Wednesday, December 3, 2008

I Am JayGicus, Destroyer of Retailers

This is getting eerie.

The G. household contains exactly two television sets that we have purchased. There's a 10-year old Panasonic projection TV in the family room, and a 15-year old 25" Daewoo in our bedroom. Both TV sets were purchased at local electronics retailers. Both retailers have gone out of business - the Daewoo was purchased at Lechmere, the Panasonic at Tweeter (local chain).

At least in the case of the Panasonic, the electronics store lasted longer than the extended warrantee would have, had we chosen to purchase one...

So... I have decided to put my powers to use for my own personal gain. We'd like to get a 52" or larger plasma HDTV for the family room. We don't need it - the Panasonic projection TV is going strong - so I'm proposing a little shakedown. Give me a TV, or I'll be forced to buy one from your store! Look at my track record: Two TVs purchased, two chains brought down. Coincidence? I think not!

That is all...

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

We got our shiny new 42" from Amazon.

I double-dog dare you to bring them down.

Anonymous said...

This made me chuckle.

Anonymous said...

Type: everyone recommended LCD over Plasma, hands-down. Plasma has some plusses regarding image quality, but LCD is more reliable.

Brand: Our current TV is Vizio - we heard good things when researching models, and we have had no complaints. Longest-lived TV I ever had was Panasonic - 10+ years. If I could have found a model/size/price config comparable to our Vizio when shopping, I would have bought it in a heartbeat.

Worst TV ever ws our RCA - died in 18 mos, after the warranty expired. But the store took it back (see next section).

Where to shop? We bought ours at Costco - the previous TV (the crap-tastic RCA) was from there, and when it went teats-up after 18 mos, they took it back, no questions asked. Amazing. (Word is that CostCo has discontinued the policy, so caveat emptor.) If you are the Dark Shopper of Doom, Destroyer of Vendors, then please, don't shop there.

Borepatch said...

Check out the bit that starts about 1:45 in ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRm5WcjOikQ

Sabra said...

Interestingly, my ex-husband has bought stuff at both those stores as well. A car stereo from Lechmere, if I recall correctly, and a TV from Tweeter. So we helped you kill 'em. Does that get me a little 13-inch B&W tv?

Old NFO said...

hehehe- You, my friend, have a twisted mind! I love it!

Kevin said...

Do you think Obama sells TV's on the side?

Better yet, threaten to buy a car.

Jay G said...

Linoge,

Hmmm. The power of my bad juju vs Amazon.

Wait. Amazon's online. I can't recall killing any online sellers. Well, other than eBay's gun part business... Hmmm...

Anon,

Thanks! I like the idea of spreading mirth through veiled extortion... ;)

sci-fi,

Appreciate the recommendation, but when the Panasonic goes to the great TV graveyard, it'll be replaced by... ideally nothing...

Ted,

Heh. That's a great bit, thanks for reminding me!

sabra,

Wow... a 13" black & white TV... That was the first TV I ever owned - got a Sears model that lasted me through high school and college.

I don't think you can even buy a B&W TV any more...

old NFO,

Heh. "Twisted" indeed. I like that comment so much I think I'm going to add it to "What people are saying about me"!

Kevin,

I thought about buying a GM car just to put the final stake through their heart.

What stopped me was the realization that I'd have to actually, you know, own a GM car...