It's the big switch-on for TV mania
ELECTRICALS retailers have reported huge jumps in TV sales as football mania sweeps across Teesside.
England fans taking advantage of leaps in technology since the last World Cup are going super-size plasma, LCD and high-definition - and according to SITA UK, which has seen a sharp rise in the number of old TVs at its Haverton Hill recycling site, they’re being green about how they dispose of their unwanted sets.
Some Tees Valley retailers say sales have almost doubled in the last two weeks thanks to World Cup fever, bolstered by well-timed ‘scrappage’ deals from the large manufacturers including Sony and Panasonic, which are both offering money back for trading in old TV sets.
Diane Lipthorpe, from Leonard’s Electricals in Billingham, said: “TV sales have definitely picked up. Over the last two weeks we’ve almost doubled sales.
“The most popular sizes are 42 inches. We have quite a few offers on free same day and next day deliveries, which is also helping.
“Football is a fast-moving sport and it’s better with HD. There’s no blurring and that’s what people want.
“There is also a big demand for 3D TVs. We’ve a demonstration in-store and there’s a three-week waiting list for them.”
Paul Wilson, from Richer Sounds on Borough Road, Middlesbrough, said: “We are selling a lot of large screen TVs - we have just sold this store’s first 60 inch set.
“Sales have increased by 25% in the last couple of weeks. Big screen TVs cost up to £3,000 a few years ago, now they’ve come right down in price and more people can afford them.”
Last weekend alone, about 400 TVs were taken to SITA UK’s recycling site.
Jon Westwick, SITA UK’s Tees Valley day operations manager, said: “An incredible 99.99% of any television can be recycled, so it is important that people bring their old sets to us.”
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