55" Samsung for $498 - Is there a catch?

FastEddieB

FastEddieB

Touchdown! Greaser!
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Lenoir City, TN/Mineral Bluff, GA
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Fast Eddie B
Just saw this at Walmart today:

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We're thinking of replacing our 47" Vizio and have room for at most a 55":

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That Samsung appears to check all the boxes, mainly 4k and UltraHD.

Am I missing something? I heard rumor that Samsung builds sets for Walmart using cheaper components. Thoughts?
 
Seems a manufacturer like Samsung would have more to lose using "cheaper components".
 
Get the exact model number. If you can only find it for sale at Walmart, it's likely a spec just for them. If you find it elsewhere, it's likely a standard model. Walmart moves a ton of volume. They have pricing leverage others don't. But they also have the leverage to get stuff built to their spec if they choose.
 
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That's basically that model's (55MU6290) price pretty much everywhere - but I think it's a good deal for a 4K 55" television.
 
eman1200 said:
they're so cheap because once you turn it on it plays non-stop reruns of The Golden Girls 24/7 and you can't turn it off or mute it.
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That Dorothy is a tall glass of water - I bet she looks great in 55" 4K glory!
 
eman1200 said:
wait, you know their names??!!??
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I remember Dorothy and think the old cranky Italian was Sophia. Can't remember the name of the slutty one though.

Errrr...I mean...nope. Don't know their names!
 
kayoh190 said:
I remember Dorothy and think the old cranky Italian was Sophia. Can't remember the name of the slutty one though.

Errrr...I mean...nope. Don't know their names!
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wait, there's a slutty one??!!???? why does no one tell me these things?
 
Check the number of HDMI inputs. The cheaper models usually sacrifice this and you end up with only 1 or 2 inputs. Can be a pain if you have more devices that need to be plugged in later.
 
eman1200 said:
wait, there's a slutty one??!!???? why does no one tell me these things?
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I heard there's a great deal at WalMart so you can catch up with kayoh and steingar...
 
SaltH2OHokie said:
Get the exact model number. If you can only find it for sale at Walmart, it's likely a spec just for them. If you find it elsewhere, it's likely a standard model. Walmart moves a ton of volume. They have pricing leverage others don't. But they also have the leverage to get stuff but to their spec if they choose.
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I believe Walmart gets spec models so that you and I can't price match.
 
I couldn't help noticing your current TV was on Niki Haley's address to the U.N.

Without getting political, I really enjoy that the tile behind the podium at the UN matches my kitchen.

Kitchen.jpg
 
I thought LGs OLED technology was the cats meow these days, and every one else is force to drop prices?
 
Looks like the one Jay Honeck just bought at Best Buy.
 
Might have slower response or refresh rate vs other models. But then it’s one of those things if you have to ask you probably won’t notice.
 
To answer the question: "Is there a catch?"

Yes. You have to go into the 4th circle of Hell (AKA Wal-Mart) to get one.

To answer the real question - It is certain to be a fine TV, just not the latest, greatest, most feature packed at that price. For the low cost TV's, they leave out a few of the bells and whistles that would come on the similar $750 version at Best Buy. Maybe the screen has slightly worse contrast or a lesser non-reflective coating on the screen. But you're getting 95% of the performance for 2/3 of the price. I'm always fine with that trade-off.
 
teejayevans said:
I thought LGs OLED technology was the cats meow these days, and every one else is force to drop prices?
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I got the LG OLED for my new living room. I love the TV!! I got the 55" but I'm now wishing I got the 65". So I'm thinking next holiday season I'll upgrade to a 65/70" and throw the 55" into my office or bedroom.

This is the tv I was looking for at BestBuy but couldn't find it. I guess I'll be going back. I'm getting my parents two new TVs. One for the Den and the other for my mother's office.
 
kyleb said:
But you're getting 95% of the performance for 2/3 of the price. I'm always fine with that trade-off.
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Before I upgrade to a better TV I need to upgrade to better shows. o_O

Nauga,
and his 'Rick and Morty' binge
 
Costco does the same thing to get “special” models. Never noticed any difference except number of HDMI inputs but the one I bought has enough for me.

As far as using cheaper components, I treat those as urban rumors. My latest Samsung from Costco did have a motherboard failure in the first two weeks. Called Costco and a Samsung tech was at the house the next day and replaced the board and all is well.

