a sale and yet they insist the garbage they peddle is true....

I DO love doing that to them...
I've actually had my wife threaten to walk out of stores for the way I embarass the salepeople I catch lying to me...
If they don't know, and they admit it, while I'm annoyed, I let it go...
But I can't stand when they are so clearly lying to my face to try and make a sale and yet they insist the garbage they peddle is true....

My wife just tells me I'm cute then calls me a dork for knowing more than the sales guys.

I shook my LCD like an etch-a-sketch Now its in KURO mode. A secret menu came up and all the clouding went away. I won't buy another display until the 1.7ghz 9k models are unveiled.

My wife just tells me I'm cute then calls me a dork for knowing more than the sales guys.

Wanna trade? Mine gets all pissed at me for being rude to the guy that just tried to lie to me to make a sale by taking advantage of an undereducated, naive consumer...

Wanna trade? Mine gets all pissed at me for being rude to the guy that just tried to lie to me to make a sale by taking advantage of an undereducated, naive consumer...

Hmmmm.....

Uh... I mean, NO!

Do plasmas need recharging or is it actually a transfusion? Always wondered about the correct terminology. When I get my plasma tv, I plan to keep a supply of compatible plasma in the fridge.


And my advice is to stay away from LEDS altogether. It is scientifically documented that extended viewing will burn your retinas and lead to blindness.

Hm lets see. i was just at besbuy.


1, BB dork- the new 65" and 58" panny s1's have been pushed to sept.
me- really, because you can get them online now-
BB dork, impossible, we always get items first.
me- ok:p

2, BB dork,- sitting 12 feet away froma 65" plasma will give you a headache.
me- really.
BB dork- yes, id go 50" plasma.
me- really.
bb dork- yes.
me- turned around and left.!!

lol....

The worst sales pitch was a guy who tried to show me what a calibration difference looked like, then admitted the two examples was one tv was Hd, and one was SD.

I know there is a difference between calibrated and out the box, but sd vs hd to show what calibration can do? That's best buy for ya.

I visited a local HDTV store looking for a particular set. They didn't have it but the sales guy (also owner) offered to order one for me to look at, if I'd guarantee to buy it.

I asked if he was kidding and he wasn't.

I then informed him that they had the set on display down the street at two local chain stores but I wanted to give him a chance being a local merchant.

He just asked me again if I wanted him to order one.

At that point I understood why the little shops are little and left.

My wife just tells me I'm cute then calls me a dork for knowing more than the sales guys.

Ya I get called a nerd on a weekly basis by my wife...:D

I had a guy try to steer me away from the "LCD" Tv's to the new Samsung "LED" Tv's. I made the statement a "LED TV" was a "LCD TV" I received a LONG blank stare...

Hah! Our sales guy at BB was trying to steer us away from LCD to Plasma and 120HZ/240HZ LCD to 60hz LCD and I gave him a LONG blank stare.

I had a guy try to steer me away from the "LCD" Tv's to the new Samsung "LED" Tv's. I made the statement a "LED TV" was a "LCD TV" I received a LONG blank stare...

I was at Best Buy with a friend that's looking for a new TV and got the same sales pitch. I said that the Samsung "LED TV" was an LCD using a different form of backlighting. After a moment of silence the blue shirt said, "No... these are new." :rolleyes:

Plasma's are not hd.

True story.

...and blu-ray is beyond high def.

Plasma's are not hd.

True story.

That's great, was that BB?

...and blu-ray is beyond high def.

Well, in fairness, isn't there at least a shred of truth to that one, if by "hi def " someone really means "cable service" or "OTA?"... i.e., they don't go over 1080i, right?

Wal-Mart...:confused:

Wal-Mart...:confused:
Speaking of, I was told that the display would be brighter in my living room. The price of sunscreen alone would exceed the price of the hd set.
However, they had a bargain. There was a >2 year old sony dlp set that was on constantly for 4 months going for a bit under a grand.

