Pioneer rechristens Black Friday "KURO Friday," won't lower prices

Talk about a marketing catastrophe. Apparently no one told Pioneer's promotional firm what Black Friday is (hint: it's a day for unprecedented price cuts to get consumers to camp out in the cold for a deeply discounted blender), as it has inexplicably decided to re-coin the holiday "KURO Friday." Why do such a thing? To quote Pioneer, it's to "celebrate the creative visionaries" who helped bring KURO to life. In other words, KURO Friday is not being established to announce sweet, sweet price drops on all KURO wares. Two thumbs way down, Pioneer.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 11:34AM]

When you make the best, you don't need to lower the price. If people don't like it, go to Costco and buy a Vizio!

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 11:47AM]

+1

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 12:36PM]

Agreed. Although don't the price cuts on Black Friday come from the retailers reducing their mark ups, not from the manufacturers lowing their prices? So Pioneer don't have any influence on the price of the KUROs on Black Friday anyway.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2008 5:32AM]

Or maybe folks should go to Costco to not buy into marketing. Not everyone is looking for anything more than a boob-tube replacement, or what good is a display product if the environment will not allow you to get what you paid for? Or worse, what good is it buying a 1080P display for the resolution if your dumb butt is too stupid to realize you are sitting too far from the display to be able to actually benefit from the resolution?

For Pioneer, they do not mind any of those cowsumers. They are more than happy to take your money. Its like leading cows to the slaughterhouse. Just moo along and stop causing problems by trying to introduce 'you are fine but no one else is' dumb thoughts.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 3rd 2008 9:40PM]

[shameless plug] :)

and for all those deciding on bringing a Pioneer home to the family, remember to investigate Pioneer's ISFccc Interface on the Elite Models and ControlCAL, the application that allows you to activate and access Pioneer's ISFccc Interface.

Consider getting your Display calibrated, either Doing It Yourself or hiring a Professional ISF Calibrator. For a list of Pros who can activate and calibrate the ISFccc Interface on the Elite's, see this list:

http://www.controlcal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93


www.ControlCAL.com
'The Real' turbe

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 12:11PM]

Plus you can already pick one up for like $2700 from Newegg. I mean, I'm still leaning towards a Panasonic for half that, but that's not bad.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2008 1:05AM]

Phate quote: Plus you can already pick one up for like $2700 from Newegg. I mean, I'm still leaning towards a Panasonic for half that, but that's not bad.


I found one at Abe's of Maine $2292 w free shipping, AMEX doubles the factory warranty.

http://www.abesofmaine.com/item.do?item=PRPDP5020FD&id=PRPDP5020FD&l=PRICEGRABB

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2008 2:07PM]

Tony - you mentioned that you found it at Abe's. Bad news my man. Pioneer has very strict rules about their products. If you do not buy from an authorized retailer they will not honor the warranty. Abe's and many others are not authorized dealers so buyer beware. If you want to the reassurance of a warranty you need to buy from an AD which are all clearly listed on Pioneer's site. I am ordering one from a dealer on the list and it is less expensive then Abe's and it includes white glove delivery with insurance. If you read Pioneer's warranty it states it in bold that you must buy from an AD. I hope this helps everyone. By the way. I have researched and looked at many, many plasmas for months and the Pioneer is by far the best thing out there. I have only seen one unit that looked as good or better and that was a Marantz that isn't made anymore. However, the Marantz sold for $5000 just two years ago so its not really comparing apples to apples.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 12:31PM]

Kinda surprised that the first comments are defending the Kuro. Kuro Friday is a pointless joke.

[daaper Posted Nov 20th 2008 12:58PM]

Agreed...what are they saying, "we just want to remind all you budget shoppers that you could be spending five times what you are now if you buy our model instead."? Like the black-friday, thrift shoppers care about high-end models at that point in time? I guess I don't get it...

I thought part of being the best was that you didn't have to constantly remind everyone that you are...their product pretty much speaks for itself, right? The ones who are in the market for it already know and the rest don't really matter.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 1:48PM]

You don't see Meridian, Krell, B&W or any of the other high-end brands slashing prices either.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 5:03PM]

You also don't see them calling it "Krell Friday".

