How to Buy a Television Online
Buying a television on-line can save hundreds of dollars over purchasing from a brick-and-mortar store. In addition to the upfront cost savings, on-line purchases are often free of sales tax. Additionally, many merchants will offer free shipping on expensive purchases such as TVs.
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Instructions
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Do your research. Visit the TV manufacturers' websites, and read reviews on sites like Consumer Reports (ConsumerReports.org). This will help you decide how much you want to spend and find a TV that suits your needs. You will also need to know what size TV will work best in your space. TVs are often listed on merchant sites by price, type and screen size, or you can do a search using these parameters. Compare prices for the same item on multiple sites, and see which on-line TV merchants offer the best deal plus other benefits, such as free shipping.
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Check the on-line TV merchant's satisfaction scores. You can do this by using a site like BizRate (BizRate.com). This will help you find out how reputable the merchant is, and how they handle issues such as returns and defective TVs. On many merchant websites, you can also read consumer comments and reviews about TVs.
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Buy the television. Go to the TV section of the merchant's website. Select the TV by clicking on the TV model, and then clicking the "Add To Cart" button. Make sure the quantity is "1" or that it reflects the number of TVs you wish to purchase.
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Select "Check out." This will take you to the checkout screen where you will enter your zip code in order to obtain your shipping information, shipping cost and sales tax, if required. If you wish to change your shipping method from the default mode of transport, you can also make those changes here. The total price will automatically update to reflect your changes. Select "Next" or "Update" to proceed with your order.
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Enter your name, address and billing information into the fields provided. You will typically need to know your billing address, your shipping address as well as your credit card number, along with its expiration date and the security code on the back of the card. After you have entered the information, select "Next" or "Update" to continue.
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Print out the confirmation page for your order. This page will contain your order number, merchandise detail, shipping information, and any other information associated with your order. The merchant will most likely also send you an e-mail with all of this information to confirm the purchase.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure you choose a merchant with an easy-to-understand and customer-friendly return policy. Ensure that the merchant is an authorized retailer for the brand of TV you wish to buy, otherwise your warranty may be voided by the manufacturer. Make arrangements for setup. Large TVs can weigh hundreds of pounds and will often require more than one person to move and set up.
