Vizio LCD HDTVs Now In Wal-Mart Stores

If you've been hankering for a Vizio LCD HDTV but haven't wanted to kick in the $45 membership required by warehouse clubs, where the company's sets have traditionally been sold, take heart: thanks a deal worked out between Vizio and the country's largest retail, you can now buy one at your local Wal-Mart.

Don't expect to get one incredibly cheaper, though. Based on our comparison of the new Wal-Mart models and a similar series sold at Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's Warehouse, the difference is only a few dollars, although with the current price of gas, one of Wal-Mart's 3,300-plus stores may be a shorter drive.

Vizio HDTVs--including 50- and 60-inch plasmas as well as its LCD sets--have been available at the chain for some time via Wal-Mart's walmart.com website, with pickup at a local store. This deal, however, marks the first time company's HDTVs will be merchandised and sold at brick-and-mortar Wal-Mart stores.

For the launch, Vizio created a new “VW” line, which features an all-black design and screen sizes ranging from 26 to 42 inches. There are four TVs in the new VW series: a 26-inch model for $448, a 32-inch set for $597, a 37-incher (seen above) priced at $796, and $946 42-inch set. Features are similar to, but not exactly the same as, those included on the VX-series models sold in warehouse clubs. Both, for example, have two HDMI and two component-video inputs, identical claimed brightness ratings and contrast ratios, and feature support for picture-in-picture and picture-on-picture. However, the VX-series sets have a faster claimed response time (5 milliseconds, compared to 8 ms for VW-series sets), which could help reduce incidents of motion blur in fast-motion scenes. We're having a hard time figuring out other differences from the bare-bones spec sheets.

As we mentioned, price differences between the two series are negligible.  For example, based on the Sam’s Club website, the 42-inch VX-series set is $947.78, and the 37-incher is $799.87. The 32-inch VX model is listed at $599.88.

Although the new line will be launched at Wal-Mart, it isn’t exclusive to the retailer; VW-series TVs could be available at other mass-market chains in the future. So far, there’s no word whether Wal-Mart will carry any of Vizio's plasma sets in its stores.

The deal with Wal-Mart is the latest effort by Vizio to expand its retail presence.  In addition to the warehouse clubs, select Vizio VX-series LCD HDTVs can now be found at both Circuit City and Sears stores.

—James K. Willcox

Comments

[Cecilia Di Minchella]

I Purchased a 42" LCD HDTV last year in november, it is now oct of the folowing year and the power to my TV has shut down. Like all the others Vizio will not honor there 1yr in house warrenty and are leaving me to absorb the $400.xx sum odd cost of reparing the damb thing. I am not a happy customer. This company dose not support there clients which is the down fall for most new companies such a shame. I wonder what such established companies as Cost Co and Wall Mart would have to say. I am sure cost co would not be happy knowong that they will have a lot of warentied TV's to absorb the cost of knowing that Vizio will not take reponsibility for there faulty products.

[brolyn petri]

32" vizio loved this UNTIL power supply went out. power supply is backordered from the factory???? Don't know when this will be resolved. Bought an RCA 40" as a replacement. Happy again.

[Charles Mckay]

I got the Vizio gv 42" lcd. It works perfect but when we moved it last week, someone placed a shelve against the screen. The screen is cracked and looks bloody. I wanted to find someone that had a good screen that I could combine with my great electronics to make a good TV. You cant buy the screen. Anyone know how to trade?

[Jean T]

I have a 42" Vizio. I sometimes get black boxes on the screen. They don't appear in the same place, and if you turn the tv off and then back on, they disapper, only to reappear again in a little while.

Anyone have this problem? Anyone have a clue as to what to do?

[John Hagedorn]

My 32inch Vizio HD lasted 2 1/2 years before it started shutting off automatically. Then it quit completely. Vizio, after much hassle, told me it was a power supply problem, and that most companies were experiencing the same problem (?) They offered info on repair shops, so I could fix it myself. In the meantime, I watched TV on my 28 year-old Sony, which still works perfectly.
Fortunately, Sam's Club stood behind me, gave me credit on a new TV.
( I purchased a JVC ).
Remember the old cliche, 'you get what you pay for'.

