A New TV... Finally

Making an electronics purchase is never easy for me. I tend to do a lot of research and then over think whether I really want to buy something before I actually do. For those who follow my blog, you know that my large TV decided it was time to take leave and go to TV heaven. Since that time, I’ve been looking at TV’s online and reading reviews... all in attempt to find that perfect TV at the best price.

The day after Thanksgiving, I made a trip to Circuit City with the intention of plopping down a huge chunk of change, and making some sales person a happy camper. I arrived at CC with flyer in hand – luckily I didn’t have any questions for the sales clerk because she really didn’t have a clue about the TV I wanted to purchase. I asked if they would honor competitor pricing... and they were going to. I also asked if I could use the 18 months no payments no interest promo they had going on. I got the green light on that, too. Then a manager came and told me that I could either have the promo -or- the price match, not both. I simply told them I’d be taking my business elsewhere... and they let a sale walk out the door. You’d think that 1) they’d want a large sale, 2) they’d want the financing business, and 3) they’d want a happy customer that would return. Apparently not.

Fast forward to last Friday night. I was surfing online at Best Buy and came across the same TV. Again, I read over the reviews and searched for the best price at competitors. I had found a much lower price at another brick & mortar store in NY (I am in Illinois), even with shipping. I’ve ordered at this other store plenty of times so I knew they were reputable. I printed out the ad and off to Best Buy I went. I was fully prepared to be disappointed again. I asked about price matching. The clerk took it to his manager and yes indeed they’d price match - I saved $200. Interestingly enough, another customer overheard my conversation with the clerk and came to ask if they’d price match from places online. I explained I was waiting to hear, and so he hung around until I found out. I imagine he went home and printed out competitor pricing, too. While waiting, I noticed the store had 6 months no interest financing, so I inquired about it. The clerk said I could use that, too! At this point I’m thinking to myself: “This is why I like shopping at Best Buy.” The clerk brings out the last TV in stock and the box is damaged. He assures me the TV could be returned if it didn’t work. After the clerk rings me up, he informs me that my promo is 18 months no interest financing. What a nice surprise! I love to take advantage of financing deals like that because I make sure to pay it off in less than the promo time and essentially I get to enjoy the purchase interest free and not have to take money out of my savings to do it.

The nice guy that he is, D came over and he hooked up the TV, DVD/VCR, and surround sound. I am electronically challenged if you didn’t know! The moment of truth came when we turned on the TV… Remember the damage on the box? It definitely caused a pretty design on the screen when the TV was turned on. Immediately, I called Best Buy and told them what happened. Apparently the truck had come in after my purchase and 5 more TVs were on it. They said I could bring it back for exchange. So, D and I drive 45 minutes to return the TV before the store closed. The electronics geeks in customer service were appalled at the fact the clerk sent me home without checking the TV first. Finally we were on our way... and got the TV home and hooked up. By that time, it was late and we ended up not watching any movies.

After all that drama, I suppose you’re wondering what TV I bought. It’s a Panasonic 32” LCD HDTV-enhanced flat screen. It barely weighs 40 lbs. and is only about 4” thick. I read lots of reviews about it and they were all good. Here’s what it looks like:





Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to Me!

I'm Holding Out

Really, I am. I’m holding out on turning on the heat as long as I can. Since I still don’t have a TV in my living room, I spend all my free time in my bedroom where the little TV is. I finally put the electric blanket on my bed last night... Mmmmm. After searching my house 3 times (That’s 3 trips to the basement, 3 trips walking around the house, and 3 trips looking in the attic.), I finally found the oscillating space heater I’d bought last winter. By the time I found it, I was grumbling to myself and internally yelling “How can YOU lose a heater that is 3ft tall?!” Do you know where it was? It was in the place I thought I had put it... and the very first place I looked... the basement! Perhaps it would help if I lifted my eyes a bit higher than the floor where one would think a heater would be sitting. I am thinking that I put it up on top of a table because the basement sometimes gets wet and I didn’t want my investment getting ruined. That’s what I get for thinking ahead! I replaced the fan on my dresser with the narrow oscillating heater (with remote control, mind you!). Fan is now a memory in the attic. Let’s see if I remember where IT is next summer. I was warm & toasty all night long... til I stepped out of my bedroom this morning. Brrr! LOL Hey, at least it’s supposed to warm up by the weekend.

