Why all HDMI cables are the same

[viper37]

I figure it might belong in this section, even if it's mostly for home theaters.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57321956-221/why-all-hdmi-cables-are-the-same-part-2/?tag=TOCcarouselMain.0

[DGuller]

I wonder whether there are any anti-trust issues in play when it comes to HDMI cables.  If you come to any store selling electronics, you're going to see a choice between expensive HDMI and super-expensive HDMI cables, but you'll never see ones priced in single digits.  Surely some forces other than market are making sure it stays that way.

[derspiess]

I wonder whether there are any anti-trust issues in play when it comes to HDMI cables.  If you come to any store selling electronics, you're going to see a choice between expensive HDMI and super-expensive HDMI cables, but you'll never see ones priced in single digits.  Surely some forces other than market are making sure it stays that way.

I think it's 100% consumer ignorance/laziness.  Oh, there could possibly some sort of collusion between the big box retailers, but that would come crashing down if people would wise the f*ck up and buy their HDMI cables online.

Why it's taking so long for word to get out, I haven't a clue. 

[DGuller]

I wonder whether there are any anti-trust issues in play when it comes to HDMI cables.  If you come to any store selling electronics, you're going to see a choice between expensive HDMI and super-expensive HDMI cables, but you'll never see ones priced in single digits.  Surely some forces other than market are making sure it stays that way.

I think it's 100% consumer ignorance/laziness.  Oh, there could possibly some sort of collusion between the big box retailers, but that would come crashing down if people would wise the f*ck up and buy their HDMI cables online.

Why it's taking so long for word to get out, I haven't a clue.

Of course there is customer ignorance at play, that's what makes the scheme work.  You hang an $80 HDMI cable next to a $40 HDMI cable, and people who want to save money will go for a $40 one, not realizing that you can order one from Amazon for $3. 

Still, this scheme will break down the moment one store tries to undercut the others and sell the cables for $5, so I wonder how it comes about that no one tries that.  Surely this kind of racket has to be kept together by some sketchy means.

[viper37]

I wonder whether there are any anti-trust issues in play when it comes to HDMI cables.  If you come to any store selling electronics, you're going to see a choice between expensive HDMI and super-expensive HDMI cables, but you'll never see ones priced in single digits.  Surely some forces other than market are making sure it stays that way.

I think it's 100% consumer ignorance/laziness.  Oh, there could possibly some sort of collusion between the big box retailers, but that would come crashing down if people would wise the f*ck up and buy their HDMI cables online.

Why it's taking so long for word to get out, I haven't a clue. 

I figure that people paying 30 000$ for their home theater setup will not accept the truth that a 3$ cable is just good enough.

[Barrister]

I wonder whether there are any anti-trust issues in play when it comes to HDMI cables.  If you come to any store selling electronics, you're going to see a choice between expensive HDMI and super-expensive HDMI cables, but you'll never see ones priced in single digits.  Surely some forces other than market are making sure it stays that way.

I think it's 100% consumer ignorance/laziness.  Oh, there could possibly some sort of collusion between the big box retailers, but that would come crashing down if people would wise the f*ck up and buy their HDMI cables online.

Why it's taking so long for word to get out, I haven't a clue.

Of course there is customer ignorance at play, that's what makes the scheme work.  You hang an $80 HDMI cable next to a $40 HDMI cable, and people who want to save money will go for a $40 one, not realizing that you can order one from Amazon for $3. 

Still, this scheme will break down the moment one store tries to undercut the others and sell the cables for $5, so I wonder how it comes about that no one tries that.  Surely this kind of racket has to be kept together by some sketchy means.

Except such stores already exist.  I can go to the local Radio Shack and get an HDMI cable for $10 or so, while they want $50 at Best Buy.  Doesn't seem to affect Best Buy too much though.

[DGuller]

Hmm, last time I went to Radio Shack, they had the same old "Hang a Monster cable, hang a slightly cheaper alternative next to it" racket going that I see everywhere else.

[Barrister]

Hmm, last time I went to Radio Shack, they had the same old "Hang a Monster cable, hang a slightly cheaper alternative next to it" racket going that I see everywhere else.

They're technically not Radio Schack up here.  All the Radio Shacks were bought out, they are now called The Source.

Except that's a dumb name, so I still call them Radio Shack.

[Ed Anger]

Hmm, last time I went to Radio Shack, they had the same old "Hang a Monster cable, hang a slightly cheaper alternative next to it" racket going that I see everywhere else.

They're technically not Radio Schack up here.  All the Radio Shacks were bought out, they are now called The Source.

Except that's a dumb name, so I still call them Radio Shack.

Did they ask for your address when you bought batteries up there?

[PRC]

Hmm, last time I went to Radio Shack, they had the same old "Hang a Monster cable, hang a slightly cheaper alternative next to it" racket going that I see everywhere else.

They're technically not Radio Schack up here.  All the Radio Shacks were bought out, they are now called The Source.

Except that's a dumb name, so I still call them Radio Shack.

The Source sucks and they're overpriced.  I went in there the other day and they were selling a VGA monitor cable for $50.

[derspiess]

I figure that people paying 30 000$ for their home theater setup will not accept the truth that a 3$ cable is just good enough.

Even people who spend much less than that have the same hangup.  Drives me crazy, especially when it's someone who ought to know better. 

I've had a couple co-workers whom I finally convinced to return their overpriced HDMI cables to Best Buy (I think one of them bought his at Radio Shack) by giving them spare generic HDMI cables to use instead.

[Josephus]

The Source sucks and they're overpriced.  I went in there the other day and they were selling a VGA monitor cable for $50.

They're better than FutureShop though and I've had pretty good experience for the most part with salespeople who will tell me, "nah, you don't want that" and find me a cheaper one. In fact that happened with HDMI cables not long ago.

And yes, they do make you give them your name and email address every time you buy somethening. But that's OK, I have a special gmail account I use for such spammers.

[derspiess]

And yes, they do make you give them your name and email address every time you buy somethening. But that's OK, I have a special gmail account I use for such spammers.

The most annoying thing for me for stores that do that is that it slows down the transaction.  I like what Microcenter does-- their sales terminal reads my name from my credit card and they have my email address stored-- they just ask me if it has changed.  I actually like getting their spam, since they can't seem to reliably send me a sales flyer thru regular mail.

[DontSayBanana]

The most annoying thing for me for stores that do that is that it slows down the transaction.  I like what Microcenter does-- their sales terminal reads my name from my credit card and they have my email address stored-- they just ask me if it has changed.  I actually like getting their spam, since they can't seem to reliably send me a sales flyer thru regular mail.

I was actually just thinking that.

I Micro Center, though- if the nearest one wasn't an hour's drive away, I'd definitely just try to hibernate there.

[derspiess]

I Micro Center, though- if the nearest one wasn't an hour's drive away, I'd definitely just try to hibernate there.

The sheer amount of nerdery there is something to behold.  What cracks me up is that at my location at least you always see people there wanting to build their own system despite having done zero research on the subject.