[carol r]

i got a 32 iin dec 2007 at walmart and it went out. walmart wont taake it back and vizio will not replace it ,have been waiting of repair man for over one week and on the phone with vizio daily . this tv is a bunch of s**8 and i am sick of it .

[Rose Esche]

My Vizio VX32L will be a year old on June 2, 2008. I purchased it at Sams Club. I cannot find receipt so warrenty work is out of the question. I verified purchase date with my Disocver Card statements.

You get what you pay for. For no reason the picture will just turn to static green lines and the audio is high pitched unbearable noise. It happens when playing video games or when watching via direct TV box. Only way to stop it is to disconnect the power source. At first I thought it was the play stations 3, but I have used the play station on my JVC and it has no problems. Then it started with direct TV input so I narrowed it down to the TV. Considering I am now unemployed replacing it is out of the question...I am really disappointed.

[michelle casper]

I too have a vizio 32" and power went out this week. This is my second vizio. First one, same thing happened. I was able to take back to costco and get my money back. But I thought I'd give vizio another try. and guess what I got what I paid for. This one lasted just over a year. My guess is to spend the extra money and get the nicer, better quaility.

[Leigh]

I bought a 50" Plasma at the beginning fo the year - thought it was great until the speakers started to make a static noise - It took me 3 weeks before I could get anyone to come out and take a look at the TV - then they didn't have the right parts, and when I complained to Vizio customer service , they put the phone down on me!!!! I definitely would not recommend this TV/Brand to people. Pay a little bit extra and get customer service and satisfaction from another brand!!!

[Sam]

Have a vizio 32 lcd tv....loved it but now I see the problems with the power supply. Would like to get another power supply but afraid repair probably costs more than a new tv. At this rate wouldn't buy another one again. All I have seen are problems with power supplies and not just on one particular model. From what I hear their service department is non- existent also. Does any one know where to write so we could all put in our two cents worth in the consumers interest for a recall or at least no one else gets taken. We shouldn't let us all be getting taken like this. I didn't spend $600 to just burn my money up and only have it last for a year...I don't make that kind of money do you?

[Jc]

I bought a Vizio TV (Model VX32L)and I had to change it the third day after I bought it because it started changing channels, input and volume all by itself. The second one they gave me at Sams started doing the same like a week after I brought it home. Also the remote control from the second TV broke the second day, it just stoped working. I am changing it again this weekend, this time for another brand. I do not recomend this TV to ANYONE, not even my enemies.

[Dawn]

Manufacture date on our Vizio L30 is also 2004 (Oct.) Just died. Funny how you used to pay a lot less for things that lasted 15-20 years.

[Denny Lang]

Re headphone Jack : I have a 26 inch model and the jack is on the side, but if you use it, the front speakers automatically cut off. Not as good as line level audio outputs (not available on this model) thus not powerful enough to use my wireless headphones effectively

[Kel]

my visio 32 inch bought in 2004 died on me last week too. repair shop tells me it was power supply and they couldent get any replacements. estimated repair bill was $400.. ouch.

[nancy gotto]

does the vizio tv have audio/video output for headphones?

[Brad]

I've had a Vizio 50" Plazma since Nov. 06. Good picture, loved the resolution. Last week the power supply died and between Vizio, Syntech (the repair company) and the third party technician that Syntech puts the repair out to bid with...I am no closer to getting this thing fixed than I was when it first broke. Now I'm being told by Vizio that the parts could be out of stock and I might need to wait for the next shipment from China! Picture is great- Support is non-existent.

[Jonathan Mayer]

What I have noticed is the specs listed at wal-mart.com is different than the contrast ratio of the VX series. The VW contrast ratio of the 32in. tv is only 700:1 compared to the VX version of 1200:1. The Vizio website also confirms this.

[carl ahern]

Purchased a JVC LTD LT-26WX84 JVC rated high but when you do have problems.My set panel defective and after 14 months ,JVC informed said they would replace set with a refurbished ,after waiting 4 months they decided to renig on their decision and told me to go to Mastetrcard.The panel to replace my defective one is greater the price of original purchase ( $3000.OO ) PURCHASE PRICE IN 2005 WAS $1895.00

[Mike Metzler]

I bought this set at Sears for $599