When your coworkers casually mention the car is a bit loud, you don’t think much of it. They’re just jealous anyway. When your father complains about the loud exhaust, you start to contemplate getting it fixed. LOL

Last week, I took it to a shop to get a quote. Tongue in cheek, the mechanic says: "I think it sounds really good. My son would love the sound of this." Yesterday, I took my car in to have the exhaust fixed. Such encouraging news when the mechanic comments to me: “I’ve seen a lot of these and not one of them have ever had a rusted resonator.” The highlight was when I picked my car up, the cost was $25 cheaper than what I was quoted. Can’t beat that! The mechanic also told me that I shouldn’t have anymore problems with my exhaust since the rest of the piping is stainless steel (and it doesn’t rust). This mechanic was recommended to me by a lady at work and this was my first experience with him. I must say that I was impressed that he didn’t try to scam me. Me being a single woman and all. I’m guessing it helped that I was armed with information before I even walked in the door of the shop. My brother told me what was wrong and how it could be fixed. (Thanks bro!) In discussing the problem with the mechanic, I pointed out the problem with the resonator and he basically repeated what my brother said. Plus he offered me a ride to work, and offered to pick me up when my car was done. My car no longer rumbles when I drive down the street. Woo Hoo. Kudos to the mechanic!

Now that the exhaust is fixed, I can get a new TV. I’m one of those that overanalyzes large purchases to death before actually buying anything. I always want to make sure I get a good product for the best price. I’ve already looked at reviews online for various TV’s and visited several stores to see the ones I’m interested in. It’ll be at least a month before I can comfortably fit it in my budget... so no rush.

Odds & Ends

TV Situation
I am still debating whether I want to buy a new TV yet. It’s going to cost me about $550 and I don’t want to part with the cash. LOL I’m getting tired of watching TV on the small set in my bedroom though. Half the bed is covered in cross stitch stuff!


School
My Ecology class is going OK so far. We’ve had our first hands-on “scientific” data gathering project which involved taking samples of water at the college’s ponds/streams and observing the critters under a microscope. We were informed that we’ll have to write a short report on it once the instructor compiles the data from all the classes. Our first test is next Wed. How well I do on that test will determine the path of this class....


$100,000 Gift Bags
This was in an industry newsletter I read today:

“The IRS is taking some of the fun out of the Oscars, Emmys, and Grammys for celebrities. The value of the 2006 Oscar gift bag was estimated at more than $100,000. Anyone who received that bag will get a notice from the organization that runs the Academy Awards reminding them of their tax obligations. In the future, the IRS wants 1099 forms issued to all gift bag recipients.”

Holy Cow! A $100,000 gift bag?!

Sighing in Relief... Or is it Frustration?

School
I can finally breathe somewhat easy. I have managed to write 5 papers, summarize 15 chapters into notes and timelines, and have my presentation in somewhat order. Now all I need to do is review, review, review for the test tomorrow night. Nora Roberts' "Come Away With Me" is excellent to listen to while studying!

Electronics
Last summer I bought a Pioneer surround system from my old neighbor. Works great... when you can figure it out. It's a complicated system to hook up and if you push the wrong buttons on the remote, there's a good possibility of screwing up the sound coming out of the speakers. TV electronics tech I am not! Someone (either me or my niece) pushed the wrong buttons and no sound was coming out of the surround speakers, just out of the central ones. In addition, I could barely hear it above the hissing background noise. Well, I got tired of hearing the hissing sound so I decided to unhook the surround and hook the DVD player up to the TV. Do ya think I could figure that out?? NO! So now, everything is all disconnected... wires everywhere... and all I can do is watch TV and movies with no sound. Woe is me.

My Neighbor
It's been about 3 months now since my neighbor and her 8yr old grandson moved in. Within those 3 months, the grandson & neighborhood kids have managed to break the rope swing and the tire swing off the play fort in the yard. Mind you, I asked them NOT to play on those things. What really irks me is that they "politely" laid the rope on the floor of the fort for me to find -and- after breaking the tire swing... neatly laid everything beside the fort, without even apologizing or telling me about it! When asked "Who broke the tire swing?", the answer I got is "I don't know." Uh-huh. Shall we talk about the grass mowing? Oh yes, let's! For some illogical, unnamed reason... the neighbor lady mows the back part of the back yard only. She will mow the front part of the backyard right up to the edge of where my car is parked but not the little area in front or beside my side of the porch. Nor does she mow the front yard! I am oh-so itchin to ask why she does that! When I mow, or my neice mows for me, we do the ENTIRE yard. *sigh* Did I mention the constant slamming of doors every time the grandson goes in and out their side of the townhouse? The entire building shakes! And then there's the loud stomping up and down the stairs at all hours of the evening because he hasn't been taught to tread lightly. LOL, sometimes when I get really irritated with this I will intentionally and very loudly stomp up and down the stairs. (Naughty, ain't I?) Just a few more reasons why I need to find a house of my own.

Stitching
I have done very little stitching over the past several weeks with the Music in the USA class monopolizing my time. I have decided that after I clean up the kitchen, I am going to sit down and do some! I need to de-stress, I think!