New York – Most
Americans, Britons and Canadians are unlikely to purchase a 3DTV in the next
six months, according to a recent online poll conducted by market research firm
.
The survey of
representative national samples showed “a negligible number” of respondents – 5
percent in America, 2 percent in England and 1 percent in Canada – have a 3D
television at home.
And few expressed
an interest in purchasing one soon.
That sentiment
came with most respondents indicating awareness of the technology. Four in five
respondents in the U.S. (81 percent), Britain (81 percent) and Canada (84
percent) said they have heard of household consumer 3D television.
After a brief
description, 81 percent of Americans said they probably or definitely would not
purchase a 3DTV in the next six months. American men are more likely (17
percent) to purchase than women (10 percent), Vision Critical said.
In Canada, 95 percent
said they would “probably” or “definitely” not purchase a 3D television in the
next six months. Most of those (71 percent) fall into the “definitely would not
buy” category, and respondents in British Columbia were the least likely to buy,
at 98 percent, while 5 percent of those in Ontario were more open.
Four in five Britons
(81 percent) will not purchase a 3DTV in the next six months. Londoners are
more likely to buy compared to those in other parts of Britain. Respondents in
the Midlands and Wales are the least likely to purchase a 3DTV in the
foreseeable future, according to the report.
In all areas, the
main reason cited for not considering a 3DTV purchase was high price. In
Britain, two in five respondents (42 percent) think 3DTVs are too expensive;
this is 39 percent in America and 32 percent in Canada.
Secondarily, 31
percent of Britons, 28 percent of Canadians and 26 percent of Americans said wearing
3D glasses at home is inconvenient.
Asked what they
would be willing to pay for a 46-inch 3DTV, Americans said $753, and Canadians
averaged $785. Britons said they would pay an average of $625 U.S. for a
40-inch 3D display.
“There appears to
be a significant perceived lack of value with 3DTVs among consumers in all
three countries,” stated Matt Kleinschmit, Vision Critical senior VP. “This is
not surprising given that many people may have only recently migrated to high-definition
TVs, and now they are being asked yet again to upgrade to a new technology. At
the same time, early adopters of plasma or LCD HD TVs discovered that there was
very little HD content when they first purchased these devices, and then
witnessed prices drop dramatically over the course of several years. It seems
these same consumers may have learned their lesson and are sitting on the
sidelines of the initial 3D TV technology wave. The inherent value proposition
of these initial 3D TVs, coupled with the inconvenience of having to wear 3D
glasses at home is just too much of a barrier to take the plunge.”
Of the small
number willing to make a purchase in six months, 35 percent of Canadians said
they would probably buy an LG, 17 percent said Sony and 21 percent would go
with whichever brand has the best deal.
Among U.S.
purchasers, 32 percent would take a Sony, 14 percent would take a Samsung and
16 percent would take the best deal.
In England, 35
percent would go for the best deal, followed by 23 percent for Sony and 14
percent for Samsung.
As for retail
preference: Canadian shoppers cited Future Shop (37 percent), Costco (9 percent)
and whichever has the best deal (35 percent). In America, Best Buy was cited by
28 percent, Walmart by 22 percent, and whichever has the best deal by 20
percent.
