The 2013 Plasma Discussion Thread!

[shanmune]

vij, they projected an ultra low demand profile for last year's Plasma TVs, and they figured out that they were wrong all the way as they exhausted whatever they planned to sell within 3-4 months. Now even after that they thinks they need to be pushed to introduce their TV, then they are a group of fools. Your sales compared to others may be lower in number still you are creating a niche market and should hold to it, else others will just eat you up.

Let's say, M&M is good with Utility vehicle manufacturing and they are holding to it like anything. Now if they thinks that most of the vehicles that are sold in the market belongs to hatch and sedan category and they should stop utility vehicle and start manufacturing and selling only cars like Verito (Logan), then they are doomedNobody looks to M&M for a regular car. Boss you should understand your strength and weakness, and target the market where you are strong and built upon it. Rather than trying to built your base in an area where you are not considered even in top3.

Last year Pana after sidelining Plasma, introduced ET & WT series in the premium LED section. Most of the people are not even bothered to give it a try. They initially thought they should price it at par and above the others to justify their premiumness, which actually backfired (initially ET5 was costlier than HX750 and LM6700). So they started cutting down prices like anything, and now the same thing is available less than 1 lac for 55" (97k at infibeam). So what's the point of trying hard in a segment where you are not that strong and ignoring the segment where you are really strong. Samy people are loving such stupidity of Pana guys, as all their losses are Samy's gain.

^ I agree. At the same time, I feel plasma lovers should thank Samsung for pushing things on the plasma side when others have either abandoned their plasma plans or become subdued in selling their plasmas. Some time back, I said that I wouldn't be surprised to see Samsung going further with new plasmas even if Panasonic stopped it's plasma sales.
When that comes, Samsung might claim that they are the only company to produce the greatest HDTVs meant for purists (until either OLED stabilizes or drastic design change happens at the LED end).

 

[gautamkhadse]

Newbie here :

I have decided to buy Samsung 64" PnN64AF8500 . Got a quote of 1.86 lakhs ( after bargaining hard ) from Maharastra Electronics in Pune . Does this sound good or should I bargain more .

They have informed me that the TV comes with 4 3d glasses . Are these re chargeable ones ? Has anyone bought the same TV

Unfortunatley , since TVs of these sizes are not frequent seller . none of the dealers has a demo piece . SO I will have to book and see it at my home .

Does anyone know how to see the usage hours on this model . I dont want to end up buying a burned out used model .

 

[vakharia]

In the largest Electronics store in Helsinki, there was not a single Samsung plasma for display, but both Panasonic VT60 and ST60 were on display. Samsung had a much bigger space allocated for it in the store. I think Phillips was the second. Panasonic and Sony had a smaller area.

If you want the TV, and if the product marketing guys are not doing enough, then perhaps you need to express the same somehow. Panasonic has been wrong in gauging market interest and you can contribute in correcting that somehow.
All this makes sense only if *you* are interested in the TV.

Business strategy is somewhat off-topic for this thread, I guess.
At the moment Panasonic is concentrating on the home appliances and the newly launched mobile phone. It seems launch of TV's has been postponed (don't know till what time), but stocks are expected even without the launch.

 

[vij]

^ I agree. At the same time, I feel plasma lovers should thank Samsung for pushing things on the plasma side when others have either abandoned their plasma plans or become subdued in selling their plasmas.

I gave them 185,000 thanks

 

[just4kix]

LED/LCD TVs outsell plasma worldwide - maybe by a ratio of 100:1 or even more.

 

[vij]

LED/LCD TVs outsell plasma worldwide - maybe by a ratio of 100:1 or even more.

It was 1:12 in 2010, could it have skewed that much now?

0.8 mil plasma for 9.92 mil LCD/LED tv (July 2010)
source: LCD or plasma TV: which should you buy? | News | TechRadar

 

[akasmarty2003]

I think panny has dug their own grave in India. their pricing policy / CC is just plain pathetic. I believe their main focus in india now is home appliances (as mentioned by vakharia) no doubt their asking price for the flat panels is insane that's why you could still see 2011 PDP models hanging at many stores. would anyone be interested buying the two year old plasma on almost half of its introductory price? I don't think so: PANASONIC PLASMA THP65VT30D, black - Vijay Sales: Electronics Shop Online - LCDs, LEDs, Cameras, Mobiles, Laptops, Appliances, Accessories and more

 

[just4kix]

If Panasonic introduces ST60 and other models, it will be great. Else, forgeting that there is a manufacturer called 'Panasonic' will be the best way forward. July-end is the deadline that Panasonic should pull up their socks with respect to their plasma policy. Or at least they should state that they are exiting from plasma business in India.

