Alpha Vs. Beta Models. Any truth? - Blu-ray Forum

Roland1919 · 09-12-2008, 06:48 PM

I bought a SONY BRAVIA XBR4 for around $2200 after taxes and discounts about 3 weeks later FRY's advertises the same TV (no model # in the ad) for $600 cheaper. So I grab my receipt and head into Best Buy for a price adjustment. They give me an adjustment for $660 because its 110% of the difference. As the transaction is being completed a manager comes over and starts with the, "We're not supposed to be matching that ad." So he and I have a "friendly" discussion and he informs me that places like FRY's and COSTCO sell their items cheaper becasue they are ALPHA models? He says that when a product first comes off the assembly line its an "ALPHA" and places like COSTO and FRY's buy a bunch and thus get a good deal. Now the items have yet to be tested on the consumer market. So they sell a bunch and wait for the complaints and problems to filter in at which point they are then fixed and the BETA is released. Six Months, a year goes by and now FRY's dumps all the ALPHA models for cheap. Is this true? Does anyone know? I would never buy high end items from FRY's got burnt on a camera once. GREY MARKET warranty inside the box had to send it overseas and well, let just say I never saw the camera again.

arush5268d · 09-12-2008, 07:06 PM

I smell B.S. on that. Seems like he was trying to weasel his way out of coughing up some cash! There's no way that his trame frames are accurate either.

Monkey · 09-12-2008, 07:09 PM

Just return it then and let him deal with another open box item.. Return all cables and anything else you may have bought at the time as well.

Some people at Best Buy are cool and some are just jacko's trying to keep their bonuses high.

arush5268d · 09-12-2008, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monkey

Just return it then and let him deal with another open box item.. Return all cables and anything else you may have bought at the time as well.

Some people at Best Buy are cool and some are just jacko's trying to keep their bonuses high.

That would open his eyes up - especially if you bought Monster cables!

You can always try again and hope theres a different manager there.

quexos · 09-12-2008, 08:02 PM

Alpha products ? I would think that when a high tech product hits the market, that the version is working fine, or so I would assume.

groovyone · 09-12-2008, 08:15 PM

My Best Buy match the price on my XBR4 with Frys with no issues. He is full of it.

09-12-2008, 06:48 PM	#1
Roland1919 Power Member Member since:Nov 2007 Location:San Diego Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:2 Blu-ray reviews:17 Trading Score:25	Alpha Vs. Beta Models. Any truth? I bought a SONY BRAVIA XBR4 for around $2200 after taxes and discounts about 3 weeks later FRY's advertises the same TV (no model # in the ad) for $600 cheaper. So I grab my receipt and head into Best Buy for a price adjustment. They give me an adjustment for $660 because its 110% of the difference. As the transaction is being completed a manager comes over and starts with the, "We're not supposed to be matching that ad." So he and I have a "friendly" discussion and he informs me that places like FRY's and COSTCO sell their items cheaper becasue they are ALPHA models? He says that when a product first comes off the assembly line its an "ALPHA" and places like COSTO and FRY's buy a bunch and thus get a good deal. Now the items have yet to be tested on the consumer market. So they sell a bunch and wait for the complaints and problems to filter in at which point they are then fixed and the BETA is released. Six Months, a year goes by and now FRY's dumps all the ALPHA models for cheap. Is this true? Does anyone know? I would never buy high end items from FRY's got burnt on a camera once. GREY MARKET warranty inside the box had to send it overseas and well, let just say I never saw the camera again. Last edited by Roland1919; 09-12-2008 at 06:50 PM.

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09-12-2008, 07:06 PM	#2
arush5268d Banned Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Houston, TX Blu-ray collection:85	I smell B.S. on that. Seems like he was trying to weasel his way out of coughing up some cash! There's no way that his trame frames are accurate either.

09-12-2008, 07:09 PM	#3
Monkey Blu-ray Knight Member since:Sep 2006 Trading Score:31	Just return it then and let him deal with another open box item.. Return all cables and anything else you may have bought at the time as well. Some people at Best Buy are cool and some are just jacko's trying to keep their bonuses high.

09-12-2008, 08:02 PM	#5
quexos Banned Member since:May 2007 Location:Brussels, Belgium	Alpha products ? I would think that when a high tech product hits the market, that the version is working fine, or so I would assume.

09-12-2008, 08:15 PM	#6
groovyone Blu-ray Guru Member since:May 2007 Location:PSNetwork: groovyone	My Best Buy match the price on my XBR4 with Frys with no issues. He is full of it.

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