The downward slope of TV prices has two businesses specializing in repair rethinking their business models.

Retailers have already rolled out price drops for holiday electronics.

This week, Target has a 17-inch LCD TV with a built-in DVD player for about $200, but that’s just the tip of iceberg as hhgregg, Wal-mart, and Best Buy have similar price drops for digital televisions.

After more than 50 years of operations, Bowling Green’s longtime repair centers like Harold’s TV and McGown TV are meeting the demands of an ailing industry with changes.

Gary Jones, owner of Harold’s TV, hasn’t sold new televisions since the 80s.

&#8220It didn’t seem economical,” Jones said. &#8220The large wholesale outlets could sell them cheaper than we could buy them. So we stuck with used televisions that we refurbish.”

Harold’s TV now sells only used TVs, and became the service center for LG Zenith in the spring.

Jones services Phillips and other major brands of TVs.

&#8220We’re competing with an unstable foreign market that doesn’t always seem to deliver a very good quality product,” Jones said.

Jones said with certain brands, it’s difficult to get product information, parts or help from manufacturers.

At one time, Bowling Green had seven or eight TV dealers, but they have moved on or quit, Jones said.

As products become cheaper, repair centers nationwide are dwindling in numbers, particularly those that repair consumer electronics, according to Tod Marks, senior editor for Consumer Reports.

&#8220A lot of products aren’t even repairable,” Marks said, noting that less expensive products are easier to throw out compared to spending more money on repairs.

Marks said some of the new TVs are best sent to the manufacturer.

&#8220Different skill sets are required today than years past to repair new high-tech stuff,” Marks said.

It can be frustrating for repairmen working on a newer set, since some parts aren’t in the supply line and manufacturers are stocking parts for shorter periods of time, Marks said.

&#8220Since it’s new technology, there’s very little backup that dealers can exchange with each other,” Jones said. &#8220Now on many televisions, like LCDs, there aren’t any serviceable parts and you’re having to replace at the component level.”

Today, Jones is in Nashville being trained on how to deal with the rapidly changing consumer electronics market.

During the past four years, Jones’ workload has become more demanding since venturing into the video security systems field.

Jones has installed systems for Plytech Industries in Glasgow, a lumber company in Leitchfield and the Housing Authority of Bowling Green’s Learning Center.

Monday, Philip Taylor, president and co-owner of McGown TV, said his business has made a slow transition to more digital sets in the past two years.

&#8220We started stocking high definition televisions two years ago with a couple of models,” Taylor said. &#8220Now it has flip-flopped where we only keep a couple of analog models, the smaller sets.”

In fact, 90 percent of the TVs Taylor sells are digital, he said.

Taylor said televisions smaller than 27 inches are becoming less reasonable to repair.

&#8220The price has come down so much on the smaller ones that it’s really not feasible to repair them,” Taylor said. &#8220There’s also an interest that people see a change to upgrade to the high definition instead of repairing the old ones, since they have analog television.”

Taylor said low overhead costs make him able to compete with the major retailers, even though he doesn’t have the big advertising budget to make that known.

Most of his advertising is through word-of-mouth.

&#8220We can sell something just as cheap or cheaper,” Taylor said.

As both Jones and Taylor’s business become more service-oriented, consumers need to weigh the costs of repair with the cost to buy new.

Some of the new LCD sets and plasma screens are expensive to repair for one obvious reason – time, Taylor said.

&#8220They are more time consuming. Any flat panel is a little more time consuming than the picture tube (televisions). So the expense of the repair is a little bit higher,” Taylor explained.

Consumers should analyze their needs and weigh the costs to see if repairing a TV is worth it.

The Web site consumerreports.org has information for those interested in buying TVs and gives established timelines for when it’s best to buy new or repair.

The site consults with expert engineers who are familiar with the products, marketers who know the prices and cost, the surveys and the difficulties with getting TVs repaired, the process and the overall consumer satisfaction with repair jobs.

&#8220With exception to the rear projection TVs, the new TVs are just as reliable as the older ones,” Marks said.

Taylor said he isn’t a big fan of extended warranties but it may be in the consumer’s best interest. &#8220With these new flat panels, it’s not a bad idea because of the expensive repairs,” Taylor said.

Be in the know

Check consumer electronic magazines for the latest prices and deals.

Talk to family and friends to see who is providing the best repair service.

Purchase repair plans from companies that offer extended service warranties.

Avoid lightning. During storms, unplug your TV and any TV attachment.

Have a surge protector that carries a lifetime warranty.

Evaluate your needs. There are lots of home entertainment options, weigh the benefits with the costs if something were to go wrong.

Know that in 2009, things will change. Any television 36 inches or larger must be able to deal with a digital signal. Be prepared to make the investment, but know that non-digital televisions must have a converter to get the digital signal.

Local repair shops

Harold’s TV, 729 College St., 842-1493

McGown TV Sales and Service, 101 E 10th St., 842-5574 or 842-3686

Mike’s Electronics, 820 U.S. 31-W By-Pass , 781-4402