My Black Friday Experience

[Yeha-Noha]

On Black Friday morning, I got up early and shot over to the nearest Ultimate Electronics store. While waiting in line for it to open, a sales person came out and passed out vouchers for the S350. There were several hundred people lined up. I was in the middle. The vouchers had run out before they got to me. He had vouchers for other electronics. I asked if I could have one for the Panasonic DMP BD 35. The said they don't have vouchers for those. He had mostly ones for 1080p HDTVs going for $500 to $600! I said why the vouchers? He said to prevent a stampede and people getting injured or killed from getting trampled on.

I went in the story anyway to see if any Panny 35s for $230 were left. They had stacks and stacks of Panny 35s! Nobody was buying one. I didn't see any one in that store waiting in the horrendously long line carrying one or walking around with one. Everyone had a S350! As I started pulling one off the stack, this guy comes up to me carrying an S350. He said, would you like to have the S350 instead? He said his wife got there before him and so they already have one. I said thank you, yes I would indeed rather have the S350!

I push the Panny 35 back on the stack grabbed the S350, went over to the checkout line, and 45 minutes later it was mine.

They also had PS3 80 GB players for $399 and they had stacks and stacks of Samsung 1500s going for $177. I only saw a couple of people walking around with the Samsung or waiting in line with one. I didn't see a single person buying the PS3 for $399 because it was a rip off.

Sony made a big killing off the S350 in that Ultimate Electronics store. I can imagine that a similar event occurred across the country in all kinds of stores on that morning. I think the predictions were right. Blu-ray players, especially the S350 were sought after and bought in phenomenally large numbers. Blu-ray is indeed, from what I saw on Black Friday, what people want and seek to buy. Once the price comes down to the magic $200 range, people will buy in a frenzy. In the stores I saw DVD players with up conversion to 1080p going for $25 some even for $15. I didn't see anyone buying DVD. Perhaps it is the beginning of the end for DVD.

[masob98]

Im sure it is a good sign of things to come. I was amazed to hear that the guy gave you the sony one. I have been going to BF deals for the past 3 years and I have been lucky and haven't had any bad experiences. Have actually been surrounded with kool people that have sat there and talked with me, made the time go alot faster.

[andyman1970]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

On Black Friday morning, I got up early and shot over to the nearest Ultimate Electronics store. While waiting in line for it to open, a sales person came out and passed out vouchers for the S350. There were several hundred people lined up. I was in the middle. The vouchers had run out before they got to me. He had vouchers for other electronics. I asked if I could have one for the Panasonic DMP BD 35. The said they don't have vouchers for those. He had mostly ones for 1080p HDTVs going for $500 to $600! I said why the vouchers? He said to prevent a stampede and people getting injured or killed from getting trampled on.

I went in the story anyway to see if any Panny 35s for $230 were left. They had stacks and stacks of Panny 35s! Nobody was buying one. I didn't see any one in that store waiting in the horrendously long line carrying one or walking around with one. Everyone had a S350! As I started pulling one off the stack, this guy comes up to me carrying an S350. He said, would you like to have the S350 instead? He said his wife got there before him and so they already have one. I said thank you, yes I would indeed rather have the S350!

I push the Panny 35 back on the stack grabbed the S350, went over to the checkout line, and 45 minutes later it was mine.

They also had PS3 80 GB players for $399 and they had stacks and stacks of Samsung 1500s going for $177. I only saw a couple of people walking around with the Samsung or waiting in line with one. I didn't see a single person buying the PS3 for $399 because it was a rip off.

Sony made a big killing off the S350 in that Ultimate Electronics store. I can imagine that a similar event occurred across the country in all kinds of stores on that morning. I think the predictions were right. Blu-ray players, especially the S350 were sought after and bought in phenomenally large numbers. Blu-ray is indeed, from what I saw on Black Friday, what people want and seek to buy. Once the price comes down to the magic $200 range, people will buy in a frenzy. In the stores I saw DVD players with up conversion to 1080p going for $25 some even for $15. I didn't see anyone buying DVD. Perhaps it is the beginning of the end for DVD.