I had to laugh when the Ultimate Electronics salesman said that if I bought the $5000 Pioneer Elite plasma and a Pioneer blu-ray player I would then have "double anti-jitter". Classic.

I go to the electronics stores all the time to look at new products and am amazed at what I overhear sometimes. What boils my blood is when the salesperson starts pushing high priced cables on some unsuspecting customer buying a new tv. I swear a couple of times it was all I could do to stifle myself from walking over and telling the customer they didn't need a $100 HDMI cable. Maybe I a should have.

I wait for the salesperson to get the tv while the customer(s) are looking at wall mounts, and inform them of monoprice.com for cables as well. On a couple of occasions the sales people were nonexistent. I proceeded to help customers make a choice. Then I was asked if I worked on commission. I then smile, tell them that I don't work there and I'm on my way. By the way; I wasn't wearing a red or blue pique polo shirt.

I go to the electronics stores all the time to look at new products and am amazed at what I overhear sometimes. What boils my blood is when the salesperson starts pushing high priced cables on some unsuspecting customer buying a new tv. I swear a couple of times it was all I could do to stifle myself from walking over and telling the customer they didn't need a $100 HDMI cable. Maybe I a should have.

I wait for the salesperson to get the tv while the customer(s) are looking at wall mounts, and inform them of monoprice.com for cables as well. On a couple of occasions the sales people were nonexistent. I proceeded to help customers make a choice. Then I was asked if I worked on commission. I then smile, tell them that I don't work there and I'm on my way. By the way; I wasn't wearing a red or blue pique polo shirt.

I once did an install for my cousin... I begged him weeks in advance to order the cables and he didn't, so while I started on the wall mount he went down to buy cables... I told him in advance not to buy anything with certain brand names on it... I won't go into details here, but you all know what I'm talking about.... he called me from the store to say there were two different cables and he didn't know which one to get... one of 'em was that brand name, told him not to get that one... needless to say, he listened to the salesman instead of me and bought $150 cable...
but insisted on buying his AVR online from a store that gave him $10 off for "open box"... needless to say certain features didn't work right, and he had no recourse as he agreed to "no returns" and the mfr wouldn't honor the warranty as it was a not an authorized dealer...

I once did an install for my cousin... I begged him weeks in advance to order the cables and he didn't, so while I started on the wall mount he went down to buy cables... I told him in advance not to buy anything with certain brand names on it... I won't go into details here, but you all know what I'm talking about.... he called me from the store to say there were two different cables and he didn't know which one to get... one of 'em was that brand name, told him not to get that one... needless to say, he listened to the salesman instead of me and bought $150 cable...
but insisted on buying his AVR online from a store that gave him $10 off for "open box"... needless to say certain features didn't work right, and he had no recourse as he agreed to "no returns" and the mfr wouldn't honor the warranty as it was a not an authorized dealer...I had a friend that bought the same cable sales pitch.

Being a friend, I brought him over a Monoprice HDMI cable that I had on hand and told him to pack up the overpriced one and get his money back from BB. He did and was very happy with me.

I didn't tell him until later how much the Monoprice cable was. When I did he about hit the ceiling when he realized how much BB had ripped him off.

He now knows to call me before even setting foot in BB. Nothing teaches like first hand experience.:p

I was in BB a few years ago and overheard a conversation that went something like:

salesman: This one is a really nice plasma.
customer: That's an LCD.
salesman: No, it's a plasma.
customer: It says "LCD" on it.
salesman: They name it as an LCD, but it's a plasma.
customer: ??? (Looks confused.)
salesman: They're really the same thing. The only difference is the size. If it's smaller than 40 inches, they call it an LCD, and if it's bigger, they call it a plasma.

I couldn't take hearing any more of this and walked away.

My favorite BB experience was when HD DVD first came out.

I wandered through my local store and found they had the new HD DVD player hooked up to one of the big screen projection tvs. The tv was playing the demo loop, so I asked the blue shirt (who asked if he could help me with anything) if he'd flip the tv over to the HD DVD player as I was interested in one.

