Panasonic VT50 Deals - Page 60

I did call out ST's customer service as being good. $100 for 4 years is a pretty decent deal. Though coverage related to burn-in is not the only difference. The no-lemon policy is far more restrictive, and the dead/stuck pixel policy is not as comprehensive. The ST plan is pretty much just an extension of the factory warranty. Again, it's a great deal, but there are significant differences. I think it's important to consider whether those additional coverage's are of value to you. If you have ever had to deal with pixel issues or no lemon repairs, the additional coverage can be quite a godsend. Each plan has it's place, but please do not look at the ST plan as a cheaper version of the BBY plan. They are less expensive, because they cover less. Just do your research. If ST is right for you, great.

Yeah but you are forgetting the fact that any extended service plan, if they replace the TV, that they then also consider their obligations under the terms of the service plan/contract entirely fulfilled. And that the plan is thus ended when the TV gets replaced, and if you want the replacement TV to also have a extended service plan, you must then purchase a new plan for that TV. So yeah, the BB policy may indeed cover burn in, but it's also only a one time deal. Because f the TV gets replaced, then the plan also ends once has TV been replaced. For the price of 1 BB service plan, you could almost buy 4 ST plans through Costco.

True, but the one time they don't cover something like the items listed above, you loose far more than $300. Both plans certainly have their benefits though. I just wanted to make sure all of the differences were called out, as they go far beyond just burn-in/IR. Everyone will have to decide which plan, if any, is right for them. If we wanted to debate the "value" of each plan, we'd be here all night.

For those that bought from Paul's TV, has anyone tried to get a refund price match on the 65VT50 from the Adorama superbowl flyer?

Yeah, but paying roughly $400 for the option of having set replaced only ONE time due to burn in, on a 55" VT50 which currently is selling for $1600 or less at many places now, is also no great deal. To go through two 55" VT50 from burn in damage, would be $800 spent service contracts for them, or 1/2 the cost of the TV itself. That kind of total outlay of cash spent for service contracts, is definitely not a great deal at all!

As much as may people will not want to hear this. Most all cases of burn-in on a plasma are also the result of some form of customer abuse of the set, stuff like playing video games for hours on end, or using the TV as a monitor for a PC, or stetting all the sets adjustments to "torch modes" type viewing level, is not what the sets were really designed for. Now as for burn in from those ultra annoying TV station logo's, there is not much a consumer can do to totally prevent those from possibly doing damage. Other than using a TV's "zoom" feature to try and bypass the logo from showing, or with reduced picture settings, you're hands are pretty much tied up and what you can do to try and prevent burn in from TV logos.

I am actually somewhat surprised that there has not been some sort of class action lawsuit brought out against TV networks and local stations about those TV logo's and burn in they caused to sets. Burn in from hose logo's are nothing unique to plasma TV, one of my friends his wife constantly watched show mostly on CBS on his CRT based RPTV. And it ended up with a permanent image of that stupid CBS logo burned in to the set.

Funny how the logo's are absent during almost all commercial breaks though. Anybody wanna bet that those that pay to have their commercial shown on the TV stations, also probably have it written into the contracts for them paying to have their commercials broadcast, that the commercial will absolutely not be blocked in any way at all by a stupid TV station logo. When it come to not showing the stupid station logo's in any way at all, obviously the advertisers money talks rather well to shut off the logo for the duration of the commercial!
Edited by Johnla - 1/15/13 at 4:30pm

And where is 55vt50 currently selling for $1600 or less?

$1,587 with free shipping at Abes of Maine

ground floor. My windows always had blinds on them and you couldn't see inside. I know, its amazing nobody saw the robbers but it was a rainy day and people were mostly at work or indoors

Expanding on <<pfc BGD>>'s post, where is the current deal (<$1600?) for a 55" P55vt50 at a Panasonic Authorized Retailer that Best Buy might PM? Missed last weeks deal at Adorama (they're back up to $1998 - same as Amazon and Best Buy currently) and hoping to get one ordered in the next couple of days.

Thanks - been a great forum to read.

Great deal, wish they were an authorized panasonic dealer so I could get a PM from Pauls.

A four year plan on the 55VT would be $329.99. Having to repurchase the warranty in the event of a replacement doesn't really factor into the discussion if you ask me. That said, your TV replaced through ST will also consume the cost of your additional warranty and you would be required to repurchase the plan if you want to continue to have coverage on the new set. Neither plan requires a plan repurchase for any repair short of junking out the TV and replacing with a new one. The cost of the plan not replacing your TV in the event of an issue is the full replacement cost of the TV. The further cost of having to deal with multiple repairs while continuing to just miss the stringent no lemon requirements set forth by ST can also be quite costly.