Personally, I would have held on to the Panasonic, but to each his own.

[callas01]

Originally Posted by andyman1970

Personally, I would have held on to the Panasonic, but to each his own.

+1, I love mine. Congrats though, I hope you really enjoy it.

[BLUE MYSTIC RAIN]

Another great story !!!
Everyone should live in a Blu Mystical World !!!

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by andyman1970

Personally, I would have held on to the Panasonic, but to each his own.

The Panny 35 was on my list. But at that store it was $50.00 more. If they were selling it for the same price, then yes, I probably would have bought the Panny. But I really don't need DTS-HD MA decoded by the player. My AVR does that. But if the receiver does the decoding, I can't see paying $50 more for the Panny. The reviews I read, all say that the Panny loads faster, that is the only reason I would buy the Panny over the S350. Some reviews said the Panny sounded better and has better PQ. As far as audio goes, there can't be any difference between the players if the receiver does the decoding. The S350 PQ is excellent. I got 9 firmware updates in just a couple of minutes after hooking it up to my LAN. It can't be beat for the price I paid. I am really happy with it.

[Seeking_Alpha]

The PS3 is a ripoff? lol I am sure a lot of people will take issue with that.

But I guess all you want to do is watch blus.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by Seeking_Alpha

The PS3 is a ripoff? lol I am sure a lot of people will take issue with that.

But I guess all you want to do is watch blus.

You are probably right. If I were a gamer it wouldn't be a ripoff. But for just being used as a BD player while standalones were selling for over $200 less, yes that's a rip off. The PS3 was on my list. But the price was way too high. The S350 or S550 both match the PS3 in PQ and SQ for a lot less. Why should I pay more for the PS3 if I'm not a gamer?

[saprano]

Thats true and there's nothing wrong with that, enjoy your BD player.

[[SR]]

I love my PS3, i like being able to play all video formats not just Blu-Ray. And if i feel like playing a game then i can do that too.

[johnnyd1]

I have two stand alones and a PS3.... Best of both worlds !

[lobo81865]

Add me to those who would have much preferred the Panasonic.

[Marine Mike]

So how much was the S350?

[Mike Z]

Originally Posted by andyman1970

Personally, I would have held on to the Panasonic, but to each his own.

I picked up the Panasonic on Friday night and I love it

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by Marine Mike

So how much was the S350?

$177.00 plus tax.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

I picked up the Panasonic on Friday night and I love it

I would've also but the S350 was $50 - 70 cheaper. So I got the S350 instead.

[crobert0247]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

I would've also but the S350 was $50 - 70 cheaper. So I got the S350 instead.

Yeah. I bought the S350 on BF to go in my bedroom. I already have a PS3/360 and a theatre in my living room. Mine ships on Tuesday. Great story btw! I read somewhere here on the forums that the S350 was the 3rd most purchased item on BF. Wow.

[red_5ive]

Originally Posted by johnnyd1

I have two stand alones and a PS3.... Best of both worlds !

Heh, I just picked up a 2nd PS3 so I now hve 2 PS3s and a standalone. I moved the first PS3 up to the loft some months back, but I missed all the functionality of the PS3 in my main room (streaming music, videos, gaming, CF/SD card slot, etc.). I toyed with just building an HTPC, but the $1200 price tag for a high end rig makes the PS3 a real bargain. So I broke down and bought one of the Best Buy bundles on BF.

[bigjeff31]

I picked up the panny at sears when they had the online price for 149 they did not have any online so i went up to the store and brought my print out they had 1 left and i snatched it up i also have a ps3 and the load times of the panny are as quick as the ps3

[XundeadhunterX]

I went to best Buy pick me up a 40' SONY BRAVA 1080p LCD w/ 3 HDMI ports for 899.99 and when i was there some associates were like damn look at this; they had a paper from corprate to cut the SONY S350 from 299.99 to 199.99 and i was like DAMN sucks for whom bought one this morning lol