• The Morning News [Northwest Arkansas], Thursday, September 24, 2009 10:11 AM

After conducting pilot programs for about a year, Sam's Club says it is launching free technical support service nationwide on any electronics purchase -- even if the product was not bought at one of its outlets, Lana F. Flowers reports. Sam's Club is a division of Wal-Mart.

Sam's Club also will take returns of electronic merchandise for up to 90 days starting Nov. 1, which puts it in line with its chief competitor, Costco. Paid setup will start at $89 and delivery services at $50, according to a company press release.

"It will help Sam's compete with anybody, as delivery and setup is an important issue with a big TV," says Edward Weller, managing director of retail analyst ThinkEquity LLC. "I don't know that this is transformative, but it is plain that Sam's could sell a lot more of this stuff if it is easy to get home and get plugged in."

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