Panasonic 42" 1080p plasma TH-42PZ700U $1099 after coupon at costco b&m $1150 shipped at costco.com

[Corpun]

Update: The price is now live in store, i took my receipt and the coupon in and they refunded the $200 back with no hassle.

Its also now available online at costco.com for $1099+$49.99 shipping

Link to the tv on costco.com



Ok, so officially this discount doesn't apply until the 24th of March but with considering Costco's liberal return policy theres no reason not to get one now if you don't want to wait.

Pre-coupon price is $1299
Coupon $200 off

Since my previous television just had an unfortunate encounter with a heavy object only 4 months into its life and was rendered a $1k paperweight, I went ahead and bought this TV today with the plan to come back when the passport coupon is in effect and get the $200 back.

According to the wording on the coupon the TV should be available at a $200 discount online during Mar 24-30 but I'm not sure what the shipped price will be.

Costco item number is 254442

Link to the TV on Amazon:

Text

Yes, I know this doesn't equal the HDA deal but it's good for us folk who don't feel ok doing that.

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: Corpun
Ok, so officially this discount doesn't apply until the 24th of March but with considering Costco's liberal return policy theres no reason not to get one now if you don't want to wait.

Pre-coupon price is $1299
Coupon $200 off

Since my previous television just had an unfortunate encounter with a heavy object only 4 months into its life and was rendered a $1k paperweight, I went ahead and bought this TV today with the plan to come back when the passport coupon is in effect and get the $200 back.

According to the wording on the coupon the TV should be available at a $200 discount online during Mar 24-30 but I'm not sure what the shipped price will be.

Costco item number is 254442

Link to the TV on Amazon:

Text

Yes, I know this doesn't equal the HDA deal but it's good for us folk who don't feel ok doing that.

HDA deal?

 

[Corpun]

HDA is something often brought up on 2 of the other deal sites porcine wallet and deals which are slick. It involves buying a package of home theater items and returning all but the TV while keeping the package discount. The hoops that some go through to accomplish this is pretty shady imo.

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: Corpun
HDA is something often brought up on 2 of the other deal sites porcine wallet and deals which are slick. It involves buying a package of home theater items and returning all but the TV while keeping the package discount. The hoops that some go through to accomplish this is pretty shady imo.

Yeah, that is pretty effin' stupid.

Why not just, uh, have more money to spend? Or, you know, only spend the money you can afford to spend.

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: Corpun
HDA is something often brought up on 2 of the other deal sites porcine wallet and deals which are slick. It involves buying a package of home theater items and returning all but the TV while keeping the package discount. The hoops that some go through to accomplish this is pretty shady imo.

yeah some of the stuff people do is pretty shady. not to mention , a huge hassle.

for example the pny 8600gt at best buy where people are price matching other stores and such.

i mean the hassle factor alone, at my best buy would take me a good half hour just to explain what i was trying to get done. and it would be infuriating. i suppose i have a real job, and wasting another half an hour to an hour to get some insane deal done to save $50 might not be worth it and i'd feel somewhat wrong.


the package then return stuff is outright shady. i mean you know you basically stole half a tv if you buy a 42" plasma for $400.

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: hans007

Originally posted by: Corpun
HDA is something often brought up on 2 of the other deal sites porcine wallet and deals which are slick. It involves buying a package of home theater items and returning all but the TV while keeping the package discount. The hoops that some go through to accomplish this is pretty shady imo.

yeah some of the stuff people do is pretty shady. not to mention , a huge hassle.

for example the pny 8600gt at best buy where people are price matching other stores and such.

i mean the hassle factor alone, at my best buy would take me a good half hour just to explain what i was trying to get done. and it would be infuriating. i suppose i have a real job, and wasting another half an hour to an hour to get some insane deal done to save $50 might not be worth it and i'd feel somewhat wrong.


the package then return stuff is outright shady. i mean you know you basically stole half a tv if you buy a 42" plasma for $400.

No kidding. A lot of people on these forums (here included) are downright disgraceful. Will spend six hours trying to make sure they can get a TV they can't afford, but won't spend 10 seconds helping someone else out, or ten dollars for charity. It's sad.

It's also funny though, because the same people who would reply that the whole HDA thing is "working the system" and the companies are themselves to blame for not closing loopholes are the ones that cry bloody murder when something doesn't go their way. "PRICE MISTAKE = BAIT AND SWITCH = BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU = CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT = GIVE ME MY DAMN COUPON! AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHHHFKDGJDFKGJKGJFDJKGJDJDF"

It's really pretty disgusting.

 

[Corpun]

Deal is now live online/in store

 

[odahcam]

what about the tv is it worth it or is there a better 42" out for the price , also plasma vs lcd

 

[SirSnipe]

it's one of the best 42" plasma's out there, and for the price it's a great deal. The plasma vs LCD debate on which is better really just depends on the person. I prefer plasma's for a number of reasons, whereas some people love LCD's. Blacks and ghosting on LCD's seal the deal for a plasma for me, but of course there's other opinions out there.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

what about the tv is it worth it or is there a better 42" out for the price , also plasma vs lcd

I'd say the only 42" plasma that exceeds this model is Pioneer's Kuro 42" (PDP-4280). While it's highly superior, it's also at least $600-$800 more. Only thing lacking on this Panny, IMHO, is the smallish number of HDMI inputs, and IIRC, they are only Vers. 1.2. The brand new 2008 Panny models have rectified this.

