[Oak Lane Cemetery]

I've got $75 worth of Sears/Kmart gift cards that I'm looking to purchase a projector with to do a ghost projection in our front picture window this year. Looking at this on through the online merchants site - http://www.sears.com/infocus-in2124...p-00342166000P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6 Seems good, but a quick cross reference search on amazon reveals a huge price difference! Am I missing something in the item I'm looking at? Is there some fine prints I don't see that explains why this projector is so much cheaper that the same model listed on Amazon? I'm suspicious.

Anyways, I've never tried projections before and I'm learning the art of projecting a convincing image from scratch so help me out. I will have a table directly across from the window about 7 ft away that is below the level of the window to set up on so the projector should not be visible from outside unless a very tall person is viewing, or someone goes right up to the window and looks in. How close should the scrim be to the glass to avoid reflections and what material would help in not creating reflections? I'm sure I'll be full of more questions if I move forward with the plan.

 

[J-Man]

Well, I can tell you that something is cocoa puffs with that listing. No way they're selling that unit for $76, that's a $500 projector. Take a look at the specs in that listing, it's showing a weight of 2 lbs. and the lumens at 300. The IN2124 probably weighs around 7 lbs. ebay is your best bet for a decent projector on the cheap.
As for your window scrim, I just got done setting one up using a 2000 lumen projector and a $2 white shower curtain liner from WalMart, amazing results. It doesn't matter where the projector is behind the scrim, you can walk right up to the window and the projector beam is totally invisible.

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

Well, I can tell you that something is cocoa puffs with that listing. No way they're selling that unit for $76, that's a $500 projector. Take a look at the specs in that listing, it's showing a weight of 2 lbs. and the lumens at 300. The IN2124 probably weighs around 7 lbs. ebay is your best bet for a decent projector on the cheap.
As for your window scrim, I just got done setting one up using a 2000 lumen projector and a $2 white shower curtain liner from WalMart, amazing results. It doesn't matter where the projector is behind the scrim, you can walk right up to the window and the projector beam is totally invisible.

Seems a bit screwy to me too, that's why I compared with Amazon listings where things are a bit more regulated. Unfortunately I don't have the option of ebay since the gift cards are for Sears/Kmart and I'd like to use them to take the brunt of the cost.

 

[J-Man]

Unfortunately I don't think you're gonna find a suitable projector in that price range at Sears/Kmart.

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

Unfortunately I don't think you're gonna find a suitable projector in that price range at Sears/Kmart.

One can hope. lol In their online marketplace they offer products from a lot of partner vendors. We get these stupid gift card certificates as a safety bonus at work that are redeemable at only about a dozen stores, most of which I have no interest in, so I always redeem them for Sears gift cards because they are also good for Kmart and their online marketplace. It's either that or some place like Lands End, or Bed Bath and Beyond where I have no possibility of spending them on anything I'm interested in. When the Halloween budget is tight to the point of being nonexistent one has to get creative with where and how to make purchases. lol

 

[victor-eyd]

First its sold through Electrified, so its probably a 3rd party reseller. Check with them directly or visit their website and see if the same projector is the same price. Also, check if the return policy is valid so if you do get a dud, you can get their money back. Its probably a refurb unit, but if it works and the lamp is brand new you might have a great deal. Just do your homework.

Victor

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

First its sold through Electrified, so its probably a 3rd party reseller. Check with them directly or visit their website and see if the same projector is the same price. Also, check if the return policy is valid so if you do get a dud, you can get their money back. Its probably a refurb unit, but if it works and the lamp is brand new you might have a great deal. Just do your homework.

Victor

Oh yea, I've already scoped them out...HORRIBLE reviews on their replacement bulbs, customer service, and return policy. One reviewer stated that their order was cancelled by them because they could not sell a projector for the price their webmaster listed it for. I suspect that is the case here. I definitely do not want to deal with them after reading reviews. I'll keep looking elsewhere!

 

[J-Man]

As a possible option, maybe sell the gift cards to a co-worker or someone you know for $5 less than face value. Use the money to shop on ebay. There's usually plenty of used Epson projectors with a lot of lamp hours left that are in your budget range.

 

[Pumpkin5]

I think you should check on Ebay and Craig's List for a good used projector. A forum friend has found 2 projectors for me with really low bulb hours on Craig's List, and in great shape. These are projectors that sell for over a thousand dollars new. BTW, this is my first year with projectors and projections as well. I have purchased Mr. Chicken's tombstone projection for one of my front row tombstones and I want to have a singing pumpkin projection near my candy table, and a ghost in the graveyard projection projected onto scrim. All my projections are going to be outside, so I have to build tombstones to "house" them in, so I have a bit of work to do. Rather than buy a new, cheapo projector, your money may be better spent on a quality used projector. I am a newbie on projections, but I've been researching it quite a while. Just a suggestion.

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

I'd love to do the Ghost Bride in our picture window. I have not seen ANYONE around here doing projections so it would really one-up me. lol Not that it's a competition or anything. I may use the gift cards to pick up an airbrush and continue my projector search on ebay one I save up some cash.

 

[Pumpkin5]

I'd love to do the Ghost Bride in our picture window. I have not seen ANYONE around here doing projections so it would really one-up me. lol Not that it's a competition or anything. I may use the gift cards to pick up an airbrush and continue my projector search on ebay one I save up some cash.

I'm right there with you on the "one-up" thing. It's not a competition, but you feel you have to do something more each year, sort of like you against you. Honestly, I am familiar with projections from being on the forum, but you take your average Dick and Jane, and they are going to be blown away! No one in my town does hardly anything for Halloween, so this should amaze and astound all my visitors. Just the tombstone projection of Mr. Chicken's is going to mystify people and then the phantom ghost hovering over a tombstone in the graveyard...WOW! Then the singing pumpkins doing their thing...the kids will LOVE them!

