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Is it stupid to buy a TV right before the Super Bowl?

A shopper loads a TV into a car during the "Black Friday" sales at a Best Buy store in Culver City, California on November 25, 2016. Shopping experts say you can score deals to rival Black Friday in the two weeks befor the Super Bowl.

Here's a head scratcher: If you're in the market for a new TV, is it a ridiculous idea to buy one right before the Super Bowl?

The simple answer is no. In fact, it could save you big bucks.

Experts say the two weeks before the Super Bowl beat Black Friday for scoring the lowest prices on the highest quality televisions. During the holidays many retailers push older model or off-brand sets, while this time of year stores clear out as many televisions from 2016 as they can, to make room for new models to hit shelves in March.

Should you buy now?

Research from Consumer Reports and Gap Intelligence shows you can expect to save an average of 22% off the price of the most fantastic displays on the market. But I found even deeper discounts — of 50% and more — online and by taking a trip to my local Walmart.

Some of the best deals I’ve seen so far? Walmart is selling a $1,200, highly-rated 50-inch Samsung for less than $500, Best Buy is knocking $1,000 off a gorgeous 4K LG, and Target has a 55-inch 4K Samsung for just $699.

TV-buying insider tricks

I went looking for a specific 55-inch Samsung 1080P Smart HDTV I spotted online for the sale price of $497 — over $1,100 off the original $1,600. But when I got to the store, the price tag said $598. The store manager told me the site often advertises special flash sales, and that they would be happy to match the best price — not only from Walmart’s site — but most of their competitors too.

A friend of mine discovered another buying trick this week as well. He bought a new TV from Best Buy right after Christmas, and when I told him he should have waited until now, he looked up the price. Sure enough, it had dropped $200. No problem, he took his receipt in and they credited back the difference. The store clerk even told him to keep an eye open for more price drops within a reasonable amount of time (typically 15-30 days) and they would refund any additional money too.

Spec-check

If you’re not up on TV jargon, like UHD, OLED, LCD, input lag, refresh rate and all the rest, don’t worry. Focus on your budget, the TV size (go big - but not too big for your room), and whether you want a Smart TV that connects to the internet to stream content.

If a sales clerk tries to speak spec mumbo-jumbo, explain that you’re looking for the best picture quality within your price range. Talk through size and accessories that you already own such as a gaming console. Keep it simple, and insist that salespeople do too.

4K or not 4K?

The biggest question for a new TV buyer now is whether or not to take the leap to 4K, which is four times sharper than the 1080p HDTV. Here’s the catch: Super Bowl 51 will not be broadcast in 4K. In fact, no TV networks currently broadcast anything in 4K. 4K TVs are built with the future in mind, and even though you can stream some Netflix shows and movies in the new ultra-sharp resolution, you won’t see a dramatic difference if you choose to buy a 4K set for the big game.

If your budget allows it, a 4K display will have you prepared for the future, but don’t feel bad if you decide to stick with a cheaper 1080p HDTV. Basically, if you can’t stomach the idea of buying a new TV in the next five years or so and you absolutely must have the latest and greatest, go for the 4K if your budget can handle it, but be prepared to pay quite a bit more.

Skip the extras

Just say “no,” to installation, expensive cables, and store warranties. Your new set will have a manufacturer’s warranty to protect you against defects and unlike your smartphone which has to deal with myriad dangers, your TV is just sitting there and the chances that something will happen to it that isn’t covered by the built-in warranty are slim.

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