He said "no". They weren't allowed to show HD DVD because all they had were movies and the FBI would be on them for showing them in the store without paying a royalty to the studio. I assured him that I didn't want him spending years in a Federal prision for pushing a button on a remote.

Noticing that the HD DVD player was playing something, I asked what was in the player. The BB guy said a movie that they used as a demo for the sales staff. It never dawned on him that using the movie for a commercial purpose would also be an offense, but his expertise is in selling overpriced cables and warranties, not legal issues.

I then asked for the remote to the tv in question and he gladly got it for me and wandered off. I flipped over to the HD DVD player, which was playing Serenity. PQ blew away anything I had seen up to that point, and I almost plunked down the $ for a player. Almost.

I flipped the tv back to the demo loop and the sales guy asked again if I needed any help. I declined, thanked him for his time, and left the store wondering how these morons stay in business.

Come to think of it, I ponder that same question every time I drive by.

wondering how these morons stay in business.
Unfortunately for us, most of the consumer side of the market has the same IQ and buys whatever BS they're told... the blue shirts might as well be wearing lab coats...

I just helped a buddy move over the weekend and was playing around with his LCD tv to see if I could get his cable box to work through HDMI seeing as how the cable guy couldnt do it. I guess his DVR box is too old or something because it wouldnt work.
Any way I mentioned that it could possibly be the HDMI cable and then he told me that is impossible because that was a 150$ cable so it better work! My jaw dropped. 150$ for a friggin cable? I told him that I had ordered 2 cables off the web for 6$ I thought he was gonna cry. lol Betcha he bought said cable from BB. The things people will fall for.

Unfortunately nowadays the only way big-box stores can make any real money with TVs is through the cables/accessories...

Of course Audio(non-HTIB) has been and always will be the highest margin item in an electronics store... But the problem is that the mass uneducated public walks into a store, takes a look at the brightest LCD and says, "I want that one." without a care in the world about how their television programming or movies sound. So I will keep this out of this rant for the time being as it should be treated as a niche product and not for every average Joe.

Fact is... Most LCD and Plasma displays these days that are sold at a sale price(non-MSRP) have less than 10% mark-up. This is even more true for the oh-so-friendly-not-so-big-box stores(like the one that currently employs myself). This makes it difficult(or nearly impossible) for companies to even reclaim just the overheard that these TVs have let alone make any money off of them!!

It is then the decision of the upper-ups in management of these companies to find out where they can make up the lost dough. Accessories like TV stands, wall mounts, universal remotes and set-top boxes are really the only legitimate products that stores can make money off of. The problem is though is that since these are legitimate brands they don't throw propaganda at a bunch of company trainers...

The non-legitimate brands(I will attempt to be as anonymous as possible) do in fact throw propaganda in the face of a struggling retailer with the message stating "Our high margin products will make you money!"

"...make you money"

Those are the only words that executives want to hear. And when they do... they start thinking with their wallets instead of their brain. The executives order the product, distribute it to the stores. Along with that they destribute the nonsense advertising and gimicky/irrelevant sales unknowledge that comes with it.

It's not a myth... some of us sales people actually know what we're talking about. Of course we know better than what we are told we should believe. Unfortunately the pressure that is enforced onto more and more of these rookie, brainwashable salespeople involves more than just a slap on the wrist nowadays... It's very easy for this big-box guys to bring in a bunch of pimply faced teenagers and tell them the lies and propaganda like "You have to sell this." "You must tell the customer that they need this."

I am constantly put in the position where my higher superiors place pressure on me to sell certain items a certain way. Myself and my co-workers do our best to convey a completely unbiased solution for every customer that walks through the door. But when supervisors who don't know better are looking over your shoulder every second, it's hard to get away with being honest.

Sadly, i've made the pitch... and i've sold the product. I honestly feel guilty about it, but I have come to my own conclusion that it has become a necessary evil that many legitimate salespeople get caught in.

Where consumers are greedy to "get the best deal" the producers are greedy to "get the most out of the customer." And that's just the way it is for the time being.

