For those of you looking for plasma TV's

[BillR]

For those that have read my threads about shi*ty TV's and big box stores not caring about you and steering you towards "the product of the month"; I have interesting info & proof.

As you know, when you go to the big retailers, you get sold the product THEY want you to buy because they get kick backs from the MFG. The big retailers will make "the product of the month" look great and make sure the actually superior products, look poor - that way they can sell you their turd as opposed to something nice.

Samsung and Panasonic are famous for this.
Consumer Panasonic TV's are marginal at best and Samsung is below par. However; they get "popular' because the MFG will give back end money for the sales staff to "push" their product. They get good reveiws in magazines because the reviewer is allowed to keep the product . . . .hmmm, betcha didn't know that!
They also give volume rebates to the dealer too.
What all this means is, you - the unsuspecting customer does not get what is best for your situation. You get "sold" a mediocre (at best) product. Since whatever you buy, will likely look better than anything you've owned you are happy. A Bayline is great if you've never experienced anything else!

So, If you are in the market for a plasma TV soon, the stores will not be pushing Samsung, instead they will be pushing Panansonic as the best. That is until Samsung comes out with better payoffs - which will be soon.

So don't be stupid - stay away from the big box stores!!!

BTW:
Here is a copy of the Panasonic spiff sheet for sales guys.

 

[Chris]

I worked in consumer electronics many years ago. We sold what we were told. They advertised bait & switch stuff all the time and gave us lessons on how to do it. We were also taught all sorts of tech tricks to make the brand we wanted to sell perform better than what was advertised. They gave us "pitch sheets" that fed us lines on how to disparage the big name brands and make the off brands look like better values.

My guess is the business practices only got more sophisticated

 

[Wrinkleface]

:boxing_smiley:

 

[Sea-Dated]

Great information. I usually find better deals and much better service from the specialty stores anyway.....

 

[mosi]

I believe that is called marketing.

Supermarkets do it with food, car dealers do it with autos and trucks, marinas do it with boats and parts. Is your Doctor really the best? Is your Dentist really the best. Do those two really write prescriptions for the best and cheapest drugs or do they get special incentives from drug reps for drugs that are 'recommended' from the rep? Do you think your Insurance agent is going to sell you the lowest premium policy available with a certain Company in the agency, when another company in the agency has a contest to Jamaica in February running..... and the agency only needs $1,000 more in premium to qualify he and his wife to attend? Next time you go to get a cell phone walk in the back employees room and poke your head in. I bet you will see a contest running to sell a certain phone or certain plan and they are going to try and steer you in that direction.

It happens everyday in almost every industry

JMHO

 

[PARADOX]

I have a BS degree in CM.. minor in Engineering, countless cert, seminars, licenses, and more BS, (buII chit) degrees then I want to admit, post grad studies and courses.. OSHA course.. etc.. etc.. (I'm making a point here... lol so bare with me) Most of that stuff is pretty worthless, but often necessary.
However. the most valuable course that I can actually use and got really good benefits and value was a "Marketing course"
We were informed and learned about many of the marketing schemes etc.
The best dollar I have ever spent. I would recommend to everyone to take one.
After that enlighten of a course., I can buy the last drop of water from a thirsty dude in the desert, at a good price.
The problem… I couldn’t sell coal to the Eskimos :biggrinjester:

 

[rjcardinal]

What about Consumer Reports? Do you think they are biased? Do they get the sets for free? I always thought they bought them at retail prices to avoid any colusion. I know they never test the ultra high end stuff but Samsung and Panasonic do very well in their tests. I never seem to buy what they recomend but lately Ive gotten lucky. In the latest issue they rank 2 Samsung LCD tvs I have the best in their size. The only other things I have bought that they recommend was John Deere lawn tractors.

Ron

 

[boostbros]

i tried many 46" lcd sets to use as a computer moniter the samsung performs the best in this task by far i am using a hdmi cable and a rocking video card with hdmi out and a gig memory there is very little to go by when using these big screens as a moniter but amazing when you get it right

 

[viperfitness1]

i love my phillips 63" plasma in the bedroom... the picture quality is great!
i just hooked a media computer to it yesterday. now you talk about AWESOME i watched "taken" and ""marley and me" , surfed the internet and serious offshore, watched my security cameras and can lock and unlock all my health clubs... all from my bed!!! this thing is cool!

 

[getchasum111]

i use to do it in F&I at a Toyota store....some lender running contests for this and that....i got a trip to Vegas and stayed at the Bellagio and a nice 18k rolex datejust....the customers paid a slightly higher interest rate....i know it's not right but it happens every day....

