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Study: Online and Brick-and-Mortar Prices for HDTVs and Digital Cameras Vary by Up to 87 Percent(Market Wire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) CAMBRIDGE, MA, November 2 / MARKET WIRE/ -- In preparation for the holiday shopping season, DigitalAdvisor.com, a research site for consumer electronics, recently conducted a study on where to find the best prices for digital cameras and HDTVs. Based on field trips to major big-box retailers and online searches, web-based retailers clearly prevailed. In fact, consumers buying the models DigitalAdvisor explored can expect price differences of up to 87 percent, including shipping. "This study shows in no uncertain terms that consumers can save a bundle on HDTVs and digital cameras by shopping online," said DigitalAdvisor expert Mike Brady. "They will typically find a better selection, a plethora of accompanying information on specifications and features, and often free shipping. Any HDTV or digital camera shopper that doesn't at least compare prices online is spending more than they need to." Price variations were stark DigitalAdvisor's staff first identified camera and HDTV models considered to be the hottest for this holiday season. Its employees and agents then visited retail stores (Best Buy, Circuit City, Target and WalMart) in late September and early October 2007 in Santa Clarita, Calif.; Abington, Mass.; Boston, Mass.; Braintree, Mass.; Brockton, Mass.; and Detroit, Mich. DigitalAdvisor also researched current prices from its online-retailer affiliates during the same time period. All prices included shipping. Prices varied widely. For instance: -- Prices for the Canon SD1000 model camera ranged from a high of $327 at Circuit City to a low of $175 through a DigitalCamera-HQ.com affiliate -- an 87 percent difference. -- Prices for the Panasonic 58" Plasma TH58PZ700 HDTV ranged from a high of $4,499 at Best Buy to a low of $3,285 at a DigitalAdvisor.com affiliate -- a 34 percent difference. -- Prices for the Panasonic 50" Plasma TH50PX75U HDTV ranged from a high of $1,999 at Circuit City to a low of $1,149 at a DigitalAdvisor.com affiliate -- a 74 percent difference. To read the full comparison, visit www.DigitalAdvisor.com (HDTVs) and www.DigitalCamera-HQ.com (digital cameras). DigitalAdvisor and DigitalCamera-HQ Holiday Gift Guides now available For more advice on holiday shopping for consumer electronics, visit DigitalAdvisor's web sites: www.DigitalAdvisor.com for HDTVs, www.DigitalCamera-HQ.com for digital cameras, and www.DigitalCamera-HQ.com/camcorders/ for camcorders. About DigitalAdvisor LLC Digital Advisor LLC is a privately owned company that runs DigitalAdvisor.com and DigitalCamera-HQ.com, two online resources that offer unbiased information and recommendations for consumers making consumer electronics purchases. The sites combine the efforts of editors, owners and professional reviewers around the web to give buyers a complete, unbiased review of each product. DigitalAdvisor LLC is based in Harvard Square, Cambridge, Mass. More information can be found at www.DigitalAdvisor.com and www.DigitalCamera-HQ.com. Note to editors: Mike Brady from Digital Advisor is available for one-on-one interviews to provide advice on holiday shopping for consumer electronics. Mike can be reached at [email protected]. DigitalAdvisor is a trademark of DigitalAdvisor LLC in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine For information, contact: Mike Brady DigitalAdvisor (617) 864-3100Email Contact Copyright 2007 Market Wire, Incorporated |