Vizio now #1 flat panel TV brand = Apex Digital?

[Woochifer]

This news made the rounds the end of last week -- off-brand vendor Vizio is now the biggest selling flat panel TV brand in North America with a 12% market share. An angle that the AP story (and newspaper headlines) jumped on is Vizio's status as an "American" brand surpassing Asian electronics giants Sony and Samsung, even though none of the actual manufacturing is done in the U.S. So far, Vizio has focused on mass merchandising channels like Costco and Wal-Mart.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j...z2pp5UB1nfwfgw

But, the one aspect of Vizio's operations that jumped out at me was their total workforce of only 85 employees, and a total reliance on outsource partners to provide product. That conjures up flashbacks to Apex Digital. Remember them? They were the off-brand electronics company that rapidly ascended to become the #1 DVD player brand in 2002 and fell off the charts to obscurity just as quickly. The parallels with Vizio are pretty striking. Apex was a $1 billion company with a workforce of less than 100 employees. They outsourced all of their major operations (including customer support), and constantly switched their outsource manufacturing providers depending on who could provide the lowest price (which meant lack of continuity from one Apex model to another). Apex's house of cards fell because their product quality was lousy and the price points for brand name manufacturers soon caught up with Apex.

Is Vizio setting itself up for a similar fall? The price points for the major brands keep on tumbling, and they drop their prices while continuing to maintain continuity with model updates and providing their own aftersales support. Vizio does differ from Apex in the sense that they actively market themselves (even got Ladainian Tomlinson as a paid endorser), and seem to want to build a brand identity. I don't know anything about Vizio's product quality, so we'll see if they can maintain their momentum even as the other name brand HDTVs continue their price declines.

[Rich-n-Texas]

My neice bought her Apex TV at the local Albertson's grocery store about 3 - 4 years ago. I wonder if it still works.

[Smokey]

This news made the rounds the end of last week -- off-brand vendor Vizio is now the biggest selling flat panel TV brand in North America with a 12% market share.

This might be the biggest differenece between Vizio and Apex......Vizio being # 1 in selling TVs, and Apex wasn't.

Apex TVs were just piece of junk and I don't think they captures any significant market share for TVs. I tried one of their TVs, and it didn't take more than five minutes to take it back.

But Vizio seem to be getting good reviews not only from consumers, but from publications also. It might all come down as how they be able to handle after sale follow ups as to keep their reputation intact.

[pixelthis]

This news made the rounds the end of last week -- off-brand vendor Vizio is now the biggest selling flat panel TV brand in North America with a 12% market share. An angle that the AP story (and newspaper headlines) jumped on is Vizio's status as an "American" brand surpassing Asian electronics giants Sony and Samsung, even though none of the actual manufacturing is done in the U.S. So far, Vizio has focused on mass merchandising channels like Costco and Wal-Mart.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j...z2pp5UB1nfwfgw

But, the one aspect of Vizio's operations that jumped out at me was their total workforce of only 85 employees, and a total reliance on outsource partners to provide product. That conjures up flashbacks to Apex Digital. Remember them? They were the off-brand electronics company that rapidly ascended to become the #1 DVD player brand in 2002 and fell off the charts to obscurity just as quickly. The parallels with Vizio are pretty striking. Apex was a $1 billion company with a workforce of less than 100 employees. They outsourced all of their major operations (including customer support), and constantly switched their outsource manufacturing providers depending on who could provide the lowest price (which meant lack of continuity from one Apex model to another). Apex's house of cards fell because their product quality was lousy and the price points for brand name manufacturers soon caught up with Apex.

Is Vizio setting itself up for a similar fall? The price points for the major brands keep on tumbling, and they drop their prices while continuing to maintain continuity with model updates and providing their own aftersales support. Vizio does differ from Apex in the sense that they actively market themselves (even got Ladainian Tomlinson as a paid endorser), and seem to want to build a brand identity. I don't know anything about Vizio's product quality, so we'll see if they can maintain their momentum even as the other name brand HDTVs continue their price declines.

off-brand?
OFF BRAND ???
This maker of TV sets has been around at least as long as some of the so called "brand"
names.
And I could tell ya that it sells big, I watched STACK of 42 inchers, on a pallet in wallfart, rapidily disapear one day, a worker said they are always refreshing it.
And why not? I love mine, and am using it as a computer moniter as we speak.
Theres no lag to speak of, and with a little tweaking the black level is quite good.
VIZIO, the RCA of the 21st century

[PeruvianSkies]

off-brand?
OFF BRAND ???
This maker of TV sets has been around at least as long as some of the so called "brand"
names.
And I could tell ya that it sells big, I watched STACK of 42 inchers, on a pallet in wallfart, rapidily disapear one day, a worker said they are always refreshing it.
And why not? I love mine, and am using it as a computer moniter as we speak.
Theres no lag to speak of, and with a little tweaking the black level is quite good.
VIZIO, the RCA of the 21st century

What kind of employee discount did you get on yours?

[pixelthis]

What kind of employee discount did you get on yours?

I wish

BTW does your shrink give you a bulk rate for billable hours?

[PeruvianSkies]

I wish

BTW does your shrink give you a bulk rate for billable hours?

Wow, the past few days have been so nice around here, any reason why you felt the need to come back off a few days rest and stir things up in tradition troll-like fashion?

[kexodusc]

What kind of employee discount did you get on yours?

ROFLMAO!

[Rich-n-Texas]

ROFLMAO!