Sorry for the rant... I check these forums at work every day. I just thought I would throw this out there as it's quite unfortunate that all of the stories you folks have shared are true and I have experienced all of them myself when I scope out other retailers... I just wanted to shed a different light on the situation.

TP, I agree with you. I also work in a large b&m store, and you just have to do what you have to to make the store/you money. People should not come to a store, where they take your money, and expect to get educated on electronics. Thats just stupid. Anyway, its up to the customet themselves to buy the $100 hdmi cable. If they believe pimply-faced teenager, thats their fault.

Saying that, I feel no remorse selling what I do everyday...

But here is a new one I heard to day, guy said he "heard" about the 120hz tv's and he said there was no difference b/c he called his cable company and they don't put out a 120hz signal for the 120hz lcds.....ended up getting a Vizio. I tried to explain doubling the frames,to no avail.

It's not a myth... some of us sales people actually know what we're talking about.
It's unfortunate that it's only "some"...
Sadly, i've made the pitch... and i've sold the product. I honestly feel guilty about it, but I have come to my own conclusion that it has become a necessary evil that many legitimate salespeople get caught in.
Well, I'll admit that it's a fine line to walk... Telling someone "you're going ot need cables to go along with that" is perfectly ok even if you only carry the ones that're insanely marked up, telling someone "these cables have more copper so they carry the signal better" is getting close, but still technically correct... but if the customer comes out and asks you if he'll see a difference between those and $10 cables, and you lie? Well, I'm sorry you seem to have to do that to hold onto your job. My question is are you actively seeking employment elsewhere at a more reputable place?
OTOH, I do appreciate the irony that it's the people that pay for this snake oil that allows the BM to stay in business so that I can go and look at and listen to equipment before I buy, rather than just having to go on everyone's word... but allow me to recount a story from the flip side of the coin, albeit from a different biz...
I wanted 2 new golf clubs... so I went and got fitted for them... I was happy with what I got, so when I wanted my wife to get fitted for a putter I bought a gift cert from that store... I paid for the putter I thought she'd want, which happened to be the most expensive in the store... he gave it to me so she would have something to unwrap... she went in for her fitting, and the gent recommended she not go with that putter, but that another one half the price would do her better... I would've been happy with a store credit for the balance, but he OFFERED to credit my card the full difference! Needless to say, I went back to him for my next clubs, and brought a friend with me as well. With my friend, the fitter didn't think he could offer my friend any club that would do him better than what he already had, so he didn't try to sell him anything, and refunded the fee of his fitting! This is now the only place I ever tell people to go for equipment, and they have made much more money off the recommendations I give people than they would've off those 2 experiences. I know, the margins are different, they're not big box stores, but remember, people can get clubs cheaply online too, they can buy knockoff clubs, used clubs, etc... there's a lot a similarities too. It's the "happy customers come back to spend more money" philosophy that you no longer get in electronics.
Where consumers are greedy to "get the best deal" the producers are greedy to "get the most out of the customer." And that's just the way it is for the time being.
For the record, I also dislike the people that go and learn as much as they can in BM stores and then find the best price online. There's an appliance store near me that will usually work with me by throwing in extras to make the deal equivalent to what I can get elsewhere... I give them a lot of business, because they listen to what I want, they don't tell me what they want to sell. they normally offer free delivery and assembly. I pick it up, they knock a few bucks off. I assemble it, they knock a few bucks off. End result: I get it locally for what I would've paid online. And I'm happier having assembled it myself anyway.
So I suppsoe it's one thing to sell something (a more expensive cable, a more expensive putter) to someone who wants it, but I have a problem with someone who knowingly misrepresents the product or service... And for those that don't know anything and make it up on the spot when they're hit with a question? They should just be taken out back and shot. And the managers that put them in those situations as well. I have literally had salespeople tell me the product I'm looking for doesn't exist, presumably because it wasn't in his store... I have no patience for that, and made sure he didnt' get a comission when I eventually bought what they did have to offer...

