BB video is still good at warranties and replacements I think. BB computer warranties are not any longer any good. I've always gotten BB warranties because they're cheap- especially on 3 apartments I rent out and my tv's. Had excellent work on appliances and swapped a couple tv's. But last year I got a Toshiba notebook with an expensive extended BB warranty and what a disaster their extended warranties on those are! Was in 4 times and damaged more by them everytime and they refused replacement even tho out of one year they'd had it in "repair" for for 9 months. Afraid this is the BB trend in extended warranties in the future. They're really getting tight.

gotlogos said:tomdc

...In reality a corporation has figured a month ago that liabilty and fines will total below x amount and additional profits from the million or so extra customers coming for the false offer will total 1000 times x amount.

...

[/Q said:

I agree, well said. This is corporate morality or shall we say amorality, their bottom line is profit and answering to their shareholders.

But I do not agree Best Buy purposely placed a false ad for the sole purpose of their bottom line (and I think you would agree with me and did state that in your post). The Plasma TV in question was priced much lower but that is a subtle nuance probably lost on majority of consumers to whom this deal would not necessarily JUMP out causing a stampede to the BB stores. One would have to be up on Plasmas and the different model numbers as Panasonic has another Plasma cose to this one with a different model number that runs about the same price anyway. What I am saying is that this is not like advertising a laptop for $199.99 or say a 50 Inch Panasonic Plasma for 1299.99 - the deal is only recognized as a DEAL to those who know the generic product line-up and have done some research, certainly not the mass market.

True Got but hdtv's are a mass market right now. I read 50 million in USA got one last year and 100 million looking now. If even a fraction of those 100 million searching find this offer many would jump and that's a mass number that'd jump. More subtle than putting a $1 hdtv you don't plan to have on front page but perhaps more effective as more believeable it's a possible buy for upmarket buyers. Video retailers would kill for the niche folks who'll respond to this!

tomdc said:HotStuff2 said:I'm seriously thinking of heading to CC first thing tomorrow morning with a copy of the BB ad to attempt the PM...Sears would be much more likely, CC has gotten tight- memos from HQ every hour on something else not to honor.

Also Sears gives an additional $250 off if you put on SearsCard, plus other promos.Thought of that already. I couldn't find it on Sears.com, though, so not sure if they'll have it in stock. I was able to find the TH-50PZ700U for $2,399.99, but that's the previous model.

They too offer the 110% PM, and with the possibility of an additional $250 off, I'd definitely apply for the SearsCard, which would effectively bring the price down to $2,799.99 (I assume that's their price, though it could be more, like $2,999.99) - $1,199 (110% PM) - $250 SearsCard = $1,350.99 + tax (7% FL, or $94.57) = $1,445.56 final price. Looks like the $250 is via a MIR, so it's possible (actually probable) that the tax will be on the full $1,600.99 price, making it $20 or so more. Regardless, still seems like a pretty damn good deal. Again, not that I need it...but it's hard to pass up a quality 50" 1080p plasma for less than half MSRP.

There's a deal over in the HD forum for the Panasonic TH-50PX75U @ Sears, for around $1200 and change. After a bit of research, it appears that the only major difference between the TH-50PX75U and the TH-50PX77U is the speakers on the 77U are now on the side (75U is on the bottom), and the 77U has an anti-glare coating. WTF? That makes it worth more than double?!?!? Uh....not. No newer gen glass, no ne features...According to the c|net review:

Panasonic TH-PX77U series

We've got the TH-PX77U series covered, with full reviews of both the 42-inch TH-42PX77U and the 50-inch TH-50PX77U. In terms of design and features, the only differences between these and the entry-level TH-PX75U series are the side-mounted speakers, which add about two inches of width, and the antiglare screen coating. The antiglare coating might not sound like much, but we found it did a great job of reducing reflections in rooms with ambient light, without reducing image quality. Otherwise the feature set is nearly identical to the TH-PX75U series.

