Reader Heather Fisher writes:
Are the prices of flat screen TV's going to go down anytime soon? When can we expect them to go down if they are? I'm getting mixed messages on the TV pricing issue.
First, it's pretty clear that prices will continue to slip as the holidays approach: You can thank the global economic crisis and slow demand for that. But the harsh realities of the flat-panel business would seem to indicate that there's not much further for flat panel prices to fall. Why? Because in virtually all cases, LCD screens are already being sold to TV and computer companies at prices below cost, according to the latest research from DisplaySearch, which closely tracks this industry.
In some cases the discrepancy is extreme: Panel makers are selling bare 32-inch LCD TV panels for an estimated $223 to manufacturers, but those panels cost between $248 and $256 to build. In other words: For now, the panel makers are losing up to $33 on every panel they sell.
Prices for finished TVs vary widely of course, but name-brand 32-inch LCD TVs can be found at retail for under $600, with $599 being a pretty common price point. Add in labor and the additional materials that go into a finished TV, distribution costs, and markup from the retailer, and there really isn't a lot of fat left in television prices. (Very large TVs are the exception, so if you're looking for bargains, shop smaller.)
Now here's the curious flipside. According to a blog post on the very same topic at the New York Times, another researcher, also at DisplaySearch, says that prices are likely going to plummet in the next few weeks. According the post, this researchers says prices on 32-inch TVs could hit between $399 and $499.
That would be an enormous drop, and it almost sounds too good (for shoppers) to be true. Again, the reasons are all about trying to salvage sales in the fourth quarter... but the story also alludes to the fact that the biggest discounts will be in the bare-bones, off-brand, stripped-down TVs. You'll get good enough picture quality, but don't expect, say, 120Hz operation, multiple HDMI inputs, and so on.
The most likely outcome is that off-brand models will fall quite a bit, but name brand sets will have more modest price cuts. (I'm deeply skeptical that we'll see 32-inch LCDs hit $399 aside from the occasional Black Friday sale, but that's a gut reaction.) Is it worth it to wait a few weeks to save 50 bucks on the price of a TV? How willing you are to brave holiday crowds and fight over what could become hotly desired goodies may have to dictate your next move.
译文:
节日期间电视价格将暴跌
读者希瑟.费舍尔写道：平板电视的价格近期内要下跌吗？如果是，我们能预测它们的降价时间吗？
我收到许多关于电视定价的混乱信息。
首先，这点是非常清楚的，临近节日价格将继续下滑：你可以感谢全球经济危机以及缓慢的需求。但是，平板业务的严酷现实似乎表明，平板价格没有什么空间可以再进一步的下降。为什么？根据密切跟踪这个行业的DisplaySearch最新的调查显示，事实上在所有情况下，液晶显示屏已经是以低于成本的价格出售给电视和电脑公司。
在某些情况下，差异是极端的：面板制造商销售给生产商的裸32英寸液晶电视面板的价格估计为223美元，但这些面板的制造成本为248-256美元。换句话说：目前，面板制造商每销售一台面板，就会有最多33美元的损失。
当然成品电视的价格差别很大，但名牌32英寸液晶电视的零售价略低于600美元，599美元是一个相当常见的价格。加到成品电视上的劳动力和其他材料，销售成本，零售商的加价，而且电视价格的确是没有太多的油水（利润）。（超大型电视是个例外，因此，如果您正在寻找便宜货，请购买小型的。）
现在，这里是爱打听的缺点。据一篇与纽约时报同一题目的博客帖子，同在DisplaySearch的另一位研究人员表示，价格可能会在未来数周内下降。据该贴子，这位研究人员说，的32英寸电视机价格可能会降至399到499美元之间。
这将是一个非常大的降价，这（对消费者）几乎听起来太好了以致于难以相信。同样，原因就是试图挽救第四季度的销量...但这件事也提到这样一个事实，即只是裸机，非品牌，精简的电视才有最大的折扣。你能获得足够好的图像质量，但不要期望语音、120Hz技术，多功能HDMI接口等等。
最可能的结果是，非品牌的型号将下降不少，但品牌系列将有更多的适度降价。（我深度怀疑，我们可以看到32英寸液晶显示器的格降至399美元，除了偶尔的黑色星期五销售，但那是一个本能的反应。）为了在电视价钱上节省50美元这样是否值得等待几个星期？你为热切关注的精品和挑战节日购物潮的意愿程度可能不得不指导你的下一步行动。