Buying Plasma NOW!

[aphex]

Alright guys, I want to buy myself a plasma now!

Here are my limitations. 5000credit limit at bestbuy for 2yr no interest.

About 3500 cash.

I'm thinkin about getting the 4000 dollar 50in kuro from bestbuy. Anyone know how I might be able to get this or the 60in cheaper(such as haggle/coupon/pricematch)? I would really prefer getting in store due to no interest payments and I could use my cash towards some new car stuff for my 07 z.

50in or bigger plasma 1080p only please recommend! ;D

[Beta Man]

Try to look around for prices and have them price-match, or just print out an online price for somewhere, and have them come "close" to matching it, or you'll just go order it, but tell them you'd rather have it in your hands that day (they don't need to know the 2 years Interest free is the main reason you're there to begin with)

[mgonzo2u]

I don't own one yet but I would save a few bucks and go for the Panasonic 58" plasma (assuming you have the room for it).

After owning a 55" HDTV for nearly 4 years now, I'm not looking to a smaller viewing space for comfort.

Size does matter in this case.

Just my .02 of your $5K.

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Try to look around for prices and have them price-match, or just print out an online price for somewhere, and have them come "close" to matching it, or you'll just go order it, but tell them you'd rather have it in your hands that day (they don't need to know the 2 years Interest free is the main reason you're there to begin with)

+1. That's what I did and I got about $600 off

[Blinkman987]

I hope you have that viewing distance for something bigger than 50"! Taking home the 5084 Samsung, it looked so small compared to the other TVs in the area. Then it was set up and all I could say is "Wow, that thing is huge."

If you have a home theatre system, you really don't ever have to rate speakers on your TV. That's something to keep in mind when reading reviews. Consumer Reports has a very useful evaluation in either the Nov. or Dec. issue from last year, but it doesn't include the new 08 Panasonics and I don't think they cover the Kuro.

God, Kuros are gorgeous. They're sooooooooo expensive, but it sounds like you're in the market for one financially. You should definitely check out the 08 Pannys, as I'm told their new contrast ratios compare to the 07 Kuros. This is second-hand information and not something to live by, so I'm only mentioning it so that you may look into it. I believe CNet had an evaluation of the TVs from the last trade show.

Remember to figure in professional calibration into your costs (it's def worth it and about 5% of the cost of your TV), as well as any mounting/stand costs.

Don't forget that BBuy will smash you with interest if you don't make the payments each month exactly on time, and my parent's experience years ago is that they never, ever seem to get the address right. Do you also know if the BBuy Mastercards have Warranty Manager on them like the Visas/Amex do?

How to haggle:
Be polite.
Be reasonable in your expectations. Don't be like the ******* who goes into an auto dealership expecting to pay the exact invoice price. The store is there to make money. Respect that.
Be patient. You may have to wait a month or two in order to see a sale price.
When you're ready, use the "I'm prepared to buy today and I will be using the Best Buy card, but I want to know if you can match X price" line to get them to nudge a little bit.
If you're nice and the sales person likes you, you can usually get 10% off accessories.
Managers have the final say in extra deals. The sales person you're talking to likely has no authority and doesn't care about numbers. If you hit a cold sales person, try a different one a day later. Also, try to deal with the TV/Home Theatre manager. They're the ones that benefit when the store sees a sale.
Don't forget your reward zone. You'll get $75-$90 in certificates just from the TV price.
You'll have to do a lot of work to research the sales price and get a B&M store to honor it, but if you make yourself seem a profitable customer to the store, they'll try to help you out.

-----

They're far more likely to work with you if you're buying accessories and other high-margin products like service plans. I seperate this section from the rest because the move is morally questionable to some, but you could potentially load up on rip-off Monster Cables and make yourself seem a much more profitable customer to the manager, and then return the cables a few days later.

Finally, be careful about where they attach the discounts. If they attach the discounts to things you'd return, then you're not saving anything. I know that their price-match thing is practically worthless if you take advantage of in-store promotions like $100 off PS3 or install because they take those savings off the price of the TV itself, so you'll never be able to find a lower price since its articfically lowered.

