I recently embarked on a journey to purchase a new TV. This TV would be the first new TV I had ever bought. Not being a big fan of TV The last TV that I bought was a second hand model that I paid 20 dollars for back in university. Now as a ‘professional’ I thought it would be a good time to get something that was up to date and had all the features I was looking for.
So what was I looking for? That was good question. I knew I wanted something larger than my 21 inch computer screen which had been my staple for watching movies over the past 5 years. I knew that after trying to watch my wife’s Mac in our well light living room I needed something with an non-relfective screen.
I was also looking for the following features:
- 40 inch or larger screen
- built in DVR recording
- Internet connectivity with built in wireless LAN capabilities
- Integrated Skype with video capabilities
- Multiple HDMI inputs and Computer connections
Then my search started. I did most of my shopping in the local interdiscount shop which had a large display wall and lots of models available. As a deep contemplator I was getting into the habit of stopping by the store about 2-3 times a week over a period of about 3 weeks. Was I a bit obsessed, maybe, but the shop was on my walk home from the office and it wasn’t out of the way.
After about 2 weeks I had narrowed down my thoughts, looking at a few Sony models, and a few Samsung models. The decision was made based on the screen. The Sony EX700 series had the right features and the right screen. I liked the Sony HX800 screen and the Samsung’s screens better, but in my living room with the huge windows I knew the HX800 and Samsung’s glossy screens would just not work. I’ve had the EX721 for a couple of weeks now and I can say I am happy with my purchase.
So how about the shopping experience? Let me give some thoughts on all of the websites and stores I visited.
Fust
I check out a few sales advertisements for Fust and their website. I found their website not very useful and The selection did not really have anything that interested me. Their website doesn’t have a way to browse the available TVs, rather it is just a place where they post a PDF of their latest sale paper. Totally useless in my opinion.
Interdiscount
I found the interdiscount website one of the easiest to use. While the graphic design is a bit dated the site does allow you to filter results based on screen size, brand, and a host of other features. The only disadvantage of the site is that the technical data on the models is not necessarily complete. From the store perspective they have alot of their stock available for viewing in the store. They also have a HD video clip playing on the display TVs that is very good for comparing the TVs. If has a fast action scene for checking motion blur, and dark scene for getting a feel for the contrast of the TV, and some color rich scenes. Interdiscount has a large selection and their prices were also very competitive.
Mediamarkt
Mediamarkt has just launched an oneline shop this year. And it shows. There are some basic search features to filter by brand and size, but there is not much choice on their website. The store is a different experience. I visited the newly remodeled Mediamarkt in Dietikon and found it to be comparable to any big-box shop like best buy in the U.S. Their instore selection was good. Non-sales items were a bit higher priced than others, although their sales prices were comparable to other chains. The one negative about the Mediamarkt store, was that the TVs are not setup in a way where one brand of TV is next to another. This makes comparison of image quality very difficult in the store. Interdiscount was much better on this account.
Digitec.ch
Digitec is a former web based shope that has recently started opening small show rooms. The digitec website as the best tools for searching and comparing TV models. You’ll need to read a little German, Italian or French, there is no English option. I used the Digitec website to do most of my research. I did visit their showroom and with only about 6 TVs on display it was a bit of a joke. Digitec had some of the best prices and offers delivery or pick-up in the showrooms. If you know the specific model you would like to purchase it is definately work checking out.
Migro Electronics
Migro Electronics had very limited selection but they had the best prices. I actually ended up purchasing my TV from the local Migro Electronics shop. It just so happened that Migro carries a good selection of Sony and Samsung TVs and they have some great sales prices. I think the key to getting a good price at Migro is to wait until there is an electronics sales. One negative about the shop was the HD video clip playing on the display TVs. The clip is just a loop of store advertisements and it is almost impossible to use to compare the TV quality in the shop. For model comparisons visit another shop like interdiscount.
That wraps up my thoughts on TVs in Switzerland. Good luck with your search. If you have any additional ideas or experiences leave a comment.