Sorry as well for the er, whatever this was... it's been a long day, and I too have been in the selling business...

TP, I agree with you. I also work in a large b&m store, and you just have to do what you have to to make the store/you money.
Pitiful attidude.:mad::(
People should not come to a store, where they take your money, and expect to get educated on electronics. Thats just stupid.
Agreed, on the one hand. On the other hand, when the store or the saleperson bills themselves that way, but behaves your way, that can border on false advertising... it's considered malpractice in other lines of work.
Saying that, I feel no remorse selling what I do everyday...
I've been in the selling game, and I never wanted to leave a single cent on the table, I just did it without being dishonest.
But here is a new one I heard to day, guy said he "heard" about the 120hz tv's and he said there was no difference b/c he called his cable company and they don't put out a 120hz signal for the 120hz lcds.....ended up getting a Vizio. I tried to explain doubling the frames,to no avail.
That's a good one. I will admit, even endorse, that some customers are part of the problem because of who they'll believe...
I wonder if any electronics retailers out there are trying the other model... the one of : here's what I need my price to be to survive, to make it more palatable vs my cheaper competition, I'll throw in these $100 cables for only $50 more...

The worst sales pitch was a guy who tried to show me what a calibration difference looked like, then admitted the two examples was one tv was Hd, and one was SD.

I know there is a difference between calibrated and out the box, but sd vs hd to show what calibration can do? That's best buy for ya.

I had one tech go into the menus on a, before he did things 100% carefully calibrated set that had perfect gamma ramps and perfect primaries and secondaries and perfect D65 along the gray scale etc., turn it onto overscan so the edges got cut off, switch it to like D80 instead of D65, turn sharpness to 100, reset all the calibration sliders to midpoint, turn backlight to 10, turn gamma to -2, turn on maximum dynamic contrast, turn saturation up +10 and then

say he had never seen a set with a better picture quality! :D :eek: :confused: :rolleyes: :p :D

It was so ghastly and garish and ringed and just :eek:

wow i was speechless

The other day I heard a guy at Sears ask a salesman for "one of those Sonny HDNA TV's."

glaufman, or Greg, I am in no way saying that I do this, but that others who shop at other stores get "told" what to buy from these people. I can only try to help the ones that want it, and sell to others that want to be sold to. Some people just want to spend money, frankly.

My point was, I will try it another way. You go to the Dr. when you are sick, not to a surgeon. The doc tries to help, but you let them know how you feel, whats wrong, ect. The surgeon would tell you, yes, you need that face reconstruction. Some people just don't have sense.

I can only try to help the ones that want it , and sell to others that want to be sold to. Some people just want to spend money, frankly.

I have absolutely no beef with this, whatsoever.
mmmmmmmmmmmm beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeef
Just like with my cousin. Begged him for weeks to measure so we could order cables in advance online. He didn't. I arrived to do the install. He didn't have cables. He went to the store. I told him not to buy X brand. Salesman told him to buy X brand. He called me, "guy here says these, what do you think?" "It's a ripoff." He bought'em anyway. Turns out he didn't use'em, because they were too long and there was no way to dress'em nicely, so he used $10 cables I bought locally. He wouldn't go back to the store to return his, and expects me to find a way to sell them to recoup his money, which is asking me to screw someone else for his, er, whatever we want to call it. I have no pity for him, at least in this regard (he is my cousin, after all)...
My point was, I will try it another way. You go to the Dr. when you are sick, not to a surgeon. The doc tries to help, but you let them know how you feel, whats wrong, ect. The surgeon would tell you, yes, you need that face reconstruction. Some people just don't have sense.
Interesting analogy. Totally off topic, but I've often wondered why so many people get second opinions when the first is bad news, but noone (ok, almost noone?) even even speculated about getting a second opinion when the first was good news?!?;)

Interesting analogy. Totally off topic, but I've often wondered why so many people get second opinions when the first is bad news, but noone (ok, almost noone?) even even speculated about getting a second opinion when the first was good news?!?