 

[Ghost of Spookie]

Sears website. That's the issue right there. Nightfisher, the 2.17 weight is actually the weight for the projector but in KG (so poor web entry work), but more importantly the price is for a replacement lamp for that item. If you followed through with either that listing or one of the two others sellers listed and put the item in your shopping cart you will see the picture for the item being sold is for the projector replacement lamp, which pricing now makes more sense.

I have bought off Kmart's website in the past a few times (website is the same basically as Sears who owns them and runs it) and you do have to be careful looking over the items before clicking Buy. I really don't like their website for a number of reasons. Sometimes the item prices seem outrageous on first glance, so it can go either way. And as in this case, the website item wasn't actually the item being sold. In the past an item was listed as In Stock from Kmart and when I called Customer Service after I got an order cancellation found out there wasn't even in one available in any of their warehouses even though the website still showed In Stock. Total waste of my time and tying up my credit card until the order was cancelled. Now if you were actually looking for a replacement lamp you would never know it was for sale either. I have placed my order by phone in the past feeling maybe it was a better way to go. Really not a fan of using their site (for any of their related companies).

I did get a damaged resin snake (garden item) from Kmart which had been packed in a large box with no real packing material, and will say that their Customer Service was way better than I expected. But still it was a given the item would arrived broken the way it was packed so why even ship that way was my thought. Anyway that's my past experience with them. Sometime Kmart will have sales that make it worth the effort of ordering from them. Probably could use your gift card with Kmart as well. They do have some decent halloween mdse occasionally online and I have found a number of garden items (wagon wheel, croaking toad, snake, Gemmy firefly LED lighting) useful for my halloween haunt as well. If it were me I would use your gift card up as soon as you could and get something for it.

Good luck and yes you were right, something was definitely off LOL.

 

[HaunterMom]

Well, I can tell you that something is cocoa puffs with that listing. No way they're selling that unit for $76, that's a $500 projector. Take a look at the specs in that listing, it's showing a weight of 2 lbs. and the lumens at 300. The IN2124 probably weighs around 7 lbs. ebay is your best bet for a decent projector on the cheap.
As for your window scrim, I just got done setting one up using a 2000 lumen projector and a $2 white shower curtain liner from WalMart, amazing results. It doesn't matter where the projector is behind the scrim, you can walk right up to the window and the projector beam is totally invisible.

J-Man,
Would you mind sharing the name/model of your projector? Also I assume Walmart sells multiple brands of shower curtains, so do you remember which one you bought? Thank you for your help!!

 

[J-Man]

J-Man,
Would you mind sharing the name/model of your projector? Also I assume Walmart sells multiple brands of shower curtains, so do you remember which one you bought? Thank you for your help!!

I have several Epson PowerLite 82c, also called EMP-82. All were purchased on ebay each for $100 or less. These were used in schools a lot and are usually available. Just be sure to get one that has plenty of lamp hours left and be sure the description clearly states that it is working. The shower curtain is actually a LINER, white, not frosted. Throw it in the dryer on low heat for about a minute to get the fold lines out.

 

[JCO]

HaunterMom, I understand your desire to get the most exact information you can find, but it really isn't a matter of brand. Or store. You can find suitable stuff in a dollar store sometimes. First of all, what you're technically looking for is a shower curtain LINER - plastic or vinyl, not fabric. You want two qualities: solid white (no patterns, pictures or designs) and completely opaque - not "frosted" or "translucent" etc. I found it hard to believe too, but believe me (us) you don't need to look high and low for the "perfect" thing. Some folks here have said they use a plastic tablecloth with great results and I believe them. If you're paying more than $10 you're wasting your money. Some will say even $5 is overkill.

 

[bobzilla]

I concur with P5 about Craigslist.
The two projectors I found for her were in really great shape.
I got to see them working in person, and check the bulb hours.
Pretty amazing deals out there. I'm sure Jana won't mind me saying that the one I found for her a few weeks ago was only $35 dollars!
It had less than 300 hours on the bulb, 1,700 Lumens, 2000 lamp life hours and was originally 6K new. The other projector I found was a newer Epson for a bit more, but not much.
Here is a link to the
Hitachi projector I found for $35 bucks.
Good luck with your search!
http://www.projectorcentral.com/Hitachi-CP-S317W.htm

I think you should check on Ebay and Craig's List for a good used projector. A forum friend has found 2 projectors for me with really low bulb hours on Craig's List, and in great shape. These are projectors that sell for over a thousand dollars new. BTW, this is my first year with projectors and projections as well. I have purchased Mr. Chicken's tombstone projection for one of my front row tombstones and I want to have a singing pumpkin projection near my candy table, and a ghost in the graveyard projection projected onto scrim. All my projections are going to be outside, so I have to build tombstones to "house" them in, so I have a bit of work to do. Rather than buy a new, cheapo projector, your money may be better spent on a quality used projector. I am a newbie on projections, but I've been researching it quite a while. Just a suggestion.

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

I have bought off Kmart's website in the past a few times (website is the same basically as Sears who owns them and runs it) and you do have to be careful looking over the items before clicking Buy. I really don't like their website for a number of reasons.

Yep, I'm quite familiar with the shenanigans that go on there. I always comparison shop, check seller reviews and product reviews. I'll bet a lot of people get burned off their marketplace site. I was just hoping to find a decent one on there and be able to use the gift cards to slash the price. Looks like nearly every projector on there is either priced higher than elsewhere, or has a fishy description. Similar results with the airbrushes.

Thanks for the info on model #s and shower liners everyone. Exactly the kind of pointers and help I was looking for.

I'm going to spend the gift cards on something else and stick to Craigslist for the projector for sure.