Comments

As a former sales manager at a major consumer electronics retailer, I can confirm that the two priority items that our sales staff was pushed to sell were accessories, such as Monster Cables, and extended warranties. If extended warranties didn't make up at least 5% of your total sales, you didn't last very long. In fact, my monthly bonus was heavily impacted by the sale of those two items. Why? Because as the article states, these items have very high margins. On the daily sales reports, extended warranties came up as 100% margin. As far as new scams are concerned, I believe it has to be the ISF calibrations that many consumer electronics stores are currently pushing at roughly $300 a pop. I had never heard of it until a couple months ago when I stopped into a BestBuy. There, I stood and listened as a sales associate went into his long spiel about how all new HDTVs leave the factory completely out of calibration because they're adjusted to standout on the showroom floor. But luckily there's a way to correct the problem; just have one of BestBuy's ISF certified calibrators come out to your home and spend an hour or more calibrating your set to exacting broadcast standards and your own unique lighting situation. Per the certifying authority - isfcalibration.com: "A Basic ISF Calibration includes adjustment of Scan Velocity Modulation and electrical focus, touch up of convergence and calibration of color temperature to 6500K." "Cost of a Basic ISF Calibration is: $245.00 + $45.00 each hour of travel past the first hour + sales tax." "After the initial calibration of the display, touch up adjustments should be performed every 6 to 12 month or when you feel they may be required. This will all depend on the usage of the display." Wow! Just $300 every 6 to 12 months to keep your TV set calibrated - nice racket.