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 8:11PM]

because "Krell" doesn't mean "black" in any languange ::rolleyes::

"Kuro" means "black" in Japanese, so Kuro Friday literally means Black Friday.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 2:43PM]

I think, pioneer/sony are very soon, to join BIG 3 auto idiots in hell.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 20th 2008 5:08PM]

+100 ^^

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2008 1:14PM]

I agree with several of the above posts. Pioneer panels are the very best and it is up to the retailer to provide "Black Friday" special offers. I know my company is having a one day Black Friday sale on Kuros panels.

-Robert

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2008 2:02PM]

Robert - who is your Company? Are you an authorized dealer? Thanks.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 21st 2008 5:32PM]

I bought my second KURO from InvisionDisplays.com .......... I just them called and inquired about the warranty issue concerning some retailers, its always good to check the Pioneer web site or call their CS. Example, Costco is not a Pioneer authorized dealer, but Costco will warranty a KURO for two years thru Costco.

Less than 2% of any KURO has problems, Panasonic also.

here is the KURO authorized online retailers :

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/FindStore/Buy+Pioneer+Products+on+the+Internet

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 22nd 2008 5:32PM]

Thanks Mark,

I do not know who Invisions is but I will be sure to steer clear. I called Robert's company Value Electronics but they told me that they do not ship the Pioneer's nationwide so I'm out of luck with regards to them. I want a Denon receiver too but they do not ship them either (at least to Colorado). Robert, if you read this I would like to kindly suggest that you update your website as it is very poorly designed and maybe explain to your visitors that you do not ship nationwide on all or certain products. Just some constructive criticism. The information you have is great but the design needs work. Unfortunately, for me, here in Denver all I have to deal with is Best Buy and Ultimate Electronics which are worthless. Listenup and Soundings do not deal in the PDP-5020FD. They only carry the Elite models. Oh well, the search continues.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 23rd 2008 9:12PM]

Mr MarkRubin.......... shame on YOU for bad mouthing a legit authorized Pioneer retailer (unless you've had a bad experience yourself). Have you ever dealt with the company firsthand?

Gary ............. Invision has an excellent reputation for selling KURO and standing behind the product no matter what the situation is, PIONEER highly recommends them, they will work with you for the best price & ship anywhere (read the link) :

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Plasma_Connection_Invision_Technologies_ITC

Invision is highly regarded on the AVS forums, Robert is as well. A former Invision employee, is now operating solo (Roman ?) I've been told is on Pioneer & Invision's sh*t list, so......... (buyer beware ?). Check out the AVS forums, you'll find ALL three offering input on the forum. I suggest IM'n any or all of them to get the truth.

I purchased my 4280 KURO from ALMO.com (not an authorized retailer but a specialty wholesaler for the past 60 yrs.) PIONEER CS TOLD me that the factory warranty IS valid on my HDTV as long as I have the org. receipt. I bought my 5080 KURO from Invision months later for $1999 - cheapest anywhere, free ship.

Both of those purchases were placed thru AMEX, which dbl'd my warranty. Both are performing perfect as the day I bought them.

Happy holiday !!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 3rd 2008 5:22PM]

I think it is also funny that this Mark Rubin is a moderator on the AVS forum and says things like that about a forum sponsor. I wonder how much Roman is paying him to bad mouth Invision? I called Invision to see what the real story was on Roman and they said "He no longer works with us due to character conflicts with the company policy."

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 24th 2008 1:16PM]

Tony, you need to do some homework.
Roman is a great seller and totally legit.
He did not like Invisions way of treating customers so he left and started his own company.
Now Invisions is being dishonest about him and spreading FUD.
Many many many people have bought from Roman and he is a great seller. His feedback on the Forums speaks for itself. Very good seller.
Maybe not as devoted as Robert, but very close!
But Robert is still the best.
Robert does shoot-outs to prove that the Kuro is the best flatpanel on the face of the earth.
And he also donates Kuro's for technical breakdowns and reference setting to be made for all the AVS Forum members.


