Kiwi Joe Public so badly misinformed on LCD/Plasma... who is at fault?

Forums › Home Theatre (incl HTPC) › Kiwi Joe Public so badly misinformed on LCD/Plasma... who is at fault?

MorrisTheCat

84 posts

Master Geek

# 21543 30-Apr-2008 09:19

Why so many people who are out to purchase a new screen have the utterly WRONG info????

Have the salesmen at the big outlets given it to them in the rush to make a sale and secure their commission?

Very sad state of affairs....

Great example over on TradeMe MB:

http://tinyurl.com/5c6s9k

OldGeek

399 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

# 127249 30-Apr-2008 09:52

MorrisTheCat:
Why so many people who are out to purchase a new screen have the utterly WRONG info????
Have the salesmen at the big outlets given it to them in the rush to make a sale and secure their commission?
Very sad state of affairs....
Great example over on TradeMe MB:
http://tinyurl.com/5c6s9k

I would have thought it obvious that people can make purchases for whatever reasons they like and with as much or as little information as they like. The comments you cite are of no surprise to me - it simply illustrates that many buyers of large-screen TVs have no idea of the technology used in what they buy.

Salespeople are there to sell. If their product knowledge is not tested or found wanting by the purchaser then whats the issue?

Finally this is a forum dedicated to Geeks. Trade Me forums are not - a very different audience

NZtechfreak

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# 127250 30-Apr-2008 10:17

I think the issue is that some customers will eventually "wise up" when they discover their purchase doesn't perform the way they wanted or intended it to. For example, the people who buy cheap non-1080p LCD and Plasma TV's and then wonder why their friends blue-ray movies always look better than theirs.

Its arguably not an issue for the salesman, but from the perspective of word of mouth and repeat custom it makes a difference.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

MorrisTheCat

84 posts

Master Geek

# 127252 30-Apr-2008 10:21

Not obvious to me as a Geek why someone (even Joe Average Kiwi) would spend up to four figures on a new appliance without doing some proper research. I bet they do when it comes to buying say a washing machine, a fridge or a car... anything in fact!

It's not only just the example linked to TMs MB (that was made to show the state of what Joe Average Kiwi general understanding is). I hear utter BS and downright WRONG info constantly being spouted by big-shop salesmen all the time and it truly makes me sick..... to the point that i now go out of my way not to bother visting such places.

At the end of it all the manufacturers are the ones who suffer because their product ends up with an unfair bad-wrap if the consumer has been feed a culture of misinformation by the very people whose livelihood it is to move the stuff. Just seems very sad that's all.

I suppose though that i can feel smug knowing that a Plasma will for now give a far better black than any LCD screen....

openmedia

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# 127273 30-Apr-2008 11:50

Afraid this is true the world over.

It became a bit of a joke just how badly informed sales people in shops like Dixons and Curry's in the UK are. I've even had the same issues in the US.

Some stores might have one person out of their whole sales team who really knows what they are talking about.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC a Technology Evangelist and Product Manager. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

eXDee

4025 posts

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# 127279 30-Apr-2008 12:12

openmedia:Some stores might have one person out of their whole sales team who really knows what they are talking about.

Yep, thats usually how it is. But its great when you find that guy and he realises you actually know what you're looking for.

Also i think LCD have lower power consumption?

chiefie

I iz your trusted friend
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# 127514 1-May-2008 11:25

Interestingly... Gizmodo has just covered a blog in regards to "Plasma Basic".

Internet is my backyard...

«Geekzone blog: Tech 'n Chips Takeaway» «Personal blog: And then...»

Please read the Geekzone's FUG

Radiotron

139 posts

Master Geek

# 129235 7-May-2008 20:35

Hi, I've had a scan of of the posrts in this thread, and while some commentary about uninformed salespeople (and buyers for that matter) might be true, I'm just wondering if there is specific case, or some questions MorrisTheCat has for those in the 'zone.
By the way, off topic a little, MorrisThe Cat, do you have a particular use for those JJ KT88 tubes pictured for your avatar?

MorrisTheCat

84 posts

Master Geek

# 129302 8-May-2008 10:01

When it comes to wrong info out there it's the things like reinforcement of the myth that an LCD is way superior to a Plasma because it won't suffer burn-in and will last many years more. There's the HD ability of either display technology but plainly the model being looked at with those bright colours does not have enough pixels. Don't get me going on the mysteries of HDMI cables.

Just the truly basic things that i have overheard coming from a salesman in a certain Big Chain outlet the other day as he talked to a couple of 'browsers". Sure, he needs to make a sale but it makes me cringe to think the net result is the general public with this bent awareness quietly treat it as gospel as in the very sad example of discussion on the TM MB. Obviously just about any new technology suffers this but I think the Flat screen Culture has to be the worse example of miss information and down right wrong guidance for a long time.

I can only hope that time will fix it.... but I wish that such wrong info just didn't come into being.

And going slightly OT, the KT88s are going into my newest project, a couple of hand built 120Watt RMS monoblocks to 'really annoy the neighbours with'.

minimoke

720 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 129323 8-May-2008 11:38

Whose to blame – well that’s a difficult one. I think a lot of it is down to too much choice and information.

If you are a newbie then you have to get your head around DVD’s, CD’s, 720, 1080 P or I, Interlace, Progressive, STB, HDMI, Component, Composite, HTPC, HDDVD, Blue Ray, Freeview HD, Satellite, UHF, CRT, viewing distance / angle, HT, Digital, Analogue, 16:9/4:3 etc etc. Anyone who can get there head around this will sort out the Plasma / LCD issue – but if they can’t they are a sitting duck for the manufactures and salespeople!

zocster

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# 129328 8-May-2008 11:48

At the end of the day, it is up to the individual to do their research before forking out their money. I would be asking questions on GZ first before I upgrade to a plasma and build an HTPC thats for sure.

old3eyes

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# 129344 8-May-2008 12:53

I did about 4 months research last year before I made the big D on what sort of TV to get.. There is so much contradictory info out there..

Regards,

Old3eyes

buzzy

217 posts

Master Geek

# 129730 9-May-2008 18:09

I was recently asked by a colleague for some advice on buynig a new TV. LCD or Plasma? Isn't plasma better for sports? Doesn't Plasma leave burn-in? Etc

I asked him a few more basic questions - how big will the screen be? what models had he looked at? and we settled on a 40" Sony Bravia D-series as having a good refresh rate and being good enough for what he wants - sports.

At that point, I mentioned that the set will also do hi-def, which will make sports look better when/if Sky start transmitting in HD. He glazed over and stopped listening - it all went into the too hard basket. Thinking about it, all he wanted was for a geek to ratify the decision he'd already made in his own head. He didn't actually want any advice, he just wanted to be able to say to the missus "I asked a Buzzy, and he said..."