August 2006
Falling LCD and plasma TV prices mean great deals
It may be old news, but it's good news: Prices of flat panels are going nowhere but down. The average street price in June
was 22 percent lower than it was a year earlier, according to Pacific Media Associates, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based research
firm that tracks display prices. Competition from lesser-known brands, clearance sales to move out older sets and make room
for new arrivals, special promotions, and keep-up-with-the-Joneses price cuts are behind the lower costs.
Smaller brands often try to attract buyers with low prices. This summer, Best Buy was selling a 32-inch LCD TV from Westinghouse for $850, Costco.com offered a 37-inch ViewSonic LCD for $1,300, and Target had a 42-inch Syntax Olevia LCD TV for $1,500. There are sweet deals on plasma sets, too, with smaller names again leading the charge. Costco.com featured a 42-inch Envision plasma for $1,500 and a 50-inch Vizio for $2,000.
TVs from major brands still sell at a premium, but prices on these sets are falling as well. CircuitCity.com recently had a 32-inch Sony LCD on sale for $1,329 and a 37-inch Sharp LCD for $1,709. Best Buy listed a 40-inch Sony LCD for $2,500. CircuitCity.com featured a 42-inch LG plasma set on sale for $1,800 and a Panasonic 42-inch plasma for $2,250. A 50-inch Panasonic plasma at Costco.com was selling for $3,300.
Looking ahead through the end of the year, expectations are that prices could drop even lower. Many retailers tie promotions to the football season, and we may see discounting to clear out older inventory. Some market analysts project that an oversupply of smaller screen sizes could push prices down as well. Pacific Media Associates anticipates aggressive holiday sales on 30- to 40-inch LCDs and 50-inch plasma TVs.
CR's take. Pinpointing the best time to buy a TV is a tough call. Given the competition in the market and continuing changes in technology, there will always be bigger, better, lower-priced TVs just over the horizon. At some point, you need to buy one and start enjoying your purchase. You could probably save some money if you wait awhile, but you would have missed out on a few months of enjoyment. Look at it this way: You undoubtedly got a lower price and a better value than you would have several months earlier.
If you've decided to take the plunge now, check the circulars, visit the online price-comparison sites, and shop around for the best deal. If you're willing to wait a few months, you might save a few hundred dollars on midsized screens and TVs without all the latest technological bells and whistles. Consult our Ratings (available to subscribers) for specific model recommendations.
Smaller brands often try to attract buyers with low prices. This summer, Best Buy was selling a 32-inch LCD TV from Westinghouse for $850, Costco.com offered a 37-inch ViewSonic LCD for $1,300, and Target had a 42-inch Syntax Olevia LCD TV for $1,500. There are sweet deals on plasma sets, too, with smaller names again leading the charge. Costco.com featured a 42-inch Envision plasma for $1,500 and a 50-inch Vizio for $2,000.
TVs from major brands still sell at a premium, but prices on these sets are falling as well. CircuitCity.com recently had a 32-inch Sony LCD on sale for $1,329 and a 37-inch Sharp LCD for $1,709. Best Buy listed a 40-inch Sony LCD for $2,500. CircuitCity.com featured a 42-inch LG plasma set on sale for $1,800 and a Panasonic 42-inch plasma for $2,250. A 50-inch Panasonic plasma at Costco.com was selling for $3,300.
Looking ahead through the end of the year, expectations are that prices could drop even lower. Many retailers tie promotions to the football season, and we may see discounting to clear out older inventory. Some market analysts project that an oversupply of smaller screen sizes could push prices down as well. Pacific Media Associates anticipates aggressive holiday sales on 30- to 40-inch LCDs and 50-inch plasma TVs.
CR's take. Pinpointing the best time to buy a TV is a tough call. Given the competition in the market and continuing changes in technology, there will always be bigger, better, lower-priced TVs just over the horizon. At some point, you need to buy one and start enjoying your purchase. You could probably save some money if you wait awhile, but you would have missed out on a few months of enjoyment. Look at it this way: You undoubtedly got a lower price and a better value than you would have several months earlier.
If you've decided to take the plunge now, check the circulars, visit the online price-comparison sites, and shop around for the best deal. If you're willing to wait a few months, you might save a few hundred dollars on midsized screens and TVs without all the latest technological bells and whistles. Consult our Ratings (available to subscribers) for specific model recommendations.
