Electronics financing: Business as usual this holiday season, says trade group

Consumer electronics stores are not yet showing signs of seriously tightening up on zero-percent financing this holiday season, according to an industry spokesman.

In a Webcast today to Consumer Electronics Association members and reporters, CEA analyst Shawn DuBravac said that electronics retailers "are still able to access the credit they need, and are making that credit available to customers." DuBravac did, however, add that there's been "some shrinking of the credit lines" available to some customers for financing, and said "financing plans are something [the CEA is] watching."

As Consumer Reports has said in the past, the no-interest plans from the electronics retailers come with caveats that merit special attention, especially during a financial downturn. Most notably, if you miss a monthly payment or fail to pay off the balance during the allotted period, the plans typically ding you for interest on the full purchase price, all the way back to the date of purchase.

For what it's worth, DuBravac painted a pretty bullish picture of consumer electronics sales for this holiday season. The CEA predicts that cutbacks in spending in some areas, such as travel and car sales, may actually help boost sales of consumer electronics, as people increasingly cocoon at home.

The association predicts sales on audio-video, a category that includes HDTVs, will be up by 4.7 percent this year. “We’re seeing signs of a shift away from people viewing technology purchases as purely discretionary,” he asserted.

—Paul Reynolds

Comments

[everett whitney]

TO: M. Dema - " When to buy a new 32" HDTV ?"

Depends very much upon which one .. a rock bottom Vizio or a Top-of-The-Line other?

Firstly, stand in line all night for the 4 A.M. opening of your mass outlet Friday - not at all enjoyable & for the very limited savings on a small set, probably not worth it. Doctor's bill for getting a bad cold will be more than saved!

Right now, the "www" is constantly having "special pricing" - again, better bargains on larger sizes.

Lastly, Costco's always has weekly specials - usually unadvertised but listed on-line.

P.S. - IF those (150 ) local outlets of C.C. are announced before Black Friday, those WILL have tremendous "final sale / No Returns" sales!

[M Dema]

We are looking to purchase a 32" LCD TV and are wondering, in this economy, when will be the best time to buy? Any thoughts on this?