That's obvious - everyone wants good news. This would be the equivalent of asking why people keep searching when they find higher prices, but stop when they find a good deal.

Of course the real point is are you getting any value for money, is the doctor good? But this would require the ability to judge the doctor, to do research, and everyone should not be expected to do that. So you ask a professional (unfortunately for most consumers a salesman is a pro) and trust them.

Agreed.

That's obvious - everyone wants good news.
Obviuos is right, but the point is, it would be more logical to make sure...
This would be the equivalent of asking why people keep searching when they find higher prices, but stop when they find a good deal.
Not quite fair... "good deal" is more subjective... besides there are those who keep searching for better deals for a while...
Of course the real point is are you getting any value for money, is the doctor good? But this would require the ability to judge the doctor, to do research, and everyone should not be expected to do that. So you ask a professional (unfortunately for most consumers a salesman is a pro) and trust them.
The unfortunate part is that most people don't realize that the salesman is a pro at "selling" ... not a pro at giving good, sound advice (no pun intended)...

Not sure about the rest here but for me I find that going into Best Buy, Fry's, etc. is definately just talking to a salesman more often than not. However I have found, at least in my area, that if I go into a store that stricktly deals with A/V equipment they are not just a salesman. They are well informed, they have training in the companies products they sell. Sure they want to make a sale but usually they want more than one, so they cut very good deals, keeps people comming back. I have yet have any stear me into more expensive gear than what I am looking at, for that matter some even stear the customers to less expensive gear. They take the time to understand what the customer wants and needs and go from there. They make a living off their honesty and genuine love for A/V. Even cables, sure they carry the $1000 dollar a foot stuff, but unless you specifically ask for it they sell what ever they have cheapest in the right length. Instead of the people who boycot B&M store all together perhaps they should spen more time in the specialty stores. Of course as one poster on the forums has said before in his area all they want to do is custom instal theater and don't want to just sell gear. It is a shame really. After learning about all hte new display and audio stuff out there and listening to the big box stores sales people I understand why many people get taken for a ride and others avoid them like the plague. Lies, lies,lies, followed by more lies. Any way sorry for the bit of a rant and enjoy!!

I don't know where the whole plasma "recharge" thing started. If you think about how plasma panels are made it's just plain stupid. Panels for LCD and Plasma are sealed units, not field serviceable. I'd love for a salesman to show me where the "charging port" is on a plasma panel.

My kid worked for BB and employee discount was amazing on cables and wires.

I love it when they try and sell "oxygen free" speaker cable. When I was wiring the house I ran "oxygen free" Romex behind the drywall to junction boxes. I did use higher end cables from the boxes.

Panels for LCD and Plasma are sealed units, not field serviceable. I'd love for a salesman to show me where the "charging port" is on a plasma panel.

You need a special flash drive with a plasma reservoir and a 220V input, for which you will need to run an extension cord from your laundry room or furnace. If you don't have 220V you will need the optional transformer. You then download a special firmware update that has a proprietary refill function. After a loud noise similar to water hammer; you will hear a sound similar to a balloon being filled. The 220V then comes in and welds the filler tube while a small mechanical press crimps it. You can only do this so many times before the tube becomes too short for the cutting\ crimping\ welding. Also make sure that the appropriate hazmat permits are secured before attempting :D

Just remember kids; always read the MSDS.

You need a special flash drive with a plasma reservoir and a 220V input, for which you will need to run an extension cord from your laundry room or furnace. If you don't have 220V you will need the optional transformer. You then download a special firmware update that has a proprietary refill function. After a loud noise similar to water hammer; you will hear a sound similar to a balloon being filled. The 220V then comes in and welds the filler tube while a small mechanical press crimps it. You can only do this so many times before the tube becomes too short for the cutting\ crimping\ welding. Also make sure that the appropriate hazmat permits are secured before attempting :D

Just remember kids; always read the MSDS.

That's GOTTA be the best post in this thread yet!