Category
TV and Video
TVs reach outlet prices for different reasons than large appliances: a damaged box, a returned unit or a display model. The screen is the whole product, so the checks are stricter.
Check the panel
Ask to see the TV powered on with a full white and a full black picture. Look for dead pixels, bright spots at the edges (backlight bleed) and any lines across the screen. Any crack or pressure mark on the panel rules a TV out.
Check the cabinet and the ports
Scratches on the back or the bezel are cosmetic. Try every HDMI port you plan to use.
Check the accessories
Make sure the stand or feet, the screws, the remote and the power cord are included. A missing stand is easy to replace with a wall mount, but price it in.
LED and plasma
Plasma TVs are no longer made; anything sold today is LED/LCD or OLED. For bright rooms, LED models are the safer choice.