Black Fri. Promotions to Drive Sale Pricing to New Lows

Leading the way will likely be an InFocus X1A front projector that Circuit City is reportedly going to promote at $499, according to several web sites monitoring Black Fri. sales. That’s down from the low established last year when Best Buy promoted a NEC model at a $749 post- rebate price.. Best Buy also is expected to carry Sampo’s Maxtent 42W ED plasma TV at $999, besting Circuit’s Sylvania model at $1,249.

Best Buy also established a low-end benchmark for 32W LCD TV monitor when it promoted a Westinghouse model at $899, besting a collection of sets priced $100 more including a Proview brand version at Costco. Circuit also had a Syntax Olevia brand 26W LCD TV at $499 vs. the $599- $699 that is becoming the low-end standard for 26W-27W models. Konka, one of the first Chinese manufacturers to make a push with CE into the U.S., also emerged in Best Buy ad with a 15” LCD TV at $249. Wal-Mart went Best Buy $1 better with a 15” Magnavox model at $248.

Among the DLP-based rear projection sets, Costco is expected to promote Sharp’s 65W with 1,280x720 resolution at $2,499, down $500 from its suggested retail price. Meanwhile, Target Tues. was merchandising an RCA 44W DLP set at $1,799, besting Sony’s 42W at $1,999.

In DVD recorders, the vaunted $100 barrier is being broached by an array of models, ranging from Wal-Mart’s private label Ilo DVD+RW deck at $98.74 to Target’s DVD+RW Trutech at $99. Wal-Mart also had an SV2000 DVD player/4- head hi-fi VCR at $59 and an Emerson DVD-RW recorder and 4-head VCR combo at $198. The latter compared with rival Target, which was offering a Samsung multi-format model at $249, about $30 less than its original suggested retail price. DVD players, which were thought to have established a low-end benchmark a year ago, dropped even further with Circuit promoting a Polaroid model at $19.99, according to several web sites.

With the emergence of youth electronics products as a full-fledged category at many retailers, pricing is beginning to reflect that new reality. Wal-Mart is marketing V-tech V.Smile TV Learning System at $45.50 between Nov. 19-23, down from its typical $59.50 price, beating Target, which was at $47.49. Target also promoting Oregon Scientific’s Batman Power Wing ELA and Barbie B-Book “learning laptop” at $38.88 and $37.67, respectively, down from the $49 price found at other retailers.

Wal-Mart also is highlighting LeapFrog Enterprises Fly pen-based computer at $94.99, a decrease from the $99 suggested retail price. Target highlighted Fly on the front of its weekly ad circular and in an endcap kiosk merchandised alongside accessories and software. Target also was fielding LeapFrog’s LeapPad software at $17.77 between Nov. 20-26 vs. previous $24.99 as well as a pink LeapPad at $34.99, down from $37.99.

In making its first foray into the holiday season, Hanspree landed several models on Target’s shelves, a majority of them at reduced prices. On Tues., Target was selling several Hanspree models with $50-$100 price cuts. Hanspree’s “Apple” 9.6” LCD TV was priced at $399, down from $449, while one featuring an “Elephant” design was $299, a drop from $399. It also had Hanspree’s 10” “wood” LCD TV and plush “lion” $399 and $299, respectively. Hanspree’s 15” soccer ball LCD TV remained at $449.

Despite experiencing their first holiday season at retail, combo front projectors/DVD players weren’t immune to price competition. Optoma cut the retail tag on its MovieTime DV10 bundle earlier this month to $1,299 from $1,899, roughly matching the price of RadioShack’s Cinego model. The MovieTime package includes the combo front projector/DVD player, a 92” Panoview manual pull-down screen and a 50 w D&K subwoofer. “We made the price cut for the holiday season and to move the category along,” an Optoma spokeswoman said. Optoma will field a new combo model in 2006, possibly encompassing either a HD-DVD or Blu-ray player, although no final decisions have been made, the spokeswoman said.