Sears vs Best Buy

Ive noticed best buy usually has more tvs in stock and several top end tvs out on the floor but realize that sears associated often seem more knowledable about products, and do a very good job of teaching the less tech savy person like me

Hmm research online probably at Best Buy...but when I buy it's based more on price then anything else...which Sears often is good for. In-store research is based more on the individual associate than anything else.

I've noticed that the online prices at BB tend to be better - sometimes up to 20 percent cheaper. Price isn't everything, though. As DBLK notes, you often can get more personal attention at Sears. I was at Sears a few days ago and immediately had the associate's full attention.

BB also sometimes has exclusive products based on its ability to deliver volume sales to the manufacturer. For instance, the LN(xx-insert size) B40 series is exclusive to BB; the comparable model at Sears is the LNxxB650 (which has a bit more features, notably DLNA capability).

In my area our store is becoming more and more well known as the place to go first for electronics information, because of that we now have more stock in the store at all times and more tvs on display than my department area can really hold. 

BB contracts a lot of exclusive tvs. 

All associates whether it's Sears, hhgregg or BB, are very hit and miss in their facts. Don't depend on what the associate tell's you. When making a major purchase you really should do your own research and know what you want when you walk in.

All too many times I've found sale's people making stuff up or just completely flat wrong with the info they give out.

I was recently looking at a 65" plasma in sears, and the associate didn't know when to stop talking, he informed me that if I was looking at the 65" "you know you can't hang that on the wall, right". I asked "why not". He gave me some mumbo jumbo about no bracket can handle it, and why would you want it on a wall anyway. Yeah right. Good grief.

If you trust what the sales man tells you, you do so at your own risk.

Actually I was searching for a Plasma TV for my sister-in-law a while back, maybe 5 months ago and Best Buys was the first place I checked on-line.  From there I wander on to other web sites looking for the best price and for the best TV.

Something told me out of the blue to have a look at Sears.  So the In-law and myself first went to Best Buys, and then on to Sears.  The guy at Sears seem to make sense!  My sister-in-law bought a 50 inch Plasma with the latest bells and whistles and for less money then Best Buys had on their lower model.  So I now look towards Sear first before jumping into any quick sand!

Sears associates are paid better and recieve some type of commision I do believe.  BB associates are minumum wage workers.

Actually, I wouldn't research either as far as research goes.  For research my favorite is CNET.  When I want to research a product, I want to research the opinion's of those that test the product not sell it.

I have an even more difficult time trusting reviews in any program arena that solicits the entry of reviews by contest with money prize or other prize.

Purchasing products?  Sears over Best Buy  and the best time for shopping if your requiring personal attention for questions is weekdays.  Yes Sears personnel do have the edge on knowledge in my experience.  I rarely try  Best Buy after I experienced them a few times.

Procedures? well that is another thread...

Purchasing TV'S for a restaurant bar that I work for I had to purchase 5 tv's at the best possible price.  I shopped all the competition for weeks comparing models and yes its true there are different model numbers for the same television and even heard taht from samsung and toshiba directly.  Sears on a regular basis was cheaper and when you had a sale price they were even cheaper.  I saved on average over $100 per television for the same tv just a different number or letter on the TV the specs were the same.  The associates are a hit or miss situation however I come to find out in sears at least they will not ******** answer you they will find someone who knows the answer or try to locate it instead of guessing.  I caught Best Buy in a few lies to me about quality and what I could do with the connections with it which was a major turn off considering I had the knowledge of what I was asking but wanted to see if the sales people were honest.  With the great intrest deals that Sears offers you can not beat the prices and the store has great clearance prices for older models.  The new Samsung LEDTV was at a great price as I was in the store for automotive work tonight and just looked actually I think that they are $500 cheaper than most other vendor of that size TV dont quote me on that but if your looking for a LEDTV compare that one it seems a like a super buy.

Best Buy.  Better price match policy and currently 18 month interest free financing on all purchases totaling over $249 or 36 month free on home theater purchases over $999.  Sears dropped their financing offer down to a svcky 12 month on purchases over $699.  My only problem is the closest Best Buy is 70 miles away :(  I would buy at my local Sears if they would price match, but they won't.

Best Buy!!!

Based on "what" - Doc?

Based on it's not sears Adam.  That is my opinion.  Because no one can be worse than what I have been through.

actually its I think most people have someone that they hate shopping at. 

I consistently get customers who will not shop at Walmart, and then I have others that hate getting electronics at Best Buy. 

I personally despise Gamestop/EB Games 

As a Sears associate I can tell you they have to price match so long as the product is in stock or deliverable within 7 days.  If it is a clearance item we won't match it.  You will also get an additional 10% off the difference of the two prices.  Have a nice day and don't quit shopping at Sears, just request that the store remidies its practices.

No matter what you buy the newest greater thing will be out just around the corner!!!

if you're spending $500 or more on a tv, do your own research. personally, i don't think one store is better than another as far as sales associate advice. if you're starting out, no harm asking for help but i suggest bounce it against the advice from another store.

once you have couple models in mind, then check out reviews online: here amazon has the largest database, best buy second, then sears.

unless you have absolutely have decided what you want, keep your options open as far as size (46 vs 52 or 55), and the willingness to downgrade one trim level. the reason i'm saying that is the model/size you want may not be on sale but another might be -- opportunity to save some dough.

oh, another thing i noticed best buy did recently is the prices at the local store are actually lower than their website. and it's not a clearance/last piece/used item.  i actually bought a new sony 46w5100 for 1079 (even lower than the lowest on amazon).

have a feeling it's best buy way of beating everybody else's 'price match' policy which is based on online or advertised pricing. since i don't know how, say, a sears sales associate would verify a local best buy store price, i doubt sears would be able to truly 'price match'.

anyways, this is the first time i've seen best buy did something like this so i don't know if it's the norm or just for the holidays season.

I think Sears Have the Best Lowest prices on Tvs.

I will never buy anything at Best Buy ever.  The sales associates are clueless and you can't even get through the store without 20 different people asking if you need help finding something.  It is the most annoying place on earth to shop.  They are not the "best buy" either.  You can usually finds anything they offer chepaer elsewhere if you do your research and take your time.  I wish BB would go BK and close its doors forever.