There are many things to consider when looking for a new TV, chief amongst these is the price. Nobody wants to pay the full whack, especially when they can find it cheaper elsewhere. It's in this regard, that the Internet is an essential tool for comparing prices and retailers.

Many retailers now have products and prices specific to their online business. Deals which are nearly always cheaper online than instore. You ask why?, simple, there is much more profit in selling online than in real world locations. The overheads from an online sale are smaller.

The price comparison engine is the best tool for finding the lowest price. Google's shopping channel has an extensive comparison tool, which was free for retailers. Meaning, it can include more retailers than with other comparison site's. The vast majority of comparison engines either charge retailers per click to their site, or a percentage of the sale.

Once you have found the price you were looking for you, you need to consider the pros and cons of the retailer. Many comparison engines also include reviews of the retailer. Reviews can be misleading however, as it could be argued, that a review is more likely to be written by an unsatisfied customers.

So, who should you buy from? This can be a tricky subject, while most of the independent retailers offer cheaper prices, they can be let down by reliability.

Ask yourself, what will happen if they go out of businesses, what happens to your warranty and how easy is it to return a faulty TV? With the major chain stores, such as Comet, these questions are more easily answered. They usually have a real world store in close proximity, and the chances of them closing their doors is remote.

Let's look at retailers who only traded online. One of the most prominent examples is Empire Direct. They were the leading online retailer of electronics, who received many awards for their level of service. The company was taken into administration in January 2009. Richer Sounds did eventually acquire the site. But, it goes to show, how even the best of online retailers can suddenly fold.