Panasonic TCP65VT50 for $2499.99 at Paul's TV

I just put in my order in for one of these--woo-hoo! I'm in CA like the OP, so with the "No Sales Tax" incentive and free white glove shipping, the price on this was too good to pass up.

My guess is that the new 2013 VT60 won't be much visibly improved over this VT50. For that, you may have to go to the ZT60. And I very much doubt the $2,500 ST60 will be a match when it is available in a month or two.

I already have some $20 Samsung SSG-4100GB 3D glasses that I bought for use with a Panasonic 55UT50 that I have in the bedroom. They are cheap, and work 100% with the Panasonic 3D mode. IMHO, for the few dozen 3D Blu-Rays, there isn't much need to spend 2.5 times more for the Panasonic 3D glasses.

I got PM at BB for this set. But that was before the $250 gift card promo with all else being the same ($2499 and no tax). Do you think BB will do price match/adjustment and give back $250 for the gift card promo??? Worth a shot or don't waste my time stopping by the store?

Quote from eqly : I got PM at BB for this set. But that was before the $250 gift card promo with all else being the same ($2499 and no tax). Do you think BB will do price match/adjustment and give back $250 for the gift card promo??? Worth a shot or don't waste my time stopping by the store?

If you look at the "gift cards," you'll see that they are split among some smaller online retailers that you would probably not normally use. It isn't a "Cash" card or one that can be used as one large $250 amount at one place like Amazon or eBay. IMO, they are really more like discount coupons than "gift cards."

I wouldn't bother trying to get Best Buy to match that promo.

Quote from M3Rocket : If you look at the "gift cards," you'll see that they are split among some smaller online retailers that you would probably not normally use. It isn't a "Cash" card or one that can be used as one large $250 amount at one place like Amazon or eBay. IMO, they are really more like discount coupons than "gift cards." I wouldn't bother trying to get Best Buy to match that promo.

Yes, I agree. Won't waste my time calling in. Besides I think their policy is they only price match a drop in price not an equivalent drop in value such as a $250 worth of giftcards as a rebate.

As a side note, my tv got delivered and box was already opened. They said that is normal procedure as they must inspect the morning of delivery at warehouse before they load onto delivery truck. Anyone else got it delivered from BB can share if that is what they got too?

I think OLEDs are the future, but it is not just the price that needs to come down. At the moment, there are problems with some of the colors aging very rapidly. I think the blue(?) wears out within 5 years of normal viewing. And the other colors only last twice as long. Maybe in 5 years this will be fixed. But if you need a high quality set between then and now, plasma is the way to go.

I would love to get a Panasonic ZT60, but even those are too rich for my blood.

TV arrived today and it looks fantastic.

I've been reading a bit about the 2011 and 2012 sets having problems with burn-in/image-retention though. Can anyone recommend some anti-IR programs that I can run overnight to hit my 200 hours quickly?

I watch a lot of sports (which means a lot of static elements throughout the broadcast), so anything I can do to prevent IR would be great.

There are jpeg breaking slides on avsforums. Just load those to a USB and voila your in business

I ordered this on Feb 21st. It shipped from their store that's about 4 hours drive (Google maps) drive from my home. It's finally scheduled for delivery tomorrow. That's three weeks from order to delivery. I don't think that's typical transit time from what I've read here, but it is aggravating. I just hope it arrives in one piece.

Any speculation on when BB and those with inventories of the 65VT50 will clear out?

The '13 models are due in stores between now and end of month.