Plasma vs. LCD ? Choosing sides on that in these Forums can sometimes be akin to starting a war. I'll bite a bit ...

IMHO, a good quality plasma is superior in terms of deep blacks, color purity, and smooth motion. LCDs are much lighter in weight and are less subject to screen "burn in" from static images, although they too can experience it when overly mistreated.

Note : "Good quality" plasma = # 1 Pioneer or # 2 Panasonic. Most of the rest are so-so, at best. Again, IMHO ...

 

[kki000]

Originally posted by: Midnight Rambler

what about the tv is it worth it or is there a better 42" out for the price , also plasma vs lcd

I'd say the only 42" plasma that exceeds this model is Pioneer's Kuro 42" (PDP-4280). While it's highly superior, it's also at least $600-$800 more. Only thing lacking on this Panny, IMHO, is the smallish number of HDMI inputs, and IIRC, they are only Vers. 1.2. The brand new 2008 Panny models have rectified this.

Plasma vs. LCD ? Choosing sides on that in these Forums can sometimes be akin to starting a war. I'll bite a bit ...

IMHO, a good quality plasma is superior in terms of deep blacks, color purity, and smooth motion. LCDs are much lighter in weight and are less subject to screen "burn in" from static images, although they too can experience it when overly mistreated.

Note : "Good quality" plasma = # 1 Pioneer or # 2 Panasonic. Most of the rest are so-so, at best. Again, IMHO ...

Good post, agree with everything but the hdmi version.
1.2, 1.3 it doesnt matter. No current plasma display is able to gain any advantage with a 1.3 hdmi. No source for that matter can take advantage of this either at least in the short term. (random ps3 games don't count) Even on bluray players with 1.3, it meaningless since the media will have to be re-encoded to take advantage of the expanded colorspace.

Anyway, this 700 series is the kitties titti1es. Fantastic plasma. Yes you can wait for the new 8xx series, but it will be $$$+ more. Honestly if the differences from the px80 and px75 is any indication, im not sure if the new pannies will be that much better. Also this is way better than the 77u that were on sale around xmas time at sears. I didnt like that set's anti glare screen and the video processing was a mess, way too much pixellation.

 

[RamIt]

What resolution would this plasma display if sourced from a computer? 1920x1080 or something else?

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: RamIt
What resolution would this plasma display if sourced from a computer? 1920x1080 or something else?

According to the reviews I read the res is limited to 1024x768 (or 1280x768? something like that) when using the vga input. However, I assume you can use a dvi-hdmi adapter and get the full 1920x1080 res but I need confirmation on that from others.

 

[drbrock]

Not to thread crap, outside of the HDA deal(which is wrong) how hot is this deal? I love Panny and I love Costco, this might be the time to pick this up. I was waiting for a 50 inch 1080p Panny at this price but if this deal is amazing I will bite on it.

 

[rza49311]

Originally posted by: drbrock
Not to thread crap, outside of the HDA deal(which is wrong) how hot is this deal? I love Panny and I love Costco, this might be the time to pick this up. I was waiting for a 50 inch 1080p Panny at this price but if this deal is amazing I will bite on it.

x2

My parents have offered to buy me a tv as a wedding gift and i'm trying to find a hot deal. I can't decide on lcd or plasma but if this is hot then i'll join ya drbrock

 

[kki000]

Its at least 300 cheaper than any legitimate source for this set. This particular set is pretty much the top of the line panny released last year. Many consider panny to the be the best if not second best plasma maker in the world.
Plasmas are better televisions than lcd. Lcd is poo next to a decent plasma showing hd and sd television content.

The cheapest the 50in 1080p pannie will go is about 1600 (if that) before they go out of stock and it wont happen for a looong as$ time.

The bottom line is buy this tv.
If you are on the fence, the only other choices I see are a 720p 42 or 50in plasmas. You need to give the size of the room and the relative viewing distance to make that determination.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

Many consider panny to the be the best if not second best plasma maker in the world.

Until they have seen a Pioneer plasma ...

 

[imported_rubberduck]

I have the 720P Panisonic and I love it. I have also read that Panisonic is the number one, if not two, best manufacture for plasma TV's. As a side note, you can get the 42" Panisonic at Costco for $999, but for $100 more, go for 1080P. I would buy this but I am looking into the 120 Hz panels, they look almost 3D when watching HD material but they are about twice as much as well.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

I have also read that Panisonic is the number one, if not two, best manufacture for plasma TV's

Key word there, "read". Use the eyes instead, they do not lie. Not trying to start an argument, just pointing out that what you read and what you see will probably be two different things. Point in case, I read and read before buying my plasma. I was all set to buy a 1080p Panasonic (the 50PZ700U). Then I saw it in person, vs. a Pioneer set, and it (the purchase decision) was all over in less than 30 seconds. Not that the Panny is bad, as I noted above it is clearly the only other panel I would consider/recommend.

