derek533
01-09-08, 11:01 AM
Hey guys, long time lurker, short time poster. You guys are great and give out good advice to us HDTV newbs.
Anyways, I had recently purchased the Insignia 42" plasma from BB. I just couldn't pass it up for the price it was at the time ($7XX). After I got it home and the newness of it wore off after a couple of days, I started to regret my purchase. I know it had a great PQ for the price, but at the same time, I was worried about trusting BB for warranty service should I ever need it. The set itself was made by LG, but who's to say they used their current gen. panels and not last year's seconds or extras. That really had me concerned that parts availability may become an issue should I ever need them. I had originally intended on getting the 75U but when I finally decided to purchase, all the good deals on the 75U were done and the price was on the incline.
But then a couple of days ago, I saw a red band across 1/4th of the right side of the picture going vertically. Although it was brief, it was enough to make me reconsider my purchase along with a louder than normal plasma buzz. I finally decided to return the set to BB and get something else. Well that something else turned out to be the 75U. The extra $400 I spent to get the 75U and maybe less if they drop the price and I can get a price match, will be worth it in the end to not have to worry about long term reliability and having to rely on the geek squad for any warranty repairs. I hope I didn't just jinx myself:D. I also considered the Sammy 4254 but it was a little higher priced, and I was already spending more than I really wanted to just for a bedroom tv so I decided on what I did. Also, nothing against the Insignia as it really does have a great picture for the price, it was just my own feelings and observations that swayed me to return it. It probably would not have given me any problems at all, I just didn't want to have to think about it every time I turned it on.
I am just telling you this, in case others find themselves in my shoes and are trying to decide on a certain set, shop for a set based on what you want, not what the price range necessarily dictates. If it means spending a couple of hundred more dollars, then it is worth it over the long haul.
Finally, don't play the waiting game trying to get the best price. I have been monitoring prices for the past few months and have noticed, they have started to inch back up to just being on sale for maybe $100 off normal retail. It really kind of goes against traditional thinking in that stores will be offering better deals after Christmas to get people back in their stores. It seems the opposite is true of HDTV's. They may go back down a little right before the Super Bowl, but I doubt they go down to pre-Christmas levels. I tried to play the waiting game, but it cost me a couple of hundred dollars more and I lost that time I could have been enjoying my new set.
Anyways, I had recently purchased the Insignia 42" plasma from BB. I just couldn't pass it up for the price it was at the time ($7XX). After I got it home and the newness of it wore off after a couple of days, I started to regret my purchase. I know it had a great PQ for the price, but at the same time, I was worried about trusting BB for warranty service should I ever need it. The set itself was made by LG, but who's to say they used their current gen. panels and not last year's seconds or extras. That really had me concerned that parts availability may become an issue should I ever need them. I had originally intended on getting the 75U but when I finally decided to purchase, all the good deals on the 75U were done and the price was on the incline.
But then a couple of days ago, I saw a red band across 1/4th of the right side of the picture going vertically. Although it was brief, it was enough to make me reconsider my purchase along with a louder than normal plasma buzz. I finally decided to return the set to BB and get something else. Well that something else turned out to be the 75U. The extra $400 I spent to get the 75U and maybe less if they drop the price and I can get a price match, will be worth it in the end to not have to worry about long term reliability and having to rely on the geek squad for any warranty repairs. I hope I didn't just jinx myself:D. I also considered the Sammy 4254 but it was a little higher priced, and I was already spending more than I really wanted to just for a bedroom tv so I decided on what I did. Also, nothing against the Insignia as it really does have a great picture for the price, it was just my own feelings and observations that swayed me to return it. It probably would not have given me any problems at all, I just didn't want to have to think about it every time I turned it on.
I am just telling you this, in case others find themselves in my shoes and are trying to decide on a certain set, shop for a set based on what you want, not what the price range necessarily dictates. If it means spending a couple of hundred more dollars, then it is worth it over the long haul.
Finally, don't play the waiting game trying to get the best price. I have been monitoring prices for the past few months and have noticed, they have started to inch back up to just being on sale for maybe $100 off normal retail. It really kind of goes against traditional thinking in that stores will be offering better deals after Christmas to get people back in their stores. It seems the opposite is true of HDTV's. They may go back down a little right before the Super Bowl, but I doubt they go down to pre-Christmas levels. I tried to play the waiting game, but it cost me a couple of hundred dollars more and I lost that time I could have been enjoying my new set.