My reaction EXACTLY!!!

[GMichael]

I have an Apex 32" CRT that I paid $200 for on a Black Friday 4 years ago. It looks just as good now as it did when it was new. Not at all.

[Woochifer]

Another thread that has managed to stay oh-so-on-topic!

off-brand?
OFF BRAND ???
This maker of TV sets has been around at least as long as some of the so called "brand"
names.
And I could tell ya that it sells big, I watched STACK of 42 inchers, on a pallet in wallfart, rapidily disapear one day, a worker said they are always refreshing it.
And why not? I love mine, and am using it as a computer moniter as we speak.
Theres no lag to speak of, and with a little tweaking the black level is quite good.
VIZIO, the RCA of the 21st century

Uh, "as long as" some of the "so called brand names"? I guess you didn't read the linked article?

Last time I checked, companies like Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, and yes, RCA, were all founded way before 2002, which is when Vizio came into existence.

And I guess you didn't read my post for that matter? Since I very specifically outlined a rationale for why Vizio share more than a few similarities to how off-brand companies like Apex Digital operate. Just because you own a Vizio TV shouldn't blind you to the fact that Vizio operates more as a virtual company with minimal capital investments or customer service infrastructure. A product might wear a Vizio label, but unknown outsource suppliers in Asia and Mexico probably had a lot more to do with the manufacture and design of the TVs themselves. That's what differentiates an "off brand" TV from a brand name TV.

[PeruvianSkies]

Another thread that has managed to stay oh-so-on-topic!



Uh, "as long as" some of the "so called brand names"? I guess you didn't read the linked article?

Last time I checked, companies like Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, and yes, RCA, were all founded way before 2002, which is when Vizio came into existence.

And I guess you didn't read my post for that matter? Since I very specifically outlined a rationale for why Vizio share more than a few similarities to how off-brand companies like Apex Digital operate. Just because you own a Vizio TV shouldn't blind you to the fact that Vizio operates more as a virtual company with minimal capital investments or customer service infrastructure. A product might wear a Vizio label, but unknown outsource suppliers in Asia and Mexico probably had a lot more to do with the manufacture and design of the TVs themselves. That's what differentiates an "off brand" TV from a brand name TV.

Once a troll, always a troll.

[pixelthis]

Another thread that has managed to stay oh-so-on-topic!



Uh, "as long as" some of the "so called brand names"? I guess you didn't read the linked article?

Last time I checked, companies like Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, and yes, RCA, were all founded way before 2002, which is when Vizio came into existence.

And I guess you didn't read my post for that matter? Since I very specifically outlined a rationale for why Vizio share more than a few similarities to how off-brand companies like Apex Digital operate. Just because you own a Vizio TV shouldn't blind you to the fact that Vizio operates more as a virtual company with minimal capital investments or customer service infrastructure. A product might wear a Vizio label, but unknown outsource suppliers in Asia and Mexico probably had a lot more to do with the manufacture and design of the TVs themselves. That's what differentiates an "off brand" TV from a brand name TV.

SORRY if you didn't get my joke.
RCA hasn't made a TV for years, the company that bought their brand name builds TV sets pretty much like VIZIO does.
So to say that VIZIO is the "RCA of the 21st century" means I am agreeing with you.
But really, I dont care if they hatch them from eggs, they are great TV sets

[DEVO]

Very good analogy Woochifer...everytime I look at a Vizio, I give up my last meal! I give them another couple years...

[DEVO]

Hey...Britney was tearing her hair out for ME! But I had to say NO...you just aren't good enough for me baby!

[GMichael]

Hey...Britney was tearing her hair out for ME! But I had to say NO...you just aren't good enough for me baby!

You tell her. When she's back up to 50 mil a year, then maybe she'd be worth the sacrifice.

[DEVO]

You tell her. When she's back up to 50 mil a year, then maybe she'd be worth the sacrifice.

$50 mil a year...now that may be worth ignoring her for!

[Rich-n-Texas]

Merle Haggard. Didn't he write the BEVERLY HILLBILLIES theme song? Or was that Flatt & Scrugs?

[pixelthis]

Merle Haggard. Didn't he write the BEVERLY HILLBILLIES theme song? Or was that Flatt & Scrugs?

merle haggard is someone yankees quote in order to show their "knowledge"
of country music.
I am surprized peruvian puke knows it, I barely remember it myself.
I am a city boy, the closest I ever came to "country" was lynard skinnard , the eagles,
and the allman bro's, with a little wet willie and little feats thrown in.
I went through this phase before I abandoned rock for jazz.
I was an urban southerner, and wore headphones even when not listening to music, mostly to get away from the likes of merle haggard, etc

[PeruvianSkies]

merle haggard is someone yankees quote in order to show their "knowledge"
of country music.
I am surprized peruvian puke knows it, I barely remember it myself.
I am a city boy, the closest I ever came to "country" was lynard skinnard , the eagles,
and the allman bro's, with a little wet willie and little feats thrown in.
I went through this phase before I abandoned rock for jazz.
I was an urban southerner, and wore headphones even when not listening to music, mostly to get away from the likes of merle haggard, etc

Yeah man....Lynard Skinnard...I remember those guys! Of course they didn't make it big until they decided to spell their name right....LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

[pixelthis]

Yeah man....Lynard Skinnard...I remember those guys! Of course they didn't make it big until they decided to spell their name right....LYNYRD SKYNYRD.

Something like that, yeah