This afternoon, I was planning to find some of the best 4K TV offers on Amazon to share on Lifehacker’s new Deals section. Instead, I can only offer disappointment. The range on offer was anaemic. If Amazon hopes to slay tradition retail, this is something it desperately needs to fix.
In case you missed it, TV and retail have been undergoing a revolution. Terrestrial TV services are being ditched in favour of streaming services like Netflix, Prime and Stan. Quality has also been increasing as HD is giving way to 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision. Those moves have resulted in people updating their TVs and have driven many people to updating their screens. But it turns out Amazon is not the best place to go.
[referenced url=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2018/06/what-are-dolby-atmos-and-dolby-vision/” thumb=”https://www.lifehacker.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/06/home-theatre-watching-410×231.jpg” title=”Just What The Hell Are Dolby Atmos And Dolby Vision?” excerpt=”During yesterday’s WWDC opening keynote, Apple revealed the latest version of their operating system for the Apple TV, tvOS. Part of that announcement was that iTunes will be home to the largest collection of Dolby Vision-supported movies in the world, and these titles will also include Dolby Atmos audio for free. But what are Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos?”]
A look at what 4K TVs Amazon has on offer reveals one Philips and one TCL set on the first page of results. There are also a couple of Kogan sets but they’re actually cheaper at Kogan.com.
So much for the retail revolution Amazon was expected to bring.
I’d been looking forward to the launch of Amazon in Australia and the improved range of products, service and prices it was meant to bring. And I have to admit, I thought a number of large, incumbent retailers were likely to get their butts handed to them when Amazon’s retail juggernaut rolled into town. But it seems I’ll have to wait a little longer.
It could be argued that the sparse listings are due to the size of large screen TVs – it’s obviously much harder to store and ship a 60-inch television than a book or small gadget. I’d counter that this hasn’t stopped Australia’s other retailers. Everyone from JB Hi-Fi to the manufacturer’s own websites provide delivery to almost anywhere in Australia for a small fee.
As well as 4K TVs, I went looking for a specific LEGO set this week. It was $35 to $40 in stores. Amazon had it for over $55 which is in excess of the actual recommended retail price.
Amazon hasn’t started distributing their own stock yet and it seems locals aren’t turning to it as a major channel. If you’re looking for a good deal on a 4K TV, Amazon isn’t the place to go – at least, not yet. Sort it out, Bezos.
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