
Product Description
The home-theater concept keeps getting better! The Panasonic TH-50PZ800U 50″ VIERA 1080p Plasma HDTV meets performance benchmarks for both standard and high-definition video, ensuring that all your sources will look their best. Movie fans will love THX Movie Mode, a picture preset that optimizes settings for watching movies on DVD, Blu-ray, and broadcast TV. THX enhancements close the gap between movie screen and TV screen. Progressive Scan Video Noise Reduction Digital Comb Filter - Motion Adaptive 3D-Y/C Color Purity Optimizer (3D Color Management) Sub-Pixel Controller Motion Pattern Noise Reduction Digital Cinema Reality 480 Hz Sub-field Drive 24p Playback (2 - 3) Deep Color x.v.Color Audio Speakers - Full-range x 2 (L, R) Audio Output - 20W (10% THD) (8 ohms, 70Hz-17kHz) Surround Sound VIERA Link Game Mode Pixel Shifter (Anti-Image Retention) Video Picture Memory English, Spanish, French On-Screen Display Languages V-Chip Program Lockout Built-In Closed Caption Decoder AR (Anti-Reflective) Filter Screen Coating Built-in Speaker and Pedestal Stand Inputs and Outputs - SD Card Slot, Composite Video, HDMI Rear Input, Front Input, 1 Analog Audio Rear Output, 6 Rear Input, 1 Front Input, 2 Component Video Rear Input, S-Video Rear Input, and Front Output Dimensions - Height 31.1 x Width 49.0 x Depth 3.7 / 33.2 x 49.0 x 15.2 with stand Weight - 83.8 pounds / 88.2 pounds with stand


Wait and Switch?
Amazon, how could you? 5 stars for the Panasonic Viera! No stars for the appalling delivery delay. Alas, I, too, was a high-volume, long-time, happy Amazon customer who now feels quite jilted by what seems to be a bait and switch routine. I’ve waited two months on the promise to have this plasma HDTV delivered, and still a no-show! Normally, who cares. But this was my son’s birthday present. “That’s okay, Weekend Dad, next month maybe?”
Note to the Consumerist; here’s a classic sales pitch ploy: “The Loss Leader” Some big box stores lure the consumer into their web with the promise of huge savings on low, low priced super-discounted high end products, only to have that one item disappear when the customer arrives–the product is suddenly “out of stock, on the way, or it just sold out,” etc. But once you’ve been lured into the superstore (or site) by the promise of “low prices” you are directed to other merchandise, or the item becomes available later at a higher price…so you quickly switch to the stack of inferior products with the higher profit margin for the big box (just to skip the wait and hassle of shopping somewhere else). I wouldn’t have dreamt in a million years that Amazon might practice this kind of unconscionable marketing behavior, and truly hope it isn’t so.
When I purchased this plasma HDTV I was not aware of any “pre-sale” characterization of the deal. The item was listed as In Stock in bold letters (fine print no doubt meaning: yes, “in stock” at some other vendor–but not at Amazon’s low, low advertised sale price).
Amazon, you’ve never let me down before like this, please send soonest! Maybe this weekend? Waiting with ribbons and bows….

Delay or Pay
Back on April 1st, I was one of those who thought they were taking advantage of the fabulous price of ,499.99 being offered by Amazon for the soon-to-be-released Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ80OU plasma HDTV. The price was changed shortly thereafter to ,199.99. After waiting through the entire estimated shipping period of six weeks, I then received notice that it was not avavailable yet and that the NEW shipping dates were estimated out as far as July 6. The choice offered by Amazon: accept or cancel. Given that the product is now immediately available through another Amazon-listed vendor for about 5 more, why wait?
I am not very happy at what appears to be a “waiting game” that allows Amazon to delay shipments until the frustrated customer just gives up. Amazon, you won this round and fostered great doubts about the company’s reputation. The product deserves all of the stars.

Panasonic Viera TH-50PZ800U KURO KILLER
I had high expectations when I bought this Panasonic. After reading about every possible candidate plasma & LCD, I took the plunge on this newly released 800U. It exceeded my expectations and they were pretty high expectations. This has a great picture, great color and is totally adjustable - both with preset options or manually. I can’t imagine ANYONE not being impressed by this set and its reasonable pricing compared to the Pioneer Kuro (the only other plasma that is even close to this performance). I can’t say enough good things about it…

5 stars out of 100 for their poor customer service. Amazon, not Vanns.
Long time customer here. I ordered this television on the 1st of April for 2499. I was ok with the delay because it would coincide with the end of escrow on my new place. A few days ago I saw that though it was in stock, it was not shipped so I changed the shipping address to my new condo. Today they email me saying my account was closed because their investigators thought a third party may have used my account to purchase the tv. They couldn’t call me before closing my account? I replied saying that I authorized the purchase and they tell me to order it again. Well I did, except now it costs 2799. Call me crazy but I think they should have just reinstated my original order at 2499.
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