Panasonic Plasma HDTV Prices Thread
 

Figured I'd start a separate thread for the panny plasma's since the HDTV thread seems to be moving more towards a budget HDTV buying guide side and I got tired of reading through a lot of information about westinghouse, proscan and other budget HDTV brands.

I myself am most interested in the GT50 or ST50 models...hoping that the 55 inch GT will go under 1100 or that the 60 inch ST will go below 1000...

This post can and should be edited by users like you :)
 

Note that Panasonic charges tax to most locales but shipping is free.
EastCoastTvs.com only charges tax to NJ residents.

Do your research on all sellers before placing an order.

If you are a Costco member see post 216 in regards to warranty options and differences from square trade.
http://slickdeals.net/f/5426720-P...st54808366

WARNING: East Cost TVs is not an authorized Panasonic dealer [panasonic.com]. Shop definitely at your own risk.

PRICES

S Series:

50S60
Panasonic - $765

55S60
Panasonic - $935

60S60
Panasonic - $1,105

65S60
Panasonic - $1,615

ST Series:

50ST50
Amazon - $999 - 2%
Panasonic - $899.99 (11-21 @ 11am est)
PaulsTV.com - $999
EastCoastTVs.com - $994.00

55ST50
Amazon - $1,199 - 2% (was $1,129 in October)
Panasonic - $1,024.99 (11-21 @ 11am est)
PaulsTV.com - $1,149 (with coupon SAVE50)
EastCoastTVs.com - $1249.00

60ST50
Amazon - $1,675 - 2%
Panasonic - $1,374.99 (11-21 @ 11am est)
PaulsTV.com - $1,600
EastCoastTVs.com - $1490.00

65ST50
Amazon - $2,294 - 2% (was $1,997 - 2%)
Panasonic - $2,049 (11-21 @ 11am est)
PaulsTV.com - $2,050
EastCoastTVs.com - $2068.00

50ST60
Panasonic - $1,105

55ST60
Panasonic - $1,360

60ST60
Panasonic - $1,615

65ST60
Panasonic - $2,380


GT Series:

50GT50
Amazon - $1,139.98 - 2%
Panasonic - $1,219.99 + free Blu-Ray player (DMP-BDT220 going for ~$80 on ebay) - 11/25 @ 9pm est
PaulsTV.com - $1300 (see: http://slickdeals.net/f/5452242-P...aulstv-com)
EastCoastTVs.com - $1295.00
Bestbuy.com - 1299.99

55GT50
Amazon - $1,349 (it has never been cheaper than this)
Panasonic - $1,358.99 + free Blu-Ray player - 11/25 @ 9pm est
PaulsTV.com - $1,249 (with coupon SAVE100)
EastCoastTVs.com - $1479.00

60GT50
Amazon - $1,899 (it has never been cheaper than this)
Panasonic - $1,887.99 + Blu-Ray player - 11/25 @ 9pm est
PaulsTV.com - $1899 SAVE200 drops it to $1699
EastCoastTVs.com - $1898.00

65GT50
Amazon - $2,448 (it has never been cheaper than this)
Panasonic - $2,474.99 + Blu-Ray player (11-21 @ 11am est)
PaulsTV.com - $2,500
EastCoastTVs.com - $2393.00

VT Series:

55VT50
J&R - $1837.99
Amazon - $1,999.99 [$1,944.99 lowest ever]
Panasonic - $1,999.99 - 11/25 @ 9pm est
Sears - $2,499.99
EastCoastTVs.com - $1,797.00 (get an extra 2% off through 11/22 if you pay with certified check, money order, or wire transfer -- trustworthy?)
Bestbuy.com - $2,499.98

65VT50
Amazon - $2,899.99
Panasonic - $2,959.99 - 11/25 @ 9pm est
Sears - $3,699.99
EastCoastTVs.com - $2,714.00 (get an extra 2% off through 11/22 if you pay with certified check, money order, or wire transfer -- trustworthy?)
Bestbuy.com - $3,699.98

I'm shopping for a Panasonic plasma as well. Thanks for starting this thread.

Same here! Glad you separated the threads. Looking for a 55-60" Panasonic plasma but not sure which model yet... tired of my Sharp LED with its crappy blacks and motion blur...

Good call, will be following this thread as well. Hoping for the 50ST50 around 800. :D

great!...

i have the feeling that it'll be Amazon, Fry's or Paul's Tv that are likely to provide the best deals on these plasmas or any higher end HDTV for that matter..what do you guys think?...It seems to me that Best Buy, Walmart, Tiger Direct etc. are only interested in selling very cheap HDTVs just so that the price looks good on paper with almost no regards to the quality of the product. I have seen these tvs in person and their quality is awful. I hope that not everyone will follow suit.

Would really love picking up a 60"+. hopefully there's some good deals.

60ST50 for $1k would make my year!

Are there any chances a sub 50" 1080p plasma might go as low as $500, or is that just a pipe dream?

i'd say that's in the realm of possibility. More like $599 or something.

Edit: I'll keep my eyes open...but it's looking like I'd have to get something off of eBay or somewhere because I don't think anyone's really making 42" 1080p plasmas anymore?

iirc, plasmas are more cost effective sold as larger panels. LCD owns the 42 inch market I'd say.

That's what I figured. There are plenty of 720p 42" plasmas on the market, but I'd really like the full 1080p for PC gaming and Blu-Ray watching. I guess I'll have to stick with LED in that size range...I think a 50" TV might look kind of ridiculous in my bedroom.

