Will 3DTV be a headache for retailers??

[ADWyatt]

Just recently, Samsung's first 3DTV models were announced for pre-sale at various internet sites. (The 55" unit really caught my interest. Apparently available in late March, it will be sold for as low as $2,832, and if I've read the specs correctly, it will include the wireless transmitter for use with 3D glasses, which will not be included with the set.)

I can't imagine anyone buying a 3DTV without first viewing a demonstration at a brick-and-mortar retailer. This will prove a bonus for such stores, but it could also be the harbringer of monumental headaches for the sales staff.

3DTV is like a chain; only as strong as its weakest link. In this case, the weakest link is, beyond all doubt, the glasses. Now, I'm not talking about the inconvenience of customers donning these things to watch 3D demo material; I'm referring to the fragility of the glasses themselves. At CES last month, the failure rate of active-shutter glasses was surprisingly high. More than one-fourth of these glasses became worn out and non-functional in less than two days. The failure rate might have been zero if the glasses had been handled with care and respect by the people using them, but that was really asking too much with such a large crowd.

You can see where I'm going with this. When a store such as Best Buy sets up its 3D display area, how will it handle the madding crowd? Will the store tether glasses to a cable, inviting abuse and vandalism, or will it allow customers to see 3D only after a salesperson retreives the glasses from a drawer and gives a sales spiel while potential buyers stare at the screen?

Either scenario is bad. The former needs no elaboration, while in the case of the latter sales staff can be tied up catering to customers who really have no intention of buying.

And then there's the spectre of brand overkill, when you have too many 3DTVs from various companies, and too many people who want to see the quality difference of the many brands and models. Chaining glasses to a display will be a big mistake, as these expensive opticals will be very easy to break and scratch, making them a target for careless children and vandals.

So while strong customer interest in 3DTV is desired by any retailer, I can easily see how a brick-and-mortar establishment will find the new generation of TVs to be an endless migraine. I especially pity the non-commisioned salesperson who may have to deal with this continually, starting in the latter half of 2011.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by ADWyatt

So while strong customer interest in 3DTV is desired by any retailer, I can easily see how a brick-and-mortar establishment will find the new generation of TVs to be an endless migraine. I especially pity the non-commisioned salesperson who may have to deal with this continually, starting in the latter half of 2011.

It probably won't be too bad, after the first few weeks.

[HeManster03]

OP, I was sort of wondering the same thing myself. I personally have no intention of going 3D until their is no need for glasses (they make me nauseus) but I would love to check them out once they hit store shelves. Working in retail for many years, they would probably go with your 2nd option of having the salesperson grab the glasses out of the desk for the shopper, as they usually don't leave the remotes out for the tvs because they get broken/stolen/lost. Either that or they would have to have a person walking around the television department passing out 3D disposable glasses to each customer that seems to be looking at televisions. Just glad I don't have to worry about solving that issue. lol

[PlacervilleGuy]

In the movie theater, the patrons don polarized glasses. Simple, and cheap. And very effective, if AVATAR is any indication. I'm ready and willing to pay cash to see IMAX 3D presentations. The glasses don't screw up the color (like the old technology did) and they didn't give me a headache.

But from what I've read, the new 3D TVs (plasma or LCD) would require the use of "LCD shutter glasses". Such glasses need to be "sync'ed" to the source material to work. This requires some kind of connection to the player. So, can you see four people sitting on the couch with wires running from their glasses to the player? I don't think so. And how much would those suckers cost?? I suppose the wires could be eliminated by using BlueTooth, but then, you've got battery drain issues.

Home Theater 3D could be done today with front projection systems or RPTVs, and these could use the same polarized glasses the theaters use. Cheap, simple, and no batteries, or wires. THAT scenario could work and be successful. But 3DTVs? I don't think it's gonna fly.......

[ADWyatt]

So far as viewing displays is concerned, 3D-syncronization would be wireless and therefore not an issue for customer use in viewing screens. However, the fact that active-shutter glasses would require battery power could prove to be a ticklish problem for a store's sales staff. With that in mind, I imagine that up to four pairs of glasses would be locked in a cabinet either with spare batteries or a recharging unit, if that's possible. (During busy shopping periods, however, 4 pairs of glasses may not even begin to be a sufficient number for the large volume of customers, especially in major population centers.)

Of course, it's quite easy to see what's coming in the future. The 4th quarter of 2010 will be bad enough with holiday shoppers packing electronics stores and an uncomfortable percentage of them impatient to see what all the fuss is about with the new 3D technology. While a set of generic active-shutter glasses wil probably work on all 3D TVs using this technology, the fact of the matter is that there will be quite a number of different brands, models and sizes for customers to choose from. When you combine the fact that a salesperson wouldn't dare leave a customer alone with these glasses along with the fact that there will be many customers impatient for assistance on other matters, you've got the potential for a real headache for the sales staff. Granted, during weekdays this won't be such a problem, but weekends and holidays could prove to be a real strain. And this is just the prediction for 2010. What's going to happen in 2011, 3D's breakout year?

The problem is that these glasses a) have moving parts and so need to be continually powered and working perfectly; b) are quite fragile and easily mishandled by an unconcerned public; c) are small and easy to steal; d) are absolutely essential for viewing 3D, and unlike a remote, cannot be hidden away from sight when a 3D demonstration is being presented. For these reasons, a sales attendant will always be glued to anyone watching a 3D display with glasses, and the customer will not be able to freely browse 3D TVs without a salesperson tugging at his elbow. During busy store hours, this is a scenario that is ripe with the possibility of customer guilt and insensitivity toward other customers. If corporate expectations are even half as popular with the public as is hoped, this could be a rather interesting scenario.

[Mr. Joshua]

I like wearing stuff other people have worn before me...

Stye stye I have a stye!