• Select the Right TV for You

• Hit the HDTV Highlights

• Explore Flat-Panel TVs

• Evaluate Rear-Projection TVs

• Review Traditional TV Features

• Find TVs on eBay

• Buy TVs With Confidence

Select the Right TV for You

Select the Right TV for You

You’ve got more options than ever when it comes to selecting a set. Do you want a slim, sleek design that you can hang on the wall, or are you more of a traditionalist? Is your television going to be the focal point of the room, or do you want something you can hide away when it’s not in use?

If you choose a flat-panel TV and you want to hang it on the wall, make sure you mount it to the studs. Although slim, these TVs can still be heavy, and you don’t want your new screen crashing to the floor. You can buy a special wall-mount system to make mounting easier, or you can enlist the help of a professional.

If you choose a rear-projection TV or a traditional CRT tube TV, measure the width, depth, and height of your entertainment center, or wherever you plan to place your TV. Then check out the TV’s dimensions in the eBay listing to make sure it will fit. If the TV is going inside an armoire, make sure to leave enough clearance on either side to make it easy to slide the TV into place. Of course, flat-screen TVs can also be placed on TV stands or entertainment centers.

Set the screen size

Yes, there is such a thing as a too-big TV. If you buy a large-screen TV for a little room, you may have to crane your neck upward to see the picture. Assess the layout of your room and the distance the TV is likely to be from the furniture. The farther away you plan to sit from the television, the larger the screen size you’ll want to buy. Some suggested viewing distances:

Additional Details

Size isn’t all that matters. You’ll also want to consider viewing angles. Traditional curved-screen TVs can be difficult to see from the side, while the wide viewing angles associated with plasma TVs mean that every seat is the best seat in the house.

Lighting is also important. If sunlight hits the spot where you plan to place the TV, consider an LCD screen, which is less prone to glare. If you want a big screen down in your dimly-lit basement, a rear-projection CRT TV could give you the most bang for your buck.

Consider other factors as well. Will the remote control be easy to use? Can you get picture-in-picture? Is it easy to switch back and forth between two channels? A great picture won’t compensate for a TV that’s too complicated to use.

Finally, when buying a TV on eBay, check out the weight. Traditional CRT TVs tend to weigh more, and those shipping charges can really add up. You might be able to save money by buying a higher-priced flat-panel TV that costs less to ship.

Hit the HDTV Highlights

Hit the HDTV Highlights

For extensive information about HDTV, check out eBay’s HDTV Buying Guide. It’s important to note that HDTV’s can come in all shapes and sizes. HDTV simply means that the television is capable of displaying high-definition images.

In most cases, you’ll still need to order high-definition programming and a high-definition receiver from your cable or satellite provider. HDTVs with built-in HDTV tuners will only allow you to use an antenna to receive high-def programming over the airwaves.

Explore Flat-Panel TVs

Explore Flat-Panel TVs

There are two types of flat TVs: flat-panel and flat-screen. Flat-panel TVs, such as LCD TVs and plasma TVs, have a thin profile that allows you to mount them to a wall. Flat-screen TVs have a flat, as opposed to curved, screen. They may still have the bulky housing typical of CRT TVs, however.

Luminous LCD

An LCD TV uses the liquid-crystal display technology that gives LCD computer monitors that crisp, bright look. Light shines through each pixel, and each pixel has a red, green, and blue component.

Most colors look great on LCD TVs, but because of the color combination in each pixel, it’s tough to get a true black. However, color quality has increased in many newer LCD TVs. Viewing angles have expanded as well. And while LCD TVs with larger screens used to be prohibitively expensive, prices have dropped considerably. LCD TVs are now a great choice in small or large screen sizes up to 50 inches. Look for models by Sony, Philips, Samsung, and Sharp.

Perfect Plasma

Plasma TVs consist of gas-filled cells that react with electric charges to create a burst of ultraviolet light. Plasma screens are known for their rich colors, especially their deep, true blacks. Plasma TVs also offer terrific wide viewing angles, so when you throw that Super Bowl party, even the guests stuck in folding chairs off to the side will be able to see every detail.

The downside of plasma? The screens can get very hot, so proper ventilation is a must. Also, if you keep your TV on for long periods of time, images may burn themselves into the screen.

Look for plasma TVs in sizes from 36 inches up to 70 inches. Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, and Hitachi all make popular models.

Evaluate Rear-Projection TVs

Evaluate Rear-Projection TVs

For the biggest of big screens, rear-projection TVs are the way to go. Sizes reach 70 inches or more, and these jumbo screens generally cost less than similarly sized plasma or LCD TVs. However, their viewing angles aren’t as wide.

Rear-projection TVs work by using lenses and mirrors to magnify images and project them onto a translucent screen. Newer rear-projection TVs have a slimmed-down profile. They aren’t as thin as flat-panel TVs, but neither are they as bulky as old-school CRT TVs.

Rear-projection TVs come in several formats.

Rear-Projection DLP

Digital light processing (DLP) technology creates detailed images and true-to-life colors. Look for models by Toshiba, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, JVC, Sony, and RCA. You may notice colored streaks known as the “rainbow effect” in your picture with a DLP TV. If this bothers you, a LCoS TV may be a better option.

Rear-Projection LCoS

Liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) technology creates excellent sharpness with no rainbow effect. Blacks aren’t as dark as with DLP, though. JVC and Sony dominate the market.

Rear-Projection LCD

You’ll get good image quality from liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, and you won’t see a rainbow effect. However, blacks aren’t as dark as with DLP, and you may also notice a faint grid of pixels (the “screen door effect”) when sitting up close. Look for models by Sony, Hitachi, LG, and Panasonic.

Rear-Projection CRT

These cathode-ray tube (CRT) rear-projection sets belong to the old school of big-screen TVs. You can find great bargains, and you’ll still get good picture quality under the right conditions. The downside is that these TVs can be behemoths—tall, deep, and heavy. Also, colors look washed out in bright light. Mitsubishi is a popular brand.

Review Traditional TV Features

Review Traditional TV Features

Although slim, sexy plasma and LCD screens have received a lot of hype, you can still find excellent traditional CRT TVs by Philips, Panasonic, JVC, and Toshiba. Some CRTs are even HDTV-ready. For a wider viewing angle, look for a 16:9 aspect ratio instead of the old-school 4:3 (nearly square) screens. You can also find flat-screen TVs that look sleeker and more modern than traditional curved screens. But remember that flat-screen is not the same as flat-panel. A flat-screen TV is still deeper and heavier than a flat-panel TV. If you’re on a tight budget or are looking for a second or third TV to supplement your main viewing area, a CRT may be just right for you.

Find TVs on eBay

Find TVs on eBay

Now that you know what to look for, head over to eBay's Consumer Electronics portal, click Televisions, and start shopping!

• Use the Televisions Finder: Find the Television Finder on the left side of the page and use the drop-down menus to quickly narrow down item listings by TV type, display technology, screen size, and brand.

• Keywords: Let eBay find items for you by entering the keywords you want to find into the Television Finder's Keywords search box or general search box. For example, if you want a new plasma TV, type "plasma tv" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click “Search title and description” to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more advice about searching with keywords.

• Let sellers help: A good item listing should include information about a television's screen size, dimensions, weight, display technology, HDTV capability, and brand. Listings should also include a clear picture. If you want to know about information not included in a listing, email the seller your question by clicking "Ask seller a question" under the seller's profile.

If you can't seem to find exactly what you want, try shopping at an eBay Store, tell the eBay community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on MyeBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy TVs With Confidence

Buy TVs With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $2,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.