At this point I don't even know what kind of TV I want anymore, aside from the fact that I feel like 40" is a little too small. It's been so hard to figure out what I want. When I find a TV with good blacks, I feel like it doesn't get bright enough, or is too small. Or I find a TV I like, but ghosting seems too apparent, especially in animation. Or I find a TV that's exceptionally bright, but then the blacks don't get black enough. It's such a balancing act.

Unless there is some sort of accidental stacking deal, personally I think you are being unrealistically optimistic. The Panasonic EPP prices on TVs have been fantastic lately, and even then, the 55ST is $1025, and the 60UT is $1050. In other words, in order to get the prices you're looking for, I think you are going to need to lower the tier of set you are considering.

60ST is $1375, and 55GT is $1575. MSRP on both sets is $2100,

Hopefully, you're right though, and I do appreciate the thread greatly.

Getting time to replace my old 42" Panasonic, been a great tv

Looking out for a good 650~ price on a 2nd plasma to go in the bedroom.

sweet. this thread is perfect, as I'm looking for a panasonic plasma.. thinking of buying a 60ST50 off craigslist that supposedly still has warranty on it for 1199, but wanted to see what black friday was going to bring to the table. thanks OP!

In on this.

haha...confess i'm being a lil greedy...i came up with that price after looking at the EPP price...oh well! let's wait and see

Great Great thread OP..

I've been looking for the 50" GT for a couple of years now,, glad I waited b/c of the passive 3d change and now I want the 55",, but I'm done waiting and this tread is perfect to get away from the glut of the rest..

I'm looking for the 55ST50. Saw it on amazon for $1199, but I think it's gone lower. Will best buy pm amazon?

Hate to TC, but you rarely see any of the higher end Pansonic's marked down substantially during BF. Maybe a retailer will finally buck the trend this year, but they've traditionally only offered deals on lesser models (s30 and x3 as most recent 2011 examples).

I myself am looking for a deal on the 65ST50, but don't expect to pull the trigger until around CES (early Jan) when the newest models are first revealed.

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe I read that Best Buy will be price matching on-line retailers in store this year in order to combat "show-rooming." I would guess that their online store would price match as well.

you are right about that...u can actually expand that and say that most manufacturers/retailers have refrained from providing any significant BF deals on their high-end product lines. It could probably be due to the assumption that people who are willing to spend over a grand are not gonna whine about an extra 100 or two...they fail to recognize, however, that there are enthusiasts who don't necessarily have to be rich to have a good eye (pun intended) for quality/performance.

To be honest, i think that the only time we can expect a good deal on these products is when the newer models are out...

yes they will...as long as the item is available at the price you quote when you're at BB trying to pm...

Has anyone compared the 65VT50 with the GT50/ST50 in person? Would really like to grab the VT based on what I have seen, but I have yet to be able to compare the other two models to see whether the price hike is worth it...

The alternative is just waiting until they start selling the new 4K tv's and the prices on these 1080p ones drop...(but that will require a lot of self control seeing as how impatient I am when I want electronics!)

i'm sure you will find that price on BF...its going for 13xx at panosonic already so

great thread...looking forward to a new panny plasma this year

My Best Buy had the GT50 (60") next to the VT50 (65"). Both were playing Clash of the Titans. I spent maybe 5 minutes comparing PQ between the two. Granted, you can guarantee neither were calibrated. Both were probably running on default settings. That said, there was hardly a discernible difference in a dimly lit room. Again, I highly doubt the VT50 was set up to show off some of its added features (96Hz, THX, etc.), but for me at least, you're paying quite a premium for the VT50. It's an unquestionably gorgeous display. The single sheet glass design is second to none. However, the slickdealer in me finds the ST50 nearly as attractive at half the cost. It was a no-brainer for me.

Thanks for starting this thread. I am really looking for a 60 inch panny. If UT50 is for 800. I am in.

Panasonics P50U50 is a budget plasma set that is your best bet for a sub $600 price. It uses the G15 plasma panel, which is actually pretty good, but does not have good calibration options, 3D, internet TV, and only has 2 HDMI inputs.

Still, Cnet gave it's picture quality an 8/10, which for a TV that can be found for $650 outside of black friday is pretty good, imho.

This set might be worthwhile to keep an eye on for BF.

My hope: 50ST50...hopefully bundled with a 3D Blu-ray player

I got in on the buy.com 42 inch (TC-P42U2) $299 deal a couple of years ago. I wouldn't mind a model with a clearer picture and a bigger screen.

Why dont you guys just go to Panasonic's website and sign up for the Club Panasonic? This way you get the best deals and shipping is free

Looking to get 60ST50 around 1k... Added current Amazon prices to wiki!

How is that the best deal? You still pay tax and even then any EPP price on Panasonic is more than several sites like Amazon and Paul's.

the 55" is $1300. this is the 60" i'm talking about.

it's 1374 with EPP...i am sure you can somehow join under a company/school to see these prices...what you saw was probly regular price..i have attached a snapshoot

What about shipping? And FYI Paul's charges tax as well depending on where you live because they have retail stores in some states.

Frys had TC-P65ST30 for 1249 in February, I got amazon to price match it with $50 for white glove included but did not buy it. How is the ST50 different?

see for yourself!..

http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/im...15986_.jpg

not exactly what you were looking for but nonetheless conveys my point...the st30 is still however a great TV by itself...

built in WIFI on ST50 for starters

I imagine from the name of the thread that Panasonic has the best 55"+ displays?

without doubt!

I love my Panasonic plasma. Quality product

When I bought my 50G15, it was on sale for $1399 at Amazon but I managed to get it for $1008 at a local chain in early December. The discussions about discounts aren't unreasonable.

