Replacement TV recommendations?

No, no bad experience and there may be a reason why Costco gives you higher protection.

As for the reason is that there is a reason why Costco can offer lower prices. They have sets made just for them with features removed or disabled so they can sell them for less. An example, look at the exact model number of a Samsung or LG TV from BB or Costco. You will see a couple digits at the back end that are different at Costco than from anywhere else.

When I was looking for a replacement TV for my Samsung Plasma, I had settled on the Samsung 75" QLED, that is until I saw the Sony 77" OLED. I saw the Samsung at BB for a certain price, then I saw, what seemed to be the exact model at Costco for about $500 less. I was about to pull the trigger, even pulled my wife into the Costco to show her it and fully expected to walk out with one. But the doubter in me made be wait. Then I did my research and compared specs to specs.

1) The BB version had 4 HDMI input : Costco 3 HDMI inputs
2) The BB version TOS out : Costco no TOS fiber out.
3) The BB version had one refresh rate: Costco had a slower refresh rate.

Granted, both probably had the same panels (can't speak to grade), but the electronics and features were definitely different. Costco negotiates with the manufacturers to seem to give you the same TV for cheaper but maintaining their profit margin. But in reality, they are NOT the same TV. Either B grade panels, components or boards that have had options not installed to save on the BOM (Bill of Materials).

Now for the average consumer, not prosumer, what I mentioned above won't mean a thing as it sits in a regular living room with 12 children watching their Disney channel. But if you are buying a display for the best in viewing experience and for a designed media room, you obviously want the most features, the best picture and the best hardware and signal processors.

So yes, I had the opportunity to physically compare what seemed to be the same model. But then I saw the model number differences and as curious. So I did some Googling (you can do it yourself) and see that what seems to be the same hardware is not.

Again, for the average mom and pop, so what, they saved $500 bucks! Yeah!
For the people that take the time to be on this forum, is $500 bucks worth it?

If you don't believe me, go to your local Costco and find a Samsung and take down the model number, then go to the Samsung site and look up the same set. You won't find that model number but something close. Now compare specs to specs..... Voila!
My dad bought his LG CX model OLED tv at a local retailer, and it is the EXACT same CX model that is available at Costco, so as far as the LG OLED models they are the same. LG does have higher end OLED tv's like the GX line so there are different lines available but I do know for a fact that the CX line available at Costco is the same as the CX line available at other retailers. I can't speak for other brands or models.
 
Another very valid reason the model numbers are different is to be able to avoid price matching. This way if I am store A and you want my price you have to buy it from me. I have seen Appliances with the EXACT same specifications and look have a different model by a single digit or letter.
 
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Its the ending part that makes me wonder WTH does that mean ...
You have the Q85T then theres something like AFXYZ at the end ... what does that designate baffles me.

So it goes Q85TAFXZA, what does the Bold section designate ?

It's those last 4 that they change. It could be that one of them designates which seller they built if for. One can designate the feature set or panel/hardware quality (A,B,C grade, but they don't put an A, B or C in there they pick a character for each grade, like X can be it's a B grade panel). One of them designates which plant manufactured it (Mexico, USA, China, Vietnam, etc). One can designate the month, etc.

Either way, there are enough differences that makes a price match guarantee mute.
 
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It's those last 4 that they change. It could be that one of them designates which seller they built if for. One can designate the feature set or panel/hardware quality (A,B,C grade, but they don't put an A, B or C in there they pick a character for each grade, like X can be it's a B grade panel). One of them designates which plant manufactured it (Mexico, USA, China, Vietnam, etc). One can designate the month, etc.

Either way, there are enough differences that makes a price match guarantee mute.
I think I have always avoided TV's that end like that ... of course the majority of my A/V purchases come from the local High End shop.
I probably spend more on it than I may have to pay elsewhere, but I know if I have any issues, they will always be there to help out.
I've known the owners since 1978 ...
Also, if I do have questions, I'm not talking to the 18 year old thats gonna try to answer my question that he has no idea what I'm talking about.
 
I Was interested in the sony tv that the model number ended with 900h. which is a 2020 model year, 900g is 2019 model year, 900f is model 2018. So there are some changes with imputs ect.
The most current model year for the Sony OLED is the A9G, the A9F never really came out. The newest Sony they just announced at CES is a real change.
Also, if I do have questions, I'm not talking to the 18 year old thats gonna try to answer my question that he has no idea what I'm talking about.

I love taking my wife along when I shop for high end electronics and have done my research to talk to the sales people in diapers. They look at what they see as an old fart that will buy whatever they recommend. What they don't see is an Electrical Engineer, Computer Science double graduate with post grad work and 30 years in the electronics and AV field.

I just let them dig themselves deeper into their hole then ask a few questions that sends them reeling. ROFL
 
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I think I have always avoided TV's that end like that ... of course the majority of my A/V purchases come from the local High End shop.
I probably spend more on it than I may have to pay elsewhere, but I know if I have any issues, they will always be there to help out.
I've known the owners since 1978 ...
Also, if I do have questions, I'm not talking to the 18 year old thats gonna try to answer my question that he has no idea what I'm talking about.
Be grateful you HAVE a high end shop. The last one around here I know about, where I bought my speakers, closed years ago. Myer Emco.
 
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Be grateful you HAVE a high end shop. The last one around here I know about, where I bought my speakers, closed years ago. Myer Emco.
Oh, I am very happy that they are still around ... I know every one there ... the Owner has talked about retiring in the next few years ... hopefully one of the employees will decide to take it over and keep it running at the performance that they have been known for.

Beside this place, the last one that truely sold High End stuff went out about 10-15 years ago.

One thing they do at this place is also carry a Best Buy level set as well, this way he can generally have something for those that don't have the money for the high end stuff ..
They were selling Sony, Samsung and LG (TV wise), they have dropped the LG line, never really asked why, the LG probably wasn't selling as well wehn you show it next to the Samsung and Sony line up (That was before the OLED line came out.)
 
The last one around here I know about, where I bought my speakers, closed years ago. Myer Emco.
Oh Lord! I shopped in there precisely once, back in the day of the 10' Advent projection TV. (It did an absolutely amazing job on an SD signal.) I couldn't find a single device for sale in their showrooms that cost less than $1K. :eeek
 
I love the TCL series 6 TV's. Amazing picture for a great price.
Yup, I got the Amazon Roku version for the wife. We had a very specific size space and it fit within 1/2 inch of the space. It's a PITA as it always wants to start up in Roku mode and not the HDMI input. So we have to have 2 remotes. They now have the exact same TCL version same size, but money is already spend soo.......
 
Yup, I got the Amazon Roku version for the wife. We had a very specific size space and it fit within 1/2 inch of the space. It's a PITA as it always wants to start up in Roku mode and not the HDMI input. So we have to have 2 remotes. They now have the exact same TCL version same size, but money is already spend soo.......

You can go into settings (on the TCL anyways) and set the default input when the tv starts. I would take a screenshot but I am not home at the moment.


Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys
 
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Some very good answers and other information in this thread - I thank you all. I've begun to shop BB for 2020 clearance TVs using some of what I've learned here. Just to bring this home, I have two "refinement" questions:

1. Are there still brands/models with non-standard control codes that will prevent me from using the Dish remote as the master? Needing to use one remote for on/off and volume, and the Dish remote for everything else, is my biggest annoyance with the LR TV - an older RCA that remains satisfactory, if not spectacular, in most other respects.

2. Are there any brands/models with "smart" control/connectivity capability (Alexa, et al) that WILL NOT allow me to disable that technology?

Thanks again!
 
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