 

[vakharia]

If Panasonic introduces ST60 and other models, it will be great. Else, forgeting that there is a manufacturer called 'Panasonic' will be the best way forward. July-end is the deadline that Panasonic should pull up their socks with respect to their plasma policy. Or at least they should state that they are exiting from plasma business in India.

I am not worried about that part at the moment.
Let us say that they do launch ST60 or higher models here. What happens in case there is manufacturing defect?
You won't get a replacement even after waiting for several months?
Perhaps you will be offered an LED as exchange. Then the question is why this hassle if you land up with an LED after a year or so?

Customer service has not been a strength for Panasonic, mainly since they don't have the replacement hardware available here.

 

[aakashr]

Newbie here :

I have decided to buy Samsung 64" PnN64AF8500 . Got a quote of 1.86 lakhs ( after bargaining hard ) from Maharastra Electronics in Pune . Does this sound good or should I bargain more .

They have informed me that the TV comes with 4 3d glasses . Are these re chargeable ones ? Has anyone bought the same TV

Unfortunatley , since TVs of these sizes are not frequent seller . none of the dealers has a demo piece . SO I will have to book and see it at my home .

Does anyone know how to see the usage hours on this model . I dont want to end up buying a burned out used model .

great choice..............I am waiting to see a demo. I hope some store soon will have it on display. What did you decide? Going with the price?

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Re: The 2013 Plasma Discussion Thread! [Updated with Information]

Gautam,

Excellent choice. Even I am planning on the F8500. It's superb value for money at 1.86. Not to mention the reviews and user acceptance have been positive.

I got a quote of 1.85 without much efforts.

With no demo available and fresh stocks arriving, I don't think you should be too much worried about used stock. Though always be safe than sorry.

All the best.

 

[Dirac]

I am not worried about that part at the moment.
Let us say that they do launch ST60 or higher models here. What happens in case there is manufacturing defect?
You won't get a replacement even after waiting for several months?
Perhaps you will be offered an LED as exchange. Then the question is why this hassle if you land up with an LED after a year or so?

Customer service has not been a strength for Panasonic, mainly since they don't have the replacement hardware available here.

In such a case one could give a legal notice to panasonic. They would ship the part from Malaysia the very next day.

 

[nm_plasma_fan]

Recd. my 61F8500 two weeks ago in Mumbai. So far it has blown us away. Our watching distance is 10 feet, and we are loving it.

I paid 1.86 for it, but know another dealer who will beat 1.80 aswell.

 

[just4kix]

Recd. my 61F8500 two weeks ago in Mumbai. So far it has blown us away. Our watching distance is 10 feet, and we are loving it.

I paid 1.86 for it, but know another dealer who will beat 1.80 aswell.

You mean 64F8500, don't you? Congratulations. Enjoy your gadget.

 

[akasmarty2003]

recd. My 61f8500 two weeks ago in mumbai. So far it has blown us away. Our watching distance is 10 feet, and we are loving it.

I paid 1.86 for it, but know another dealer who will beat 1.80 aswell.

61f8500????

 

[sunilkm]

Recd. my 61F8500 two weeks ago in Mumbai. So far it has blown us away. Our watching distance is 10 feet, and we are loving it.

I paid 1.86 for it, but know another dealer who will beat 1.80 aswell.

Congratulations!

Kudos to Samsung for releasing the flagship 8 series models in India.
Eventhough we hear VT/ZT release from Panasonic in US, UK etc we do not see any of their flagship models in India. Too bad.

 

[shaiju_o_thomas]

Recd. my 61F8500 two weeks ago in Mumbai. So far it has blown us away. Our watching distance is 10 feet, and we are loving it.

I paid 1.86 for it, but know another dealer who will beat 1.80 aswell.

PM the dealer details if you don't mind. I am dying to get hands on this model.

 

[Dhanan]

Recd. my 61F8500 two weeks ago in Mumbai. So far it has blown us away. Our watching distance is 10 feet, and we are loving it.

I paid 1.86 for it, but know another dealer who will beat 1.80 aswell.

Wonderful....looking forward to review and experience.

 

[nm_plasma_fan]

64F8500 is what I meant.

 

[issigonis]

>>>

Websites for Panasonic US and for Panasonic AP do not have info. on the new for 2013 GT60 models. Panasonic Europe has. So it is perhaps not surprising not to find information on the GT60 from Panasonic brandshops in India. (Surprisingly, a couple of them hinted that the GT50D might be available in the near future - these might be existing AP stock re-directed to India; which is fine by me).

If the GT50D and the GT60 are not coming to India, I will check out the ST60 if that is headed here. My guess is the 2013 models will take awhile to come, sometime around August or even later to cash in on the festive sales nearing Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali.

Except for Croma, I have seen plasmas to LCDs in the ratio of maybe 1:10 in the display walls of dealers in Bombay. Croma has a slightly better ratio of maybe 1:7. This is across all brands.

Regards
issigonis