Bargain HDTV shopping this holiday season
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Oct 19th 2007 9:51AM
posted Oct 19th 2007 9:51AM
Despite what we say, many people wait till the holiday season to buy and HDTV -- more specifically Black Friday. There are a few strategies that work, and Consumer Reports' Electronics Blog has a couple of pointers for this holiday season. While the theme to finding a bargain seems to 720p, they really seem to believe Plasmas might offer the better bargain. In fact, DisplaySearch believes you'll be able to find a 42-inch 720p Plasma for as low as $599 on Black Friday, which seems pretty crazy. This is not to say that there won't be any great deals on LCD TVs, but just like that normal debate goes, it's really about size since there aren't many Plasmas under 42-inches. No matter what you end up picking up, you can rest assured that although you missed another entire year of HD, you most certainly saved yourself some money.
According to BFAds.net it is rumored that Sears will have a Hitachi 42" 720p Plasma for $599. That rumor was leaked on October 9th. So yeah I agree it is likely to find a 42" 720p plasma for $599. Last BF is when I bought my 42" DLP 720p Samsung for $799. At the time that was $200 cheaper than any other BF sale price, but that special was also "unadvertised". It takes some digging around, but the last couple of years most retailers have had specials that they publish online only. Since most BF ads are created in the August and September time frame this new strategy allows them to create last minute specials after most retailers ads are leaked thus making it so they have better loss leaders.
"you most certainly saved yourself some money"
And missed out on a year of HD bliss.
How do you get a deal like the Hitachi Plasma 720P HDTV for $599? Do you have to stand in line in the middle of the night the day before or can you show up any time on that Friday after Thanksgiving and get one from Sears?
It's just a rumor right now, but usually you will have to camp out for something like that. When I bought my TV last year I went to the store on the Wednesday before to check the stock. They had all of 3. I wouldn't doubt that if the above mentioned TV sale is true that it will be a limited quantity of 10-20 and be an "early bird" special. 9 times out of ten for the early bird specials you have to be at the store at least an hour before opening since that's when they hand out vouchers for the specials. Last year I showed up at 9 PM on Thanksgiving, was 50 people back but thankfully was the first person in line who wanted that particular TV.
Thanks Bradley. I'd love to get one for that price but I'm not going to camp out to get one.
Every year the time you want to show up gets earlier and earlier. I think a lot show up after thanksgivibg dinner..and some, the die hards, skip dinner. Just depends how bad you want the $100 laptop or $600 plasma.
Last November, in the weeks before Thanksgiving, the basic Pansonic 42" HDTV plasma retailed for $1799. During the week before Thanksgiving, Wal-Mart issued a notice that they would be selling the same set for only $1299 during their Black Friday sale, which was probably then sold-out.
But, after the B.F. weekend, news circulated that Best Buy had undercut Wal-mart on the same Panasonic set, with an unadvertised special $999 price to walk-in customers (during Friday morning only), who were shopping for plasmas [BB sales associates only then mentioned the special].
So, it does pay to visit select retailers early on Friday morning [most open at 6:00 or 7:00 with special discounts until Noon], as great deals may be unadvertised and known only by visiting and word-of-mouth announcements, etc.
There are still those of us who are ready to get our second or even third HDTV - for the various rooms in our house. We're always still on the lookout. And if I could get a 42" plasma for $600, why not replace the 27" tube in the basement?!
Circuit City at CouponAlbum site (http://www.couponalbum.com) is also having such great electronics items.