I’ve been looking to get a new TV for about three years now and finally got serious within the past couple months. I knew it was a big decision, so I didn’t want to jump the gun and buy the first TV I saw. So I took my time and did my research.

The first thing I did was stop by multiple stores and ask some questions. I needed to know more about what characteristics I should be looking for. Talking with employees was both beneficial and frustrating. I found that only a few people actually knew what they were talking about when it came to TVs. Some stores didn’t even bother helping me. I walked around the TV department for 20 minutes and no employee even acknowledged me.

When I was able to find employees who were knowledgeable on the subject, I made sure to pick their brains on what they recommended. I needed to know the difference between LCD, LED, and Plasma screens. I also didn’t know what Hertz was and how it impacted screen quality.

After I had talked with some employees, I had a good idea of what characteristics I wanted. Using this, I was able to find a list of matching TVs online and compare ratings and reviews. Like the employees, I found the online reviews both helpful and frustrating. Many of the reviews were negative or people complaining about a tiny detail, so it was hard to get an accurate idea of what products were good and which were bad.

I read plenty of reviews across various websites and retail sites and had narrowed my TV options down to a couple TVs, but was still a little unsure, so I headed back to the store. Luckily, I was able to talk with someone who was extremely knowledgeable about TVs and led me to a great purchase.

I was very proud of myself for waiting and doing the research instead of impulsively buying the first good TV I found. I wouldn’t have been very happy with that first TV I found.

What experiences have you had with shopping for a larger purchase? Did you do your research?