I'm not kidding. I saw a package deal tonight on some late night home shopping network that featured an InFocus DLP Projector (no model number specified) and a Draper 106" screen (no series specified). All for $19.99.....Well, almost. It was something like $1600 for the whole package. Regardless of the price, what do you all think of even HSN getting in on what THEY would call Home Theater?

IMO, it severely bastardizes our industry...When you see an 'As Seen on TV' sticker on a peice of gear, you know things have gone horribly wrong.

I saw a similar "theater" package on one of those shopping shows about 6 months ago. If they are still promoting them, it's likely they're selling some.

Next we'll see them on the end caps at the local grocery store, and after that, Chysler will be giving them away for taking a test drive.

When the price gets low enough, people are going to use them like the old super8 film projectors. All they'll really need is an old sheet and a card table.

Next we'll see them on the end caps at the local grocery store, and after that, Chysler will be giving them away for taking a test drive.

Walk into any Costco and look up as you walk in. There's your "endcap"

it was on shopathometv.com . i actually work for scripps and saw that too. the model number on the projector was the the infocus 4805. trying to find out if its worth trading in a RP HDTV for.

FYI!!!!!!! There is a rumor running around that said projector manufacture is having major issues. Internally and manufacturing. Product problem appears to be "bad bearings" on color wheel. There is no plans to do a recall. Double check warranties. Just FYI!!!!

I think this proves that Home Theater is having pretty good penetration as an idea, and uninformed people are selling and buying cheap stuff. This is like monaural VCRs in the 90s. It happened. Somebody was okay with it.

On the other hand, I now tell my clients, trying not to sound too snooty, that if they want a VCR or a TiVo, they need to go buy them because they have become a commodity, like rice, sold by the pound, and it will cost me more to supply it to them than they can buy it for. I wouldn't grow rice if I had a restaurant.

This even applies to satellite receivers, when a guy can get an HD receiver, INSTALLED with a dish, for well below my cost on the receiver alone.

What it means is that these things are not new any more and we need to evolve along with the product so that we still are providing services and goods that cannot be gotten elsewhere. Products will always pass into commonness, and new products and hookup means (and challenges) will still keep the food on the table of the custom installer, because nobody else can really afford to take the time to learn how to do it right. Just recognize when your favorite product has become a burlap bag item.

Ernie,

Great post!

We too have treated many products as such, including small CRT TVs and some plasmas....it just doesn't make sense for us to sell them. On larger jobs we offer them, informing customers that they will be paying a premium for us to procure them. Many take us up on it while many, even very wealthy people, still drive to Costco to save a few bucks.

For satellites, we no longer deal with them since they advertise free or well below our cost. We offer the service (if we are doing the rest of the job) where we fish the wiring through the walls, put the ends on, provide interconnects, etc. so they satellite company comes our and either simply does a "plug-n-play" or simply leaves the boxes there, gets their money and we install. Same type of service for CATV. MOST of our clients take us up on this and appreciate saving money on the product. Sure we loose the residuals and kick backs, but they were a PIA to a small dealer anyway.

Randy