Cheers
 
FastEddieB said:
Just saw this at Walmart today:

24378903057_099539a59b_z.jpg


We're thinking of replacing our 47" Vizio and have room for at most a 55":

38366663335_687b1554b2_z.jpg


That Samsung appears to check all the boxes, mainly 4k and UltraHD.

Am I missing something? I heard rumor that Samsung builds sets for Walmart using cheaper components. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
We have the 58" of this series. Went to the store to buy this exact model (at Best Buy) and the 58" was a mere $100 more, so we went with the bigger model. If you look around, you may be able to find a similar deal.

I think someone else mentioned it earlier, but Wal-Mart does have unique model #'s just for them due to the volume they move, but the products are otherwise identical to those found at other retailers.
 
All you have to do is find some matching 4K content.

Good luck!
 
Been buying a lot of TV's...that is about going rate for a basic 55" LED 4K TV. Costco has similar deals.
 
Saying prices will be even lower after the holidays.
 
AWACSEng said:
We have the 58" of this series. Went to the store to buy this exact model (at Best Buy) and the 58" was a mere $100 more, so we went with the bigger model. If you look around, you may be able to find a similar deal.

I think someone else mentioned it earlier, but Wal-Mart does have unique model #'s just for them due to the volume they move, but the products are otherwise identical to those found at other retailers.
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Sometimes they’re the same, sometimes different. Sometimes the retailers do it so they don’t have to “price match” on “different models” because they’re asses like that.

mscard88 said:
Saying prices will be even lower after the holidays.
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If NFL continues to have the year they’ve been having the usual Super Bowl sales on TVs will be deep cuts. If the manufacturers haven’t already blown out inventory by then.
 
mscard88 said:
Still hard to believe I haven't watched the NFL since the protest crap started.

Screw the NFL!
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Opposite boat here. Don’t give a crap about the pre-game retarded pageantry anyway, so I’m usually taking a whiz around that time. Or grabbing a soda or making snacks.

Haven’t watched much football this year but that’s because both my fantasy league team and the Broncos both self-destructed.
 
Usually no catch with a recognizable name brand. Today’s technology puts a lot of value at a low price point. Differentiators are how ‘smart’ it is, field of view, 3D capability, and refresh rate.

High end models do all of the aboveboard nearly 180* field of view on a credit card thick screen with individually backlit OLED screen 80” or larger.

Your talking $12,000 and up in that category.

We have 2 smart TVs, one 55” the other 75”. Both are 4K, both driven by android. One is LG, the other Sony. We like the apps available for the Sony better than the LG. Both detect our media library held on a network attached storage device and play pics, movies, and music easily.

Both let me send pandora, utube, and other stuff from my phone the to TV. Pretty neat, actually.

The only thing my Sony does the LG doesn’t is have an app for DirecTV that let’s me view DirecTV without having a box for it, since the app functions as the box.
 
I got that TV just before Black Friday, have been watching it for a week here on the mountain. It works. Actually, was fairly impressed with the quality of the sound, but bought a 2.1 soundbar anyway.
 
FastEddieB said:
Just saw this at Walmart today:

24378903057_099539a59b_z.jpg


We're thinking of replacing our 47" Vizio and have room for at most a 55":

38366663335_687b1554b2_z.jpg


That Samsung appears to check all the boxes, mainly 4k and UltraHD.

Am I missing something? I heard rumor that Samsung builds sets for Walmart using cheaper components. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Holy crap. Your hearth looks exactly like the one in the house I sold last year. I mean exactly. Cedar roof and all. A little creepy.
 
ARFlyer said:
I got the LG OLED for my new living room. I love the TV!! I got the 55" but I'm now wishing I got the 65". So I'm thinking next holiday season I'll upgrade to a 65/70" and throw the 55" into my office or bedroom.

This is the tv I was looking for at BestBuy but couldn't find it. I guess I'll be going back. I'm getting my parents two new TVs. One for the Den and the other for my mother's office.
Click to expand...

You need to get the soundbar too, definitely worth it.
 
mscard88 said:
Still hard to believe I haven't watched the NFL since the protest crap started.

Screw the NFL!
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Been while since I watched a pro game. Anyone know how the Cleveland Rams or the Chicago Cardinals are doing this year..??

Is Bum Phillips still head coach for the Houston Oilers..??
 
No catch..snatch it up, it will serve you fine. We have a 55" led Samsung from wal mart and have had it for years. Looks good still.

Now for movies we watch it on our projector and 120" screen. Makes the 55" seem like a 32".
 
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