jesternl said:But the Xbox will cost you about ~$250 more, since the Core version isn't available.

And the HD-DVD player will still cost at least $150 extra, including the discount. Good if you are in the market for one, but not needed for the deal.

unless you're able to return those to BB later for a full refund...not sure though

I just bought the 42" Panny in NC for $749 (+7% sales tax). I only got the $99 DTV box and the $200 installation. So to answer Unwrittenlaw's question - it can definitely be done. A few interesting observations and questions though:

The TV rang up as $749.00 on the receipt and that is all I was taxed on (+ DTV box). No tax on the $200 install. So total out the door was $1108.42. I will get a $200 rebate and ~$106 return the DTV box - I hope.

I don't know yet what RZ rebate I'll get since I signed up tonite and it's not available online yet. Not sure if I'll get the $749 or $1149 value. Anyone know?

I can wire my own power/coax/stereo inside and up the wall, so what am I going to use the installer for? Can I just tell him to give me the invoice to sign and let him go? I don't want to cancel and risk not getting the $200 Panny rebate.

But here's the really interesting part and I need advice on it: I didn't have to sign-up for new DTV service (and cancel it)?!?! BB told that I would have to call DTV directly and therefore they would list me as an existing subscriber on the receipt and scan the barcode as if I was a new one. So I got the $300 instant rebate for that (+$100 for installation). The receipt says the box is "leased and has to be returned at the end of the subscription". Can't I just return the box to BB tomorrow (and not Fleabay or CL it) to void that?

OT question: rather than buying an expensive articulating mount for a corner, isn't it just as practical to build a corner shelf and sit the unit on it with the stand? Any drawbacks to this?

Regarding the DTV receiver:

All I had to do was call DTV myself. The BB guy handed me the phone. Nothing else was asked. I just said to him, OK, Im done, and that was it. He scanned some sku and never asked me for any info.

No receiver was on my purchase. It would have all come through DTV.

Has anyone else experienced this???

does each best buy set its install prices? i'm seeing most of you being charged $200, but mine charged $300! (Austin, Texas).

verklempt said:telstar said:I wouldn't buy a 720p HDTV today .... spend a bit more ... get 1080i or 1080p.

surprised it took until the second page for someone to make a 720p comment. seems like members are getting smarter.


there is no such thing as a 1080i native resolution fyi. i means interlaced. TVs that dont do 1080p native are usually 720 native and scale the picture to 1080.

at least if you are going to make a comment, be knowledgeable.

I own an older CRT HDTV ... the Sony KV-36HS510 that does native 1080i. Sure, it's an old set, and it's huge ... but I've had it for 4 years and the picture is still amazing. When I'm ready to replace it ... I will. Nice try at trying to be condescending though.

I really dont feel the whole 1080p buzz. I install flat-panels and theater rooms of all resolutions and I use 2: 720p plasmas in my own home and a 720p projector. I am not saying that 1080p is a lesser technology I just dont think its worth the extra $ for the negligible improvment in picture quality...you want to get a better picture try cleaning up your signal rather that increasing your resolution...a SD TV show (80% of programming still) or SD DVD still only have ~500 lines of resolution and that dosent change whether its on a 1080p display or not...heck SD TV still usually looks far better on a good old CRT 4:3 tube vs an lcd for sure and most plasmas!

edwinbonneau said:TH-42PX75U

Wow how did you get that deal. They HAD to have made a pricing mistake.

Im looking at my receipt right now...the tv is originally 1149 and if you do installation,direct tv, hd-dvd, and xbox they take $600 of your purchase which comes completely out of the tv making it $549...

some will swear by it but ive worked for CC in the past and warranties are pushed so hard becasue they are almost pure profit. ~80% profit margin on those things. Statistically you would be far better off just saving your money. Put it in a high yeild account if you want...inevitabley though some will say that they would never live without it...im not one of those people though...i dont even offer it to my customers right now unless they specifically ask for it, and i own my own business those profits would come directly to me, i just feel like they arent a value to the customer....so i dont push them.

Yeah and i probably will rid myself of the HD-DVD for around $300 because i can pass that off to one of my customers pretty easily. The Xbox will be easy to get rid of on craigs especialy because i have an extra hard drive lying around and will probably be able to sell it for $280 with that drive.