Psst…Wanna Save Big on a New HDTV? It Will Pay to Wait Till May

[Saigon]

I think this belongs here...either way this is good news...

http://hdguru.com/psst%E2%80%A6wanna-save-big-on-a-new-hdtv-it-will-pay-to-wait-till-may/236/


In a few days the price of flat panel TVs will drop considerably. Why? Because Sony wants to regain its number one market share, so its drastically dropping the prices of its first new 2008 1080p flat panel models in order to pick up more sales volume.

Want more good news? According to a well-placed industry sources, you can expect Sony’s major competitors (LG, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba) to react by dropping their respective prices too (in May).

Here is an example. Sony’s latest 40” 1080p (1920×1080) HDTV the KDL-S4100 will have a (suggested minimum price) of just $1199 making a full $500 less than its lowest priced predecessor.

How about a 46” 1080p set? The new KDL-46S4100 will be priced at $1599 (representing a $400 drop). This is Sony’s “advertised price”. The big box retailers Circuit City and Best Buy have been dropping below this minimum advertised price (MAP) 10% or more, only a week or two after other 2008 HDTVs have debuted, so don’t be surprised to see these Sony prices cut quickly by the big box retailers.

What about Plasma? This price marks the first time a 1080p LCD is priced below 1080p plasma. The HD Guru™ expects a lockstep reaction by the big plasma vendors with 2008 product now available or coming to market in May (Panasonic, LG and Samsung).

Likewise 2nd and 3rd tier vendors (i.e. Visio, Westinghouse) will have to react too, but probably don’t have as much room to move as Sony does because the “off brands” source all their products from outside panel makers and assembly plants.

Copyright ©2008 Gary Merson/HD Guru™. All rights reserved. The content and photos within may not be distributed electronically or copied mechanically without specific written permission.

[Dasimpse]

awesome news. i wonder if it will translate to the uk!!!

[Metfanant]

prices on the 2008 model Samsung TV's are already falling like crazy....

on Amazon the 650's are going for dirt cheap....the 46" has an MSRP if nearly $2900! but is now less than $2 grand with free shipping from Amazon!

[THUGGEDOUT]

I was so close to buying another HDTV a month ago but decided to hold off, I am glad I did. But I will hold off for awhile, my aim is to get anywhere between 42-50" range, I figure say buy next year I should be able to get a decent Sony at a really good price by then...

[Faceless]

Awesome news if true! I am still using a 32" Sony Wega from 5 years ago. Nice TV though.

[Morganator]

Hmm! I might have enough in a couple months' time. Great new regardless.

[badz_ps3]

What about Plasma? This price marks the first time a 1080p LCD is priced below 1080p plasma.

Uhhhhhhhh, what? Last I checked almost ALL 1080p plasma's are more expensive than 1080p LCD's. Is this source reliable?

[RuneRules]

As long as the Pioneer plasma's drop, man those things are expensive but great.

[Copyright]

In the uk when it is under £299 for a decent TV then i will be happy

[P51-SN95]

I was just about to post this.. but I've also read LCD prices are gunna go up a little bit later on this summer due to china cutting back production on a lot of factories in an attempt to clean the air some for the olympics. I guess early on after the price drops without too much delay is the time to buy.

[ex nihilo7]

Uhhhhhhhh, what? Last I checked almost ALL 1080p plasma's are more expensive than 1080p LCD's. Is this source reliable?
Maybe the kuros are, but the panasonic vieras aren't that expensive. Even still, there are 32inch 1080p LCDs out there, So maybe they were going by size. Even still, it doesn't make sense. I don't think they can put a blanket statement like that out there.

[HellsJester]

Good.
I was getting a new TV soon.

[mrnagy88]

I was just about to post this.. but I've also read LCD prices are gunna go up a little bit later on this summer due to china cutting back production on a lot of factories in an attempt to clean the air some for the olympics. I guess early on after the price drops without too much delay is the time to buy.

Wow, that's scary... is there a TV I can buy with low emissions from production? OLED? lol.

[jamesyfx]

I saw a 46" Hitachi LCD panel in Tesco HomePlus today for £425

Thats just ridiculously cheap. Personally I wouldn't touch Hitachi with a barge pole but it's still really cheap for a well-known brand.

[-Deadpool-]

Awesome news.. bit late for me unfortunately, but great news for the next set I buy 8)

[NuSoardGraphite]

Sweet!

Maybe that means I'll be able to find a 42" 1080p LCD for around $1000. Glad I waited! I was prepared to spend $1500 for a 1080p Phillips tv. Maybe now I'll be able to afford a Sony or Samsung tv.

[daevv]

I have a 37'' LCD (720p/1080i) now that were thinking of retiring to the bedroom. Will have to start looking for a 50'' or higher 1080p model come this month :)

[Nu Soard Graphite]

IT BEGINS!

I went to Circuit City last night to see if the prices were coming down and THEY ARE!

About 30% of their TV's have gone down in price anywhere from $200 to as much as $500! There was even a 40" 1080p SONY LCD for $1099!

This means I should be able to get my next gen gaming platform up and running sooooooon!!!

[tuaamin13]

I was just about to post this.. but I've also read LCD prices are gunna go up a little bit later on this summer due to china cutting back production on a lot of factories in an attempt to clean the air some for the olympics. I guess early on after the price drops without too much delay is the time to buy.

I saw that article also.
Here's a more in-depth summary:
-The USD sucks, it's something like a 12% drop against the Yuan [They said Chinese workers, if paid in USD at a constant rate, are now earning 12% less compared to the same wage in Yuan]
-China is stopping manufacturing in June in preparation for the olympics [cleaner air]
-The value of the USD is declining.
-Raw material prices have gone up
-The value of the USD went [is going] down.

Basically the article went like that. However, one commenter pointed out that the US also buys electronics from Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, etc, so China cutting manufacturing won't matter too much.
Anyhow, they'll probably ramp production up afterwards just to get back to status quo.

It's nice that HD screens are going to drop in price, though I won't be in the market for one for at least 3-4 years, since I'm in college still.

[C.T.E.]

As long as the Pioneer plasma's drop, man those things are expensive but great.

The Kuro is the ONLY TV that hasn't dropped in price at my Costco. Every TV that came out at the same time is now at least half the original price. Not the Pioneer. Still full price.

What a beauty, though......

[sj808]

does anyone know if the prices are gonna stay low? or its just a phase?


I'm moving in June and purchasing a HDTV then.

[GuitarrassDeAmor]

Wow....I will be looking into convincing the moms to get one!