I will speak for the 1970-1980 era before the price slide
began.
Abt 25% of our sales over $300 were financed through AVCO
or a credit union. Most didnt buy the flat chassis or remote,
usually the cheaper tube models. There was one color TV in
the living room, the old B&W in the den & maybe a 12" to
lug around the house. About half our sales were Nov-Dec &
were the family xmas present. A new TV was NOT taken lightly
even by the rich, it was a long thought out process.
Money used to go a long way also. A TV man could buy a
house $30K new Impala $5K BCBS family plan $60/mo.
All that & the wife didnt have to work. Things were made to
last & be repaired also. My sister asked me what kind of
washer to get abt 10 yrs ago. I told her a 20 year old Maytag.
She didnt & shes been through 2 washers, my early 80's
Maytag needed a $20 water valve in the same time.
Twas a different world that under 50's folks dont know.
IMHO we have advanced technically but slid back in almost all
other respects. As a functioning society we are standing in deep dog doot.
73 Zeno
