[BBH]

I just got off the phone to 1-800-Hitachi to find a dealer carrying the VX915 Director's series. I live in South Florida...you know, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami. Lots of wealthy people (not me, sad to say...) live down here.


Hitachi, in its wisdom has decided to place the Director's series in three cities in Florida. You are not going to believe the "big time" cities they picked. Jacksonville, Gainesville and Pensacola. Come on, Hitachi, someone from the factory should actually visit Florida. Those are NOT "high end" cities. Jacksonville is one of the "big" little towns, (I used to live there...), Gainesville is a college town (not a lot of big spenders there) and Pensacola, The Cradle of Naval Aviation (I am a former Naval Aviator...), is NOT where the high rollers go.


I really, really want to see the 60VX915 and probably buy one, but these idiots are making it much too difficult. Now its between the JVC and the Sony XS.


Wake up Hitachi !!!!!

 

[tucson_bill]

Before you give up you might make a couple of calls to local Home Theater dealers. My local guy who firmly beleives that he'll carry the directors series from Hitachi isn't found in a search for dealers on their web site. I even searched for dealers of Models that I have personally seen in his showroom. He just doesn't show up. I'm not sure they know who their dealers are.

 

[PackFan]

I'm frustrated by this as well. There are no dealers in Wisconsin at all that will carry the 915 series.


On top of that, what are manufacturers like Hitachi and Mitsubishi thinking putting out TVs with so much obvious glare on the screen? Do they just want to get people to buy the more expensive models with anti-glare screens?


I have a JVC on order, but I like the Hitachi too. But the glare screen on the 800 and the lack of availability of the 915 is pushing me away from them...

 

[Marc Alexander]

Quote:

Originally posted by PackFan On top of that, what are manufacturers like Hitachi and Mitsubishi thinking putting out TVs with so much obvious glare on the screen? Do they just want to get people to buy the more expensive models with anti-glare screens?

They know what they are doing. Many people like the glassy look. They want a RPTV to look like a huge directview. These TVs are not marketed towards videophiles.

 

[tucson_bill]

Quote:

Originally posted by Marc Alexander They know what they are doing. Many people like the glassy look. They want a RPTV to look like a huge directview. These TVs are not marketed towards videophiles.

I guess I understand what you're saying, but this is the one and only reason I'm waiting to see the directors series (at a significantly higher price). When I finally saw the 810 I couldn't believe it. I have never seen any set that reflected that badly. Calling it "glare" is really generous -- It makes a really good mirror.

 

[mattburk]

No they dont know what they are doing. I posted this in the hitachi 50vs810 thread. We should probably start a thread just of the vx915.


I called Hitachi 3 x's now about the 50vx915. They told me to call the retailers on their web page, I did, no one sells it. The last time I called the guy told me they like to reserve the directors series for the mom and pop high end type stores. So I go through the yellow pages and call ALL of the mom and pop high end stores in the Seattle area, again no one sells it. One of the stores call Hitachi and Hitachi tells them that the directors series is more for business/commercial retailers so he did not qualify! I tell the retailer , Sean, that they told me just the opposite and that they told me to call the mom and pop shops in the first place. Sean calls them back and finds that their are only 25 directors series retailers in the nation. He then tells them about the situation and low and behold he may be able to become the 26th retailer and then be able to sell me a vx915. I will find out tomorrow.

 

[caltvdude]

The Hitachi marketers know very well what their doing. They're giving it to mom and pop stores because they tend to be higher end and that's where they want those TVs. They sell these TVs to them to give them a competitive edge over the bigger guys.


By the way I can't claim to have seen the difference on this anti-reflective coating difference, but it previous DS Hitachis and other off models sold to smaller chains the difference in reflection is minimal at best. You'll notice if you find one of these stores they don't tend to offer the lower model like the VS810 for a side by side comparison.


Also these models are usually sold for right about the same price to the smaller stores as they are for the standard model in larger stores, this extra retail price helps mom and pop stores sell with more profit margin and stay in business with a big incentive to push Hitachi.


Like I said, I can't claim to have seen the difference in these two models, but other models that they do this with, like plasmas and even CRTs a couple of years ago, have had very minimal differences in features like "Deep Black" anti reflective coating vs their regular anti-reflective coating(which by the way is a feature listed on the VS810s)

 

[mattburk]

I disagree. There are many Hi End audio stores in Seattle,and the surronding area, much higher than the class of this TV and yet not one retailer. All this while Florida has 3 retailer's none in the "high end cities", as mentioned above.

 

[caltvdude]

You can disagree that's fine, but I know what I know about Hitachi and the marketing strategy their taking. They've made some of the best big screens over the past few years and have manufactured more parts for other brands than any other big screen company out there period. But yet a lot of people, quite a few even on this website, would probably say to go with a entry-level Mits CRT instead of an UltraVision Hitachi. The average person would walk into a store and buy the Sony 60XS955 and not even consider the 60VX915. They want these TVs to be rare and hard to get, that way they seem more elite.

