Sunday, September 07, 2008

A shopping we went



Serge announced rather early that it was the day for buying a flat-screen. I had to chuckle when he put it this way: Enough wanting, it's time for having. It's true he's been yearning for this ever since the first tiny ten-grand models came out in the 90's. So he's referring to at least ten years of wanting. And here's the great part, the twelve monthly interest free payments are approximately the amount I used to spend on cigarettes. It's practically free, I reasoned with myself. I didn't want to haggle. I found the advertised model I wanted. 46" full HD for under $1500. The salesman didn't want to sell it for that price so it was lucky I had brought the ad in from that very day's newspaper. He explained that their paper got blown away in the morning wind so they didn't know. Pul-ease. It's just a given that you are a liar if you are trying to sell me a television, car, or any other big ticket item. Slime, all of them. I also had to prove that the paper offered 12 interest free payments. He only wanted to give me three.

We brought it home and made love to the box before we opened it.

Oh I didn't mention it but we had to buy a new cable box for the HD signal and channels. They have two models, the basic and the TIVO kind where you can pause and record, skip commercials and the like. Something else we've wanted for five years. We sprang for it so now I am ready for winter baby, ready for winter. Then you have to buy a wire to go from your cable box to your new HD TV. We saw a show about this, how it's a total rip off and how the 10 dollar cord worked exactly as well as the $100 cord. We even specifically told the salesman we didn't want to buy a hundred dollar cord. Here, look what happened.



I still can't believe we said yes. But no matter, we now have this!

27 comments:

bob said...

Congratulations. When we moved over here we bought a 42" and for a couple weeks I was constantly saying, "oh god it's way too big."

Now I think we should've gone bigger.

TiVo will change your life. I ended up watching less TV in NY once we got one (UK doesn't have it, but we have something similar if less intuitive) because I watched what I wanted to watch rather than mindlessly surfing for something to catch my fancy.

Birdie said...

Hold it. This is the second time in a month I've seen a guy admit to reading the instruction manual. What is this world coming to?!

I have serious tech envy here. Look at those smiles! Is it Christmas?

Petie said...

All I could think of is "I wondered if it can be hooked to a computer and watch porn on it"...

mare said...

I sold my Replay TV (the other brand of Tivo, with automatic commercial skipping) a couple of months ago. I never used it because we don't watch TV anymore since Bittorrent.

Someone paid me more money for it than I had paid 3 years ago.

O, and I'll wait to buy a flat screen until the screens really get thin, and don't have 5 inches of bulky black plastic behind them.

CoffeeDog said...

Maaaannn, I want one!

Mel said...

I'd love one, but seeing as we don't really watch anything other than movies on my nights off and seeing as I really, really need to get all my credit card and student loan debts paid off, it's gonna have to wait a few years.

Rick Bettencourt said...

Wow, I am jealous. The Pats start today and I'll be watching it on my bubble tv from 1996.

Anonymous said...

I've noticed the prices on 1080p sets are falling rather rapidly. But since I don't watch much standard television, and my laptop is capable of 720p (1280x800) so I have no problems viewing online HD content.

Call me a luddite that way. I also don't believe in the absolute need to have a cellphone. I consider them more a hassle than a convenience.

Had I mentioned I'm a che^h^h^h frugal sort? When things break I'm capable of fixing them. I'm just that sort of guy.

Summer said...

I'm jealous. Been trying to talk hubby into one for our newly redecorated family room. I hope it doesn't take him 7 years to decide! Enjoy the TV and the new TV season.

don said...

You got an HD PVR? Suh weet.
And think of all that HD porn that you can buy now. Party on this winter!

Anonymous said...

In the first video, I liked Serge's get on board or get out of the way attitude. His hair is way to short. Nothing to grab at the appropriate times.
It is a lot of money for a cord but I'm sure it is superior to the cheap one which I'm guessing is made with Aluminum instead of copper. It will work 10 times better and last ten times longer so it is worth the price. ed

A Lewis said...

Nice box you're both makin' love to, there. I haven't seen gay boys that close to a box in years. And so BIG!

My adventures said...

TV will never be the same! I can't stand watching anything else now. It's a great way to put off having to get glasses too!

J-o-h-n-n-y said...

Ah...making love to the box before you opened it...that's exciting......:_)

David said...

Like Serge, I'm still hoping the day will come when I can afford a widescreen TV like you guys just got. I was hoping to get one in 2008, but I might have to wait until late next year.

Still, by then, these type of TV's will see an even further drop in price.

Congrats, though. It looks pretty.

Anonymous said...

Sweet Christmas -- I am SOOOOOOO jealous right now! I can only dream of watching GOSSIP GIRL on that huge, sexy flat screen.

And how cute is Serge getting all excited about the impending purchase!

Rox said...

I'm so glad you listened to my advice to bite the bullet! Mine is 37" but it's in my bedroom and Derwood said he want to upgrade the big screen downstairs this winter. (We also bought the expensive cable) and the PVR? OMG You're going to LOVE it! It always blows my mind when I turn in on at the right time and my shows are on!

Serge kind of looked hypnotized by whole experience...congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Very very cute... you all made me smile this morning.

So, when can I come visit and watch the gargantuan tv?

Doug said...

10 years is a long time for wanting. Congrats on taking the plunge! I love our DVR. Couldn't live without it anymore.

I despise cheap, lying, stealing salespeople and the companies that give them an environment to flourish.

The vids and pics are hysterical. Serge looks like such the little kid on Xmas. hehe.

Anonymous said...

I love TIVO! It really can save you time, and you can watch your chosen programs when you want to. Or you can pause it when some one interrupts. And best of all, you can replay that cute young walk on that barely got two seconds of air time as much as you want (as well as catch the 'did I really see what I thought I saw?' events.

My only problem is that I now want TIVO everything. When the power went out for over a week and I listened to the AM battery radio I kept trying to play it back.... oh well.

Anonymous said...

Torny, I have to agree with you on Serge's haircut...too short, waaaay too short!!!

As for the tv, ummm...okay. Well, congratulations. I don't understand the excitement over a tv cuz it's not really that important to me but if it's what you guys wanted, then great. I will agree with others that DVR (or TIVO..but that's just a brand name) is a great invention. To zip through commercials and watch your shows on your time schedule is the best.

Java said...

Aside from the hair being WAY too short, Serge is just about as cute as he can be getting all excited over the TV. We still don't have one, and probably won't get one for a while, although I'd like a smaller one for the bedroom. Don't watch much TV now anyway.

Sunshine said...

You guys are the biggest kids I know!!! Very adorable. :P

Will said...

You guys are so much fun together! And Serge demonstrating that cable--he'd make a great gay Vanna White.

Butch said...

Congratulations!! I understand the resolution of those screens is great.

Mark in DE said...

I believe this is a sign!!!

With our recent "economic stimulus checks" unspent, and the treasure trove we will make in 2 weeks when we settle on our house, I have been telling Spouse "its time... its time for a flat screen HD TV". He sees nothing wrong with the 20-year old 17" TV we usually watch, and says that "crappy TV shows won't be any less crappy on an expensive TV".

This is a sign. Its time. I'll even spring for the $100. cable.

Mark :-)

S said...

Woo hoo! Movie night!

So, when can I come over?