So This is How They Get You...

Sometime back during 2009 Christmas season (I think), Walmart had a special on a 32" flat screen for $399. I thought that was a good deal seeing that the Chocolate room will need a TV at some point (although the width needs to be lees than 31", but that's another story altogether). In any event, I didn't get it.

Fast forward to today and I find myself in a Fredericksburg, VA Super-Duper Walmart getting normal housewares. On the way to picking up the Windex, I pass by electronics and see a number of TV's that look used and have paper stars taped to their upper right corners. I run back over to the hardware section of Walmart and pick up a tape measure then head back over. Come to find out, there was a Emerson (I think) 32" flat screen with a 30" width--perfect size. However, it didn't have a "star" price on it. I asked the Walmart electronics guy to do a price check and he went to the back. While he did so, I did a price check on the exact same (unopened) floor model and saw it was $339 (and went over and got some Windex too while I was waiting). Back at electronics, I noticed that all the other opened models seemed to be at a $50 discount to the regular unopened models, and $300 was my threshold. So...if this guy came back with a price less than $300, I was gonna cop it. What did he say?

"$298."

I was all in. Just one question..., "Even though its opened, it still comes with the mounting kit, right?"

"No, none of our TV's come with mounting kits, only the stand you see here."

I noticed some mounting kit packages lined up right next to the TV's. "Are these opened as well?"

"No, these are unopened and regular price."

"Do you have any opened ones."

"No."

"How much are they?"

"He took his scanner" [beep] "$114."

"WHAT?!...So I'm paying almost half as much as the TV just to mount it on the wall?!"

"Sorry :-("

"..."

The Chocolate room is still emp-TV.

Cheers.