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During the holiday season, it's a shopper's paradise. Since major retailers are competing for your business, a majority of the time you can get the same deal at a retailer of your choice. For many, Amazon has become the go-to place to shop soup to nuts, including popular tech.
And during Cyber Week, I faced a dilemma. For weeks, I was scoping out the Hisense Canvas 65-inch TV, waiting for a deal. On Cyber Monday, it finally dropped to $850 at both Amazon and Best Buy. And I had a choice. To buy at Best Buy? Or to buy on Amazon?
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As an older Gen-Zer who cosplays as a millennial in certain instances, my gut told me to bring my business to Best Buy. After all, I insist on making my major purchases on my laptop and associate most things tech with the big, blue store. I've purchased my AirPods, laptops, and Apple Watch from Best Buy. I've never received damaged items, experienced missing parcels, or had an unsatisfactory experience.
But was I worrying too much? Many friends, family members, and coworkers have purchased tech products from Amazon without issue, and my new TV would certainly arrive faster with Prime shipping.
The Hisense Canvas TV, my Cyber Week splurge. Kerry Wan/ZDNET
I was so conflicted on where to purchase this TV that I consulted my editor (a more seasoned adult than me with multiple major tech purchases under her belt) before checking out, and she ultimately confirmed my instincts. On Dec. 1, I paid $850 at Best Buy for the Hisense Canvas TV, a savings of $350, and that was that -- until today.
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While scouting out retailer holiday sales -- which I do frequently as ZDNET's deals and shopping editor -- I came across an exclusive Best Buy 3-Day sale offer for the very TV I had just purchased. In fact, it was selling for the same price as the smaller 55-inch model was listed for. It was now $150 less than what I paid, on sale for $700. That's the best price I've ever seen the 65-inch model sell for, and my immediate thought was... crap.
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