Best Buy exec: Flat panel price drops are A-OK
By Richard Lawler 
posted Jun 22nd 2006 11:58PM
posted Jun 22nd 2006 11:58PM
As research reports and analysts continue to predict a sharp case of oversupply that will lead the plasma and LCD HDTV markets to drop sharply in price as manufacturers battle, Best Buy apparently doesn't see that as a problem (as consumers waiting to buy cheap flat-panels neither do we). Citing the much higher average price of the new TVs versus the screens they have been selling for the last several years, as well as their expectation that sales will accelerate as prices drop, the only problem Best Buy seems to have is getting enough in stock to sell. Apparently the World Cup created an American shortage as manufacturers shifted panels to eager European buyers.Enough talk about the coming flat-panel price crash, wake me when it happens. I've got a 42-inch widescreen spot on the wall just gathering dust. If prices don't drop soon I'll just have to...buy one at the current prices. In the face of that sort of threat, it is impossible to see how the industry can continue to hold out.
Just a nugget. I managed to snag an LVM-42w2 Westingouse from BB online when it went on say (one day) for $1499. I feel like I cheated them, but what an awesome HD experience. My reservations with flat-panel tvs were put to rest by the beauty.
I don't think I buy the world cup part of it.
If Europeans are so serious about the world cup, wouldn't they spend the money for tickets instead of on a TV?
I guess since the article was about cheap TVs, maybe the tickets cost more, but I don't buy that the I-am-a-huge-world-cup-fan-but-instead-of-going-I'll-
just-buy-a-new-HDTV-to-watch-it-on demographic actually created a shortage.
Ben, I'm guessing you're not in Europe. Maybe a different marketing sample will make you understand? When do you think the sales of big screen TVs spike in the US? Somewhere around January, February, maybe? I wonder why... hmmm.. Oh yeah! The superbowl!
#1: Don't feel sorry for thouse people at Best Buy they make enough from thouse PSP. The story is hard to believe that an executive for the worst electronic retailer in this country think price drops are A-OK, the real deal is nothing is cheap at Best Buy, NOTHING!