If you do not believe me about how DEB from invisions has been spreading warranty scare tactics on the AVS forums, then go to the AVS forum and do a search for her posts with the word warranty in it.
Invisions paid alot of money to be on Pioneers list, so they are speading false info to steer customers toward them.

To Gary,
Phone sales for Pioneers Elite brand has to be within 200 miles of the place of delivery.
Those are pioneers rules.
But Robert can sell anyone (from anywhere) a non-elite Kuro.
In fact, I am thinnking of buying another 111, but I won't be able to buy from him here in California.

Good luck

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 24th 2008 4:24PM]

D-Nice,

Thanks for the info but with regards to Robert, and let me be clear, I believe he runs a store known as Value Electronics. If this is not the case then I apologize. I called them on Saturday and the women who answered the phone told me that they cannot ship either the Pioneer PDP-5020FD or the Denon receiver I want to me here in Colorado. I specifically asked for this model and she immediately told me no. So I can only go by what she said. If Robert would like to clarify and post a message as such I would be more than happy to consider ordering from him solely based on the rave reviews he is getting here.

As far as Invision. I called them and their price is higher than what I can get from another AD. I am planning on ordering on Friday just in case I come across a dealer offering a Black Friday deal locally. I don't believe this will happen but I'd hate to order today and then find one.

What company is this Roman with?

Thanks again.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 2nd 2008 5:48PM]

Wow D-Nice. I can't believe the stuff you are saying. Roman didn't like the way Invision was treating customers so he left, what a story, award winning perhaps. Being that you seem to like fiction stories, let me tell you a non fction story with the actual truth. Roman left Invision before he could be fired because he knew he was caught. What Roman was doing was using the Invision name and selling elites on the side to front his own company while he was still working for Invision. To me that does not sound like good business practices and you think he is a good guy because he says a few words on a computer chat forum. Get the real facts before you start bad mouthing a good company and it's employees.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 3rd 2008 6:33PM]

If you click on the name "MarkRubin" up above, it shows "chadmak09" under Profile. Hmmm....

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 3rd 2008 6:54PM]

I clicked on it and it doesn't say anything...

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 3rd 2008 8:51PM]

See how easy it is to be someone else on services like this?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 3rd 2008 9:00PM]

See how easy it is to be someone else?

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 3rd 2008 9:08PM]

Hello all. I'm not sure who and/or why someone has used my AVS username on this forum to attack Invision Displays, but I assure you it was not me.

Alex feel free to PM me @ AVS to clear this non sense up.

BTW, the poster using the username MarkRubin is not the markrubin of AVS.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 6th 2009 11:36PM]

:)

and for all those deciding on bringing a Pioneer home to the family, remember to investigate Pioneer's ISFccc Interface on the Elite Models and ControlCAL, the application that allows you to activate and access Pioneer's ISFccc Interface.

Consider getting your Display calibrated, either Doing It Yourself or hiring a Professional ISF Calibrator. For a list of Pros who can activate and calibrate the ISFccc Interface on the Elite's, see this list:

http://www.controlcal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93


www.ControlCAL.com
'The Real' turbe

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 4th 2008 3:56AM]

All I know is...............

Pioneer makes a great plasma.....

InvisionDisplays: they had the best KURO deal going for "me" and there reputation is top notch - Alex, Deb and everyone else at the company have always been terrific, reading their remarks on AVS as well ......

Roman: he was MY initial Invision contact in JAN 2008, very helpful + informative, he is on the AVS forum too - I'm not specific on his "situation ?" now though....

the real D-Nice : I follow his preferred settings for both of my Kuro's (perfect), his knowledge of the plasma industry and comments on the forum are highly regarded and informative.

Enjoy the holidays folks!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 4th 2008 7:05AM]

Greetings

I am the real markrubin from AVS: I disavow the fake poster using my name above

If you check into this blog, you can check in with any name, as owners of AVS site have seen

Thanks