TV sales rocket as World Cup fever hots up

Sunday Independent, May 14^th 2006

The LCD and plasma TV market is getting very big, with one store in the UK, Curry's, last week reporting a sale of a TV every 15 seconds, ahead of the World Cup which starts next month.

With SSIA money on the way, a Sunday Independent price survey has found that Irish consumers are likely to spend more to own a high definition (HD) television.

The survey compared prices for new TVs in Irish stores with UK prices and Internet prices. The cost for TVs was higher in Ireland than in the UK, even when VAT and delivery were added.

For example, a Samsung 42"HD unit will cost you €1,899 at Dixons but buying online will set you back €300 less. At DID Electrical, a Philips 20" LCD set costs just under €755, whereas in the UK it costs £435 (€633).

The Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs said that it urges people to "shop around for the best price, which could indeed be online rather than on a street store".