Interesting Anecdote on shopping

[AllentownJake]

My mother needed a new TV yesterday, so she took me shopping with her because I have minimal knowledge about TVs and when she makes big purchases she likes to have someone there to say it was ok.

We went to 4 retailers.

Target, Sears, Wal-Mart, and K-mart

My Mom was looking for a 26 inch to 32 inch TV. First we went to Target, they had display models, but had no inventory, samething at Sears, and Wal-Mart. They said they were getting new models in next month and the display models were just display but could be ordered. Seems odd, normally if stock is being phased out, display models are sold at a discount. They all had full walls of TVs just none had anything in the 26 inch to 32 inch range. Lots of big screens in stock and 19 inches. Nothing in that size range.

K-Mart had 2 in stock in that size range, and was discounting the display models, but they didn't have the walls of TVs. They had about 5 TVs on Display where about 15 used to be.

Just odd, don't know if it means anything. However, I'd have to look for other items to see if big box retailers are playing an inventory game.

Anyone in retail know what the stock rooms look like right now?

[SecularMotion]

1. It is not unusual for retailers to have low inventory at this time of year

Stock levels are low in warehouses as annual inventories are taken at this time of year..

[Cal Carpenter]

3. Also the lag time of getting new inventory in

I know someone that works as a (low level) buyer for a large retail chain. They spend half the year getting stuff that will be on the shelves for the holiday season. It take months to get all that set up - planning staggered shipments, routing through all the warehouses/distribution centers, marketing and so forth. New models and popular products are the focus.

This particular time of year tends to be one when stocks are lowest. Not only is the retail chain itself at a lull as far as quantity of sales, there aren't new models and products coming out at a high rate.

Companies in this day and age hate having a lot of stock waiting in the wings - it's a liability to them physically and on the books. That's one reason why post-holiday sales are as important to them as pre-holiday sales. So they just don't have as much on hand.

Not likely indicative of anything deeper than that.

[monmouth]

2. I recently bought a TV and ended up buying it online. Firstly, the

price was lower than the store, shipping cost was around $5 and I was able to sit for an hour on the computer comparing prices, size of screen. I ended up buying a "Sharp" flatscreen and love, love it. Delivered to my door by FedEx. I apologize, I think I bought it through Overstock but it could have been BestBuy. Good luck.

[Warpy]

5. Overstock advertises on Maddow's show

among others, so that's enough deodorant for me. Yeah, the CEO is a putz, but he's a putz that has done a lot of work exposing stock market fraud like naked short selling, more deodorant.

I bought my LCD set through Overstock, a refurbished Toshiba that is working beautifully. I wanted a small one, 20-22 inches, and those are hard to find in stores.

[Warpy]

4. Shopping in inventory season is chancy, at best

and January/February is inventory season. Stores still have low inventory because of it. They'll restock in a few weeks, although some undoubtedly are converting to an online order, pickup the next day business model. Target is in the latter category along with Costco, both stores have stock listed on the website that is not available in stores except through online order and later pickup at the store.

[gvstn]

6. I remember

Having Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket as a teenager in January and shoppping for a boom-box. There was no selection anywhere. I was very disappointed. I think it is a combination of the stores coming out of the inventory period and them waiting for new models rather than restocking old models. Seems to me this cycle has been going on for years.

Good luck with your shopping. I think I would prefer seeing and hearing a TV in person rather than buying online. Don't ignore the audio part of TV shopping. Nothing worse than a TV that projects the sound to the rear or side rather than towards the viewer IMO.

[monmouth]

7. I agree with seeing and hearing in person but I am very familiar

with Sharp and Panasonic and was always pleased with both products. Of course, I did have a guarantee for return if not happy. Programming it was not for the feint of heart. I needed the help.........gasp.....of a man, god help me....LOL.

[DKRC]

8. Didn't have a kid handy, huh?

My daughter gives me a hard time by reminding me she is the "youth" and can sort out whatever electronic mess I've entangled myself in lately.

:evilgrin:

[monmouth]

9. It's a killer isn't it? My neighbor's 4 year-old is a whiz...LOL..n/t

[DKRC]

10. Just as long as she doesn't catch on

that some stuff I palm off on her to deal with so she'll learn how to do it.

:evilgrin: