Amazon / Walmart Prime Days

[pz619]

Fellas - you don't want a toaster oven. You want an air fryer, which does pretty much what your toaster oven does, but better. Just picked up the Instant Brand Vortex Plus. It's on sale at Wal-Mart's website for $99.

Buy one and thank me in the morning.

[RickFLM4]

This?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Instant-V...uart/461120825

Does it toast? Seems like a small convection oven.

[Darth One]

I'm thinking about the Sonos Beam for $360 (MSRP $500). What say the hive mind?

[pz619]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

This?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Instant-V...uart/461120825

Does it toast? Seems like a small convection oven.

That’s the one. For toast I just use the broil setting. As for the reviews, no idea what happened. Looks like they all got deleted save for one, 1 star review. Plenty on YouTube though and this particular model just came out.

Main difference between air fryer and convection oven is fan speed. The air fryer is much faster.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Ever since becoming a cast iron convert I've had my eye on a 10.25" Lodge skillet. I've put it off intentionally just so I have <$50 options in my public Amazon Gift List. Since I had a $10 Whole Foods credit, I checked items I already have my eye on. The Lodge is close to half price at $14.88. After Whole Foods credit it cost me $4.88. 🙌🏻

[King Rudi]

Found something! 3 rolls (66' long in 22", 43" and 59" width) of tape and drape for $10.39. A must have if you're like me and constantly wrapping, painting, sanding etc. on your car.

https://www.amazon.com/MyLifeUNIT-As...-1-spons&psc=1

[Captain Blood]

TV deals are still better at Costco.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by Schwarzschild Radius

TV deals are still better at Costco.

As someone who regularly sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of tvs a month (I worked for a national distributor); and a Costco fan, allow me to add my two cents.

1. There are ridiculously small margins on tvs. If you're getting a truly good price, then the price will be very close to any other place providing a good price. With rare exceptions; everyone's prices are close to one another. For reference I just looked up a 75" Samsung Q7 and the difference was $2 between Costco and Amazon.

This brings me to my next point...,

2. Different stores have different policies. Amazon has a very favorable return policy as long as Amazon is actually selling you the tv. Costco's return policy appears to be even better, allowing 90-Day returns. Because of the wide variation in performance from set to set, to me this is EXTREMELY important. I've also had different retailer reward policies make a notable difference too (thinking Best Buy/Magnolia).

3. As a videophile, selection can be a hugely determining factor for me personally. For example, I don't think I've ever seen a top-of-the-line tv model at Costco. People might want to research what they want first, then search for the best deal. www.rtings.com is a quality source for reviews.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

As someone who regularly sold hundreds of thousands of dollars of tvs a month (I worked for a national distributor); and a Costco fan, allow me to add my two cents.

1. There are ridiculously small margins on tvs. If you're getting a truly good price, then the price will be very close to any other place providing a good price. With rare exceptions; everyone's prices are close to one another. For reference I just looked up a 75" Samsung Q7 and the difference was $2 between Costco and Amazon.

This brings me to my next point...,

2. Different stores have different policies. Amazon has a very favorable return policy as long as Amazon is actually selling you the tv. Costco's return policy appears to be even better, allowing 90-Day returns. Because of the wide variation in performance from set to set, to me this is EXTREMELY important. I've also had different retailer reward policies make a notable difference too (thinking Best Buy/Magnolia).

3. As a videophile, selection can be a hugely determining factor for me personally. For example, I don't think I've ever seen a top-of-the-line tv model at Costco. People might want to research what they want first, then search for the best deal. www.rtings.com is a quality source for reviews.

Seems like it's hard to go wrong with most HD TVs, especially 4k

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by Schwarzschild Radius

Seems like it's hard to go wrong with most HD TVs, especially 4k

In the end, it depends on expectations.

I truly don't mean this in a disparaging way, but don't ever invite me over to show you the differences. It will ruin you and you'll be shopping for a new display. There are major differences. Once you see them, they're difficult to un-see. Honestly I may have been happier before I learned the difference. Truly an ignorance is bliss situation. Trust me.

Edit: a quick example is OLED vs a high-end LCD panel. The OLED seduces people with their inky blacks, but you put them next to a reference LCD and OLED can look underwhelming. Below is this exact comparison. The OLED on the left is clearly struggling to reproduce this bright scene. BTW- these are both SONY displays using the exact same settings.

[Run Silent]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

Once you see them, they're difficult to un-see. Honestly I may have been happier before I learned the difference. Truly an ignorance is bliss situation. Trust me.
.

LOL. I feel the exact same way about paint correction. I now pick out swirl marks and holograms in nearly every car. Drives me nuts.

[RickFLM4]

I found a few more things: air purifier @ $50 discount, dog treats @ $9 discount x 2 boxes, folding hand truck / dolly @ $17 discount and pkg of 3 water filters for refrigerator @ $18 discount. So combined with toaster over somewhere around $150 savings. Not bad but if we weren’t shopping for stuff, I wouldn’t make the effort to look at what they had on sale.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

In the end, it depends on expectations.

I truly don't mean this in a disparaging way, but don't ever invite me over to show you the differences. It will ruin you and you'll be shopping for a new display. There are major differences. Once you see them, they're difficult to un-see. Honestly I may have been happier before I learned the difference. Truly an ignorance is bliss situation. Trust me.

Edit: a quick example is OLED vs a high-end LCD panel. The OLED seduces people with their inky blacks, but you put them next to a reference LCD and OLED can look underwhelming. Below is this exact comparison. The OLED on the left is clearly struggling to reproduce this bright scene. BTW- these are both SONY displays using the exact same settings.

I still have a DLP tv in my media room.......

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Schwarzschild Radius

I still have a DLP tv in my media room.......

I still have a plasma. 2 of them actually.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

I still have a plasma. 2 of them actually.

Those things use an extreme amount of electricity. And are heavy. Though not as heavy as my DLP, I think I'm going to have to cut it in half to get it downstairs when the time comes.

[MPBK]

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

In the end, it depends on expectations.

I truly don't mean this in a disparaging way, but don't ever invite me over to show you the differences. It will ruin you and you'll be shopping for a new display. There are major differences. Once you see them, they're difficult to un-see. Honestly I may have been happier before I learned the difference. Truly an ignorance is bliss situation. Trust me.

Edit: a quick example is OLED vs a high-end LCD panel. The OLED seduces people with their inky blacks, but you put them next to a reference LCD and OLED can look underwhelming. Below is this exact comparison. The OLED on the left is clearly struggling to reproduce this bright scene. BTW- these are both SONY displays using the exact same settings.

There is simple software that will adjust color temp and all that.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by MPBK

There is simple software that will adjust color temp and all that.

As a certified "Master Calibrator" with decades of experience calibrating video systems, I can confirm this is poppycock. That is a hardware limitation you're looking at.

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by Schwarzschild Radius

Those things use an extreme amount of electricity. And are heavy.

The plasma display in my bedroom is akin to a space heater it emits so much heat. Not so great in the summer.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by Schwarzschild Radius

Those things use an extreme amount of electricity. And are heavy. Though not as heavy as my DLP, I think I'm going to have to cut it in half to get it downstairs when the time comes.

Originally Posted by glennQNYC

The plasma display in my bedroom is akin to a space heater it emits so much heat. Not so great in the summer.

My only other real reference points are old tube TVs and a couple of smaller LCDs so they still seem great to me. I try not to keep up with the newer stuff although I know there have been some significant technology shifts.

[Captain Blood]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

My only other real reference points are old tube TVs and a couple of smaller LCDs so they still seem great to me. I try not to keep up with the newer stuff although I know there have been some significant technology shifts.

My DLP reminds me of a line from "Ruthless People", Judge Reinhold selling some speakers to a youth:
"The Dominator series? These are fan-fucking tastic! And they are so big, when you die, you can be buried in them!"

[335dlci]

Just bought an instapot 60 usually for 130. Cooks food easily and quicker than most ways

[TheHaze]

Anova Nano and Joule sous vide cookers are both heavily discounted.