Badmovies.org Forum

Technology, that is. My wife and I got our income tax refund, and last year she was pregnant so our refund had to go toward covering our collective ass while she was on maturnity leave. This year we decide "okay, let's treat ourselves to something fun this time."

So, we decided to buy something we've talked about but never got around to buying: a flatscreen HD tv. We looked around online for deals, and decided we would be able to afford some of the sales of models that were in the 40" to 46" range. Once actually looking at model in-store, it became pretty obvious the picture-quality differences between the name brands and the cheapies like Dynex and Insignia. So we ended up going with a nice Sony 40" that was on sale for $575. On the low end of the size range we wanted, but very clearly a superior picture, so I was happy about it, especially since we stayed under $600 which was the goal.

On to a Blu-Ray player. We saw models online around the $100 mark that advertise being Wi-Fi ready so we can hook into NetFlix and Hulu and Pandora via our wireless network at home. We figured that we would probably go alittle higher than the entry models at $100 for quality reasons, but didn't expect to go higher than $150. Well, it turns out that "Wi-Fi ready" means that it's "ready" for you to add-on a Wi-Fi adapter which will cost an extra $80. They guy there pointed out we could save ourselves $20-$30 by going with "Wi-Fi built in." Hey, I'm a believer in the capitalist concept of "caveat emptor," but "Wi-Fi ready" is a very slippery term that kind of p**ses me off. Okay, so now we're at $200 for an item that will do what we want it to do, and we decided to go with Sony again for a little more quality.

Then we check out and find out if we want to watch the copy of Inception that we grabbed to be our first Blu-Ray in Hi-Def like we wanted to, then we still need an HDMI cable because they don't come with one. I think "okay, no big deal." Afterall, it's pretty common to withhold accessories like that, and how much can a cable cost, right? I'm thinking it would be no more than $20 for something like that. It turns out the cheapies with low-end transfer are $29.99, and anything decent is $60 or more. WTF! $60 for a 4-ft. cable? I know that's how they make their money but damn!

Anyway, needless to say, we walked out spending a bit more than intended

Then we get home and make arrangements to call DirectTV and upgrade to the HD receiver. Again, more money than we were expecting to pay AND they required us to commit to another 24 months. Our current 24-month commitment is up in October, so the wife and I said "f**k it," we're going to keep the standard definition for now, let the contact expire, and switch over to Dish Network and get one of those intro offers for much cheaper. If we're going to commit to 24 months, we might as well put what little free-market we have left to the test and let the competition give me something less expensive.

I'm just venting my frustration at these companies who let you think you're getting what you want for this amount, but it's just an illusion. You really need to fork out another few hundred dollars for the stuff that does what you were after in the first place. I'll get over it and overall I'm pleased with the quality we went with, I'm just bemoaning the expense. I hope the HD is worth it.

Yep, totally agree.  With bills up the yin yang and kids to boot I can't justify upgrading to what I find only a slightly better picture on television.  A lot people I know are boycotting TV and I can see.  The programming sucks and the technology is way too expensive. 

I know the feeling, Flick.  For the past few years my family has been "just around the corner" from buying a flatscreen HD TV.  (Our TV now is a tube TV from the early 90s), but we just haven't been able to come up with the money to afford it.  We did splurge for a PS3 and Netflix this past Christmas, but we were able to get a deal on it.  Somehow I doubt we'll be getting an HD TV until I'm at least out of college.

This stuff is just way too expensive.  Another piece of technology that just runs you through the roof is a cell phone.  I don't own one, although I'd like one, because I just can't afford it.  My parents haven't had a cell phone since 2007 when the bills just got too high.  Plus we live rurally, so we have to commute into town, and the only company with coverage in our area costs waaay too much.

As much as I love technology, it just gets too damn expensive. :bluesad:

I was told by many people that a cheap HDMI cable is as good as an expensive one. Of course they told me after I bought one for $70.
Good price on your LCD though. I'd say the cut off line in size is 37", anything smaller is not really worth the HD effort. The 40" to 46" range should provide an excellent viewing experience. Tip: Calibrate your LCD "professionally" when possible. The factory setting is usually amazing but with the right calibration your jaw will hit the floor.
My Sony Blu-ray player was actually $350 but that was two years ago, so in that regard you still made out like a bandit  :wink:

I'm aware your thread is about expensive things, but I always get excited when somebody does the HD switch. Enjoy :)

"Whatever the market will bear..."

In the end, you, and a whole bunch of other people, agreed to pay it.  At the end of the day, that is the ONLY reason it is so expensive.

