Panasonic 30 Inch HDTV Monitor $450@WalMart-YMMV

[jessecrx]

Just came back from Wal Mart here in Pasadena, TX.(Right Outside of Houston) and they had the Panasonic CT-30WC14J for $450.

I checked it out and it's not a pricing error however the store manager said that only a few stores were selling them for that price. I do know that the TV has HDMI connections and BBE sound.

I was going to get one but someone before me bought the last boxed one MINUTES before I was going to get it.

All they had left was the floor model that had a few scuffs on it and they offered it to me for $425 but I wanted one NEW.

Not a bad deal for a good brand of TV. Good Luck!

[Mittman]

A friend of mine used to work for Wal Mart. He said the electronics, though name brand, are made with cheaper parts. Hence the cheap prices.

[jessecrx]

So then explain to me why the price on their website is $797??? (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2630436)

Almost 50% off a Panasonic HD Monitor is still a good deal....Just trying to share the love that's all.

[namlook]

A friend of mine used to work for Wal Mart. He said the electronics, though name brand, are made with cheaper parts. Hence the cheap prices.

Are you saying this panasonic 30" HDTV is made with cheaper parts than a Panasonic 30" HDTV sold at Best Buy or Circuit City?

[Homer Simpson]

I seriously doubt a TV with an identical model # would be made with different quality parts for different stores. I would say that it's probably not your top of the line TV, you will get what you pay for in the long run, but at that price that may be sufficient.

[DJ_Longfellow]

I've seen different part #'s at WalMart for similiar items. They used to sell...or still sell Pioneer HDTV's, yet I could not find the part # anywhere else but on their site.....

Bu, still seems like a good deal.

[Mittman]

Are you saying this panasonic 30" HDTV is made with cheaper parts than a Panasonic 30" HDTV sold at Best Buy or Circuit City?

Yes, according to my friend who practically ran the electronics department, this is true.

[hondo21]

Apparently this model is exclusive to Wal-Mart/Sam's Club, but a similar model is sold elsewhere:

http://www.highdefforum.com/archive/index.php/t-1758.html

User's manual:

http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/CT30WC14.PDF

[Phil L.]

I know Home Depot has items manufactured "to their specifications".
Which means a brand name light bulb (for instance) may not be identicle to what appears to be the same bulb purchased elsewhere.

[RonBoster]

Yes, according to my friend who practically ran the electronics department, this is true.

Sorry, unless the info comes from the consumer electronics buyer at Walmart corporate...it's just hersay/company gossip.

[Pbear]

note that a lot of stores can get exclusive models. I know that best buy has special models for pionner plasma sets. Specs looked identical though.

[Sonicflood]

Anyone else find this Panny HDTV for the same price @ another wal-mart???

Sonic

[Osiris]

I was not able to find one at that price, it would be worth taking a chance on.

[Barney1234]

I would think this to be true...

The Men's Warehouse is able to sell suits for far less than if you bought directly or for Nordstoms, due to the fact that they sell suits with thinner material. Same manufacturer, but made/manufactured differently.




I seriously doubt a TV with an identical model # would be made with different quality parts for different stores. I would say that it's probably not your top of the line TV, you will get what you pay for in the long run, but at that price that may be sufficient.

[matrixrok9]

I couldn't find the tv for $450. They had a new Panasonic TAU 30" for $750 though.

I was told by a Ken Crane's rep that the Wal Mart tv's have less features (component inputs, settings) than tv's at Worst Buy or Circuit City. He said the part are more likely the same.

[B.A.]

If I were to buy any HDTV from Wal-Mart right now it would either be the 30" Sanyo Widescreen w/ the integrated ATSC tuner or the similar 32". Great bang for your buck. My brother-in-law just picked up the 30" on Sunday for $650. He hasn't calibrated it yet, but the picture still doesn't look too bad.

[Sonicflood]

No deal @ 3 of the Wal-Marts near me. I was told that this is still in the system (they looked it up on the computer system) as a current product and that they were available for reorder from the manufacturer.

I explained that a "friend" was able to purchase on from a store in Texas & they said that some of the stores are still being remodeled for a new HDTV "island" that showcases the HDTV sets that they have to offer. This may have been the reason for the markdown as they wanted to clear out the display stock to make room for the new HDTV island and have "fresh" sets on display.

Sonic

[whoelse]

Well I only made it to one obscure Walmart in Southern Illinois where it was still nearly $800. The clerk offered the theory that the store in Texas might be in a more competitive market. Uh uhhhhhhhhh who knows.

[yashan]

Well I only made it to one obscure Walmart in Southern Illinois where it was still nearly $800. The clerk offered the theory that the store in Texas might be in a more competitive market. Uh uhhhhhhhhh who knows.


They're known to price DVDs that way. There are two Walmart's between my home and work. One is near a mall and a Best Buy and Circuit City. The other is more out in the middle of nowhere near a car wash and a small strip mall. The one near the mall sells the same DVD titles for $0.85 to $1.80 cheaper (~$14.86-$15.88) than the other Walmart (~$16.88-$17.50). Once I asked a manager and he said they needed to drop the prices a little more in order to compete with BB and CC.

[whotony]

Yes, according to my friend who practically ran the electronics department, this is true.that gives him/ you credibility.

[jessecrx]

I haven't gone back to see if they have any restocks on the TV itself since the day I posted but I'll check tonight.

It's a good TV for a small room or gaming setup. Especially at $450.