[DezNutz]

I use pricescan.com

I like that website, as it only list what I would call reputable web sites with prices.. meaning sites have to meet a certain standard to even post prices on that website, such as not requiring you to phone in to confirm an online order, ect... using that website I can see the Pioneer Elite KURO PRO-110FD for 4,225 shipped!, much cheaper than the 6K retail Best Buy

[RIPSeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by Blinkman987

I hope you have that viewing distance for something bigger than 50"! Taking home the 5084 Samsung, it looked so small compared to the other TVs in the area. Then it was set up and all I could say is "Wow, that thing is huge."

If you have a home theatre system, you really don't ever have to rate speakers on your TV. That's something to keep in mind when reading reviews. Consumer Reports has a very useful evaluation in either the Nov. or Dec. issue from last year, but it doesn't include the new 08 Panasonics and I don't think they cover the Kuro.

God, Kuros are gorgeous. They're sooooooooo expensive, but it sounds like you're in the market for one financially. You should definitely check out the 08 Pannys, as I'm told their new contrast ratios compare to the 07 Kuros. This is second-hand information and not something to live by, so I'm only mentioning it so that you may look into it. I believe CNet had an evaluation of the TVs from the last trade show.

Remember to figure in professional calibration into your costs (it's def worth it and about 5% of the cost of your TV), as well as any mounting/stand costs.

Don't forget that BBuy will smash you with interest if you don't make the payments each month exactly on time, and my parent's experience years ago is that they never, ever seem to get the address right. Do you also know if the BBuy Mastercards have Warranty Manager on them like the Visas/Amex do?

How to haggle:
Be polite.
Be reasonable in your expectations. Don't be like the ******* who goes into an auto dealership expecting to pay the exact invoice price. The store is there to make money. Respect that.
Be patient. You may have to wait a month or two in order to see a sale price.
When you're ready, use the "I'm prepared to buy today and I will be using the Best Buy card, but I want to know if you can match X price" line to get them to nudge a little bit.
If you're nice and the sales person likes you, you can usually get 10% off accessories.
Managers have the final say in extra deals. The sales person you're talking to likely has no authority and doesn't care about numbers. If you hit a cold sales person, try a different one a day later. Also, try to deal with the TV/Home Theatre manager. They're the ones that benefit when the store sees a sale.
Don't forget your reward zone. You'll get $75-$90 in certificates just from the TV price.
You'll have to do a lot of work to research the sales price and get a B&M store to honor it, but if you make yourself seem a profitable customer to the store, they'll try to help you out.

-----

They're far more likely to work with you if you're buying accessories and other high-margin products like service plans. I seperate this section from the rest because the move is morally questionable to some, but you could potentially load up on rip-off Monster Cables and make yourself seem a much more profitable customer to the manager, and then return the cables a few days later.

Finally, be careful about where they attach the discounts. If they attach the discounts to things you'd return, then you're not saving anything. I know that their price-match thing is practically worthless if you take advantage of in-store promotions like $100 off PS3 or install because they take those savings off the price of the TV itself, so you'll never be able to find a lower price since its articfically lowered.

IN ORDER FOR BEST BUY TO DO A PRICE MATCH, YOU MUST HAVE THE COPY OF THE AD FROM THE LOCAL COMPETITOR, AND THAT COMPETITOR MUST HAVE THAT ITEM IN STOCK. YOU DONT ONLY JUST GET A PRICE MATCH. BEST BUYS POLICY IS TO GIVE YOU 10% off on top of the PRICE MATCH---CHECK THE FINE PRINT....TRUST ME....FOR Magnolia Home Theatre Supervisor.

[Blinkman987]

Originally Posted by RIPSeanTaylor21

BEST BUYS POLICY IS TO GIVE YOU 10% off on top of the PRICE MATCH---CHECK THE FINE PRINT....TRUST ME....FOR Magnolia Home Theatre Supervisor.