 

[Audiofn]

What about Consumer Reports? Do you think they are biased? Do they get the sets for free? I always thought they bought them at retail prices to avoid any colusion. I know they never test the ultra high end stuff but Samsung and Panasonic do very well in their tests. I never seem to buy what they recomend but lately Ive gotten lucky. In the latest issue they rank 2 Samsung LCD tvs I have the best in their size. The only other things I have bought that they recommend was John Deere lawn tractors.

Ron

My problem with consumer reports that you do not know who they have looking at the sets. Do they take them apart and find out what makes them tic. Do they know about black levels, TRUE contrast ratio's, white levels.... I see all the time customers and industry guys that will tell me how this set or that set looks great and when I go and look at them I want to shut them off. For example the new Sony LCD stuff is awful.

 

[BillR]

What about Consumer Reports? Do you think they are biased? Do they get the sets for free? I always thought they bought them at retail prices to avoid any colusion. I know they never test the ultra high end stuff but Samsung and Panasonic do very well in their tests. I never seem to buy what they recomend but lately Ive gotten lucky. In the latest issue they rank 2 Samsung LCD tvs I have the best in their size. The only other things I have bought that they recommend was John Deere lawn tractors.

Ron

They don't look for "the best". They are more concerned about the compromise between, PRICE, ease of use, connectivity, TV sound quality, cosmetics, remote, and oh yeah- does it look ok.


They also Rate the Nissan Versa as one of their recommended cars. Would you look at one or buy one?

 

[BillR]

For example the new Sony LCD stuff is awful.

That is because it is Samsung panel w/ "Sony" processing. See it all the time in our repair shop.
But people MUST have it because it is (harp music please) "Sony" (end harp music).


BTW: We sell Samsung and Panasonic too, and we get the spiffs and kick backs too.

All I am trying to let ya'll know is:
A) The big retailers DO NOT have YOUR best interest in mind.

B) Go to a smaller store and follow someone who is professional - not someone trained to sell

C) Also I am only showing you how these MFG's got their products to be so popular by showing the behind the scene things that drive sales in this industry.

D) Trying to help ya'll in the future to make a good choice.


BTW: They are still trying to make LCD TV's work well with moving pictures. The newest band aid is. . . . . . .240hz. First LCD sets had 60hz, and anything with motion looked bad, so the upped the processing speed to 120hz, helped some and now we have 240hz which helps more.
LCD's were designed to be computer monitors. They have been ADAPTED to TV use. Read that line again.
LCD TV's have their place, but again the big retailers try to sell "YOU" LCD before plasma because they make more money - NOT because it is better - lasts longer - is right for your situation - or whatever.

 

[clayinaustin]

What about a 58" Panasonic Viera at CostCo?

Panasonic 58" VIERA 1080p Plasma HDTV for $2500

"The TH-58PZ800U brings 58” of pure HDTV imaging to life in a stunning package. With features and styling you have to see to believe the TH-58PZ800U is a must have."

Your PDF says they get a $65 "reward".

 

[boostbros]

BillR instead of blasting products why don,t you do some testing and give us guide lines on what works best i do know that lcd started as lap top screens but what do we do now? the sony sucked as a large moniter maybe its all in the vid card? maybe its a combo? its also dam difficult to get pip or pop to work right on many of these sets how about guide lines as to what to look for in a vid card for those of us not gaming if you think flat screens have their own terminology wait till you try to figure out video cards

 

[44MTI]

So what tv's do you recommend in the 40-52" range, and which do you prefer, LCD or Plasma and why.

Thanks
Michael

 

[masher44]

So what tv's do you recommend in the 40-52" range, and which do you prefer, LCD or Plasma and why.

Thanks
Michael

52????? I dont want to hurt my eyes at your place squinting like I do at Frosts !!!!

 

[Sea-Dated]

So what tv's do you recommend in the 40-52" range, and which do you prefer, LCD or Plasma and why.

Thanks
Michael

:bump:

 

[Knot 4 Me]

The nicest picture I have seen on a plasma or LCD was on a Pioneer plasma.

 

[BillR]

Looks like Sony WAS going to change from Samsung as a supplier to Sharp, but that looks to be on hold:
http://www.dealerscope.com/article/...ir-joint-lcd-panel-venture-year-402576_1.html

What do I recommend? Search my posts on here, Speedwake and OSO. I and Audiofn have given LOTS of recommendations.

Plasma is the way to go - UNLESS you have a room with LOTS of glare/light (like a whole wall of glass)
Pioneer Elite is the best
LG is the best bang for the buck for reliability and picture quality
Panasonic Pro (not consumer) is very good

In LCD
the better LG's are nice
the XBR series in sony is ok
The LED back lit LG's and Samsungs are really good and expensive.
Some of the Sharps are ok.

Remember - in flat panel TV's you get what you pay for. You want a cheap price, you will have a cheap TV - regardless of where you buy it.