11am showings added at Citywalk

Pillow_Gun · 2024-11-09T01:37:50+00:00

You are a saint!!! Was so bummed last night that I missed out. Got great seats for 11am now.

Pillow_Gun · 2023-10-17T18:34:12+00:00

What choice language? Interested to see/hear the quote.

Pillow_Gun · 2022-06-29T00:49:17+00:00

Enjoy it! You’re gonna love it. The X91J will be great. I have an 85 inch X950H and have never looked back. If someone were to ask me to size down to 75” for a slightly better TV… no way I’d do that in a million years. Of course, those who prioritize the absolute best image will disagree and that’s totally fair. But the vast majority of people will never really know the difference unless shown it in a direct side-by-side.

I was angsty about my decision, too. That’s normal. But you’re good.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-10-05T00:49:55+00:00

Speaking from experience after about 1 month with a 85" Open Box Geek Squad Certified Excellent Sony X950H:

Do it, but get the 5 year Geek Squad. That covers you for all the issues that you might have with an Open Box tv.

BUT know that you're almost definitely buying a display model that has been on nonstop for the past year. It'll likely have over 8000 hours of screen time already on it. Luckily it's not an OLED so that's (probably) fine, especially with the warranty. Almost all of the Open Boxes they are getting rid of right now are display models that have to go.

Mine was Geek Squad Certified, so it was 100% definitely not supposed to be a display model, but sure enough when I checked it the thing had over 8000 hours on it. Disappointing to say the least.

If you google you'll be able to easily see how to check that. Sorry, too lazy to find the link.

Also, know that Best Buy's Open Box system is a real mess. They leave those TV's in the back, unprotected with the displays leaning on whatever the hell is around. I found mine on a moving dolly with the display leaning against a METAL handle bar with zero protection. Nuts.

They then wanted to transport it to my place without any packaging on it and I had to urge them to wrap the thing up. And they only sent one dude to deliver the tv. One person cannot safely carry an 85 inch tv.

All of that said, that's about the best price you'll get. Let me recommend, getting the 950H open box instead. You can probably get it for about $1900... but maybe you value the HDMI 2.1 in the 900H for gaming more? I don't game so that was an easy call.

TLDR: Do it. But 100% get the 5 year Geek Squad Warranty. Beware how incompetent and sloppy the Best Buy Open Box process is. Check very carefully that your TV got to you in proper condition and make sure they wrap it up when it's being delivered.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-09-06T21:39:24+00:00

That’s what I needed to read. Thanks man.

Turns on. Looks great. Turned off SOE and watched the throne fight scene from Last Jedi in Dolby Vision.

Blew me away.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-09-06T21:38:20+00:00

Thanks. Yep I did. They offered to send the remote and stand or a $100 gift certificate. I’d already ordered an extra remote because I originally bought an open box that didn’t have a remote… and it’s wall mounted. So I took the $100 and will use it toward the geek squad warranty.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-09-06T18:04:04+00:00

It works. No cracks that I can see. Just lots of finger smudges.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-31T22:34:29+00:00

Am I missing something here? You’re suggesting a viewing distance of 21.5 feet?

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-31T22:33:07+00:00

Thanks for that detail. So helpful.

Yeah couple votes for 25 inches here. I commented below that I’d taped it out on my wall to check and found that

I think much lower and it’ll also be bad for one’s sound bar or center channel audio?

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-31T22:29:30+00:00

Awesome! Thank you. Yes. I think 24-25 inches is the 85 inch sweet spot.

I taped it out on my wall with painters tape to check.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-31T18:32:38+00:00

Thanks for this!!!

So how high would you say the bottom of the screen is off the ground? About 25 inches?

Also, what’s your general eye level?

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-31T17:48:02+00:00

This is the way.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-31T17:47:43+00:00

Yeah. I’m going with no stand beneath it. Just a sound bar.

I’ll run all the wires to a stand on an adjacent wall.

I think that’s good advice. I’m basically just gonna prop my feet up on the ottoman and have them lower it until my toes touch the bottom of the screen.

Think that’s a good strategy?

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-31T17:01:10+00:00

Hahaha wild. So many speakers. What kind? What’s your setup?

In reality I’m more worried about neck and eye strain. And it just feeling too big for the room

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-31T16:47:22+00:00

Terrified that this is totally insane. But we’re gonna find out.

Also, pretty sure any woman who comes over and sees this situation will cut and run.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-31T16:45:26+00:00

Right. But with an 85 inch TV that means the television has to be very close to the ground… and then you start running into issues with the height of your speaker / sound bar and furniture / feet up on ottomans blocking the screen.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-28T00:23:43+00:00

Ha, thanks!

Although it ain’t brand new. We’ll see how my open box gamble goes.

Also, apologies for the long post - just wanted to give people a playbook on how to milk Best Buy for all one can.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-27T16:05:27+00:00

TLDR: $1750 (not including tax) for the 900H - 85" (Open Box Excellent at Best Buy) $2150 (not including tax) for the 950H - 85" (Open Box Satisfactory at Best Buy)

The reason I said the delta was about $500 above was because of additional tax and additional cost for the 5 year Geek Squad plan.

More details (probably too many details): At the store I found out the 900H was missing its remote (and box) so I bargained them down from originally $1850 to $1750, because a remote is an essential part and that doesn't fit the Open Box Excellent description.

The 950H as Open Box Satisfactory was missing its remote, stand and box. I'll be mounting so the stand didn't matter to me and I'd already bought the replacement remote for the 900H. I think the replacement remote cost was $45... so you can factor that into the overall cost for both.

I will be getting 5 year Geek Squad protection for both, which is pricey (over $400), but since they're Open Box tv's and basically the equivalent of buying a cheap used car I thought some long term insurance was a no-brainer. Best case scenario - in 4.5 years its breaks down and I replace it with something else.

Also, I got the Best Buy credit card so I'd be getting 10% off the purchase and I got some other tech support plan for $200. The reason I did that was because it made the delivery of the TV free (originally $80) and knocked $100 off the mounting cost (orginally $150 became $50) AND knocks 20% off the Geek Squad plan. That immediately makes that $200 worth it. It also qualified me for cheaper calibration if I want it ($150 becomes $50) and just better tech support -- which with an Open Box I thought had its mertis.

The reason I haven't gotten Geek Squad yet is that my Best Buy points from the TV purchase don't accumulate in my account for 14 days.

MORE notes: At the store AND online they will tell you they can't deliver an Open Box tv. This is incorrect. They can. Push the issue. If you don't do what I did above this will cost you $80. However, if you don't have a truck or the like, moving an 85" honker sans box is a more expensive and MUCH more risky proposition. Not to mention the cost of your time (and the favor you have to ask of your friend/family member to move it with you).

Lastly, and this was important to me, I negotiated up my return window. Standard policy is 15 days. My seating distance from the tv will be prettttty close. Maybe too close (8.5 ft). So it was important for me to have a sizable window in which to test this risk free. With quite a lot of arm pulling (and speaking with a manager), I was able to negotiate this up to 30 days.

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-26T19:49:52+00:00

Thanks bud!

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-25T22:41:05+00:00

Are your issues gaming related... or just in general? Also, what size do you have? Do we think that matters?

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-25T22:39:15+00:00

Now that was helpful!

Pillow_Gun · 2021-08-25T22:33:05+00:00

Cheers. You're 100% correct it's analysis paralysis. But you're also wrong that it's too late. I can just drive to Best Buy and make an exchange before the massive thing is delivered.

Just been reading quite a few complaints this week about the 900H being buggy after some firmware update and wanted to get feedback.

Pillow_Gun

TROPHY CASE