Sony whines over HDTV price drops, says it's "looking out for the industry"
By Darren Murph 
posted December 12th 2006 8:11PM
posted December 12th 2006 8:11PM
What do you typically get when you mix hot demand and a generous supply of competitors willing to offload their surplus? Apparently you get a frustrated and whiny mega-corporation, at least based on a recent report about Sony's reaction to the recent decreases in LCD / plasma prices. While we all knew Black Friday was bringing deals to the HDTV market like never before seen, and we discovered that new sets were topping wish lists galore, is it really any surprise that LCD TV prices are dropping "between 25- and 30-percent this year?" According to Sony, those figures are about "7-percent more" than the firm anticipated, and considering the coinage it's losing on each PS3 sold (and subsequent fines), we're sure the company has plenty of reason to frown. Notably, Jay Vandenbree -- president of consumer sales for Sony Electronics -- stated that the firm would "stay competitive, but wouldn't do anything that damages the industry long term." He also added that Sony (being that big gorilla that it is) had a "responsibility" to not accelerate price declines. Although we're sure it's staying far, far away from getting itself into one of these price fixing predicaments, we don't suspect there's a whole lot Sony can do to outgun the Vizios of the world this holiday season, and just like everything else, balance will eventually be restored.
Sony is a firm caught up in their own demise! What a bunch of whiners! With Apple kicking their ass, the battery recalls, PSP not selling well, and the PS3 with delays and firmware prolems Sony is on the decline fast!! I you walk by a Apple store it's packed! You walk by a Sony store.."Where is everyone?????!!!
Sony does make great TV's ( But so overpriced! ), but everything else is so poorly conceived! They need to rethink their business and get off their high horses and start reshaping themselves!! Or they're going to just become another dime a dozen electronics corporation!!
that just makes me embarrassed to be a Bravia owner
Man, why do I want SONY to fail horribly? Oh yeah, its all their BS3 Blu-Ray crap marketing!
Though I do like their Bravia line LCDs... reviewed better than the Sharps.
Is anybody surprised here?
This is the same thing that happened with the digital camera market. When they came down to a reasonable price, a shit load of no-name companies jumped in and dumped a shit load of shit cameras on the market. The only reason they sold well was simply because they were digital cameras... never mind that they were shit, its digital.
Those no-name brands have all but left the market, as camera prices plummeted, their sole trump card (the low prices) was gone and the shit cameras could not compete with competent cameras from companies that new how to make them.
The same thing will happen with HDTVs... people are buying whatever is on the market at the lowest price. Never mind that its shit, its flat and cool.. and thats all that matters now. In a few years, when things settle down, they cannot compete on price anymore.
Hit the nail right on the head there. Good to know that at least someone understands how the market works. But it is the mentality of 'well it is a 1080p!' never mind that it is made by a mediocre company!
Once again SONY doesn't get it, Jay Vandenbree says in your article SONY wont due whats bad for the industry---He might just work on SONY first before being so helpful.
American automakers complain about the Japanese and Korean imports, even when they are built here in the USA and sometimes in factories that use to be owned by the Big Three.
Now we have a major Japanese electronics manufacturer complaining about its inability to compete against Taiwanese and Korean competition in the USA. I say just buy a bunch of Vizios and rebadge them as Sony products.
Of course, being that Vizio isn't an American company there isn't really too much America can do to prevent Sony from buying, and shutting the doors of, Vizio. I think Vizio needs a mascott (something like the RCA puppies).
If you actually look at what you get with an LCD screen, I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be as cheap as CRT TV's, and quickly. The electronics are simple to make, the panels are simple - on the whole it's a lot easier and more efficient to make an LCD than a CRT, and much better on the environment.
Besides, Sony doesn't make any Panels, they just buy Samsungs - who are the most successful LCD TV company by a long shot, and are in many ways responsible for the competetive pricing.
You should relay that important information to the manufacturing engineers responsible for making giant 1080p LCDs.
"It's as simple as making a CRT, something we've been doing for sixty years!"
Sony AGAIN???!
the vizio plasma may have been a good deal, but it absolutely looked like ASS. compared to every other tv in costco, it looked considerably worse. it was the only one i saw that didn't have a black that was at least somewhat black. it's black was, at best, a very dark grey. i felt sorry for the people buying.
You are correct, you get what you pay for. But I don't feel sorry for them, it actually helps all of us that households are aquiring HDTV's. This means more HD content for everyone and hopefully, wider adoption of HD Disc formats, thus lowering their prices too.
You also have to look at it this way, you probably come from an HD enthusiasts state of mind. Not everyone needs the top of the line display. If you see what they are upgrading from, even you would be happy with a VIZIO. I am considering a VIZIO myself for my bedroom, since I don't need a super 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio for a TV I use only to fall asleep to. But I would not want to get it as my main display in my living room which gets the most usage.
Wah Wah Wah so you're crying that your overpriced lcd's can't compete. Just like Bestbuy complaining about lost profits due to falling prices for lcd and plasma tv. Boo hoo I feel so sorry for you.
This article is hilarious - poor Sony!
Ironically, does anyone remember during Sony's TV growth (the Trinitron models) from the '70s and '80s, where they competed on price with other companies, and then drove many out of the market (especially USA TV makers).
Sony soon became king of the hill [with CRT's, then first out with "flat" CRT screens (late '90s), now a top seller of "flat panel" LCDs etc] - and it's Sony with the highest price TVs(!), among the "major" companies [Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Panasonic, Philips, etc - not Pioneer].
I was on their sonystyle.com website recently, and they have a new 50+ inch LCD priced at just under $7000 - who are they kidding!!
Long live the other companies that are continually lowering prices... and Sony? Well, we are all awaiting their demise, and sell-off of the company's technology, along with their control of various movie divisions. May it happen within 1-2 more years. Goodbye $ONY!!
Remember when Sony had "the TV" It cost more but u could see it, they didant worry about the film industry, they just made great innovative products, that were almost always the best. now they just react to trends and get compared to Visio, what a change. Looks like this will be in economics class.
Of course Sony won't do anything to speed up price decreases, their sets are already overpriced. They will always be overpriced and smaller companies will use this opening to gain market share and consumer base. Vizio was a nobody 2 years ago. Thanks for opening up competition Sony!
Does anyone at Sony realize how they sound when they complain about consumers getting good prices?
The more LCD and plasma prices fall, the more the general public will adopt the technology....
Hey Nelson Cheung,
How about next time you just cut to the point and say "I'm an Apple fanboy everyone!"
I would just like to thank SONY for making Vizio suddenly look like a great product "insert sarcasim here". I just picked up my Vizio 42" LCD and could not be any more happier. As far a the "black-bar" on the Vizio looking grey, a little calibration fixes that puppy right up!!