 

[mattburk]

I understand being rare, but when you can't buy one in the nearest three states, that is a problem and error. In my first post I mentioned how customer service at Hitachi told a local high end dealer that the vx line was for industrial/commercial use only, and then later they said high end audio stores. I called them and they could never give me a straight answer either, that is just incompetence.

 

[caltvdude]

I doubt that Hitachi told this salesperson that this TV was only sold to commercial/business retailers, Hitachi reps are usually pretty good. Most likely he just didn't want to call you back and basically say his store wasn't high end enough.


If they do get to carry that TV though I'll have to say good job and crongradulations to you and to let us all know how it looks.

 

[xilinx]

well...if u think hitachi is bad...mitsubishi doesn't sell in canada!!! can u imagine how many customers they'd get selling sets in canada?



in a side note...hitcahi also doesn't see any S series hdtv in Canada! they used to...and then futureshop and BB....all ran outta stock..and they didn't get new ones cause hitachi canada decided to stop. WTF?!


on the hitcahi canada website, the S series isn't even listed....although some stores sell a T series.


i'd definately drop the extra bucks on the S series, then i'd remove the screen, have better tweaks with 5 lens system, have an OTA receiver. i'd get a large antenae and point it towards CN tower or buffalo for HDTV! but NOOOO!!! they only sell the f510.


something's really screwed up here.

 

[mattburk]

Quote:

Originally posted by caltvdude I doubt that Hitachi told this salesperson that this TV was only sold to commercial/business retailers, Hitachi reps are usually pretty good. Most likely he just didn't want to call you back and basically say his store wasn't high end enough. If they do get to carry that TV though I'll have to say good job and crongradulations to you and to let us all know how it looks.

Not the case at all.

First of all he was not a sales person, he was the owner. He will probably be the first and only high end dealer in WA. There are plenty of high end dealers in Seattle, that would consider this Hitachi low end. Either way they needed 5 phone calls to finally figure it out. Please don't misunderstand me. I believe in the product, I think it is probably the best in the price range, but it is not so high end that it cannot be put in a mid fi store yet alone a real hifi store.

In my business when we ask a question we get a answer, not stuff like "go to the dealers on the web page" when none of the dealers on the web page carry the 915, and half of them didn't even carry the 810.

I then called them back to let them know that and they said they had no way of knowing who carried the directors series.

 

[caltvdude]

They're not giving it to mom and pop stores because they're higher end and that's where they want there TVs

------me


Mattburk,


Sorry there is a midunderstanding here. I didn't mean to write the NOT in the sentence above. Anyway I'm just letting you know why they do this, personally I think what there doing is fine, but not to the extreme their going for the Director Series. Personally, I also think unless you need those firewires you should by the VS810. The Director Series is something that they sell to stores for probably about 50-100 more than there standard series. That way these smaller stores with less volume than a BB or CC can make a higher profit margin.


Oh also it doesnt matter if its the owner or salesman. You should read this story somebody wrote on the plasma forum about an owner who told him commercial model plasmas only last 2 years

 

[mattburk]

Thanks for clarifying.


The only guy I know that has seen both, seemed impressed with the difference in the amount of glare between the two sets.

Have you seen both? I see your on the west cost as I, do you have retailer that has one in stock.

Thanks

Matt

 

[BBH]

By"CALTVDUDE>>>>

>>>>> The average person would walk into a store and buy the Sony 60XS955 and not even consider the 60VX915. They want these TVs to be rare and hard to get, that way they seem more elite

 

[mattburk]

Quote:

Originally posted by BBH By"CALTVDUDE>>>> >>>>> The average person would walk into a store and buy the Sony 60XS955 and not even consider the 60VX915. They want these TVs to be rare and hard to get, that way they seem more elite

 

[mattburk]

Forgot to mention: I asked about the fire-wire connectivity on the vx915 and if it was for audio/video or just audio and he said that it was only for use as a control device, not for audio or video.

The tech also said that he thought the nicer screen made a noticable difference in screen glare.

 

[wmeic]

I am in Sarasota FL, Called Hitachi today and gave them an earful about not having a VX series dealer south of Gainsville....how rediculous!

Maybe they want to sell them slowly to make sure there are no problems with the set...my local CC dealer didn't even know about them...

I may be forced to another company's LCD TV...

Saw the 50VS810 really liked it compared to the Mits and JVC,

but the 915 has the learning remote tne dummy remote ( for my spouse)

(hope she doesn't read this), the better screen which several posters have said has made a big difference..just wish I could see for myself.......


Wake Up Hitachi..you're losin business............

 

[mattburk]

You are so right. I finally found a guy in WA state you said he could drop ship it to me, but he would not order one to put on display at his store. He then proceeded to tell me how the JVC Dila was better and that I maybe I should check that one out. To make a long story short, I do not have a good feeling about purchasing from this guy as he 1. will not order it for me to see 2. told me the retail price was higher than it was. I do not get a good feeling about this guy. I think if I had to return the first one, for whatever reason, he would have issues.

I know the vx915 would be the one I would purchase, but it looks like he is the only one that would make the effort to get the TV, but at 5k I can get a decent plasma aniline, and really for me at 5k whats another 1k for a killer plasma.