How Far Would You Go for a Deal?

Yesterday, we posted an amazing deal (since expired) on a 2012 LG HDTV that dropped an astounding $290 in price over the course of just four days. The 55" LM8600 model — featuring a 240Hz refresh rate, Smart TV apps and WiFi, 3D capability, and six pairs of 3D glasses — was priced to sell at $999.99, which was an all-time low and the best price we could find by $319. But with all these delightful savings, there was, of course, a catch.

The deal on this LG HDTV didn't come with a shipping option; it was only available for pickup at Micro Center, which has just 23 locations in 16 states. So for many of our readers, this limitation put the deal out of reach.

However frustrating such a situation might be, this type of "pickup only" deal isn't uncommon. We frequently see rare or mind-boggling discounts on deals that require consumers to visit the store, and often these deals come from retailers with a small number of locations, like Micro Center or Fry's Electronics. The strategy behind this, presumably, is to draw consumers into the brick and mortar location where they might splurge on unplanned purchases or accessories.

If you're lucky, some deals like the refurbished first generation Kindle Fire 7" Android Tablet ($69.99 with free in-store pickup, a low by $30) and December's crazy good deal on the iPhone 5 are available at widespread retailers like Best Buy or Walmart, respectively. Likewise, a formerly in-store only deal might eventually receive a shipping option, like this deal on the 16GB Apple iPad mini, but that isn't always the case. Sometimes, even our own staff has to weigh the benefits of hoofing it to a distant vendor just for a deal.

So readers, we want to know: how far would you go for a deal? Would you drive an hour away? Two hours? Even further? How much money would you need to save to make a trip worth it? Sound off in the comments below.

Photo credit: Evidence Based Living