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I saw some online mail order pricing for 42" and 50" plasma screens and was amazed at the 35%+ discounts off MSRP on new models. (Thanks Joe Murphy Jr.)http://www.1800plasmas.com/plasmas/main.html
I would be curious to know what kind of discounts others are getting but at walk-in retail stores. We have a chain of consumer electronics stores in the Denver area but these guys barely budge off MSRP. I would like to buy locally but not if the merchant is bent on getting near full retail MSRP.
Follow Ups:
I think this year is the year that some real price reductions will be seen in Plasma prices, especially in the 42-50 inch range. I would continue to shop in order to maintain a feel for what is a good price but I think later this Fall you will get the best deals. Next year will be even better but who wants to wait?
I say this only based on the way most new electronic techs have been introduced over the last 30 yrs. The next couple of years will represent the breakthrough years for plasma mass production and sales.
Also, but very telling, is the way Best Buy placed their display of plasmas just before the holidays so that everybody who came in had to see those screens. The prices were high but the public was being introduced to the clarity of those wonderful screens.
If you really want to do online shopping....try this site:
www.pricegrabber.com
Good luck!
I found a site called Best Buy Plasma where I bouught my TH42PWD5UY. Just got it 2 weeks ago. Although I ordered a stand with it, the stand was back ordered. ( Can't use it with out a stand or something to hang it so I cancelled the stand and built one out of solid oak to match my Hi Fi cabinet. ( Saved another $190.00 ) The stand cost me $30.00 to build.) I don't recommend you build your own stand unless you know what you are doing though.) I notice the price has gone up $150.00 on the Pany. $3499.00 when I bought.My Pany does not hum. I can't here anything even right nest to it.
I was also concerned about life expectancy until I read the review of the 5UY in DTV city. Looks like 30,000 hours id the correct estamate.
I love the monitor. Wish I had room for a 50 incher but really couldn't aford any way.
I just went through this in buying my new Panasonic 42" plasma. I tried to get CC, Best Buy, and Tweeter to come close to online prices. Ultimately, I went through the dealer I use for some of my audio gear. He has outstanding prices and is great to deal with (Perrotta Consulting in NY). Get in touch with Anthony and I am confident he will work with you on pricing.BTW, which plasma are you looking at?
Good luck.
George
I just started emailing with a local independant dealer. I don't think he carries Panasonic but I was very impressed with the bottom two Panasonic plasma screens shown on the webpage below. I saw both the 42" and 50" versions at a local museum (showing off some National Geographic High-Def nature video).I've been told that plasma screens have a relatively short life (3000 hours or so) compared to other technologies and at high altitude they tend to buzz. I live in Colorado at about 6500-ft which isn't high by our standards but I *have* heard some annoying buzzing from these Panasonic plasma screens. Another dealer told me that in the Pioneer Elite line, they actually make a special run of plasma screens for high altitude geographies.... something to do with adjusting the gas pressure in the screen to our altitude.
I may reconsider and research LCD's or go with a high-end direct view CRT HDTV monitor.... not sure yet. I'm not even sure I need HDTV. My main source will be DVD.
I think you meant 30,000 hours (above).To put that into perspective: if you use it 4 hours per day, you'll be good for > 20 years of service. How accurate is that 30,000 hours estimate? I can't say. But even if it's off by 50% (!!!), highly unlikely, that's still > 10 years of service. Don't most people get new televisions/monitors about every 10 years anyway?
The bad news: after 10+ years, your plasma won't be worth a great deal.
The good news: you've had a plasma for the last 10+ years.
How many times in the last 10 years have you used the universal word "WOW!" to discribe your display?
Here's a link to some of the altitude questions:
***a high-end direct view CRT HDTV monitor***There is no such thing. Don't be fooled by bullshit claims.
Most B&M stores aren't going to budge much from what they're asking on the sticker. What you gain by using them is usually better access, the ability to do in store comparisons and a local venue to deal with if there is a problem (ie, if there are dead pixels, the local dealer can either give you another plasma or -- possibly -- get another one for you quicker). Many of the local dealers can send someone out with the delivery (if you don't bring it home yourself) to help with setting up the monitor and whatever hookup difficulties you might have. If you live in Athens GA and order online from a seller in Spokane WA, the "helpful hardware man" probably won't come attached to the pallet in most cases. :-)Here's an idea you might want to look into. Try to find out a downtime in electronics sales. It might be the end of a quarter, the end of the month, right before new products will be introduced, etc. Get the best price you can find from a reputable* online dealer, include shipping and any accessories you are going to need. Go to the manager of the store and see if you can work out a better deal than what the sticker price has listed. The manager might be more inclined to make you a better deal due to the fact that he is more concerned (in most cases) with moving product at that time, as opposed to making a sales commission. Can't hurt to try if you don't want to buy online.