I would buy this but I am looking into the 120 Hz panels, they look almost 3D when watching HD material but they are about twice as much as well.

Personally, I'd save the money and go with the Panasonic plasma. Those new-fangled LCD's are waaaay overrated/hyped. If you want to spend more money (than the Panasonic), buy a Pioneer.

Coming from conventional tube TV's (and computer monitors), which have all been Trinitron-based, I loathe/hate LCD's in general. I own two high-end NEC LCD monitors for my computer use, and they're "acceptable" to me, but that's about it. TV-wise, I have yet to see a LCD that really impresses me, compared to a high quality plasma.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Not that I disagree with you, although I feel the Panny is a better bang for your buck. Just a heads up though, pioneer is not going to be making their own panels in the future anyway.

 

[kki000]

Originally posted by: Midnight Rambler

Many consider panny to the be the best if not second best plasma maker in the world.

Until they have seen a Pioneer plasma ...

... I didnt wanna go there. I own a 6010 kuro, and a 42in panny. The pio's are the best.
This is an excellent deal and a fantastic plasma. One of the editors of htmag picked the 750 series panny over a pio kuro so they are in fact very cloes.(of course the other editors all picked the pio!)

The comparisons to pio is moot since they are almost 2x this price and not 1080p in this size. (personally 1080p doesnt matter squat)

As for 120hz lcds or whatever... this tv beats all of them, hands down. Not only do lcd's blur, but they have the worst motion detail of almost any tv tech. I hate them for gaming for this reason.

 

[Midnight Rambler]

Peace ...

I thought I WAS inferring that the Pannys were in deed good displays, and that if money were an issue, they were the way to go. Otherwise (ie. you got the $'s), I'd then recommend a Pio. Sorry for any confusion on that.

Bottom-line, either is superior to any LCD I have seen so far. Of course that's just MHO.

As for Pio getting their panels from Matsushita in the future, I was aware. There's a prior thread here on AT in the Home Theater section. Of course, there's more to Pio's picture quality than just the panel source, will be interesting to see how everything turns out. Sorta glad I have my Kuro now instead of waiting and not being sure.

And yeah, the old 720 vs 1080 argument is a bit of a conundrum. That's why I like this chart.

 

[drbrock]

Originally posted by: kki000
Its at least 300 cheaper than any legitimate source for this set. This particular set is pretty much the top of the line panny released last year. Many consider panny to the be the best if not second best plasma maker in the world.
Plasmas are better televisions than lcd. Lcd is poo next to a decent plasma showing hd and sd television content.

The cheapest the 50in 1080p pannie will go is about 1600 (if that) before they go out of stock and it wont happen for a looong as$ time.

The bottom line is buy this tv.
If you are on the fence, the only other choices I see are a 720p 42 or 50in plasmas. You need to give the size of the room and the relative viewing distance to make that determination.

I wanted the tv for my bedroom, so obviously not a big space. I was going to try to wait for thanksgiving but this might be too good to pass up. Pannys are amazing and I just got a promotion so this might be a gift to myself. This hot deals forum is putting me in the poor house lol.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Corpun
Deal is now live online/in store

Did the coupon come in a mailer? How does this work? I don't remember getting a Costco coupon mailer recently (I'm a member), but maybe I did a couple months ago (could look around). I had it in mind to hold out for a 52", though. My viewing distance is going to be about 7 feet in my bedroom (from the bed), and I checked out all the displays at Costco one day and decided that I didn't maximize my picture quality until I got to about 52" from that distance. And that was probably with 720p displays (it was over a year ago, maybe 2 years). With 1080p, it might even be a bigger display!

I have a question about HDMI. My Sanyo PLV-Z2 rear projector preceded HDMI and has DVI, component, SVideo connections, as do my DVI players and computer. None of them have HDMI. Can I get adapters such as DVI-->HDMI? What is HDMI, anyway? When it was first coming out I heard some confusing stuff about it being involved with anti-piracy technologies.

 

[kki000]

Originally posted by: Midnight Rambler
Peace ...

I thought I WAS inferring that the Pannys were in deed good displays, and that if money were an issue, they were the way to go. Otherwise (ie. you got the $'s), I'd then recommend a Pio. Sorry for any confusion on that.

Bottom-line, either is superior to any LCD I have seen so far. Of course that's just MHO.

As for Pio getting their panels from Matsushita in the future, I was aware. There's a prior thread here on AT in the Home Theater section. Of course, there's more to Pio's picture quality than just the panel source, will be interesting to see how everything turns out. Sorta glad I have my Kuro now instead of waiting and not being sure.

And yeah, the old 720 vs 1080 argument is a bit of a conundrum. That's why I like this chart.

He he, I shoulda thrown in a smiley face in there, didnt mean to sound like a douche. I agree with all of your posts above, including the pio comment

I am really tempted to replace my 8uk pannie with this. Could really use the added resolution. I dont want to sound like a hypocrite but the viewing distance from the foot of my bed is like 4ft.