For those interested in TV buying this season

[85Sooner]

Just a heads up. ALERT------------ the manufacturers are freaking out!----
They are calling every day and their warehouses are full. They have been selling the sets at 200-300$ below manufacturing costs just to empty warehouses. They over projected this year. in the next 50 days will be the best environment for those who have not jumped off the fence.

Many things are happening behind the scenes with regard to TIVO/DVR's, itunes and the like as well as many manufacturers who will be gone very soon.
Can't really spill the beans on all of that yet.

BTW the majors will not be making the same mistake twice. The theory this year was to have plenty to sell, because they didn't due to no name and new brands, the majors are sucking it up to empty the warehouses this year but plan on restricting manufacturing next year to retain margins.


Just thought some of you might be interested.

[proud gonzo]

hmm

[Oldnslo]

I'm not so good at reading between the lines. WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, MAN?

[Frozen Sooner]

And here I am with my TV I bought in July. Like a sucker.

[ultimatesooner1]

sweet, I haven't pulled the trigger yet but the trigger finger is getting itchy

[Newbomb Turk]

They have been selling the sets at 200-300$ below manufacturing costs just to empty warehouses.

so I can buy a $200 tube TV for free? Cool.

[Mixer!]

I'm more curious as to which manufacturers are going OOB before I commit to a purchase.

[tbl]

No doubt. I think the point is buy a major manufacturer, but wait till close to Christmas.

Elaboration would be nice though...

[Frozen Sooner]

I don't know that Sony is going out of business, but they're suffering massive losses company-wide.

[tbl]

So would you say early January would be a good time?

[85Sooner]

So would you say early January would be a good time?

depends on how many sets are sold in the next 2 months. The Manufacturers have to pay taxes on what they have as of 1/1/07. So be sure they want rid of them by then.

The manufacturers showing trouble are not the major brands. In all honesty, the prices have dropped a bit in the last two months but are bottoming out with a couple exceptions. for those who bought earlier this year, there is not a huge difference for the most part unless it was a DLP.

This is information I was able to gain from the increase in calls from company reps. just thought I'd pass it on to you folks.

[BeetDigger]

depends on how many sets are sold in the next 2 months. The Manufacturers have to pay taxes on what they have as of 1/1/07. So be sure they want rid of them by then.

The manufacturers showing trouble are not the major brands. In all honesty, the prices have dropped a bit in the last two months but are bottoming out with a couple exceptions. for those who bought earlier this year, there is not a huge difference for the most part unless it was a DLP.

This is information I was able to gain from the increase in calls from company reps. just thought I'd pass it on to you folks.

Now this is information that I can use, not like that usual drivel that premeates this place.

Ok, so are you saying that prices have come down a lot? Are they projected to come down more in the next two months? How should we position ourselves to take advantage of this opportunity? Will dealers be willing to deal more on sets? Are DLP's the version that is in the worst position or does this include Plasma's, LCD's and the other, non-DLP versions of projectors? Name brands, non-name brands or both? Certain sizes?

Ok, so I am very analytical but I want to make sure that if I buy, I take full advantage of "the man". I also want to brag to my neighbor, the one with the yappy dogs, about what a great deal I got. I think I may need a quick cold shower.

[Okieflyer]

so I can buy a $200 tube TV for free? Cool.

Yes, it's time to get rid of your black and white. Because some of the "Gilligan's Island" episodes are in color.

[85Sooner]

Now this is information that I can use, not like that usual drivel that premeates this place.

Ok, so are you saying that prices have come down a lot? Are they projected to come down more in the next two months? How should we position ourselves to take advantage of this opportunity? Will dealers be willing to deal more on sets? Are DLP's the version that is in the worst position or does this include Plasma's, LCD's and the other, non-DLP versions of projectors? Name brands, non-name brands or both? Certain sizes?

Ok, so I am very analytical but I want to make sure that if I buy, I take full advantage of "the man". I also want to brag to my neighbor, the one with the yappy dogs, about what a great deal I got. I think I may need a quick cold shower.

Generally, prices have crashed. There really is no room to deal much.
Manufacturers are overloaded with stock so they are selling below cost to retailers.

Retailers are being very careful about purchasing because they don't want to be stuck with stock purchased at higher prices (so availability of product is becoming an issue)

Mass retailers have dumped the prices (alot of one day sales)to get folks in the stores.
Both these factors are stabilizing prices for the time being. The Problem is that Manufacturers cannot afford to continue to lose money. Thus speculation is that most are going to be producing less and making their products, especially the more popular models less available.

They cannot afford to have dealers that bottom out their products prices, thus causing other retailers not to buy.

ie: frys gets ahold of a certain brand.
they promote it at about just over cost
other retailers need to make money so they don't order any of those
manufacturer starts having a backlog of stock
thus they have to start selling below cost to get rid of stock.

Solution: make product restrictive in regards to allocation to businesses that won't bastardize the price, and produce on a more guarded level to lessen probablility of losses.

[85Sooner]

P.S.
the sets that are crashing the fastest in price are the LCD flat panels and the DLP sets. Lcd's to compete with plasma, and DLP's because word has finally gotten out about the issues that have been increasingly arising.

Oh and low end plasma. Service issues are really starting to increase.

All this is really not far off of what I have speculated in the past, it is just confirmation evidenced by responses from the manufactures, who is the past were eerily silent.

[Mixer!]

So can you suggest which models we should be looking at to purchase that won't cause us to beat our brains in because of said "issues", or would we be better off avoiding these over-manufactured units altogether?

[BeetDigger]

I go to cnet to get reviews from their "experts" as well as from users. The cnet reviews focus on product performance where as the user feedback addresses performance as well as reliability. One version that people have been selling really cheap is the Akai 42" plasma. Fry's (the devil) has them for $999. However, cnet users give the Akai plasma a paltry rating. Akai is the universal word for "crap" according to cnet reviewers.

[BlondeSoonerGirl]

...and DLP's because word has finally gotten out about the issues that have been increasingly arising.

So there's a problem with the meers?

[85Sooner]

So there's a problem with the meers?

nope, mainly color wheels and delayed video processing and audio reproduction.

My recommendations are still pretty much the same as in the past.
I was just forwarding some industry trends that might be of interest to some of you.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

SO what's the word on TIVO. Are they going bankrupt?