Packing the Deal

February 20, 2008

The Show

Is an expensive HDTV cable really better than a cheap one?

(Click here to watch the video)

Now that high-definition TVs are really coming down in price, competition among electronics retailers is heating up. Stores no longer enjoy the huge margins they did back in the days of $50,000 plasma screens. Big TVs are not sources of big profits.

Making up some of the difference is the art of "packing the deal." In short, this means adding high-profit extras on to the core purchase. It can mean extended warranties, or home installation, or service calls. Or it can mean expensive accessories such as cables.

In this report, Erica Johnson takes a close look at the HDMI cable. This is the all-in-one cord that carries both sound and video into your HDTV, and you'll need one to get the best picture from your new setup. The most expensive model we found in-store was a Monster cable costing upwards of $250. We found a generic one online for just $12, including shipping. The test? To see whether the extra money was worth it.

Just in case some of your fellow viewers are curious: How much did you pay to hook up your new HDTV?

February 20, 2008
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Packing the Deal Credits

"Packing the Deal"

Producer
Stephanie Kampf

Researcher
Robert Ballantyne

Intern
Nicole Robicheau

Editor
Don Chung

Cameras
Ed Middleton
Jeff Cole
Bill Arnold
Neith MacDonald

Sound
Karndeep Jassal
Dave Fox