Businesses often spend a  good deal of effort to determine an accurate demand function.  This is a mathematical formula that shows how many products are purchases as a function of price.  Couple this with a profit function and it's very easy math to compute the price that will maximize profit (which is NOT simply the highest price for something).

Personally, I don't understand spending so much for a TV "system."  But that's okay; I'm sure I spend money on things that would make everyone else here scratch their heads.   :teddyr:

I agree with everything you just said. I'm just griping.

Well, put it in the Grind My Gears thread, then, so my small mind can keep it straight.   :teddyr: :teddyr: :teddyr: :teddyr: :teddyr:

Interesting this topic came up today.

In a similar vein, today I went into a good ol' brick and mortar book store for the first time in probably a couple of years. There were times in the past when I would have left with a couple of books and a few magazines.

I browsed through some new titles I was interested in (Hey! A new collection of unpublished Vonnegut stories! Cool!) and they were all in the thirty to forty dollar range. The mags, including the reboot of Famous Monsters of Filmland (which looks terrible by the way, RC :bluesad:) were all in the ten dollar range!

I didn't buy a thing - not even a mocha java latte espresso lite with sprinkles- and honestly felt a bit guilty about it.

But it's back to buying used books online for me.

The public library, my friend. I very rarely purchase books or movies because the library has almost everything I need available free and legally. The only time I actually spend money is when I actually want to reward the creator with money.

As to TV's, remember when HD first came out and they were selling TV's that were "HD-ready?" What that meant was the TV would not process an HD signal without a separate adapter. Woohoo! Non-functioning HDTV's for only thrice the price of a regular TV!

As for cables, that is as pure a scam as your likely to find anywhere. This Monster cable (http://www.amazon.com/Monster-M1000-HD-8-Ultimate-Speed/dp/B000JVGWJI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1300127218&sr=8-2) listed at $200 will give you exactly the same signal as this cable (http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-High-Speed-Meters-Supports-Channel/dp/B001T9NUJE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1300127115&sr=8-3), which costs $8. If you search around, you can find an article written by somebody who successfully swapped the wires with a coat hanger for no noticeable difference.

That being said, I dropped about $1500 two years ago on a Samsung 61" DLP (http://reviews.cnet.com/projection-tvs/samsung-hl61a750/4505-6484_7-32915921.html). Nobody liked the technology (rear-projection LCD), so they don't make it anymore, but it looks great. It was more money than I would have liked to spend, but there's not a day that goes by that I regret buying it. It can even play 3-D movies, but, of course, it requires an extra adapter.

With tech stuff, it really pays to do your research before walking into a store. With the above TV, I spent about six months looking for the largest, cheapest, best-looking picture I could find. Then I waited for a good sale. It also helps you ferret out garbage like Monster cables.

Now I just need a good sale on an HDMI-capable receiver...

I'm with you on the library. But like you said, there are some books, movies, etc I want to own, either because I want to reward the creator or I just have to have 'em.

I know-for all it's glossy pages and nice covers-it aint the same. I bought #251 (Lugos/Gogos cover) and #253 (Island of Lost Souls cover)...and beyond one or 2 interesting articales on classic horror-the rest was BLAH. Nice covers,though.

sigh...the day of 60 cent monster mags and 15 cent comic books are loooong gone.  :bluesad:

(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l79/RCMerchant/71-9.jpg)

Gas is over $4.25 gal in N.J. WTH!

I'm REALLY glad I dont smoke anymore, I bet cigs will be close to $8.00 by next year, bet?

Also... I don't agree with video games almost $70.00 per game, that's really F$#%%$ up.

Food shopping runs (for 2) almost $175.00 every other week... WTH.

---

Those old Famous Monsters mags look really awesome btw.

With video games now, I wait until they've been out a while and buy them in the 20 bucks range. I refuse to spend 60+ bucks for a game now...

I loved the look and the feel of the old mags. The new one reminds me of People or  Tiger Beat.

I KNOW! I quit smoking over 4 years ago and the last time I noticed the price of a pack I had that little extra surge of feeling good about quitting.

Hmmm, so about $80 per week for a couple?  That doesn't seem too bad.

We budget $200 per week for a family of four, but can run as little as $130.  We could shave it even further if really needed.

I'm just curious:  what are you used to paying that $40 per person per week seems relatively high?

Actually, I have asked the Master... it costs like $200 per every other week, plus takeout.

I eat alot... no, I'm not fat lol, I have a very high metabolism and She's on the eating healthy kick.

But still, bread, milk, eggs, Pepsi, meats, snacks and her expensive health food gets rather high in price.

I can't seem to fill up the gas tank anymore without it costing me 40-50 bucks.  :buggedout:

Do you have a SUV or a truck?... I have a Honda Civic, it's pretty good on gas, even at $4 per gal.

