**UPDATE 9** 50" Panasonic 1080P plasma TV- $499 at the store - NOT ONLINE ANYMORE

This is a Brick & Mortar deal, it's not available online anymore

Costco Link to TV / Online

Sams B&M only

***** EDIT 8 *****

Online Costco price reduced to $499.99 with additional 2nd year warranty included - Sams business class gives you a 4 year warranty standard, wow.
Sams is one year warranty only.

$499.99
Free In-store pickup
Panasonic 50" Class
VIERA® 1080p PDP 600Hz Sub-field Drive
Full HD
VIERA Link™
Media Player
Movie & Photo Capable

Back-up plan Sams B&M is $499 in store only.

Features:

600Hz Sub-field Drive: Panasonic uses its own unique image-analysis technology. This technology converts the motion in each scene into data, and each frame is virtually displayed in a shorter length of time, to create crisp images
Enjoy brighter and clearer images from almost anywhere in the room
Fast Switching Phosphors: Eliminates motion blur for clearer sports, movies and video games
Media Player simply insert SD Media Card - Movie and Photo-Capable. Enjoy your photos and video clips on the big screen
Specification:

Screen Size Class: 50" (49.9” Diagonal)
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Pixel Resolution: Full 1920 x 1080 HD Resolution
Panel Type: G15 Progressive Full-HD Plasma
Viewing Angles: 178º H / 178º V
Tuning System: ATSC / QAM / NTSC
Power Source: 120V 60 Hz
Power Consumption AC (watts): 74.8W
Cabinet Color: Black
VESA Compliant
VIERA Link
Weight: 51.8 lbs. (w/ stand), 49.6 lbs. w/o stand
Dimensions (WxHxD): 46.7" x 29.9" x 10.5" (w/ stand), 46.7" x 28.2" x 2.5" General, 3.3" Max (w/o stand)
ENERGY STAR Qualified Energy Guide
Audio:

Audio System: 20W x 2
AV Surround Sound
Input / Output:

HDMI®: 2
HD Component: 1
Composite Video: 1
Audio Inputs (L/R): RCA X 2
USB 2.0: 1

yeah03 said:   $99.99 shipping and handling

I purchased it B&M, so I didn't recognize this to be the case. I'll change the title.

How well would this do with PS3/PC gaming?

Sychev22 said:   How well would this do with PS3/PC gaming? Once broken-in, it should be great for gaming. Plasma is still king in terms of picture quality, colors and fast-motions.


planejanetic said:   Been looking for a new TV. I will have to look into this at my local Costco. Thank you I'd also recommend checking the U50. U50 is this year's model with similar specs for $700 (Amazon/BB), or the UT50 (with 3D) for $800 on Amazon. I don't know much about this G15 but the U50 looked really nice. Based on what I can gather from Google, it sounds like this was from 2009 and reviewed very well.

lok214 said:   I just picked this up yesterday from my local costco, tv is great for the price, you beat me to it!
. I also tried it with my PS3 and it looks awesome with first person shooter!

Pro: 1080P, 90 days return, relatively light 2 person can handle it easily, thinner profile, only $21 per year according to energy sticker, $649 for panasonic quality, costco 2nd year warranty for free or buy 3 more years from square trade for 59.99

Con: I am one of those VGA guy..... this TV has only 2 HDMI + 1 component + USB thats about it so far I can tell... very limited... I would have to get a VGA to DVI to HDMi converter to hook up my pc to this tv or upgrade my video card. Other than that, not much complains except I was pay sales tax lol! I think this is a strip down version of the U50 which has more inputs.

Costco is great! The fact you can eat $1.50 hot dog and drink while comparing all the different TV pictures is priceless! I was also looking to wait for a price drop as well which I think would be in the $499 area.... 90 days return is great!

You have 3 solid months to get any price drops back in your pocket, I paid $699 3 weeks ago. Congrats & enjoy.

LeftyGuitarMan said:   TC-P50U54 IS IDENTICAL TO THE U50 AND IT IS A 2012 MODEL. ALL PANNIES THIS YEAR FEATURE G15 PANELS. THIS IS THE SAME PANEL AS THE UT/ST/GT/VT, THE LATTER 3 HAVING THE AR COATING. BUT IN A DARKENED ROOM THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME .MLL.

SURE THE GT/VT ARE THX CERTIFIED. UT/ST/GT/VT ALSO HAVE 2500 FFD & 3D, BUT IF U DON'T NEED 3D THIS IS YOUR SET! THERE IS NO BETTER DEAL OUT THERE @ THE MOMENT.

Not sure why this post got red but everything he said is 100% true. This is the warehouse version of the TC-P50U50, the only difference is the unique model number given to the units offered by Sam's and Costco. I just got my U50 today and so far I am more than impressed. For more info look here.

LeftyGuitarMan said:   TC-P50U54 IS IDENTICAL TO THE U50 AND IT IS A 2012 MODEL. ALL PANNIES THIS YEAR FEATURE G15 PANELS. THIS IS THE SAME PANEL AS THE UT/ST/GT/VT, THE LATTER 3 HAVING THE AR COATING. BUT IN A DARKENED ROOM THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME .MLL.

