got a chance to buy a sharp aqous 60 inch led for $550. originally $2000. the guy said they had to send this one back for a repair and thats why selling so cheap. has anyone bought a tv like this? i will probably buy a warranty (2-3) just in case. thanks for any advice.
You can get this one, brand new for $799, so $250 off for a reconditioned model?
Sharp LC60LE600U Aquos 60 inch 1080p LED HDTV http://www.buysquad.com/product.aspx?pf_id=LC60LE600U#
I routinely buy refurbished electronics and/or second hand electronics. The only issue I've ever had was when an ebay seller shipped something with the wrong power supply. But that was human error, not a problem with the device.
Warranties can provide piece of mind, but in general they aren't worth it. They are basically insurance and most "experts" will say that you should only by insurance for things that can be financial devastating if lost/sued (house, car, life, etc.). On average, if you buy a warranty for every electronic purchased you will lose money in the long run.
There's also the distinction of who does the refurbishing - manufacturer refurbs are the best, because they're returned to near/exact original condition. Other refurbs, not so much. I've bought devices that came with the prior owner's configuration and information in it, which should tell you just how much work they did to recycle the unit.
Now, floor models? YMMV, but I don't trust them at all. Electronics have a distinct failure curve as mentioned above, but all that goes out the window if they're mishandled. You never know what that 'floor model' went through. Unless backed by a good warranty or at a steep discount, I tend to avoid them.