Edit - But also I use Lucas fuel treatmen... and oh man does that help with mileage.

You think that's bad?  It costs us $120 to completely fill up our gas tank (usually we pay $90 for the 3/4 of a tank).  That's Canadian dollars, by the way.  In American it's $122.  To be fair the car I'm talking about is a minivan, and we are looking for a better gas mileage commuter car.

I'm talking Canadian dollars too and I drive a Pontiac Sunfire. I tend to fill the tank everytime I gas up which is usually once every couple of weeks.

Yes, but you don't spend money on drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, so it kind of evens out.

 :bouncegiggle:

 :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: It's really funny for me because I only have a PS@2! :bouncegiggle: :bouncegiggle: :cheers: Seven years old and still kickin! :thumbup:

I still have my PS2 too...some games aren't possible to play on the new PS3 anyways so I kept the old gaming system too. I wish I still had a working Atari.

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the thread title was "Feeding my kids?"  My wife insists that I have a tapeworm, and apparently tapeworms are passed down from the father's genetics because all of my kids have tapeworms as well.  They can eat!  We spend about $160 a week on groceries, and that's using the commissary.  It's going to be unreal once Jenna, Andy, and Garrett are older.  We'll end up going through a gallon of milk a day.

Our grocery bill is not helped by us trying to eat healthy.  Healthy food is expensive.  During the spring/summer/fall we also tend to spend $40 a week at a local farmer's market buying fruits and vegetables.

Which reminds me - Badmovies.org is still FREE!  :thumbup:

Oh there is Andrew... I didn't see you post in a while.  (http://i55.tinypic.com/evcioo.gif)

When people ask me why I don't have an HD TV, I say "Why? so I can see the string holding up the flying saucer in Plan 9 even BETTER?"

I will upgrade my TV when it dies. It's a 32" Sylvania CRT, so who knows when that will be.

You haven't lived until you've seen those strings in HD!

The first TV I ever bought was a Sony CRT. It's still going strong. I'm guessing you will never own a new TV.

On an tangent of a note: I absolutely hate it when customers get angry at me personally in regard to the prices at the 7-11, I work at. I'm a 19 year old who has done basic level work for about 7 months. Really? I can control prices? Why did my manager or the owner never inform me? I'd be buying all the $5ish each Ben and Jerry Ice Cream for a total of 20 cents. I'm going to buy 25 cartons of ciggarettes for $5 and re-sell them for a profit. Listen, Mr.80 year old man who should know better than to constantly whine, I'm sorry a can of Coke costs $1.05 after tax, but there's only so much faked sympathetic grins I'll give you, before I'm tempted to throw the Coke at you and say "It's free now!"  I'm sorry drunk lady, but I can't cut you a deal on food.  :lookingup:

 :buggedout: :buggedout: +  :teddyr: :teddyr: :teddyr:

Here's the way I respond to things like that, and it's so amazingly simple and effective. Just calmely say "you're right." Nothing more. Absolutely nothing more.

Some people like that are complaining because they're venting and since you happen to be representing the establishment, guess who get's to hear the frustration?

Or, they are busy-body blowhards who know damn well you have nothing to do with it but they have to give you a hard time about it anyway because they just have to be heard.

Either way, you're covered. In the former case you are sympathizing. The latter case you are stopping the blowhard dead in their tracks because what they really want is for you to object or counter in some way so they can go off into another tangent.

I'm telling you, if you just simply say "you're right" and refrain from going any further, you will find it strangely liberating.

Good idea! I do have to be careful with my tone of voice though, should my bosses interpret it as mocking the customer with sarcasm.

I find that giving a deadened look, not necessarily a look of I-don't-care, but rather like I'm in my own world can sometimes work too. Just acting like I'm on autopilot and saying "How are you today? Thank you." I must admit sometimes that happens without me trying.   

For the record, I have never and plan on never lashing out at a customer, physically, verbally, or otherwise. One thing that keeps me calm, is I think to myself "I have no idea what is going on in this customer's life. They could have just been through a horrible divorce or their dog could have been hit by a car this morning or something." Even though bad situations don't justify taking it out on me, I feel that I'd be willing to forgive them in that case. That being said, I will work with you much better, if you are polite and friendly and you don't assume I can do stuff like ring up already written-off product for cheaper than usual. Being a regular can also help.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Wholesale-prices-up-16-pct-on-apf-3777454020.html?x=0&.v=1


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Wholesale prices jumped last month by the most in nearly two years due to higher energy costs and the steepest rise in food prices in 36 years.

Excluding those volatile categories, inflation was tame.  :bouncegiggle: