Dollars+Sense: Eight ways to pay less for HDTV

Some electronics retailers take advantage of consumers' low-tech knowledge of hi-def TVs. How to avoid getting taken.

The Super Bowl is a gift that just keeps on giving to electronics retailers, said Randy Baumberger, president and chief operating officer of Ultimate Electronics. TV sales spike in January as families think about TV events and giving themselves a postholiday present, said Brian Lucas, a Best Buy spokesman.

Some consumers might feel pressured to buy a new TV before the switchover from analog to digital signal broadcasting next year. That's just one of many misconceptions about buying a high-definition TV that make some consumers spend money unnecessarily.

Don't be forced into buying a new television. Hold onto the old one. Your old TV isn't going to fade to black on Feb. 17, 2009, when TV stations must turn off their analog channels and broadcast in a digital format.

Customers with analog sets who already have cable or satellite service will not need to buy converter boxes. The converter boxes will go on sale in a few weeks, around Feb. 19, for $50 to $60, but $40 vouchers will be available by calling 1-888-388-2009 or going to www.mydtv2009.gov. They will be sold at electronics retailers such as Best Buy. The coupons are good for only 90 days. If you use an antenna, you probably won't need a converter box if you have a widescreen TV. Any set purchased within the past 10 years probably has a built-in Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) tuner. Look for labels such as "built-in digital tuner," "DTV" or "ATSC."

Skip the extended warranty. Despite what many consumers might have feared, flat-panel LCD and plasma TVs have been highly reliable in the first three years of use, according to Consumer Reports. The magazine recommends skipping the warranties. Sales people might overpromise what's included in a warranty, so read it carefully. A friend bought an extended warranty on his DLP at Circuit City and was told that he would get one free bulb replacement during the warranty period, even if the bulb hadn't burned out. Told that the replacement alone made the warranty a good deal, he bought it. When he called customer service to have it replaced, he was told the warranty is good only for burned-out bulbs. Also check with your credit-card company about free extension of the manufacturer's warranty. Costco offers an automatic two-year warranty.

Buy a power strip for your new energy hog. Some 50-inch plasma TVs use as much energy as three refrigerators, said Danny Parker, research scientist at Florida Solar Energy Center. Unfortunately, new TVs are not required to label energy usage until November. Plasma sets generally use more energy than LCD, but both can use a lot of energy even when not in use. You can save significant energy by putting the TV and the cable box on a power strip and turning it off when not in use. For more information about power consumption, a chart comparing energy use of different models and sizes and power-saving tips, go to www.startribune.com/a3886.

Know your return policies. Want to return that big screen after the Super Bowl, nasty boy? Check return policies and restocking fees. Ask retailers about a money-back home trial. Save all of the packaging. Most returns on TVs vary from 30 to 90 days. Sam's Club still has an open-ended return period. Costco changed its policy to 90 days last year.

Don't spend $300 on recalibration when you can do it yourself. Best Buy's Geek Squad is heavily pushing a $300 recalibration service after 100 to 200 hours of use. It's supposed to lower power consumption and lengthen the life of the TV and bulb, but www.startribune.com/a3886 shows consumers how to recalibrate the TV on their own -- as does the DVD "Digital Video Essentials," available online at sites such as Amazon.com for less than $25.