3 On Your Side: The Big Game Can Lead To Some Big TV Sales

By Jim Donovan

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Looking to buy a big TV before the big game? You may be in luck. As 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan tells us, football’s big night can lead to super sales–if you know where to look.

“With the Super Bowl, it’s a huge promotional opportunity for manufacturers, so we expect to see some deals, maybe not quite to the level we saw for Black Friday, but still some great deals,” says Jim Willcox, with Consumer Reports.

Before heading to the store, Rob Gregory with Best Buy says you need to ask yourself some questions.

“What’s the size that they can accommodate; where is the TV is going? That will actually give us a little insight as to what TV I will direct you to. [Buyers] should also know what they’re looking for as far as, ‘Do I want to have that 3D capability?’”

In addition to 3D, do you want to stream movies and music from the web? According to Gregory, “If you’re not hooking your TV up to a high-definition source, you’re not going to get the same picture quality we have here in the store.”

For peace of mind on pricing, ask if your retailer offers a price guarantee.

“If you’re one of those people who drives yourself crazy, buy the TV, and then constantly monitor pricing. It may make you feel a little bit better to know that you’re protected for at least 30 days or more,” Willcox says.

When it comes to extended warranties for televisions, the experts at Consumer Reports recommend that you skip them. Their surveys have found that in the unlikely event that a repair is required after the manufacturer’s warranty expires, the bill for the repair is often comparable with the typical cost of an extended warranty.

To check out the Consumer Reports TV Buying Guide, click here.