Thanks for the all caps.

Also, you're unclear abut the price match. The 10% is off of the difference. AKA $200 price difference - Extra $20.

Anyway, that person is correct. Print out the price-match stuff, and it helps if its from a reputable dealer. No one is going to take something like HDTVDEALZ.COM seriously.

[RIPSeanTaylor21]

Originally Posted by Blinkman987

Thanks for the all caps.

Also, you're unclear abut the price match. The 10% is off of the difference. AKA $200 price difference - Extra $20.

Anyway, that person is correct. Print out the price-match stuff, and it helps if its from a reputable dealer. No one is going to take something like HDTVDEALZ.COM seriously.

lol....its the same thing...anyways....howd u like the samsung 5084?

[Beta Man]

my point was, even if they don't price match from Amazon.com etc.... if you say "I can just order it here for $1,200 less????" they're gonna knock off SOMETHING to get you to buy it there...... maybe not the full $1,200 but maybe $800, then you get the interest free, and you're on your way!

[aphex]

Ya thanks for all the help.

I would rather get the 50 or 60in kuro, although I was contemplating the new pannys. Any ideas when they're hitting stores or is speculative?

For worker's at bestbuy, how's the employee discount on something like this? Shit, i'd work parttime just for the savings lol!

[Go Blue]

Originally Posted by Blinkman987

Thanks for the all caps.

Also, you're unclear abut the price match. The 10% is off of the difference. AKA $200 price difference - Extra $20.

Anyway, that person is correct. Print out the price-match stuff, and it helps if its from a reputable dealer. No one is going to take something like HDTVDEALZ.COM seriously.

So, if BB is selling a TV for $3500 and I can get it from a local store for $2300, will BB match the $2300 and give 10% off?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by aphex

Ya thanks for all the help.

I would rather get the 50 or 60in kuro, although I was contemplating the new pannys. Any ideas when they're hitting stores or is speculative?

For worker's at bestbuy, how's the employee discount on something like this? Shit, i'd work parttime just for the savings lol!

I posed the same question awhile back....... just stay away.....stay away.... maybe if you knew someone who worked at one, you could get hooked up, but it's not worth it from what I hear.... besides, my wife jumped down my throat when I brought it up!!!!

[aphex]

the problem with knowing someone is that i'd have to pay them cash, they couldn't use my card and in that case i'm sure i'd save online anyways

[Blinkman987]

Originally Posted by aphex

Ya thanks for all the help.

I would rather get the 50 or 60in kuro, although I was contemplating the new pannys. Any ideas when they're hitting stores or is speculative?

For worker's at bestbuy, how's the employee discount on something like this? Shit, i'd work parttime just for the savings lol!

Amazon has the 50" Kuro for $ 3,600 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

Some of the new Panasonics are out now, but others release this April.

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9891317-1.html

That article is about a month old. You should definitely see if anything has updated through other searches or websites.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by aphex

Ya thanks for all the help.

I would rather get the 50 or 60in kuro, although I was contemplating the new pannys. Any ideas when they're hitting stores or is speculative?

The -800 series should be available from April 24th.

Regarding the KURO - You should be able to haggle them down on the 50" PDP-5010FD to around $3299 would be my opinion. I was able to get it down to around CDN$3499 in a conversation-only (no purchase) recently in Canada.

[highdef monster]

Are you playing video games?If You do then don't buy plasma.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by highdef monster

Are you playing video games?If You do then don't buy plasma.

Your opinion is uneducated and wrong.

[Blu n Gold]

Big old Heads up -

That 2yrs no interest is with a home theater purchase of $999.99 and up WITH the purchase of an installation.

[aphex]

Thanks doby.

About the 800's.

How do you think they will be compared to the kuro's? It seems they will nearly as nice blacks and include 24p. Hmm, I might go to bestbuy tonight and try to haggle the 50in and/or the 60in down and see where to go from there.