Still going strong after 3 years of daily use and lots of Call of Duty hours. I wish they'd have added Netflix to it's apps, it was the cutoff model specifically mentioned as being left out.

Thanks for that comparison chief. I guess I'll have to go around to a few more stores and see if I can find one actually calibrated (or find some "ideal" cal settings online and see if I can have them set the tv to those settings) and do a comparison then. If its still a negligible difference, I'll go with the ST/GT...otherwise I'll stick with my current TV and try and wait 'til the 4K tv's come out and these drop in price.

Some of the higher model plasmas have a coating that dims lighting coming from above. Besides that I believe picture quality is mostly the same as a direct pass through but I'm sure the higher end models will have significantly more options for the enthusiast and a more powerful processor to utilize some of those functions.

If you are in New England, paulstv.com has the 65gt at $2499.00, the 60gt at $1999.00 and the 55gt at $1499.00.

Also hoping for a deal on BF for either the ST50 or GT50 in 60"+.

Canadian shopper so Amazon drop ship to BUF is the easiest.

Follow this thread

For those that already have large Panasonic Plasmas, have you guys noticed a quality drop after 4+ years? Or ever had to recharge the screen with plasma?

Have 50" 8UK that is still a great picture with no issues.

Recharging plasma is a myth AFAIK.

ok coo

I heard there was an excess amount of panel's and price should drop

Excuse my TV naiveness, I am in need of a new TV and reading this thread it seems like everyone is sold on a Panasonic. I currently have a 42" Panasonic I purchased in 05 that held up pretty good, I want to put in my room and upgrade to a new TV for the family room. That being said I would like to bump up size and clarity and stay in the sub 1k. What do you guys recommend, I have never done the whole BF waiting in line deal, and I don't want to.......unless I have to. Please help a newbie out. I am lost in regards to Plasma, LED......... I have a nice built in surround sound, but I mainly watch TV and occasionally go on Netflix and keep flipping through the list and end up watching something I don't want to.

delete

Any deals on the VT series?

if you're looking for an HDTV with good picture quality under a grand, plasmas are the way to go. While some of the more expensive high-end LED tvs provide slightly better picture quality, they are also very expensive, usually around 1700+ for a 55" model...the difference in picture quality, although discernible, is certainly not significant enough to warrant the extra 500+ when compared to an equivalent plasma model. The PQ on the plasmas, or atleast the panaonic models, is by itself, excellent. If one has the money to splash around, these high end LEDs would be the way to go. Based on your requirements however, a plasma tv is the best option as it provides the best of both worlds. More so in your case, since you would be moving from a 7 year old model making the already great PQ of the panny even better. The Panasonic ST50 is considered to be the best value-for-money product without compromising on picture quality. It is significantly better than the next in line UT50 yet having the same specs in terms of PQ to the higher end GT50 which costs 300 more. The primary difference between the ST50 and GT50 is the inclusion of THX modes and a dual core processor in the latter. Assuming you can find the right calibration settings for the ST50 online, you will not need the THX modes leaving only the smoothness of navigating through menu options the single advantage of the GT50 (thanks to its processor). We here, are hoping that the 60 inch ST50 will fall under the 4 digit mark, so if that happens, then I would strongly recommend that for you.

For a list of current prices on the ST and GT series refer to the thread wiki.

PS: I am a fledgling audiophile and kudos to you having a separate surround sound system. To me, audio, is just as important as video. Did you assemble your own set or did u buy one of the shelf. I'm sure either way, it's a marked improvement over just using your tv speakers.

Talk about getting the info I need, thank you very much for taking your time to give me all the information that I was looking for. I will be shadowing your next move for sure!

In regards to audio, I lucked out and the previous owner had the speakers put into the ceiling, three in the front two in the back. I bought a Onkyo receiver and a nice size sub. I still can't get everything to sound the way it should be, but I am hoping the tv will help me take some time out to figure it out.

Just out of curiosity, where are folks expecting to have these higher end sets go on sale? Best Buy, Amazon and ??? Does the Panasonic EPP program even have BF sales (I'm guessing not)? I guess it just seems like a slightly more niche market.

yw...

if you're not getting the right sound, i doubt its your tv that's causing it since the audio from the device that's sending out the signal is routed directly to the receiver and does not reach the tv at all..it probably has to do with the equalizer or the audio modes of the receiver. You've probly already tried this out but in the event you haven't I'd suggest playing around with it. A simple solution usually is to put it in Auto-Surround or if your receiver has Pro Logic II support then switching to that mode.

the panasonic store is not going to have BF special..the prices are only shown here for reference..we expect one of Amazon, Fry's, BB, Paul's TV, Buy, Costco etc to offer a good deal

ah, yeah, wasn't checking that price.. can't seem to figure out a way to sign up for epp

another naive TV shopper. whats the difference between GT and ST. I havent got a clue on anything about these TVS but hubby dearly wants one. I want to surprise him for Xmas.

refer to my post on the previous page (page 4) in response to another person's question...i've talked about the difference between the two...aesthetics is one other thing you might wanna add apart from what i've listed there

jinxeddeep Thanks so much.

Hows the P50ST50 vs the LG 47LM7600 (LED). I don't much mind the lack of passive 3D on the Panny, but in terms of color quality? Built in wifi on the LG was a joke (so much lag), so I'm not holding my breath for the Panny (not that it would matter as the PS3 would suffice). The 7600 is the third highest model for LED that LG makes (after the 9 and 8 series), but I don't know how it would stack up to a Plasma for TV and movie watching in a window'd living room.

