For you California folks.

How long has Good Guys been selling Fujitsu plasmas? A friend sent me an ad and I was surprised to see a big box store selling Fujitsu.

My distributor tells me that Good Guys has been selling Fujitsu for a while, and they're the only authorized big box dealer.

Dawn

Good Guys sell them here in Washington state as well. Would I be better of buying from a "Custom Installer" instead of the big box companies?

Would I be better of buying from a "Custom

Ahhh, here lies the biggest problem for all specialist retailers! When the customer says; "I saw that plasma advertised cheaper in bulk store X, but the rest of the system I want from you".

I suppose it isn't a problem as long as you're going to provide all the backup service yourself.

I'm not having a go at you, I'm just opening the door for the installer/salesman argument!

I'll add to what our friend from OZ has written the following. We often have customers argue with us as we will not sell below MAP that they can obain the brand X plasma for anywhere from 50-200 dollars above my cost. I cannot exist on 10% profit margins because I neither sell at volume nor do I just move boxes. "I will purchase the unit and I will pay you to install it, he explains. No porblem I answer. It will be $150 to carry the plasma to wherever it needs to be installed if it is not already there. Mounting will be $600 and if you expect me to control it the price is 300 for the first hour and 175 for each additional hour. If there are any problems with the unit, either operationally or in terms of video, it will cost $150/hour to trouble shoot. "

At this point he has turned red in the face and acuses me of everything save giving atomic secrets to the Russians. " But if that plasma falls will you not sue me? Will I not be responsible for replacing it? " And while you purchased this unit form Best Price or your favorite e-tailer will you not expect me to make the unit look right if you are unhappy with the picture? And do you not expect the same ease of use I am supplying for the equipment I am supplying? Might there be some issues writing the control code or simply making the connections? My services can be purchased a la carte or as a bundle. If I make a profit from equipment I can lower my labor costs. But if you purchase the equipment on your own you expect me to provide you with the same level of quality and I must increase my labor costs as a result. If I am to move to a labor only model I must charge per hour per man.

You can have lower prices if you purchase from a big box discounter and you are willing to do the work yourself. If you wish to hire me to do the job then you will have to pay what I charge. Is Panasonic the same as Fujitsu? Is a calibrated display of any interest to you? Do you know if your wall is strong enough to hold the display. Can you provide the requisite wiring where you wish to hang the display?

You need to answer if I provide any value added for the higher prices I charge. The services should be different. You need to determine if they are.

Alan

All good points. I plan to install it myself. It won't be mounted on the wall but will sit on a base unit which I will purchase with the plasma. However, I do wish to have it calibrated and I understand that costs about $300.00 give or take $50.00 - $75.00.

I don't expect the custom installer to make a cheap plasma look good. However, I do expect them to make a high end plasma look its best. My current plans are to purchase either a 42-43" Pioneer Elite or Fujitsu. I have no problem paying a custom installer more then what I might pay from the brick and motor guys as long as the service and support go along with the extra dollars spent.

Good Guys has been selling fujitsu for a while over 3 years from my knowledge. I used to work there. They were pretty consistant on pricing as far as sticking to MSRP, the financing is what they always promoted or the mail in rebated from fujitsu, I read somewhere that fujitsu is selling its Plasma line anyone hear that?

The elite is supposed to be almost ISF certified out of the boc so as far as picture that might be somethign to consider.

Fujitsu already sold their 50% share of their PDP module factory to co-owner Hitachi. They will still be assembling plasmas,but they will be sourcing their PDP modules from other manufacturers.

Wil

Just do what i do!

Get a salesman and buy them a bottle of alcohol for every deal they do at or below their cost for you.

I have lots of client who "shop" my prices on plasma's and lcd's. I let them get their best price and then use that to go to a shop like "the Good Guys" and buy the salesman off with alcohol. I generally retain and 10-20% margin on the goood shoppers and 5-10% on the great shoppers.

Unconventional.....YES! But my theory is you never go broke making a profit (No matter how small).

I figure these guys are paying the cost of storing and warehousing this gear and it negates my need to do it so if i make 10-15% why not do it!

Thats my take on it anyway :)

Matt

I'd like to add something to what Alan said, before we even get to the 'what happens if the plasmafalls' senario, If the image looks good, Yes we do normally also get a good wrap, but if on the other handit looks like crap, usually because we're trying to work with a second rate product, we are the ones who cop a bagging, they Never admit to having bought junk! Also, if it fails or there is 'operator error','after hours' they never wait untill the next day to call their salesman 'who always looks after them' they call us 'after hours' about that plasma that You hooked up for me, and expect us to drop everything to rush over and sort it out(Of course at no charge)
Experience causes us to become cynical.
Iain

Iain,

You are such a cynic!!! ;)

Matt

Actually they will be sourcing them from the same sources including the same plant that makes the current 42hd and 55 glass, its just that Hitachi will be the name of the building instead of Fujitsu/Hitachi. The other sizes (42ED, 50, 63, 80) will still come from the same places too.

As to the large store selling them, I really dont worry about it. I have the largest Fujitsu dealer on the east coast about 6 miles from me. It actually lends credibility to a product no one has ever heard of.