Swelling Inventories Force Another HDTV Price Drop Updated July 16, 2008
Greg Tarr,
July 10, 2008
3 min read
July 16, 2008 Addendum: LG Price Drops Included Below
This week, in a move designed to counter sagging sales, major TV manufacturers significantly lowered large screen plasma and LCD HDTV retail prices. With the recent economic downturn causing inventories to swell, set maker were forced to drop prices by as much as $400. This follows a round of significant price reductions less than two months ago.
Samsung, Sharp, Mitsubishi and Panasonic notified their dealers of the price drop this past week, according to industry sources. Other set makers are expected to follow, in order to maintain their respective market shares.
Below find old and new prices from the four aforementioned manufacturers. Remember, these are retail or “minimum advertised prices,†not the actual in-store tagged prices. So-called “street pricing” often is significantly less. Use this as a guide to make sure the dealer you select discounts from the latest price sheet.
If you recently purchased an HDTV, recheck the store’s current price. You may find a sizeable refund available if your dealer has “price protectionâ€Â. National retailers Best Buy, Circuit City and Sears all have a 30-day price protection policies.
Mitsubishi LCD
Model                   Old Pricing New Pricing
LT-40148                   $2299             $1999
LT-46148                   $2799             $2599
LT-52148                   $3399             $3199
LT-46149                   $3199              $2999
LT-52149                   $3799             $3399
LT-46246                   $3399             $3199
LT-52246                   $4099             $3699
Sharp LCD
C-46SE94U                $2,999            $2,699 (effective July 7)
LC-52D64U               $2,799            $2,699 (effective July 7)
LC-52SE94U             $3,799            $3,499 (effective July 7)
LC-37D64U               $1,499            $1,299 (effective August 1)
LC-32D44U               $1,299             $1,099 (effective July 1)
Panasonic Plasma
TH-42PX80U             $1199             $1099
TH-50PX80U             $1699             $1499
TH-46PZ80U             $1999             $1799
TH-50PZ80U             $2299             $2099
TH-46PZ85U             $2199             $1999
TH-50PZ85U             $2499             $2299
TH-50PZ800U           $3199             $2999
TH-46PZ850U           $3099             $2799
TH-50PZ850U           $3499             $3299
Samsung Prices
In lieu of the full Samsung price sheet (should be posted soon), here are the factory price drops as seen in the 7/13/08 Sunday Circulars from Circuit City and Best Buy
Circuit City
LN52A750 was $3199.99 now $2699.99 price drop of $500
LC52A550 was $2399.99 now $1979.99 price drop of $420
LN37A450 was $1099.99 now $ 999.99 price drop of $100
LN32A550 was $1099.99 now $ 999.99 price drop of $100
LN40A550 was $1499.99 now $1259.99 price drop of $100+$140 off sale
Best Buy
LN52A650 was$3199.99 now $2499.99 price drop of $200+$500 off sale
LN46A650 was $2499.99 now $2059.99 price drop of $200+$240 off sale
LN46A530 was $1599.99 now $1499.99 price drop of $100
LN40A550 was $1499.99 now $1259.99 price drop of $100+$140 off sale
LG
50PG30 (1080p plasma) was $2299.95 now 1999.95 price drop $300
42LG60 (1080p LCD) was $2299.95 now $1999.95 price drop $300
42LG70 (1080p LCD) was $1999.95 now $1899.95
42LG50 (1080p LCD) was $1499.95 now $1399.95ÂÂ
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9 Comments
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You wont ever need full 1080p in you 22-26″ tv. A 720p alternative will always be more economical, while offering stunning HD quality at that size. There is no humanly noticeable difference at 22-26″ between a 720p and 1080p television that is fed a high definition signal (480p, 720p, 1080i)
I would like to know what HD manufacturer where I can get a full HD 22″ or 26″ television. I just read that they don’t make 1080I or 1080P in the smaller units. I really don’t have room for a 32 inch. Which name brand 32″ television (need model number) with full HD (keeping the lowerst price in mind) do you recommend? Thanks.
Why would anyone want to buy an LCD? Don’t tell me glare, we had that with tubes? Please some help me.
The TH-42PZ800, as well as the TH-46PZ800U have been discontinued by Panasonic, or so a little birdy told me.
I’m wondering why Amazon’s price for the Samsung LN52A750 has actually gone UP $214 since Monday 7/14. I was leaning that way, but now will try for a sweeter deal at a bigbox.
So are we going to see price drops on the Samsung LN-32a450 very soon? I work at a big box retailer so I get them for almost cost, right now that is ~$633. Is it worth it for me to wait?
How soon will you be able to get Samsung’s new prices?
HD Guru: Big high definition television price cuts coming
Might want to hold off on buying that new high-def TV until these cuts go through….
It is interesting that there isn’t a single 32 inch dropping below the $1k price point. Do you anticipate further price drops beyond these during the summer season?
What’s happened to Panasonic’s TH-46pz800u? Seems to have dropped off of everyone’s availability and was not included in this price drop.
Don’t know. Perhaps the lack of availability negated the need to drop the price.
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