Cnet reviews:
LG [cnet.com]
ST50 [cnet.com]

ST50 will win in color quality, especially blacks. It also does get pretty bright for warm colors and makes them "pop" on the screen, which isn't very common in plasma panels.

If your living room is super bright, I'd go for the LG. Otherwise ST50 all the way.

I did get to see the UT50 and ST50 side by side in the store, and the special panel they use for cutting out the glare on the ST50 really does work wonders.

Thanks. I do have a bright living. I have two windows and definitely do see glare on on the LG. I was watching the amazon product video for the Panny and they made it seem like there is some sort of filter or the like which is anti-glare. Not sure how legit that is (in a real life situation than in the store).

Cross Best Buy off the list, though this shouldn't come as a big surprise.

true...nonetheless a little disappointed.. :(

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_1015...7655&aff=Y

50" for Panasonic Viera® 50'' U50 Series Full HD Plasma HDTV ENERGY STAR®
SearsItem# 05775502000 | Model# TC-P50U50

$663.99 doesn't sound so bad. I am wanting a 55"+ though.

Costco has this for $599 :nod:
http://www.costco.com/Panasonic-5...59191.html

is this ST series 3D??

might be time for an upgrade

yes . .

Ever since I found this thread I have been itching to get this tv, does it look like we are going to get some BF help or should I just pull the trigger?

what??? the difference can't be that huge.

Panasonic Club price
 

I don't have any email addresses that qualify for the Panasonic EPP price. The best I can do is club Panasonic for the 55 ST50 is $1,194.99. I really want this TV or maybe a 60" and have my fingers crossed we'll see some lower prices soon! Anyone know when 2013 models come out or are they out of the Plasma TV business per other discussions that they have been losing money there?

Based on the Ads "leaked" so far, I have yet to see a deal on the ST50 or VT50. I hope Fry's comes through with a good deal.

Just because the ST50 or GT50 is not in a BF ad with other low end cheap TV's does not mean they will be discounted.

true...very disappointed here..i just sold my current tv too..damn!...really wish frys or amazon comes up with something...

I hear ya. I actually have now been without TV for four MONTHS as I sold it prior to a move and couldn't really buy one until I had a new permanent place. That finally happened this week, seemingly at the perfect time....and then not one ad has had a Panasonic plasma. I am very disappointed so far, although I am holding out hope about a potential alternative. I'll be sure to post if it comes to fruition.

How does this TV, TC-P60U50 compare to the ST, GT? Other than 3d?

Hi,
I am looking to buy 40"-42" plasma TV for BF. My only requirement is 1080p. I've read that Plasma TVs have better reso in moving images.. What do you think is the cheapest I could get? THere is a plasma in the BF section of SD but it is 720p.

I've read that the ST and GT have some sort of "anti-glare" film and the U does not. I forgot where I read this but I believe it was Amazon, that someone had first bought the U and returned it for a GT because the glare in the U was terrible because he had some lighting near the tv. Additionally, he stated that even with the lights off he can even see a partial glare off his arm off the glass.

I'm personally going for the ST or GT but leaning more towards the ST just because you can calibrate it to look as good or better than the GT and since I have a free pro calibration it's a no-brainer for me (and cheaper!).

if your only requirement is 1080p then i'd say you're on the wrong thread.. there are other threads on slickdeals where they discuss budget lcds/plasmas

Don't be an elitist prick. He may not know what else he should be looking for in a HDtv why not try explaining it to him.

Thanks, I am now on the same boat and looking for the ST. When you say "free pro calibration" how would I go about calibrating the tv..........for free?

Well IF I buy it at Best Buy (sale ends 11/10/12) I'm a silver member so the professional calibration is free. But I'm going to price match with Amazon's price which $100 cheaper. I honestly don't think the ST or GT will go on sale on BF. currently at BB they both are on sale until 11/10. Additionally, they will PM withing the 60 days of purchase (for Silver members only), I think 30 days for non-members. Check that though.

What price are you finding the ST at, BB shows sold out online........60". Not sure if we are talking about the same size?

i wasn't being an elitist or a prick. this thread was set up for the panny plasma price watch, not for what he was looking for. i wasn't being rude, like yourself, i was telling him he'd have better luck checking a different thread, since this IS a thread just for panasonic plasmas, who don't really cater to the 42" world anymore. do you need a hug? dang.

My local BB can order it from some central warehouse. The BB rep mentioned that. Try your local BB for further info.

I have a 42 inch panny hanging on my wall right now.

pretty sure i didn't say that they didn't make them. are you done or do you always go on slickdeals to be a jerk. pretty sure that's what youtube is for.

that would be much appreciated...please do so...not a panasonic fanboy or anything but the LED that I found most attractive when "showrooming" at BB was the WT50...picture quality was significantly better than even the ES7500 Samsungs which tool me by surprise...i'm open for that one too although i don't see why anyone would provide deals on those

if you do buy from BB and if u do get it calibrated, it would be of immense help to me if you shared those settings...i'm fairly confident that the ST is what I'll end up buying so....

No problem buddy. After I calibrate it Ill provide you the settings.

Anybody can tell me what is the key difference between the *T50 and *T30 series? I noticed the 30 series is a little cheaper.

Thanks

*T30 is last years model while *T50 is this years model. The VT50 is pretty much reference quality (when professionally calibrated and in a perfectly dark room). In other words the best Plasma since the now discontinued Pioneer Kuro.

Here's a decent link [decide.com] explaining some of the differences but I recommend doing some searching on your own... try avsforums.com

The Costco bf ad states Panasonic "instant savings" but doesn't list any TV for them in the ad. So its up to them or Frys.

i noticed this too...below that ad it states that the actual models and prices will vary store to store...

