Why You Shouldn't Wait to Buy an HDTV

This holiday season, the price cuts aren't as deep as last year, meaning there's no reason to hesitate. Pick up that HDTV you've had your eye on right away!

If you were one of the millions of people scanning the store circulars and bargain websites on Black Friday this year, you might have noticed that they were somewhat lacking when it came to a decent selection of affordable high-definition televisions. Last year, we saw HDTV prices dropping somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 or 40%, precipitating a tremendous holiday rush that had consumers taking advantage of the great prices and manufacturers reeling from the shock.

This year, however, the cuts are shallower. Big name manufacturers like Sony and Samsung, stung a bit by the losses they took last Christmas, have come out a little more conservatively, and retailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy have had to rely on second or third tier brands to draw crowds. The Black Friday "Doorbusters" this year tended to be from brands like HP or Polaroid, not exactly manufacturers with great reputations. Up-and-comers like Syntax Olevia or Westinghouse had some bargains, but they were pretty cheap already.

That 42-inch Polaroid LCD at Wal-Mart for under $800 might seem like a great deal, but remember: you get what you pay for. A quick web search will reveal that Polaroid isn't exactly a superstar when it comes to quality and reliability. What good is a deal when you end up with a terrible TV?

We'll be keeping an eye on things as we get closer to Christmas. Prices will most likely fall, slowly but surely, without the precipitous drop we've seen in the past. If you're really itching to buy a new HDTV for Christmas, or are even thinking ahead the Super Bowl, there's really no reason to hesitate too long.

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