Costco and 3D TVs

3D TV has quickly made its way into warehouse clubs, taking up residence right alongside the mammoth canned goods and massive packages of paper goods most of us associate with these bargain outlets. This will give millions of shoppers on Main Street, U.S.A., a firsthand look at 3D technology, with promotional pricing designed to get them on board.

I noticed this while shopping at Costco's location in Westbury, NY, recently and saw a crowd around a 3D display featuring Panasonic and Samsung gear. Two demonstration stations let you view the TVs through 3D glasses mounted on stands, so you could experience 3D up close and personal. Laden with a lifetime supply of paper towels, I wasn't able to shoulder my way to the front of the line to try the demo myself. Next time, that'll be my first stop.

The Panasonic 3D bundle goes for $1,600 after a $520 instant rebate. It includes a 46-inch plasma TV, the Viera TC-P46GT24; the DMP-BDT105 3D Blu-ray player; a bundle with two 3D movies (Coraline and Ice Age—Dawn of the Dinosaurs); and two pairs of glasses. The TV is a so-called "derivative model" that is sold through certain retail outlets, such as Costco, and the bundle doesn't show up on Costco's website.

We've tested Panasonic's VT25 series 3D televisions and have found them to be outstanding, among the best for 3D quality. We'll soon be testing a model from the GT25 series, which is closely related to the GT24 line.

The Samsung 3D bundle includes a 55-inch LED TV (the UN55C7100, another derivative model), a Blu-ray player (model number BD-C6800), a 3D kit with movies, and two pairs of rechargeable 3D glasses, all for $2,900 after a $900 rebate. Costco.com has the same bundle for $3,120, plus $100 for shipping and handling, but doesn't mention a rebate there. The TV alone is listed at $3,400 on Samsung's website.

A related set, the Samsung UN55C7000, sells for $2,200 on Amazon.com (it has a different cabinet design and does not come bundled with 3D glasses). In our tests, the Samsung C7000 and C8000 LCD sets with LED backlights showed visible ghosting in 3D images, which detracted from the 3D effect and made it less satisfying than on the plasma sets we evaluated (Ratings available to subscribers).

For my money, the Panasonic 3D bundle has a lot to recommend it, though the glasses we tried in our recent tests weren't that comfortable. But it's got everything you need to enjoy quality 3D at a relatively low price for a technology this new.

What's your take on all this? Are you tempted, and if so, at what price will you take the 3D plunge?

—Eileen McCooey