Well dang, I'll just have to drive from Costco to Costco with $1500 in my pocket and hope I get lucky. 8(

FYI, I've used http://www.tweaktv.com/tweak-my-tv/ for my TV settings in the past. The settings they list will get you pretty close to ideal (without doing an individual calibration on each TV).

I'm hoping to pick up a Panny soon as the Sony I bought 3 years ago is on the fritz.

From reading AVS, Cnet should have some good settings. I'm in the market for a 65" ST so I'm hoping I can find a better price than what's on Amazon.

Does anyone know if Costco carries the 65" ST?

thanks for that!

looking more and more bleak by the minute!

Just as a heads up, Costco pretty much only carries the budget model plasmas. Right now they have the P50U50 and Sammy's E535
http://www.costco.com/plasma-tvs.html

Unfortunately, it looks like Fry's and maybe Amazon will be our last hope.

Possibly even Video Only, if you have one around. I do believe it's only a local chain though. I know there's a couple by me here in the Seattle area.

50ST50. $998 at Amazon today

Not bad. Still waiting it out though.

I don't have a Fry's in FL, so it looks like I'm stuck with Amazon. Called Paul's and they are at $2499 although they would probably PM Amazon.

I'm looking to pick up the Panny TC-P65GT50, was holding out to see if Black Friday or Cyber Monday brings any deals off the current $2,499.99 price.

I need a new tv and need feedback re the old adage that lcd's are better for rooms with more light ie window reflection. Is this still true? I want the best bang for the buck and would like to consider plasma. But alas, the room is very bright with a view window.

This is true in most cases. however this year's high end Panasonic plasmas (ST50, GT50, & VT50) all have special panels to reduce glare and improve image quality in bright rooms. They do a good job with it too.

55gt50 pricing
 

Just saw it for 1599 no tax or delivery on Paul's
Amazon has it for 1562.50 which Paul's should pm

Then 5% cash back on discover for another 75 off (1500 max purchase) so 1487.50 all in

Good price or wait for Black Friday?

I can also go to best buy as a premier silver member. They should PM but doubt they can do no tax also. I get 60 day price guarantee there.

In no rush but decided on this tv.

Thanks

I just bought the 60" gt for $1600 ay best buy. I don't know what's going on over there with magnolia, but they seem to be an entirely different store from best buy. I went to check out the st, but they only had the gt and vt in magnolia so they offered me the gt at the same price as the st. So I took it. It's pretty sweet.

Can you please post/PM receipt scan ? I am very interest at this price. Currently best I see is $1825 at East Coast TV free shipping. This one will be better even with tax.

My first Plasma was 37" ($1000/2006), after a few months it got smaller and smaller, so I upgraded to 42" ($800/2007) and that seemed awesome. Then a year later, that had really shrunk, so I upgraded to a 50" Samsung ($700/2009, Thanks SD!).... Trust me 50" is the new 42" (too small)... Need the 60" now... come on SD, I think this one should last a few years....

This is going to be my first HDTV purchase. I have waited literally years for this moment (been away for work) and any encouragement to hold out just 2 more weeks will help me.

I'm looking for a 50" ST or 55" UT (features I am after are 3D and sub field drive and possibly the louver). Any veterans have some advise? I am looking online only (although the Sears doorknockers on the base P models has me plotting).

Almost bought one of those 2010 flagship models on the BB auction site today.

For anyone having any doubts about buying a Panasonic plasma, 3 of the top 5 HDTVs on CNET.com are Panasonic Plasmas.

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-hdtvs/

They also gave the Panasonic ST50 series the best overall value.

http://reviews.cnet.com/holiday-g...top-picks/

HDGuru.com also gave the ST50 the best performance/price ratio. He also covers the myths about plasmas.

http://hdguru.com/the-best-hdtvs-...ball/8703/

Lastly, I added the prices from EastCoastTVs.com to the Wiki because they only charge sales tax to NJ residents unlike Amazon which charges sales tax for a lot of states now. I helped my friend get his 63" Samsung plasma from them last year and they were great.

I'm on the market for a 50" ST50 or GT50 this holiday season if the right deal comes along.

42 is not large anymore probably, but I bought the Panny 42" doorbuster from Best Buy on thanksgiving in 2007 and that TV is still perfect. Touch wood. Looking to score a 65ST50 for under 1500 (1400+tax or whiteglove).

UT50 does not have the louvered screen, only ST and above. And you'll find a marked improvement in black levels just from last year to this in the Panasonic plasma line; so, I wouldn't at all consider a 2010 model. Plus, the previous models suffered from black level problems after a certain amount of hours.


Wish you the best of luck, but I don't see that happening for quite some time, well into next year, and even then I think you'd need luck. That's 30% below the lowest price offered to this point.

This seems like the TV to pick st50 or gt50

BUT I am scared to death of getting IR or burn

(never have owned a plasma before)

Also just need a tv for the living room so dont know if plasma is even the best option

hows the p50u50 for gaming?

Burn in isn't an issue for plasmas anymore. Here are some articles to read.

http://m.cnet.com/news/is-plasma-...m/20092238
http://hdguru.com/plasma-tv-burn-...-myth/826/

Pulled the trigger on the 60" ST. PaulsTV gave me 100 off for a total of 1499.99. They'll match their own prices for the next 30 days, FYI.

What kind of price drop are you expecting for the reveal of the newer models? My wife is pushing for a new tv for BF, so if I have some significant savings I think I can hold her off.

Same here. I'd buy two if the price drops to $2,000 inc. tax and shipping.