Now, the TH-50PZ700U, that appears to be a different story, since it is actually a step UP, in terms of higher rez. My mistake for earlier stating that the PZ700U was a previous model.

rigor said:wow this is a new form of FADVERTISING (false advertising). bait n switch folks to get them in store, and email folks a rebate while they price-jack their items for a week.

If they can pull this off, kudos to them.


I still have my 1.5 year old $1499 Westy LVM42 1080p monitor with $149 4 year warranty. Free ship. Good deal. Waiting for the LVM47 to go clearance since its now EOL sort-of. Then i can move the 42 to the bedroom for some 1080p pr0n.

lol. bestbuy is cool sometimes, this isn't cool.

They should just give us a 10% unrestricted discount lol.

There's a 10% off any one item at BB coupon good through Jan 31 2008 at every post office right now- just ask for a moving packet- if they're not laying out already. Plus there's always 10% printable coupons here.

I have the 37w1 and crave the 47w1 also. PConnection has it sometimes refurbed by Westy for $850 shipped. Also Costco,com has the Spectre 46 for $1299 new and Newegg has the Hyundai 46 (no it doesn't have cup holders) for the same. Both plus $100 shipping and tax usually at Costco. But I will say these new Panny 1080p plasmas, like in this post, sure are tempting at any price. They make me aware of saliva I never knew I had.

thekid72 said:This thread reminds me to two things....

2) That ads are printed long in advance and honest mistakes happen.


Absolutely honest mistakes happen on a front page feature of an ad put together a month ahead and scrutinized by 100's of office staffers and legal. Even the tooth fairy and Santa make honest mistakes.

HotStuff2 said:tomdc said:thekid72 said:This thread reminds me to two things....

2) That ads are printed long in advance and honest mistakes happen.


Absolutely honest mistakes happen on a front page feature of an ad put together a month ahead and scrutinized by 100's of office staffers and legal. Even the tooth fairy and Santa make honest mistakes.Sweet jeebus, what, did BB employees start posting here? Home come this "mistake" wasn't caught by the "100's of office staffers and legal" who "scrutinized" it? There's only three valid reasons:

1. Everyone at BB corp. is a moron.
2. This was done intentionally.
3. The tooth fairy and Santa are the ones who did it.

Or any combination of the above three.
What is with people around here not being able to grasp sarcasm?

OK

So let me get this straight, Several of you are complaining that BBY is just scamming all of you with this plasma typo but for you to try to scam Sears or CC with a price match that you know is a Typo Its all good,completly honest and the right thing to do. Could somebody please expain this way of thinking to me???

JimsEmptyWallet said:tomdc said:Every jurisdiction has different laws on false advertising. Under contract common law they are about to make an offer, couched in tons of fine print, they will not honor, and seem to be making no effort to stop it's publication.

Agree about different laws in different jurisdiction but can you give us just one example? For someone that has over 25 yrs of law practice, surely naming one law should not be an issue.

I don't know what to think but I am pissed off at Worst Buy for other reasons (such as them selling my instore pickup item before I get to the store)

Ok, here is the issue. If BestBuy could reasonably cancel their advertisement, then legally they must. If they choose to run with the advertisement, then it can open up a lot of consumer complaints and class actions. Just because it has been printed, is not a good enough reason not to cancel.

If we can prove this was planned, then they will get in trouble. If we can prove that they could reasonably cancel the add, then they will get in trouble. Otherwise, they are safe.

People asking for the laws should look up variations of false advertising and bait and switch. Also pure contract law.

There are a lot of laws. How about this one in california:

California Business and Professions code 17500.5.b
Any person, firm, corporation, or association who, by means of such false or negligent advertisement or publicity, induces any individual retail purchaser and consumer to enter any place of business designated therein seeking to buy any article so advertised or publicized, and then refuses to sell to such person the article at the price advertised in any quantity then available for sale on said premises, shall be liable to each person so induced and refused, for the losses and expenses thereby incurred, and the sum of fifty dollars ($50) in addition thereto.