40" LCD TV for £300 - what's the catch?

Soundbox · 07-08-2011, 15:56

I was in Sainsbury's yesterday and whilst walking down the technology isle I saw a 40" TV for sale at £300. It was branded 'E-MOTION' I think. I got my friend over and showed it to them too - and we both said 'what is the catch'? Something must be poor about it to sell a monster TV for that low money.

If it were really any good then surely at that rock bottom price there would be a queue around the block!

So, has anyone here seen (or gone for) that Sainsbury's 40" TV?

JulesandSand · 07-08-2011, 17:44

Was it switched on and displaying anything? I suspect it will be of very low quality.

coopermanyorks · 07-08-2011, 18:19

Was it an ex display offer ?

Their website shows the 40 inch @ £499

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop...6&sort=default

Nigel Goodwin · 07-08-2011, 18:25

It's a cheap non-descript TV, you tend to get what you pay for.

I would imagine it's life wouldn't be very long, and spares for servicing would never be available.

killie1 · 07-08-2011, 20:37

Tesco were selling a 40" for £249 the other week

JulesandSand · 07-08-2011, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by killie1

Tesco were selling a 40" for £249 the other week

Absolutely perfect for a rental property.

I certainly wouldn't want to put a Sony or Panasonic into a rented property

I've rented a few holiday homes in the last 2 or 3 years which have had large screen LCD TVs branded with names I've never heard of. The have all had one thing in common - terrible picture quality.

Soundbox · 07-08-2011, 21:26

It was £200 off in a 'sale' - not ex-display as far as I could see. No it was not turned on - and that may be telling!

Chasing Shadows · 07-08-2011, 21:46

Sounds expensive to me. 32" tellies were selling for £300 a couple of years ago. I bought a 42" Samsung for £475 two years ago. You shouldn't be paying £300 for a 40" in this day and age unless it is exceptionally good - and a Sainsbury's no-name does not sound exceptionally good.

Billy_Value · 07-08-2011, 21:48

would you buy a telly with the name of sponch, theres your answer

c4rv · 07-08-2011, 23:40

You will probably find it fine for use as a secondary set. If you have an extra £150 quid there are some decent sets around £450 mark.

pocatello · 08-08-2011, 01:56

E-motion doesn't make panels as far as I know. Actually producing lcd panels requires investment of hundreds of millions if not billions. These types of second tier companies just repackage the scraps or old or low end left overs in the market.

Huge? I don't think so.
http://newspaperads.mercurynews.com/...alse&pagenum=2
Take a peek across the ocean. 50" 3d plasmas regularly go for below 600 dollars aka 366 pounds. By regularly I mean every week.
42" plasma for $429 this week.

If you search on slickdeals the numbers are even less.
50" 3d plasma $680 free shipping
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3143182
50" LG 3d plasma $499
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3115674
50" LG 1080p plasma $599
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3093368
40" LCD 1080p RCA $399
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3171343
40" coby $299
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3161480
Element 40" lcd $398
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3005895

So outside rip off britain prices are low.

rjb101 · 08-08-2011, 06:47

Do the US prices include tax?

pocatello · 08-08-2011, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjb101

Do the US prices include tax?

US sales tax is insignificant. For instance california tax is around 8%.

antonymp5 · 09-08-2011, 09:10

No not usually, it varies from state to state, like Pocatello said sales tax in California is 8% and in Florida it's 7% on top.

call100 · 09-08-2011, 16:05

If it's the same one as they had around here it was an LG so not exactly a no name TV...

rjb101 · 09-08-2011, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by pocatello

US sales tax is insignificant. For instance california tax is around 8%.

So I suppose to compare like for like you would have to knock the vat off, 20% as I recall

pocatello · 10-08-2011, 02:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjb101

So I suppose to compare like for like you would have to knock the vat off, 20% as I recall

Well tax varies in the us, and even in high tax states it is only about 8%. If you buy online you might dodge the tax all together as well.

standinman · 10-08-2011, 12:01

don't forget tax can be as much as 20% depending on various additional state taxes

emptybox · 10-08-2011, 12:49

Just last week my brother bought a 42" 1080p LG LCD for £380 from Amazon. Prices in the UK seem to be coming down.

OK it doesn't have an HD tuner, and the Freeview SD picture isn't the best I've seen, but it was for my nephew's room, and he uses it mostly with his X-Box 360, with which it gives an excellent HD picture.

pocatello · 10-08-2011, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by standinman

don't forget tax can be as much as 20% depending on various additional state taxes

?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_t...y_jurisdiction

Doesn't seem so, mostly under 10% even after surtax, not sure what you are referring to.
And of course amazon is a loophole where you don't have to pay at all apparently.

All tv's sold in the us have HD tuners, because basic broadcast is free.

rottweiler · 14-08-2011, 12:13

Quote:

Tesco were selling a 40" for £249 the other week

I picked 2 of those up for £448 about 2 months ago

I got £50 off one of them as it was ex display without the stand.

I thought it would look nice on the bedroom wall

The picture is very good !

Both came with 1 years warranty and triple clubcard points

07-08-2011, 15:56	#1
Soundbox Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The garden of earthly delights Posts: 4,509	40" LCD TV for £300 - what's the catch? I was in Sainsbury's yesterday and whilst walking down the technology isle I saw a 40" TV for sale at £300. It was branded 'E-MOTION' I think. I got my friend over and showed it to them too - and we both said 'what is the catch'? Something must be poor about it to sell a monster TV for that low money. If it were really any good then surely at that rock bottom price there would be a queue around the block! So, has anyone here seen (or gone for) that Sainsbury's 40" TV?