Our first casualty. People, we are a support group here. Many of us are impatient and there will be retailers and maybe even Satan himself tempting us.

We must wait until at least Thanksgiving week IMO. You have made it this far, just hold on.

It's merely one of the features I am looking for. I edited my comment to be more clear.

Also what's up with the UT55" having the sub field drive the 50 not? Seems like a slight step-up.


This is an excellent question. I would imagine it's great. Its only drawback would be lack of calibration options, but less post-processing (the enemy of gamers) might even turn out to be a benefit. Input lag should be your primary concern.

Can we get the WIKI updated with at least some UT models? Most posts are looking for ST and GT but some of us want to know the P and UT prices.

First I love this thread.. Panasonic is the TV I have been searching for.
How much do you think the VT GT & ST will go down after the new models are released?
I REALLY want a VT at a good price .. not a steal I just want to feel like I got a good deal.
I am super new here and I have a question.. what is EPP? Im thinking its the Panasonic website...

EPP=Employee Purchase Program, lower pricing thru panny's own website.

The new Panasonic models probably won't be out until next February - May. I think they show them at CES in January and then they're released after that. You can see the release dates for the 2012 Panasonic Plasmas as the following link. Most models came out between February and April except the VT models which came out in May.

http://hdguru.com/2012-panasonic-...aked/7283/

IDK if this is called 'burn in' or 'artifacts', but I see outlines from videogame hubs on my screen when the background is white when I am watching TV. I have the 42 inch 1080p buy.com panasonic from 2 years ago.

Been waiting for a good deal on a 65VT50. I've noticed the Epp site no longer shows any discounted price for it or the 55vt. Has anyone else noticed too or know why, maybe an upcoming package deal? Also I noticed East coast Tvs has the 65vt for around $2695 with free shipping. Are they reliable, anyone with experience with them? Thanks.

How is it that you get the EPP pricing?

Bump. East Coast TV looks the cheapest on google shopping. Can it go lower this year ?

I was only able to view EPP pricing after signing up with my work email. Using my work email, my account was automatically enrolled in the EPP program. That's assuming the business is somehow enrolled in the program, I wasn't sure whether mine was or not until I signed up.

Tax and Shipping kills the EPP discount for me vs. Amazon.

As was stated above, the new line of TVs won't come out until spring of 2013 and if this year's prices are any indication there will be about a $200-$300 discount. The ST30 didn't see a significant price drop [urlhasbeenblocked] until February. I for one am willing to wait at least until BF and maybe longer.

Sorry, I don't want to post a receipt. I'm not trying to be difficult but I also don't want my magnolia sales guy to get in trouble either. Trust me, you can negotiate in Magnolia. They are a separate entity than Best Buy and are responsible for their own bottom line. Sales people are paid on commission and they have the ability to negotiate if they want. I am one of BB's biggest critics, but I was impressed with the new Magnolia. I'm not positive if this nation wide or not.

I ended up taking the bite on the TC-P60ST50 from EPP because I live in CA and was going to have to pay tax through Amazon anyway. I was able to get it for $1374 plus tax. Shipping was free. It was the best price I could find on the 60in model and I am not optimistic that the prices will go much lower until the new models come out.

how did you get free shipping?

Free shipping was offered on EPP website.

Thats good to know
 

Thats good to know... I am a heck of a negotiator. Just might stop by and see what they have to offer.

do you use the main shop.panasonic.com link to get to the EPP? I've got an EPP account, but haven't ordered from them in a couple years.

Yes....the pricing should show up when you login.

Looks like the $100 off GET100 coupon code from last month still works at Paul's TV.

55ST50 - $1100 after coupon
55GT50 - $1500 after coupon
60ST50 - $1500 after coupon
60GT50 - $1900 after coupon
65ST50 - $1950 after coupon
65GT50 - $2400 after coupon

Free white glove delivery + no taxes + authorized Panasonic dealer. Not hot, but not terrible, either.

Oos...?

I'm looking to buy a 50ST50 in the next six months, and I'd love to hear advice. It was $1200-1300 when it came out last spring, and now you can find it for around $1000. I'm willing to wait a few additional months if it will save me several hundred dollars. Based on the posts in this topic thus far, it sounds like Black Friday won't make a huge difference. I've heard that Panasonic starts heavily discounting their televisions in winter when the new model year sets become available, but that waiting too long carries the risk that they run out of stock. Some other posts seem to confirm this. Should I wait till February, then pounce?

Hmm buy now or hold out until black friday? I want the 60ST50!

If you can find a way to talk a sales rep down to $900, I'd jump on it now.

When the new models come out I wouldn't expect to see the left over 50ST50's go for any lower than 800 or so.

May as well enjoy it asap :O

has anyone tried PMing Panasonic's EPP rate at Amazon?...i'm considering doing this but almost certain they won't accept

I faced the same dilemma. However I wasn't seeing any of the ST50s in the Black Friday ads that are out so I went ahead and picked up the P60ST50 from EPP for $1374. Seemed like it was the best deal I could find.

Bit on 60GT50 $1485 Used-Good condition Amazon Warehouse deal. Spent extra $45 on SQR-trade warranty. Will use free 30-day return policy if the TV itself is not good or a better deal comes along.

We currently have a 52" Panasonic Plasma and love it!... We are in the market for a larger one, but I'm not quite versed in the differences... I read the post about the difference between the GT & ST.... but I'm stumped on how that differs from a current option at Sams Club [samsclub.com]. IIs the lack of 3D the only difference? Any help is appreciated...

