Discount Plasma Television: Getting the Most TV for Your Money

Experts seem to agree that the advent of flat-screen displays heralds the start of the obsolescence of the traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) television.  In place of the bulky TVs of yore, we now have the sleek, ultra-thin displays like plasmas and LCDs (liquid crystal displays).  And with the increasing kinds and numbers of plasma models flooding the market, it isn’t as hard as it was in the years before to find something affordable – a discount plasma television.

It used to be that plasma display panels (PDPs) ran into the tens of thousands of dollars when they first came out.  Today, some screens are still sold expensively – especially the 80-inch and above models.  But because there are a lot of players now in the market who are increasing their product offerings at lower prices, plasma television sales have increased by 59 percent in 2006 and are projected to increase even more in the near future; especially with the plan of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to phase out analog broadcasting and switch to digital by 2009.  Given this and the lowering of prices, it is becoming much easier for end users or consumers to buy a plasma TV cheap.  In fact, some plasma TV brands today can be bought at US$1,000 and some HDTV plasma models at US$2,000 or so.

A customer who does not have the luxury of an endless supply of income and one who has to watch his or her budget without wanting to compromise quality can avail of wholesale plasma television sets that are offered for sale by various companies on the Internet.  There are sites that specialize in all kinds of digital televisions, flat screen TVs, and high-definition TVs.  But some sites focus particularly on plasma screens and it is from these sites that a penny-wise buyer can purchase a discount plasma television.

Sites like PlasmaConnection.com offer significant savings.  They offer models with screen sizes ranging from 37 inches to 84 inches – all from world-famous manufacturers.  And the discounts they provide are impressive indeed.  Take for instance the Panasonic TH37PWD7UY 37-inch model.  The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for this TV is $2,395.  On PlasmaConnection.com, however, it is offered for only $1,490.  Similar price cuts are given for other models, including: Philips 42PF9936D/37 42-inch TV (MSRP is $2,999; site price is $1,995), Pioneer PDP434CMX 43-inch TV (MSRP is $8,995; site price is $2,599), Samsung PPM63H3Q (MSRP is $14,999; site price is $8,995), and the 84-inch NEC PX84VPA, which is offered at $8,490 – miles away from the suggested retail price of $11,990.

Some wholesale plasma television web sites are devoted entirely to a certain brand.  Kelkoo Electronics, for instance, by itself does not sell plasma TVs.  What the site does is help the consumer find the best deals when it comes to Samsung plasma displays by leading them to the best online sellers catering to the British market.  But the majority of sites carry more than one brand.  PlasmaHouse.com is one example.  It offers the most well-known (and some not so well-known) plasma TV models.  All of their products are brand-new and factory-sealed, a definite bargain at the price they are offered.  It’s no wonder then that these sites play a significant role in driving plasma television sales.

Most of these online web sites offer more than just a selection of inexpensive plasma screens; they offer value-added service as well.  Trained personnel are there to help customers select the television set that best suits their needs and their budget.  They are able to answer customers’ questions about plasma TVs – from technical concerns to design issues, even give tips on the best ways to showcase a flat-screen TV in a room.  With these and more online sites, buying a plasma TV cheap is only part of the customer-service experience.