Everything costs more as time goes on, except...TVs?

The TV is now watching you. That's it. We've basically invited marketers into our home. Americans streamed 23 million years worth of content last year in the last report. Let's say that again, 23 million years worth. The money is in the data collection.

I do love that it's cheap, and a big part of our life. My life. All good.

 

In the same way, computers, laptops and mobile phones experienced deflation for an extended period of time back in the day. At first, prices came tumbling down but eventually levelled off. Then product specs and capabilities kept improving each year while prices stayed ~ same.

 

Competition, Moore’s Law

 

Because real life is tv already.

 

I'm sure I've mentioned this before but I online-priced-out the truck I'd really want and the sumbitch was about 70K

 

You said it. You want a Tacoma. There’s no other Toyota. There’s no competition.

First post said ‘TVs’. They’re ubiquitous.

 

You're being silly, here.

 

Basic economics is tougher than rocket science and quantum mechanics

 

I've worked on several vehicles, and as a kid I shot some little kit-rockets into the air, but I've never had multiple rockets blow up in low-earth atmosphere.

But then again, I'm not a mentally ill Apartheid Trust Fund "Genius".

 

Tacoma lasts forever.

TVs deteriorate or become obsolete fast.

Both (newer models) sell your data.

TV companies aren't rooted in America. There is no strong lobby or corruption. True, honorable Japanese flavored capitalism, not crony capitalism designed to impede innovation and inflate prices.

This is also why some boomers cannot understand how people cant afford homes anymore.

A BIG BUDGET TV in 1980 was $500. 2.5% of the avg income. In 2025 $500 gets you a shitty 65in HDTV - .5% of the avg income. They see younger people that cant afford a house with a big TV, equate it to their day, and assume it's the same level of purchase.

 

what's 100 inch like? i don't even have a tv in my room. i'd settle for like a 40 inch or something.

 

I’m really not.

To expand on the original post vs a specific and high quality truck, high end TVs like Samsung and LG are not cheap. You get the best new tech from them and also pay for the brand. Same with Toyota- it’s the most expensive in its class because it’s the best.

You can buy a base model tv for cheap and you can buy a base model ford/chevy (or if the auto industry wasn’t a huge scam, a Chinese maker truck) for cheap.

You get what you pay for. I have cheapo TVs but if they die it’s not the end of the world, I just go grab a new one. I’m also not a videophile so I just want your basic HD TV that mostly gets used for my kids watching whatever or my wife and I watching a show once or twice a week.

 

But... high-end TV now is lower % of avg income vs 5yrs ago, 10yrs ago, 15yrs ago, 20yrs ago, every year ago.

Cars, housing, food - different story.

I don't understand cars. I really don't. Every body already has one. Nobody has kids anymore. We don't need new ones every year. Just keep the existing ones running.

 

Also, supply/demand. People give away perfectly good 1080p TVs when they upgrade to 4k for reasons.

Agree on cars. People are brainwashed into accepting that a car note is part of their cost of living. Pay it off? Time for a new car! It’s dumb. I drive a 2007 FJ Cruiser with 185k miles for my ‘around town’ car that I put less than 5k miles a year on. My wife has a 2018 4Runner we use for road trips. These things last forever with the proper maintenance and occasional component replacement. I give zero ****s about keeping up with the neighbors.

 

Buddy just bought a house and insisted on the 75" $3500 Samsung TV. I told him to get last years 75" Samsung for $800. He wouldn't listen but I guess his blacks will be darker or something.