We have been hearing all these excuses why there are no plasma products available for resale, when you can still walk into some of the big box stores and buy the same brand new 2006 products they say are not available. I mean lets get real; it has been over a year since we have had any Panasonic product over 37 inches.


One of our local distributors finally gave up and dropped the product line, now Avads picked it up, but now they are getting the run around as well, I would not be surprised if they drop the line as well.


You would think with all the hype they blow at us, that they would really want us to be selling and installing their stuff, but I guess not. Maybe its time to send Panasonic an angry memo?

Personally I think the Panasonics offer a great value in plasma. It is far from my favourite though. Custom-friendly aesthetics and control options are plainly missing... plus apparently they are very difficult to get stock of (at least some dealers)...

But lets be honest.... Panasonic is doing fine without the support of us custom guys.... They are the current kings of value based RETAIL tv market....at least in plasma tv... (according to some of the figures I see anyways)...

As custom guys, we don't try to sell to every customer, because some consumers just want a "retail" experience, and high value.

As a huge retail-driven company, Panasonic doesn't try to see to the Custom side either. Its Just biz.

Panny's suck. Good marketing. Poor product. Look crap IMO.

Bose TV's, perhaps?

See other thread re: Fujitsu.

Stopped even quoting them since delivery will be 4 to 5 months after your place it. But the big box people seem to get them from time to time within that 4 to 5 months span.. Use Toshiba, it is a sound plasma for the buck. Fuji if you are going with high end.

Sand

Fed HD the Panasonic is a fine display. Not quite up to Fujitsu/Pioneer-KDS but given the price point who could argue? The issue is simply supply. They feed their top retail customers and OEM's before dealing with our distribution line. They are doing so well in retail that commercial matters not a wit. It's about money and they received the Consumer Reports seal of approval so they are selling all of the displays they manufacture at retail.

We live in an age of production on demand. It sucks. I waited 2 months for Integra 19.5,9.4,9.5 because "they were out of stock." Even the biggest distributors with the deepest pockets cannot stock enough units or obtain them reliably. The folks we purchase from via distribution are not usually the biggest. Often they are in the commercial distribution line. They are not served first by Matsuchita. LG has announced that they will go after the Panasonic market. They believe they will have a product that will competer with the Panasonic/Samsung price/quality point. I have thought the LG a decent unit and good value. It is CI friendly but they are also using production on demand and woe to anyone who specifies LG when it is out of stock. I waited 4 months for my opening order to be filled and received a 1/4 of what I ordered ( and I supposedly "stole" sets allocated to others. ).

We live in a wonderful time. We have all the responsibility and none of the control. Manufacturers are not only not interested in our line but could care less if their warantee policies are fair. Best Buy has a lot more capital to fund an isurance policy and the customer needs to bring it back or contract service. We get to do that or replace the TV for no money.

As for Toshiba? Crap. Horrid picture with even worse control. An other company that ought to find its way to the rack and have its spine stretched.
Alan

Panasonic has been like this long before plasma. I remember every year the exact same thing with vcrs, October rolls around and no more vcrs, they're swithcing models and the new ones will be out in Feb./March. Last year nobody could get the 42" Plasma, not CI nor retail. Just piss-poor business practices.

FYI, Toshiba is buying their glass from..........

Panasonic!

Go figure.

Fred

How many of you use the Panny COmmercial and not the Panny COnsumer line?

Our AV?D has always "had" Panasonic but, though visible on their price list, have not been available. "Yeah, we can get it for you in 3 or 4 months."

A couple times when I wanted a budget plasma, I walked into a local retailer and picked them up there. Always in stock. (Last ED $1699).

I have been substituting the NEC plasmas for lack of Panasonics, Good picture low cost, I used to use the LG's plasmas but I had problems with them in the past now I am kind of gun shy of that product line

Sorry to hijack, but what NEC plasma's are low cost?