SURE THE GT/VT ARE THX CERTIFIED. UT/ST/GT/VT ALSO HAVE 2500 FFD & 3D, BUT IF U DON'T NEED 3D THIS IS YOUR SET! THERE IS NO BETTER DEAL OUT THERE @ THE MOMENT. So is this the TC-P50U54? I didn't see the model mentioned anywhere

Yuyak said:   LeftyGuitarMan said:   TC-P50U54 IS IDENTICAL TO THE U50 AND IT IS A 2012 MODEL. ALL PANNIES THIS YEAR FEATURE G15 PANELS. THIS IS THE SAME PANEL AS THE UT/ST/GT/VT, THE LATTER 3 HAVING THE AR COATING. BUT IN A DARKENED ROOM THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME .MLL.

SURE THE GT/VT ARE THX CERTIFIED. UT/ST/GT/VT ALSO HAVE 2500 FFD & 3D, BUT IF U DON'T NEED 3D THIS IS YOUR SET! THERE IS NO BETTER DEAL OUT THERE @ THE MOMENT. So is this the TC-P50U54? I didn't see the model mentioned anywhere

It's actually the TC-50PU54. If you look on Costco's page it's at the very bottom of the product info.

lok214 said:   
Costco is great! The fact you can eat $1.50 hot dog and drink while comparing all the different TV pictures is priceless! I was also looking to wait for a price drop as well which I think would be in the $499 area.... 90 days return is great!

About the 90 day return policy. I got black listed even though it's within 90 days.

if i bought my vizio prior to them instituting the 90-day policy, how do i make them take that as return?

I just noticed this TV when I was at Costco last night and thought "nice tv, that looks like a good deal".

Good find OP.

rockymast said:   Price is pretty decent. It's Panasonic so cant compare it to Samsung or Sony! I would want a 3D TV If you want 3D, there's a deal on the UT50 for $800 on Amazon that MechanicalMan posted a few days ago.

For anyone who have bought this or have seen it in stores, what do you think about the glossiness of the screen? I just bought the LG LM6700 LED-LCD TV last night at Fry's (very good price, 30 day return policy with no restocking fee) but I'm a bit bothered by how reflective it is. I'm considering switching to something like this. I don't really want to fork out an additional $500 for the ST50 when all I really care about is the anti-reflective coating.

OrionTHX said:   megamands said:   germanpope said:   it is a plasma TV

plasmas are better than LEDs if you do your research

better bang for the buck too IMO

yes, but it is very difficult to swap out the plasma and replace it with lcd's

I have a C50FD18 from Costco. 3 years old and am needing to replace it - power on/off doesn't work (yet again). We have to physically take the power cord out of the back to reboot each time we want to watch TV.
Not sure about this thread's model but the repair guy said there are known power issues with Panny. Got mine repaired year 1 under manu warranty. Then again year 2 under AMEX extended warranty, and now am just screwed.
Other than that, the picture & sound have been good.

germanpope said:   OrionTHX said:   megamands said:   germanpope said:   it is a plasma TV

plasmas are better than LEDs if you do your research

better bang for the buck too IMO


yes, but it is very difficult to swap out the plasma and replace it with lcd's

if you have that kind of money why do it yourself go pay someone...

Id rather save the extra 150 + and get a plasma then if I get tired of the dam think and what something else I'll upgrade again. T

With regards to the 1yr extension on the warranty, that's offered through Costco? So if I use AMEX will it add a 3rd year of warranty or would they be concurrent?

Yuyak said:   rockymast said:   Price is pretty decent. It's Panasonic so cant compare it to Samsung or Sony! I would want a 3D TV If you want 3D, there's a deal on the UT50 for $800 on Amazon that MechanicalMan posted a few days ago.

For anyone who have bought this or have seen it in stores, what do you think about the glossiness of the screen? I just bought the LG LM6700 LED-LCD TV last night at Fry's (very good price, 30 day return policy with no restocking fee) but I'm a bit bothered by how reflective it is. I'm considering switching to something like this. I don't really want to fork out an additional $500 for the ST50 when all I really care about is the anti-reflective coating.

I just got my U50 yesterday from Amazon and let me start by saying the picture is gorgeous. This is my first plasma (replacing a LED DLP that I loved) and I, too, was really worried about glare. We have a large window to the side of the TV and we usually have a lamp on at night that is also to the side. The screen is like a mirror BUT I have yet to be distracted by the glare. Maybe I'm just lucky with the angles but even though I can see reflections if I look for them they don't interfere with viewing. Now, all that being said, I think if you have a light source directly opposite the TV it might make it unwatchable. As a side note, and for what it's worth, many people that have seen the 2012 Panasonics both with and without anti-reflection (I have not) seem to prefer the screens without as they provide a brighter, more vibrant picture.

flyingroach said:   Remember you should transport this home standing up and can't lay flat.

This may be common knowledge to most but I've never heard it before. Why can't a plasma lay flat for transport?

eko said:   flyingroach said:   Remember you should transport this home standing up and can't lay flat.

This may be common knowledge to most but I've never heard it before. Why can't a plasma lay flat for transport? Plasma TVs basically have the cells sandwiched between two sheets of glass. Therefore, when the face of the TV is not supported evenly throughout, the screen is prone to cracking. This is supposedly particularly problematic while transporting when you add in road vibrations. Not sure if it's a real concern or a myth, but it's I've seen a lot more people say to do this than people who claim it's a myth.

jetskier0 said:   polishdreamer said:   slickdeal45 said:   Yup. This is dead.

Go to the store & tell me it's dead, I was just there & it's alive / kicking.

Dead at all of the stores I've been to lately. Personally I think you just like to keep bumping your thread.
PD bumping the thread? Hmmm,now that you mention it...