Panny 42PZ85U due in CANADA when?

You tell me :P I've got one on pre-order from the states, was going to call my Panny dealer after the holidays and ask. If it's less than 600 dollars more and is coming in less that 3 weeks I might consider canceling the pre-order. Something tells me it will be a while, I usually have to wait at least at couple months more for most new Panasonic electronics

I've read a rumour that the PZ85U will be exclusive to Futureshop, I don't know if it's true.

I went to another store, and asked if they had anything on the 2008 Panasonic tvs, and all they had in their systme was the PZ80U, with no date and no price.

Previous posts on this forum mentionned April as release date for Canada, and Panasonic Canada was supposed to update their site at the end of this month. So I think we only have to wait.

Hopefully, they will adjust their prices and it will be closer to the US price. I'm sorry, but at 600$ difference, I don't care if I'm making it worst for our situation, but I'll be buying it in the US. 600$ for a tv of this price, that's between 1/3 of the MSRP. Way too much. I can accept a 10-15% difference at most, but not 30%.

I work for Futureshop in Canada, and I can say for sure that the 85 seriers will be an Fshop exclusive. I'm waiting for the 46" and it shows them as on order but not yet in the warehouse. I've been told they'll be here by the end of march.

I can't see that happening. Are you sure Panasonic isn't making a variant of the 85 series like for example "85fs". Making the whole middle line exclusive for future shop would be stupid for Panasonic.

I hope not, I'd never buy a TV from those price gougers

Thats what I was told by our Panny rep so unless he mis-spoke that's what I heard.

And i'm not going to get into a debate about pricing but I'd hardly call futureshop price gougers, if you find a better deal take it to them and they'll price beat. Pretty simple.

I spoke with a Panasonic Canada rep who said some models would be available this week or next week.

Reps can say lots of things, so take this for what it's worth!

800's will be May at the earliest I believe. I sure hope the 85's show up soon, it's driving me nuts waiting.

i e-mailed panasonic canada today and this was the response that i got back...Thank you for your email. We do not have confirmation of the availability of the PZ85 in Canada at thistime. Regards,Panasonic Canada IncCustomer Care Centre/Service Relations ClientèleMélanie

one salesman for another store told me they would get it, but later on. Do you know if the exclusivity is limited in time?

Not that I don't want to buy from FS, but I'd prefer to buy locally, for various reasons.

Hey killswitch_19,

Can you keep us up to date on this matter? I'm desperately trying to get my hands on a PZ85 46" as well. I'm really cusious as to the price of this TV in Canada.

Kromer Radio in T.O. have told me that they will be getting the PZ80's in mid-April, and the 46" will be going for $1800, which is on par with the US, which is fantastic.

Hopefully FutureShop have the same pricing structure and the PZ85 comes in around $2100. That would be sweet...

As for your comment about how FS doesn't price gouge becuase of their price match guarantee, if they get exclusive rights to the PZ85, then noone will be able to bring in another offer!

Anyways, hopefully we'll hear from you soon with some new info!

Called BestBuy yesterday. I asked the salesman to check his computer for PZ80/85 models...

Well he had no pz85 in the system, but he did have the pz80. No availability date, but prices were as follow:

46pz80 : 2300 CAD
50pz80 : 2800 CAD i.e. same as the MSRP for the outgoing 50pz77

The salesman said those prices were preliminary and could be adjusted depending on the quantity they order. That makes me think those are MSRP prices.

If those are indeed MSRP's, it would mean that Panny Canada MSRP'ed the 46" pz80 right in between the 42" and the 50".

Based on the current US MSRP's, I expect the pz85 MSRP's to be approximately 12% and 10% higher for the 46" and 50" respectively.

I'll be checking our system everyday if I see or hear anything I will let you guys know. Like I said before, I was told end of March for the 85 series but I'm becoming less optimistic. I don't want to divulge any pricing info yet either because what I have in my system might very well be preliminary and may change when the sets actually arrive for sale.

looking at last year line, some TVs seems to have the same MSRP for Canada&US. Maybe they adjusted it along the way. Hopefully, by this fall, I should be able to afford one

Here is some Canadian info I got:

TH42PZ80 1799.99 Due mid to end of April



TH42PZ800 2499.99 Due mid to end of April



TH46PZ850 3499.99 Due mid to end of May



TH42PZ85 Future Shop lock off!

80 and 85 series are in the warehouse and are up for sale on the west coast! I'll be picking my 46" 85U tomorrow morning!

Street price is $2499 for that model.

EDIT: It's only the PX80 and PZ85, no PZ80's yet.

what warehouse are you talking about out west, hope we see them in T.O. soon

I'm also interested in knowing where in the West. I'm in Halifax and I really want to pick up a 50px85.

we canadians get the short end of the stick all the time, just release the damn tvs in canada at the same time as the states!

I know. Also, looking at the prices, Canadian prices still BLOWS! the 50pz85u is 2200+ in the states, if it was over 3k in Canada, which I'm gonna bet it will be..but hopefully not. I'm gonna import it from the states.

Killswitch, where are you seeing this? I don't see ANY of the new models on FS website....If they are for sale out West they should be on the website shouldn't they???

I see it in my computer screen at work. I'm talking about the Langley, BC warehouse.

Looks like the 50pz85U will be retailing at $2999. I'm guessing it'll be $2699 on it's first sale.

Thanks man, despite the high prices it's still great news that these tvs finally arrived in Canada!

Just got home and threw in Superbad on Blu-Ray to see how it looks and the picture quality is absolutely stunning. Definately a step up from last years 700U in my opinion.

Oh yeah I ended up getting the 50", when I went in to purchase the 46" my staff prices were "adjusted" which made the 50 a no brainer for me

Oh and ignore the mass amounts of cableing in the back I've got all new cables to cut about 18 feet of cable from what's currently there.