At first glance, the question may seem pretty simple. Boxing Day especially there will be many bargains to be had (at least I hope so).

Superseded models would probably be better to pick up after Christmas, if you can stand the craze of shoppers.

But say I was after a newer model panel, perhaps a Samsung or a Panasonic. Would stock likely run low during the January sales? Are there any other factors that should be considered?

Jeff

Last year the main discounting on panels seemed to come before Xmas ie to promote Xmas purchases. Prices didn't really drop Boxing Day as they had already been discounted heavily before Xmas....time will tell.

now to second week in dec and negotiate, find your best price, be upfront and ask if they can match or beat it. shopping just before or just after Christmas is so Not something i ever want to do.

Yes, the best time to buy is when you want to start enjoying your vew unit.....

Like computers, technology gets better and cheaper all the time.

I bought a 42" Pana Plasma just after last Xmas and it was definitely cheaper than before Xmas. I noticed that prices didn't take another significant drop for quite a few months after this either. There is a real 'discount' mentality around in that week or two after xmas and most retailers seemed to be copeting on price far more vigorously than they were prior to xmas.

In my experience, January is always better.

Agree - based on quoted prices only - not once you do some serious 'negotiation'.....

I'm looking right now too and am wondering the same thing, given the proximity to the end of the year. My old TV is on its way out and I've made a decision to get another, and decided which model. Just deciding the when now

this close to Christmas, i'll have to change my tune and say at least late January. why. because stores know that anything you buy now,you need.

I've been long considering buying a new tv.

Could you guys give me a few ideas of brand based on my needs?

Smallish room. Seating is about 4-5 foot from TV.

I have a Wii (Component).
I have a PS3 (HDMI).
I have a Sony DVD player that upscales (HDMI).
I have Foxtel with an IQ box (Component).
I have a PS2 (Composite).

There is a lot of sunlight in the room due to white curtains, at sunset it makes it almost impossible to actually watch TV on our normal CRT the light is so bright. Closing the shades help. But want to make sure the screen won't get ruined from a lot of sunlight.

I'm currently using a decent Sony CRT with everything running composite via a switch box.

Guessing a 40" TV, since the room is smallish, well... it's a big room. Just long and narrow.

I've been looking at the 40" XBR series by Sony, but have heard they may have issues with dead pixels. I bought an LCD monitor a while back from Dell and I ended up returning it due to a pixel issue. I really don't want to mess with returning a big tv due to that. The monitor has made me paranoid about LCD's truth be told.

Late January always

...after the Xmas/post-xmas sales drop off Jan is VERY slow for retailers while most people lick their credit card wounds and don't shop.

Easy to pit several stored against each other on a high priced unit and get the best price.

Its a myth that if you buy after XMAS that the TV will be cheaper. They only do it for certain TV's normally older models.
What your forgetting is that there is generally more competition leading up to XMAS, which inturn makes it more competitive for the retailer to get your sale. So from my experience when your buying big ticket items you have better negotiation powers leading up to XMAS, but dont do it on Xmas eve as the retailer will know your desparate then.

If your nervous about purchasing before XMAS do what I did and negotiate a price freeze.
I just bought my fujitsu plasma last week, and negotiated a 60 day price freeze otherwise they will refund me the difference. Too easy!

So they just write something on your invoice to that effect or what?

Another possible help for a good deal is shopping out of busy hours (eg, mid day during the weeks).

Well it might have been coincidence but I bought my Pioneer Plasma on Boxing Day last year and without the slightest problem got it for less than I’d been trying (without success) to get for the previous 2 months.

Just whilst I was in the store I saw them sell at least three of the same panel at or just below the sticker price because people didn’t know what to push for.

Seemed to me that with all that activity in the shop they were prepared to do what was required to get the sale from me because they were making margins on plenty of other customers.

Retravision is currently having a Samsung sale, basically buy a samsung and get another "LCD" for free.

* They could be using Samsung's current promotion to feel like their own, or if it is what Im hoping for. Buy a Samsung from them, get a "store LCD" then use the samsung promotion and get another LCD TV for free.

that's a very big wish. if it's true, i wonder if we need a new tv (3)?

i think there will be some big sales after xmas
also once there is some more news about the increasing inflation rate(and how this will affect interest rates) , and the coming interest rate rises......
then sales will really slow... then there will be a lot of discounting...

there are a lot of highly geared people out there.....

Is anyone getting better prices now or before Xmas???

as my remembrance there is some current affair program in ch 9 this year regarding the same issue

jan is best for electronics goods


after christmas is best for footwear, clothes e.t.c

Something tells me February might even be a better time.

Retail stores will be ghost-towns (relatively speaking) following the Xmas/New Year sales party and possibly more anxious to do deals. Manufacturers, for the same reasons, more likely to drop RRP's

Any logic to this do you think?