Everyone seems to agree– this year will be the year of the cheap big-screen tv. The only question remains… will anyone buy them?
The New York Times says that DisplaySearch, a market research firm, says that so-called “Black Friday” prices “could go as low as $400 for a 32-inch LCD, and $600 for a 42-inch plasma set — about $200 off current prices.”
From the NYT:
Many retailers are cutting costs because they expect a lighter selling season. Best Buy announced that it would hire 16,000 to 20,000 seasonal employees, a hefty drop from last year’s 26,000 seasonal hires.
Best Buy’s comparable-store sales in September dropped 2 percent from the year before. “We’ll see less traffic,” Brian Dunn, Best Buy’s president, said. “We’ll grow our share by offering the right solution, product and service. We’re not looking to get every dime out of you. If a customer just wants the lowest price on a TV set, we’ll give it to them with a smile.”
And to increase the likelihood that customers will pull out their wallets, several manufacturers, including Panasonic and Sharp, are working with retailers to offer extended financing with either same-as-cash interest or deferred payment plans.
Some believe that bundling items, like a flat-screen TV with a Blu-ray player or an audio system, will provide that extra value that will push consumers to buy.
Best Buy will offer a bundle “targeted to middle America,” Mr. Dunn said.
Hefty Discounts Could Arrive on Big-Screen TVs, but Buyers May Be Resistant [NYT]
(Photo: Clean Wal-Mart )
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I don’t see the point of buying a new TV for personal use at this point as mine is mostly used for video games. I am hoarding my money for the purchase of a new computer, which will be used A LOT more than a television will. Unless of course one of the household TV’s break, then I will have no choice but to buy another TV from somewhere. If everyone ditches their CRT’s cheap on craigslist because of DTV and the lower prices on newer TV’s it will only mean more for me when my TV breaks.
I don’t know, I’m still waiting for the Sharp 42″ 1080p w/ no banding for $499. Funny that I said I’d buy one when the price was $999 but the prices are dropping so fast I’ll just wait some more. It’s not like Verizon is not taking their sweet a– time installing on my street.. even though I already did the stupid permission slip.
@shadax:
when you find one… let me know. lol
I have my heart set on a Panasonic Viera Plasma… I don’t know which size yet, maybe the 46″ TH-46PZ85U. Too many choices!
My husband and I have been saving for three years to redo the living room and get a really great HDTV and speaker system. We keep putting it off for other purchases but we’d settled on buying it this year for sure even before this news came out. Fantastic situation for us, means we can get a better couch!
My next TV purchase will be next years Superbowl. I’ll be replacing my 34″ flat CRT Sony. So I’m looking at 40-42″ HD (Any bigger and it will dwarf the room) 1080P 4 HDMI inputs and it will be under $1k. After upgrading my cable, then I’ll be thinking about getting a home theater setup eventually, and then probably a PS3 just to play Blueray discs. And hopefully the 18 yos will be out of the house by then as well. :-p
I already bought me a HDTV, I dont need another one…
I hate to say it but if I buy a hd tv its because someone is going down the tubes and is selling cheap. I don’t think a retail will be as cheap as a dumbass who way over extended himself running up that credit card. Bankrupt people are kinda like crackheads sad but you can get some great deals.
i have a sharp 37GP1U, which is a fine TV.
but if i can get the right price on something 46″+ i might be tempted. sorely tempted
I’m looking to buy one in December. I don’t have a TV in my room, but I’d like one so I can relax and watch movies without having to go downstairs to the living room. I saw one for $300 that looked decent. I’m not a big electronics buff, so pretty much anything that works is good with me.
If you live in the NY Metro market, I strongly suggest looking for the PC Richard & Son ad for black friday. Last year they ran the Panasonic 42″ th42px75u for $699
(Best Buy ran it for $899)
One can only imagine what their going to do it this year for…their already at $659 for the th42px80u(sears ad that was leaked for this yr has $699 for b.f.)
Us NY market ppl are lucky!
@Quill2006: Not exactly right either. My “rear end” snooping shows that a 42″ LCD is rated for about 175 watts… maximum. Given that the correct setting for a backlight is about 3-4 on a scale of 10, I’ve seen a power draw of about 90 watts in normal operation. A 42″ 720P plasma draws about 2-3 times that; a 42″ 1080P about 4-5 times that. A 32″ tube draws 75-100 watts.
I just got a new TV in January, so I don’t think so.
If we can get a good deal on a 42 we will probably move our 32 to the bedroom wall. I don’t feel too bad about buying new TVs if the price is right and since we have made all of our electronics last until they were dinosaurs. I realized last week that the stereo system hooked up to the main TV is older than our kid that is graduating next year.
I love my 19″ CRT. Heck I love CRT’s. There is just nothing like that picture instead of jaggies on our Sony 46″ LCD 1080i (yes it’s hooked up correctly!).
If someone could make a 46″ 1080p CRT that doesn’t weight a ton I’d buy it!
Nope, my current one works, and it has a digital tuner built in so my rabbit ears still work.
I’ll wait a few more years for a decent-sized vastly superior OLED to come out.
Current TV technology is already out-of-date, hence the cheap prices.