07-08-2011, 17:44	#2
JulesandSand Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Caledonia Posts: 5,687	Was it switched on and displaying anything? I suspect it will be of very low quality.

07-08-2011, 18:19	#3
coopermanyorks Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: In Gods Own County Posts: 20,678	Was it an ex display offer ? Their website shows the 40 inch @ £499 http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop...6&sort=default

07-08-2011, 18:25	#4
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	It's a cheap non-descript TV, you tend to get what you pay for. I would imagine it's life wouldn't be very long, and spares for servicing would never be available.

07-08-2011, 20:37	#5
killie1 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Kilmarnock Posts: 885	Tesco were selling a 40" for £249 the other week

07-08-2011, 20:43	#6
JulesandSand Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Caledonia Posts: 5,687	Quote: Originally Posted by killie1 Tesco were selling a 40" for £249 the other week Absolutely perfect for a rental property. I certainly wouldn't want to put a Sony or Panasonic into a rented property I've rented a few holiday homes in the last 2 or 3 years which have had large screen LCD TVs branded with names I've never heard of. The have all had one thing in common - terrible picture quality.

07-08-2011, 21:26	#7
Soundbox Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The garden of earthly delights Posts: 4,509	It was £200 off in a 'sale' - not ex-display as far as I could see. No it was not turned on - and that may be telling!

07-08-2011, 21:46	#8
Chasing Shadows Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,536	Sounds expensive to me. 32" tellies were selling for £300 a couple of years ago. I bought a 42" Samsung for £475 two years ago. You shouldn't be paying £300 for a 40" in this day and age unless it is exceptionally good - and a Sainsbury's no-name does not sound exceptionally good.

07-08-2011, 21:48	#9
Billy_Value Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 18,889	would you buy a telly with the name of sponch, theres your answer

07-08-2011, 23:40	#10
c4rv Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Essex Posts: 16,218	You will probably find it fine for use as a secondary set. If you have an extra £150 quid there are some decent sets around £450 mark.

08-08-2011, 01:56	#11
pocatello Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8,622	E-motion doesn't make panels as far as I know. Actually producing lcd panels requires investment of hundreds of millions if not billions. These types of second tier companies just repackage the scraps or old or low end left overs in the market. Huge? I don't think so. http://newspaperads.mercurynews.com/...alse&pagenum=2 Take a peek across the ocean. 50" 3d plasmas regularly go for below 600 dollars aka 366 pounds. By regularly I mean every week. 42" plasma for $429 this week. If you search on slickdeals the numbers are even less. 50" 3d plasma $680 free shipping http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3143182 50" LG 3d plasma $499 http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3115674 50" LG 1080p plasma $599 http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3093368 40" LCD 1080p RCA $399 http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3171343 40" coby $299 http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3161480 Element 40" lcd $398 http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3005895 So outside rip off britain prices are low.

08-08-2011, 06:47	#12
rjb101 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,609	Do the US prices include tax?

08-08-2011, 10:29	#13
pocatello Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8,622	Quote: Originally Posted by rjb101 Do the US prices include tax? US sales tax is insignificant. For instance california tax is around 8%.

09-08-2011, 09:10	#14
antonymp5 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chard, Somerset Posts: 305	No not usually, it varies from state to state, like Pocatello said sales tax in California is 8% and in Florida it's 7% on top.

09-08-2011, 16:05	#15
call100 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 6,572	If it's the same one as they had around here it was an LG so not exactly a no name TV...

09-08-2011, 17:51	#16
rjb101 Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,609	Quote: Originally Posted by pocatello US sales tax is insignificant. For instance california tax is around 8%. So I suppose to compare like for like you would have to knock the vat off, 20% as I recall

10-08-2011, 02:58	#17
pocatello Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8,622	Quote: Originally Posted by rjb101 So I suppose to compare like for like you would have to knock the vat off, 20% as I recall Well tax varies in the us, and even in high tax states it is only about 8%. If you buy online you might dodge the tax all together as well.

10-08-2011, 12:01	#18
standinman Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 158	don't forget tax can be as much as 20% depending on various additional state taxes

10-08-2011, 12:49	#19
emptybox Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Scottish Borders Posts: 11,995	Just last week my brother bought a 42" 1080p LG LCD for £380 from Amazon. Prices in the UK seem to be coming down. OK it doesn't have an HD tuner, and the Freeview SD picture isn't the best I've seen, but it was for my nephew's room, and he uses it mostly with his X-Box 360, with which it gives an excellent HD picture.

10-08-2011, 14:36	#20
pocatello Inactive Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 8,622	Quote: Originally Posted by standinman don't forget tax can be as much as 20% depending on various additional state taxes ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_t...y_jurisdiction Doesn't seem so, mostly under 10% even after surtax, not sure what you are referring to. And of course amazon is a loophole where you don't have to pay at all apparently. All tv's sold in the us have HD tuners, because basic broadcast is free.

14-08-2011, 12:13	#21
rottweiler Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: England Posts: 2,523	Quote: Tesco were selling a 40" for £249 the other week I picked 2 of those up for £448 about 2 months ago I got £50 off one of them as it was ex display without the stand. I thought it would look nice on the bedroom wall The picture is very good ! Both came with 1 years warranty and triple clubcard points

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40" LCD TV for £300 - what's the catch?