So, What's the Plasma to buy in 2012?

[crtlover]

The RRP is set by Panasonic, so technically Bond and Bond already know the retail price and I don't suppose there's anything stopping them taking pre-orders.

In fact, I wonder if it's a web glitch as it's very unusual for a retailer to offer a substantial discount on a product that is not yet officially released. Those sorts of promotions are usually restricted to 'stock on hand'.

I spoke with another retailer yesterday regarding release and pricing (telling them they'd have to better than 20% off to get my business) and was advised 'June' as the release date and that the RRP will be $5999.00 ($500.00 less than the previous model it replaces).

They got back to me after speaking with Panasonic.

[crtlover]

When is the official launch here? We seem to have stock in stores but no launch. Complete opposite situation over the ditch. They know what models and sizes they are getting but no-one is stocking them yet.

Launch 'sometime in June'. AFAIK no stores here have any stock.

[crtlover]

Complete opposite situation over the ditch. They know what models and sizes they are getting but no-one is stocking them yet.

Panasonic Australia have the new model on their website. Unlike Panasonic NZ who do not.
The retailer I spoke with said that Panasonic don't want to publicise the new model too early as it will naturally affect sales of the current model. Particularly when the new model is less than the current one.

[fahrenheit]

Launch 'sometime in June'. AFAIK no stores here have any stock.

They have had stock of ST50 42 and 50" units for a few weeks now. I also saw a 50" X50 in B&B the other day. They are out there.

[fahrenheit]

Panasonic Australia have the new model on their website. Unlike Panasonic NZ who do not.

Are you talking specifically about the 65" VT? Cause I was speaking more generally about the series.

[crtlover]

Yes. Just the 65" VT50 model. Haven't researched any other sizes.
Panasonic NZ has the VT30 series on their site (all sizes) but that is last years model.

If you want the latest you have to look for the 'VT50' series regardless of screen size.

I don't know if any of that range have yet been released.

[fahrenheit]

Yes. Just the 65" VT. Haven't researched any other sizes.

Ah, now we are on the same page. Neither NZ or Aus have any of those yet.

I'm just frustrated that I'm still waiting for confirmation of what models and sizes we are getting. NL and B&B are still listing GT models (which Australia definitely aren't getting at launch) and those two stores removed the entries they had for the 60 and 65" ST50 (which Australia is definitely getting).

So we are lucky in that we seem to be getting stock before our neighbours, but we don't know exactly what we are getting and when at this stage.

Btw, NL had the same 20% off sale within a week of the smaller ST50's arriving in their stores and I had a rep more than prepared to sell me a 50" at the sale price. I have no reason to think that the pricing on the other models is a mistake.

[crtlover]

.

[crtlover]

After all that I nipped out to Harvey Norman this afternoon and bought the TH-P50ST50Z.

RRP $2399.00 - got it for $1917.00 - not bad I thought.

In the end I decided that I could not really justify the extra $$$ for the VT series, particularly the 65", when the 50S got very good reviews.

I'll be setting it up tonight.

[fahrenheit]

Nicely done.

I think that the ST really is very good value this year. I'm eyeing one up for my folks and I may even end up with a larger one later in the year.

[Dunnersfella]

Part of me things Noel's / Bond's were a little unprepared for the consequences of listing all products on their site... without the products being in NZ anyway.
Imagine if they don't receive any TV's in the first shipment, yet they're being sold at other retailers? The customers would simply get pissy, demand a refund and... well, we all know the story from there.
Then again, as most Bond's stores will never carry a 65VT50... and sales they may get will be a bonus. Even if they don't make a cent from them?

All of that is an aside.
That's a very aggressive price on the ST50. Will be interesting to see what chains of TV retailers go broke first really...

[fahrenheit]

All of that is an aside.
That's a very aggressive price on the ST50. Will be interesting to see what chains of TV retailers go broke first really...

I think this year they really are relying on volume to get them by (due to the digital switch-over). I hope that is also a catalyst for us getting more models and sizes than we have in previous years.

Seems like a good year to be in the market for an upgrade.

[Dunnersfella]

For the most part, what we get is dictated by the (already SUPER CHEAP) Australian market.
If I owned a retail outlet, I'd be putting my money into DVD / BluRay recorders and PVR's, knowing full well that people have thought to upgrade their TV/s, but will leave their analogue recorders to the last minute to change over...

[crtlover]

For the most part, what we get is dictated by the (already SUPER CHEAP) Australian market.
If I owned a retail outlet, I'd be putting my money into DVD / BluRay recorders and PVR's, knowing full well that people have thought to upgrade their TV/s, but will leave their analogue recorders to the last minute to change over...

That's true - I think there's going to be a lot of pissed off old folks when they discover their VCR or older DVD Recorder can no longer record Coronation St!

[mycenius]

So.... on paper is the 65VT50 looking like the model to buy at this stage? (assuming you want 55"-65" in the next 6 months & have flexible budget).