TVs today have gotten bigger, faster and sharper—and Costco can help you pick the right one.
COURTESY OF LG
(Tele)vision quest
Why Costco should be your first stop when it’s time for a new TV
by WILL FIFIELD
The technology found in consumer electronics advances at a blinding rate, which is why TVs constantly get slimmer, their screens get larger and their picture quality gets better and better. But if you’re not tech savvy, TV-speak can be a frightening language, riddled with confusing acronyms and specs. And then there are warranty policies to compare and tech support to consider. All of this makes buying a new TV more complicated than ever.
Costco goes to great lengths to supply a selection of quality TV sets that will suit your tastes and meet your needs at a great value. For starters, the company stocks only quality brands, such as Samsung, LG, Vizio, Hisense, Sony and TCL. Its 90-day return policy is among the most generous in the market. And, through Costco Concierge—the company’s warranty and tech support service—all TVs sold in Costco warehouses or at Costco.com are covered for two years (the industry standard is one year of coverage) and come with free tech support.
Great products, great guidance
“We meet with our suppliers multiple times a year,” says Costco TV buyer Michelle Hartmann. “Our goal is always to negotiate upgraded specs, additional warranties or streaming credits with popular services such as Paramount+, Showtime and Xbox, to add value for our members. We also attend the annual trade shows to be sure we’re aware of emerging technologies and new suppliers.” For example, the LG C2 series, which is available in most Costco warehouses, features Wi-Fi 6, an exciting upgrade the team was able to negotiate.
Having access to amazing TVs priced at true Costco value is fantastic, but sorting out the features you will find most appealing and determining which model best fits your budget can be exhausting. To help members navigate the TV tech labyrinth, Costco.com has created its TV Buying Guide. The guide has helpful information for selecting the appropriate screen size for your space, an explanation of screen resolutions (high definition or ultra-high definition) and many other technical features you will encounter when shopping.
Special considerations
While Costco.com’s TV Buying Guide can help demystify the tech terms and get you up to speed on specs and features, assessing your needs will aid the process. “Before you buy a new TV, a great question to start with is ‘How will I use it?’” says technology writer, Connection columnist and podcaster Marc Saltzman. “For example, if someone in your household is a gamer, you will want a television with a higher refresh rate [the number of times per second an image is displayed on a screen] to render gaming video content smoothly.”
If someone who will watch your next TV wears hearing aids, he suggests getting a TV that is Bluetooth-enabled, so they can connect their devices to compatible hearing aids and control their personal volume independently. If you mostly stream content, he adds, smart TVs with personal digital assistants are really great because you can ask them to play the content you want to watch. Make sure the TV has fast Wi-Fi and a powerful processor for an optimum experience, he adds.
Maybe you want to watch movies and sports outside, on a deck or patio? If so, Saltzman suggests checking out Costco’s range of weather-resistant outdoor TVs.
A helping hand
The thought of setting up a new TV can be a little intimidating. That’s why Costco Concierge provides free expert-level tech support. Technicians offer expertise in English and Spanish. To access the service, which is available from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week, click here or call 1-866-861-0450.
If you’ve been thinking about buying a new TV for yourself or someone special on your holiday gift list, Costco goes to great lengths to make sure you get a quality set at an amazing value. And Costco Concierge is there for you to make sure you have a good experience using it.
Protect Your Investment
Costco Concierge adds another year of protection to the manufacturer’s one-year warranty. But Costco also sells extended three-year warranties through Allstate. That means you could get up to five years of coverage if you buy an Allstate Protection Plan.
Here’s how it would work: The first two years of coverage would be covered by your Costco membership: year one by the manufacturer’s warranty, year two by Costco Concierge. The next three years would be covered by the Allstate Protection Plan.
Many premium TVs sold at Costco include the three-year Allstate Protection Plan, meaning you get all five years of coverage at no extra cost. See the product description card in warehouses or the product page at Costco.com to determine if the model you like includes the added coverage.—WF