Listen, we can continue to debate this until we are both blue in the face. What it comes down to is that you feel the ST plan provides you with enough peace of mind to part with your money and you feel that the BBY plan costs more than what you feel that level of protection is worth to you. There are a lot of people that feel that any money spent on additional coverage is a complete waste. There is yet another large group of people that feel that they want more coverage than ST is willing to offer and they are comfortable paying more for that coverage. In the end, one thing you cannot deny is that the ST plan offers the least amount of coverage for the least amount of money, while the BBY plan offers more coverage and costs more money. As I said a few posts back, it is your choice to decide which plan is right for you, if any.

Lowest price from an authorized Panny dealer is still Paulstv.com, enter coupon code SAVE300 at checkout and it comes to $1699. Bought mine from there free shipping into my home and no tax.

Actually you are wrong about ST, and what they offer. As far as their coverage coverage goes, it is also pretty much the standard for all of the rest of the industry that sell extended service contracts. And yes, the ST plan also have a "No Lemon" clause included in their coverage, just like BB. The only real thing BB offers under their plan over all the other plans being sold, is the replacement of the TV for burn-in. Yeah you may like what the BB plan offers for their higher price of their plans, but please do no overstate what it offers either. Sure it also covers a one time only replacement for burn-in that other plans do not offer, but you are also paying them quite a bit more for that "extra" in their service plan offering.

A lot of people seem to miss the fact that the best option there is to get basically a free year of extra coverage on a TV. Is to just use a credit card that offers that in as part of their credit card agreement with you, as the way to initially pay for the purchase of the TV..

Amazon only showing 6 new 65VT50's left in stock. Wonder if we're getting close to the end.

I tried talking to them, but was told that considering Adorama has the Sale In-Store only (technically even if its on the phone) that they can't honor that. The price has to be available on their website then only they will match it. Also they match it after Tax and Shipping. So for me even if they matched it, it wouldn't have helped much at all.

Please elaborate as to how I am wrong about the ST coverage with Costco? I never said they didn't have no lemon coverage, just that it was quite a bit more restrictive than the BBY no lemon coverage. Please read the full terms of both plans before responding. I am being completely impartial here.

No offense guys but you are getting completely off topic..

I just bought one from Maine. They pricematched. 1567 total shipped. Just have to ask.

Abes of Maine is not a panny authorized dealer, and 1567 for which model?

Just received my 55VT50 from JR and couldn't have been happier with the process. Purchased it at Paul's for $1699 and the shipping company they use is excellent. Very responsive and called me to schedule the TV delivery and then called me right before they delivered the TV the next day.

The box was in mint condition... not a scratch and there wasn't any dust on it which was surprising coming all the way from NY (I live in Arizona). The delivery guy was very professional and brought the TV into my house where I wanted it.
Edited by talbin - 1/16/13 at 7:38pm

According to them they are. for the VT-55. 1587 on their sight another was that and 2%off and they matched.

gt my 65vt50 today and its awesome... leaving it on standard mode till she breaks in...thank you you all for helping me get at vt for the same price i was about to pay for a gt.

They may want to have a conversation with Panasonic then, since they appear to disagree.

http://www.panasonic.com/about/view-all-home-authorized-retailers.asp

The problem with many online authorized dealer listings, is many times the manufacturers to not keep the lists fully up to date. Sometimes authorized dealers are added or dropped by a manufacturer, but those changes are not always shown in their online listings.

The only real way to know for sure, is to actually call up the manufacturers customer support number, and ask them specifically if the vendor in question is authorized by them or not.

I bought 55VT50 from Pauls TV, and they did refund me when I send them the link from Adorama via Pauls official site.
However, they didn't even contact me when they refund the price difference, no phone calls, no email.
I found out the refund when browsing through my credit card bill.

On a side note, I tried to have Pauls TV to PM price for a different site before I found out Adorama price, their customer service called and explained to me
that the price is higher after shipping, all in a very ferocious attitude. I had to apologize to their customer service to hang up the phone.

Pauls TV may have cheap price, but their customer service is the WORST, ever.

any good price matches for the 55vt50. i got my set from pauls last week. ordered it 12-29. paid 1699.99 flat

love this set, much better than the sammy es8000 in 60 i had.

thanks all

I am about to exchange my Sony HX850 for a 55VT50. The Bestbuy by my house has it for $1850 or so. Clearly not the best price but not bad for those who don't want to buy it online. Also any bigbox stores have it cheaper than $1800 so I can make BB price match? I believe BB doesn't price match online retailers...

Aaaaand now Amazon is OOS on the 65VT50.

Wonder if this will encourage some of the competitors to get aggressive on markdowns knowing customers can no longer go to Amazon for a PM.

Found a 65" VT50 for about $2,600. Any advice on buying or seeing what the price point and new features will be for the 2013 model VT60?

Printed out the Pauls TV with Save300 coupon, took it our local Best Buy along with a copy of the Panasonic authorized retailer list, and they price matched the 55VT50 at 1699 with no questions asked. Comment from the salesman was "that's exactly what our in-store price is today..."

Hope this helps.