* The two online sources for plasma monitors that I've seen the most favorable mention of are:
1800plasmas.com and plasmaextreme.com
There may be others that are mentioned, but these two seem to come up more often than any others. Regardless of where you buy, ALWAYS inquire about the warranty and what will be done for you should any service complications arise. Plasmas, at least for most people, are not cheap. As they represent quite an investment, it is impairative that you do your research "before" -- it may be too late "after".
On a similar note, NEVER buy Fujitsu online. Fujitsu will NOT honor the warranty on ANY online purchase, REGARDLESS of what the online seller tells you. That said, Fujitsu does, however, make the best plasma monitor in the business. But you will pay for the best.
Good luck with your search. Just remember this: when you own a plasma monitor, you seem to get more than your fair share of guests that just "happen" to be in the neighborhood...
:-)
Thanks Joe. You're a great mentor for a home theatre newbie like me. I'm into "high-end" audio but just getting around to learning more about my home theatre options.
Dude, you have some VERY nice gear. I wish you the all best taking care of your "eyes". Your "ears" are well taken care of, indeed.
Thanks for your help Joe. I've bought and sold lots of "pre-owned" audio gear. I own only a fraction of what you saw at any given time.
hey joe, you seem to know a lot about this stuff - which of the magazines (perfect vision, etc.), or even websites, do you think are pretty good resources for getting good info on the latest news and "what's good, what's hot" news regarding video? thanks.
try that web site; they will tell a lot about plasmas. What amazed me was that many manufacturers make the same model for commercial distribution and price it 100s, and in Pioneer's case, thousands less...
...go to www.avsforum.comBest source for HT/video info I've found. By far.
Who shall remain nameless, once said, "Well, I read alot.". But seldom magazines (they're for the pictures!).:-)
There's usually more video discussion over at avsforum.com and the increased load times seem to indicate this (and I'm using DSL!).
There are several subsections to that site and one can quickly develop favorites due to the specific nature of those forums. There is also more manufacturer participation there, also. Often they will establish "guest" appearances so that you can ask questions directly to a representative of the company whose product(s) you may be interested in. There's plenty of info available and avsforum has a good deal of it. Just remember that moderation sometimes comes in the form of a stiff hand -- unlike here. I'm NOT knocking here or over there -- I'm just letting you know that what goes on at HI-REZ Highway and DVD-Audiobahn would not fly for more than a post or two. Sometimes that's good -- other times it's not.
CAUTION: RANT BELOW
When I "read" any of the mags (audio or video), I usually skip the non-technical stuff. I like to see pictures of the equipment, measurements, details, etc (sort of like Playboy).
:-)
That doesn't mean that I believe measurements tell the whole story -- but they do tell an important part of it. The other part comes from "your" ears/eyes in "your" system or similar one. Last time I checked, men and women were only made with two ears and two eyes that "they" could call their own. I don't think Mother Nature has changed this, except maybe near a nuclear waste disposal site.
:-)
I know some people are going to take this personal, but everyone is entitled to their opinion -- as am I. My opinion of "paid" reviewers is that 95% of them SUCK. All too many times I've looked at responses from *** plots (frequency response peaks and valleys + and - 5dB and more) and read the "highest recommendation/mortgage the house/sell your soul" review. How accurate are those *** going to sound in most people's listening/living room? Or how about a reviewer that said the violins played through this megabuck *** player were never "etchy". Did he ever hear a real violin? What good is the information from a "video" magazine when the reviewer doesn't have the facilities to test the progressive outputs of the *** player under review? How can a *** player get such a favorable review in one magazine when the same *** player fails or stumbles on the majority of technical video tests? Makes you think, doesn't it? And please remember, I didn't say that ALL reviewers suck -- just 95% of them.
:-)
I do realise that some people can't easily audition everything they might want before the purchase. My advice? If that purchase is an important or expensive one -- you define important/expensive -- is to either look for an acceptable audition/return policy or force yourself to get to an audition site that has the same or similar gear as you do (pack up the family if you have to, make a vacation out of it, have fun -- Fun in audio/video? What's that?). By the way, Disneyland/Disneyworld/the in-laws in North Dakota (North Dakota?!) make "wonderful" fronts for clandestine audio/video operations. Suit up! Move out! Uh, I mean... gee, I can't wait to see Mickey/grandma Martha... again... this year...
:-)
More often than not, if you make the honest effort, you will be rewarded with years of pleasure from that investment in time and money. And isn't that what audio/video is about?
* Please be advised that the :-) were inserted so that our HUMOR deficient readers will know when a smile/chuckle/laugh should be expressed (as excruciating as it might be for some of them).
:-)
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