64" Samsung PN64E7000 WiFi 3D Plasma HDTV w/ 2x 3D Glasses $1800 + Free Shipping

sales tax from Amazon? or TD? Michigan resident here....

Amazon Rep explained that "if the coupon isn't publicly visible on the tigerdirect.com website, we cannot price match the TV". I was going to direct her to slickdeals buuuut that probably wouldn't work either...

Quote from rskelme : I pulled the trigger on the Panasonic TC-P65ST50 last night from Amazon Warehouse for $1,880. Now I'm reading the Panasonics are more susceptible to image retention. The Samsungs supposedly fair better in this respect but it's not conclusive. Ordering the PN64E7000 and doing an in house shootout seems excessive. What to do, what to do...

I wouldn't fret over it - image retention on both is going to be a fairly non-existent issue, and you will be very happy with either. This is coming from someone who has owned a 42" Panasonic (TH-42PX60U) , a 50" Panasonic (TH-50PX60U), another 50" Panasonic (TH-50PX77U) after getting the first one replaced under warranty (the year they had the "purple snakes [avsforum.com]" problem), a 64" Samsung (PN64D700, the model year before this one), and then another PN64D7000 a week later when my first one suddenly stopped working. Amazon's no-hassle return truly was that - I was very glad I bought from them. Replacement TV took a bit to get here, but it was still a very easy process. This was summer of 2011. Plus at the time it was $1,800 for the TV, Blu-ray player, and Shrek 3D four-movie set with Megamind in 3D and 2 pairs of glasses.

The only ones I ever really minor retention problems with were the original 42" and 50" Panasonics, and those were from 2006. I did not run a break-in on them, and the 42" was run on 4:3 content a LOT with sidebars. The image retention was noticeable at times right after watching a particular network for a while, but always went away (except for the 42", where if you look VERY closely, you can see the middle area is VERY slightly dimmer than the outer areas when you are watching 16:9 content, as those phosphers have aged differently from not being used as often, especially during the initial 100 - 200 hours of use).

When my first 50" Panasonic got exchanged under warranty because of the "purple snaking" problem, I did a proper break-in on my replacement model. We have played thousands of hours of games, movies, and TV shows with static logos on it, and we've never had an image retention problem. With the 64" Samsung we've had since 2011, we've only noticed image retention once ... after we had been playing a lot of the Cartoon Network all week, which has a fairly bold black and white logo, we could still see the outline of the logo when switching to something else. That resolved itself within about a day of watching other content, though, and it wasn't all that noticeable to begin with (but of course once you see it there, you stare at it like you're the Eye of Sauron looking for your precious).

TLDR - Go with the one with the best packaged extras for the price since they're within 80 bucks, and/or with the vendor you prefer dealing with. Image retention is not a factor that needs to be considered between the two models.

The Panasonic ST50 is their entry model, whereas the E7000 is Samsung's next to highest end, so I guess that's something to consider if you want to look at other specs, features, and bundled extras they have (3D glasses? I haven't looked to see what Panasonic includes now). But "entry level" on this line of sets is kind of like talking about one of Mercedes' "entry level" models. It's still a luxury high-end item. Panny is pretty legendary for image quality. Plus the Panasonic is bigger. Maybe just by an inch, but hey, bigger is bigger.

I bought the Samsung PN648000 from Best Buy a week before last year's Super Bowl. Its a Great great TV. The picture is sweet and it has a ton of features and if you have the space 64" rock. I would make the purchase again.

Wow, TD doesn't accept return for these tvs. I guess only Amazon does that.

Where do the tiger direct coupons come from?

Quote from Ballislife : Decisions ...TCP65GT50 for an additional $400 or this one...? Don't they have CB 7% ...one of those CB sites is offering 7% back... is it MRR? That will make the difference over $500 between these two...

Well as a home theater nut and into plasma TVs as a hobby, it's is WORTH saving money and getting this Samsung. The picture difference between Panny and this shouldn't be that drastic.

If I didn't buy the Panasonic 65VT50 few weeks ago, I would seriously buy this and save $800 into my pocket. And yes, this is from a guy who owned a $6500 Pioneer Kuro TV.

Quote from rskelme : I pulled the trigger on the Panasonic TC-P65ST50 last night from Amazon Warehouse for $1,880. Now I'm reading the Panasonics are more susceptible to image retention. The Samsungs supposedly fair better in this respect but it's not conclusive. Ordering the PN64E7000 and doing an in house shootout seems excessive. What to do, what to do...

Imagine retention in plasmas in today's world is just a hoax, unless you keep a same image logo such as CNN logo or something for hours and hours.

There's also a screen sweep mode on every plasma to clear it away before turning it off.

All these people racing to shop with Amazon don't understand how business works...

Competition lowers prices.

Everyone racing to buy from Amazon does nothing to reward the vendor who deserves credit for this deal - Tiger Direct - so they'd miss out on the deal without Tiger.

Amazon already has 1/3 of all internet sales in the US, but people race to make it a monopoly and screw the consumer of the good deals of competition.

Amazon comes up with things to increase their monopoly - like 'loyalty rewards' - and it works like a charm. 'I will only buy from Amazon, I need my 2%!!!!!'

I like Amazon, but people, be glad to support the competition.

Quote from Craig234 : All these people racing to shop with Amazon don't understand how business works... Competition lowers prices. Everyone racing to buy from Amazon does nothing to reward the vendor who deserves credit for this deal - Tiger Direct - so they'd miss out on the deal without Tiger. Amazon already has 1/3 of all internet sales in the US, but people race to make it a monopoly and screw the consumer of the good deals of competition. Amazon comes up with things to increase their monopoly - like 'loyalty rewards' - and it works like a charm. 'I will only buy from Amazon, I need my 2%!!!!!' I like Amazon, but people, be glad to support the competition.

I rather buy from tigerdirect. Amazon charges me tax! (That's 175 bucks just in tax)

Quote from dQn : I rather buy from tigerdirect. Amazon charges me tax! (That's 175 bucks just in tax)

Just the start as Amazon starts to put up more distribution centers... but the end of no internet tax drums are a beating. The way AMZN trades I am sure they are ahead of the game.

Quote from Craig234 : All these people racing to shop with Amazon don't understand how business works... Competition lowers prices. Everyone racing to buy from Amazon does nothing to reward the vendor who deserves credit for this deal - Tiger Direct - so they'd miss out on the deal without Tiger. Amazon already has 1/3 of all internet sales in the US, but people race to make it a monopoly and screw the consumer of the good deals of competition. Amazon comes up with things to increase their monopoly - like 'loyalty rewards' - and it works like a charm. 'I will only buy from Amazon, I need my 2%!!!!!' I like Amazon, but people, be glad to support the competition.

agreed

Amazon is not my first choice for electronics
I actually thinks Fry's has the best "door buster" deals throughout the year

I also think Magnolia Home Theater( Best Buy) can have a heck of a clearance...many from items from vendors that prohibit online sales

I will never buy another plasma again, at least not from samsung. I have the pn58c8000 that I purchased 2 years ago. There is the buzzing noise at the first year. Recently, there is a purple line across the screen. Samsung will not help me because it is out of warranty.

Seems very attractive. However, that price seems a little expensive.