Based on the model number on that Sam's Club page which is TC-60PU54 I'd say that model is comparable to model TC-P60U50.

http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-P60U50

The warehouse clubs tend to have lower end models since shoppers there are very price sensitive. They make the model number slightly different so you can't ask major retailers like Best Buy or Amazon to price match to warehouse clubs like Sam's Club and vice versa.

The U50 got an excellent review from CNet and they said it makes "a superb entry-level plasma TV value."

http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-pane...72893.html

It has a game mode so I'd say it should be fine.

http://shop.panasonic.com/shop/model/TC-P50U50

Thank you!

Dang. Never seem to see the TC-55UT on sale ever. It's got to hit $900 this month. Just got to!!

I just got my set, but I was comfortable with a 50" UT (for $608). The sale was EPP like with store pickup and the convenience of a B&M for returns (albeit potentially with a restocking fee battle). Sale ends tomorrow morning at 7AM CT.

Thread I started

check Frys website and look at this weeks sale ad valid till 15th. The "major name brand" 60 inch plasma TV ad is for Panasonic TC-P60U50 for $ 799.00 I picked one up as it's great plasma & I didn't need 3D or 'Smart' TV versions which are couple $$ more,

This is B&M only, check your local Frys store.

Where exactly are you seeing the 50ST50 for $899??

So what is this "Black Friday Weekend" on the front page of Panasonic website? Says it starts Friday 23rd at midnight.

EPP on Panasonic.com.

This may be redundant if it is Im sorry.. I learned EPP is Employee Pricing Program. So if you register on the site w/ a work email it will give anyone EPP?

Cant wait.. anyone know what they did for Black Friday last year?

wow!...finally!...to be honest i never expected a BF sale direct from panasonic...hope they have the STs and GTs on sale for us guys

wow the price of the 65st50 keeps going up on amazon. it was down to 1950 or so and now its back up to 2149. what does this all mean!?!?

does bestbuy have the 65st50? i didn't see it on their website, they only have the 65gt50. we'll see what the panasonic black friday sale is all about although i'm not too optimistic about it since their prices on the gt and st are ALREADY 500 dollars more than amazon.

if there's isn't a huge price drop i'm just going to get bestbuy to price match whatever amazon is selling the st/gt for and call it a day :(

Not necessarily. Your employer needs to have some sort of arrangement with Panasonic. In the case of my employer, I first had to sign up with corporateperks.com and then click through to Panasonic's website. Once I did that, I was able to create an account on Panasonic's website and I saw the pricing that is listed in the wiki.

Panasonic EPP website price

NEW! SMART VIERA® 50" Class ST50 Series Full HD Plasma HDTV (49.9" Diag.)

Model number: TC-P50ST50

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Progressive Full HD 3D
2500 FFD
Infinite Black Pro Panel
VIERA Connect Wi-Fi built-in with Web Browser
3D Real Sound with 8 train Speakers
VIERA remote App Support
Glass and Metal Design


!Energy Guide/star - TC-P50ST50
!Viera Connect Cloud
!Progressive- 3D-FullHD
!2500 Focused Field Drive
!wi-Fi
!Infinite-Black-Pro
!Web Browser

Reviews & Awards

!CNET Award Logo - TC-P50ST50 vertical

Suggested
Retail Price: $1,399.99
Less: $500.00
Your Price: $899.99

Ships in 1-3 business days

Prices go up & down on amazon all the time, seemingly randomly. they can change many times in one hour, sometimes only be a couple cents. "Though it be madness, yet there is method in it" I'm sure -- just beyond my poor comprehension lol. Check the amazon price tracking site (just google that phrase - SD will block it out if I post it) and you will see these weird price gyrations for nearly every product. It signifies nothing!

(sorry, in a shakespeare groove ;) )

Those Panasonic direct prices are the same as my EPP price. Are those the upcoming Black Friday prices or can we expect Panasonic EPP will go even lower?

The prices listed in the wiki are indeed Panasonic EPP prices. We don't know if prices will drop further on Black Friday, but we hope so.

I registered with corporate perks, but can't find a link to Panasonic. Is Panasonic only connected with certain companies?

i come up with $1039 with EPP discount....am i doing something wrong?

Yeah, something isn't right, Maybe you aren't logged in properly? Iit should be $899. See attached pic.

From what I can tell from other EPP deals there may be different levels of EPP pricing based on your company. This isn't' the first time I've seen different EPP prices for different people.

I forgot to respond to this over the weekend. I had said in an earlier post that my friend bought his Samsung 63" D7000 plasma TV from EastCoastTV's last year with my help and they were great. They delivered it very fast.

Here's the Google Seller and Reseller Ratings links for them. They got excellent reviews.

https://www.google.com/products/s...asttvs.com
http://www.resellerratings.com/st...Coast_TV_s

The following is a return policy for televisions 50"+ and major appliances:
Here at East Coast TVs we take pride in quality customer service. We only carry and sell brand new, factory sealed items. These items all have a full and valid manufacturer's warranty. We work with each and every customer to ensure complete satisfaction. Therefore, our returns & replacement policy is quite simple and beneficial for both you, and the passionate, hard workers at East Coast TVs. If there is a problem with the merchandise from the start, that will be caught upon delivery. Upon delivery you, the customer will inspect and test your merchandise for any physical damage or defects. If you find your products to be damaged or defective in any way, the delivery may be refused and replacement merchandise will be shipped to you right away. If the item is delivered and it is not defective or damaged, you will be required to sign the delivery manifest which states the items were delivered in good and working condition. If you have a problem after the items are delivered and the delivery manifest has already been signed we cannot accept a return on the item. Being that the item does carry a full manufacturers warranty, you will be able to contact the manufacturer to have a service center perform repairs on your item. If the item cannot be repaired the manufacturer will replace the item for you. It is an advantage to be able to deal with the manufacturer regarding repairs or replacements because we know there is nobody who can be more familiar with the product other than the manufacturer. We are always here to help, and if you need any assistance with your merchandise please call us, (866) 496-5784.

i tried log in again ....it only gives me $150 off instead of $500. maybe company based? can anyone help me out and get me $500 off???

