Is it worth buying a display case of a TV?

A display sample is a product installed in the sales area of ​​a store to demonstrate its capabilities and functionality. TVs displayed on display work continuously almost around the clock, and many buyers do not risk buying such equipment. These fears are not always justified.

In what cases is it worth taking a display sample?

If you need a specific model, and there is only one copy left, you can buy a display sample - electronics sellers will provide a guarantee for it in the same way as for samples from the warehouse. When purchasing such equipment, the store can offer the buyer a discount, as for a used product, and further reduce the price if there is visible external damage (scratches, abrasions). In addition, manufacturing defects are detected in the first few months of operation of the equipment, so when purchasing such a sample, its performance is guaranteed.

Often in small stores there is only one TV of different models in stock, and they are all unpacked and displayed on the sales floor. If there are no other stores available that offer similar models from stock, then you can take the TV from the display case.

Under what conditions should you refuse?

If the TV has serious damage - dents, “broken” pixels on the screen, etc., then you should not take it. It could have been on display for several years, which means its resource has already been partially used up.

Before buying equipment from a display case, the buyer should carefully study the prices for the TV model he is interested in in other stores - a display sample, even at a discount from one seller, may cost more than a similar product from the warehouse of another.

Although many modern TVs have a fairly large resource, this does not apply to the optical unit that reads information from disks. Therefore, you should refuse to buy a home theater that has been standing on the display window for a long time and playing advertising discs.

If the store has a product in stock from the warehouse, and the discount on the display sample is small, then it is better not to risk it and buy an unpacked copy.

General verification conditions

It is important to study the appearance of the product. If the equipment looks new, the box does not smell of dust, and the packaging of accessories such as the remote control and instructions is not damaged, most likely the TV has not been used for long and you can safely take it. It is worth inspecting the screen for “broken/stuck” pixels, scratches on glossy surfaces and other defects.

The presence of dust on the connector panels and in the ventilation slots, crumpled bags from the remote control and wires, a torn/crumpled box - all these signs indicate that the TV was repeatedly used in the display windows of several stores or was returned under warranty. You can only buy such equipment at a big discount, and there is a high risk that it will spend most of the warranty period in a repair service. And although the guarantee applies to all samples, in the event of a breakdown, problems may arise with proving certain facts.

There is no need to judge the duration of use of equipment in a store’s sales area by a sticker with the production date.The TV could have been manufactured several years ago, but stood in the display case for a month, or, conversely, it could have worked continuously for a year since its production.

If the store does not provide a fixed discount on display samples, then you need to negotiate it with the seller. In cases where the seller refuses to reduce the price, it is better to buy a new TV from another store.