i am in the market for buying a new TV.

finally decided on Sony Bravia 46" XBR2.

actually wanted to buy XBR3,  just because i am stupid in a way that XBR3 must be better than XBR2, right? but it appears the difference between the two models is that the XBR3 has a glossy black face plate, and the XBR2 has a silver plate (which could be replaced, unlike the XBR3 model). for whatever weird reason the XBR3 is $300 more expensive.

anyway that's not the point of the story.

i did my price comparison online (through shopping, pricegrabber, mysimon, etc.) and found it for as low as $2529 (including tax & shipping) from a store in brooklyn. but i don't want to wait for the delivery and wanted to buy it from a store where i can pick it up. i looked at circuitcity.com and saw that they are selling the TV for a bargain price of $3,299… knowing that they have some sort of lowest price guarantee i called them up.

the sales rep on the phone said they will not match the price of an internet retailer, but will match the price (and even give back 10% of the difference) if i can show them a lower price from a brick-and-mortar retailer. i specifically asked regarding B&H , since i knew they may give me trouble with stores such as Abeofmaine… the sales person said "sure we'll match B&H). 

equipped with the word of the sales rep, print outs of pricing from 3 different stores for the TV and a Wall Mount i went to the local circuit city in Paramus.

the junior sales person at the store said "sure we match lower prices, even retroactively". i showed him the printed price quote. he said it does not seem right and checked it online himself.

then he asked whether i'll need a wall mount?, i said sure.

how about a protection plan from circuit city ($600)? i said no.

how about installation service ($400)? i said no.

he said he needs to call the manager…

when the manager came he said they will not match the price of abeofmaine, nor b&h. they'll match BestBuy and PCRichards… (both sell the TV for $3,299). he said  circuitcity provides a 30day return policy and sells only new products, rather than refurbished.. i told him i don't think that is any different from other stores.. when i told him that does not seem to comply with their lowest price guarantee, he said that he doesn't care about the price guarantee, he will not sell the TV for less than $3,000.. said it costs him $2,789… yeah, right.

quite a pleasant experience.

with people doing comparison shopping online and getting comfortable with buying online, i don't see how these guys survive with this attitude.