Could be. I'm not sure.

The Panasonic website [panasonic.com] shows me $1109 without any special EPP discount. That's a $290 discount from list.

Right now it's $998 on Amazon [amazon.com].

How do we feel about Panasonic TC-P55VT50 600Hz 3D Plasma HDTV 1895.00 and does anyone have an opinion about Powersellernyc

A quick google search indicates that PowersellerNYC should probably be avoided. They have no ratings on ResellerRatings which is a red flag to me.

I had a funny feeling when I saw that they were offering 2.5% off when paying by cash check or wire transfer... who in their right mind would do a wire transfer! I linked to them directly from the cnet review page on that tv. Wonder if Amazon or Best Buy would PM

Figured it out on my own .. imagine that.. lol. Amazon wont PM them. I also found the same price at Abes of Maine checked reseller ratings (thanks funlovindeals) and the reviews arent so good

You're welcome. I've purchased small items from Abe's of Maine before (memory cards for cameras and stuff like that) and never had a problem. They are legitimate. I don't know why their resellerratings score is so bad. Perhaps their customer service isn't as good as it used to be. In any case, for a $2000 TV, I'd stick with a huge store like Amazon or someplace local.

Pauls TV has a 50ST50 for $949 no tax and free white glove shipping after using coupon code. Do you guys think thats a good deal to jump on? Looking for an 50" ST/GT.

That sounds like a good deal to me.

Edited because of my naivity on input lag.


I bit on the 60U50 a few weeks ago from the panasonic EBB website. I figured they wouldn't have BF deals and couldn't beat the 674.99 price with free shipping.


Love the TV, love panasonic plasmas.

Well... durn.... per this thread http://slickdeals.net/f/5493234-A...s-Revealed it doesnt look good for a GT or ST on Amazon BF deal. They are going to have the Panasonic TC-P60U50 60-Inch 600Hz Plasma

Me again.. im addicted to this forum.. Currently I have a Sony 52" Rear Projection I've have had it for 9 years it still works fine. My question.... anyone know if I can I expect a Panasonic Plasma to last that long? If not Im may just get the TCP60U50 since it in the $600 range, If I can expect it to last as long as my Sony I dont have a problem with paying more for the GT50 or even the VT50. All the reviews I have found are just about how nice the picture is etc..

The new Panny screens are rated for 100,000 hours at half-brightness. 9 years shouldn't be a problem :)

no deals on VT50? thtsa what I am waiting for..

Damn I got the P60GT30 last year for $1640 from amazon. I was hoping for better prices this year. I was going to step up to the 65 and sell the 60. I think I will hold off on that plan.

No. We can possibly expect better. There was just a deal here a few weeks ago that had the TC-P50ST50 for $799, granted that was Military only.

But it is possible. That is $100 less than any EPP stuff that most of us can't get in on and without tax.

And reading all the info I could find that's the minimum tier a person should get if they plan to play FPS console games.
I am having a hard time believing all this. Haven't you noticed the extra input lag (could be only another 10-20 ms, but still 1 frame)? Also that game is native 720p, so I wonder why you would use that as a benchmark. There are MLG people still tracking down ST30's because they swear by them.

Another myth about plasmas is that they don't last long. I've had my Panasonic for 5 years and the picture looks as good as it did when I got it. Just for the math challenged 100,000 hours is the equivalent of leaving the TV on continuously for 11.4 years (24 hours a day, 365 days/year). If you watch "only" 12 hours of TV per day then you can expect 22.8 years of use.

Anyone comment on power consumption on these models? I really like what I am reading about these Panny's but the power usage has me concerned. What would be the average yearly price difference between a 60" plasma vs 60" LCD?

that little differences is worth the better picture quality. I wouldnt worry. :shake:

The Energy guide estimated yearly costs are as follows (Based on 11 cents per kWh and 5 hours use per day) The UT, ST, GT, VT models all have the same usage.

Plasma:
65" = $32
60" = $28
55" = $24
50" = $21

Vs their largest LED:
55" = $16

I've always had Plasma TV's and never saw the huge issue with power consumption...

So expect a couple of extra bucks a month, not a big deal then. I do believe I see my first plasma purchase in the near future. Thanks much for that.

I couldn't find it at first either. I had to search for Panasonic and then it gave me a link to the $899 TC-P50ST50 deal. After using that link to redirect you to Panasonic's website then register on the site and you should see EPP pricing for all models.

Using Halo 4 because it's the game I'm playing and someone brought up how it looked gaming. I'm noticing no issues with it whatsoever and prefer it to my st30. Now not being a videophile like others here (like I said in my original post) I may not be sensitive to some things others might, but I'm LOVING the U50.

Wow, I can't believe how hard this has been for me. I logged into corporate perks, went to savings & rewards. Did a search and got 15 results. Nothing was for a Panasonic TV. Am I missing something?

I'm using my old company's branded Corporate Perks website. I've attached a screen shot for the Panasonic offer. Are you using www.corporateperks.com or companyname.corporateperks.com?

I got the same result. Anybody can post a link to the EPP pricing here? Thanks.