Q I recently visited a retailer to see the Panasonic TC-P42X1 plasma. I noted that the price was higher than I had seen in publications and websites. The salesperson told me that there are three series of the TC-P42X1 and that the store sold only the Series A (the best, most costly), whereas Best Buy and other stores offered only the inferior Series B or Series C versions. Is this true?
DAVE S., MINNESOTA
A No, it is not true. In fact, it is one of the most outrageous lies I have ever heard to justify a noncompetitive price. I contacted executives at Panasonic for their comments, and they confirmed that a TC-P42X1 is a TC-P42X1 no matter where you buy it. That retailer gets an F for honesty, integrity and customer service. Take your business elsewhere.
The only time you might see a letter attached to a differently priced model is when it is the letter B as in B-stock, an industry term often used to identify refurbished units. If a product is marked as B-stock, you should be told upfront and you can expect to spend significantly less than for a factory-fresh unit. B-stock is not inferior in performance, but warranty terms probably will be different, so make sure the savings are appropriate for the product and terms offered.
Don't feed the Monster My recent column reluctantly recommending Monster's TV screen cleaner generated correspondence from readers and Monster's competitors, all giving alternatives. I tested several and picked two favorites, which I can heartily recommend to anyone looking for a screen cleaner. Although they are not as ubiquitous as Monster and you might need to buy online, it will be worth it because you will get better products and save money, and you will be supporting two great companies with good reputations.
The first recommendation is for St. Paul-based Sanus Systems (www.sanus.com). Sanus makes high-quality and affordable audio racks, speaker stands and TV mounts, and its screen cleaners are excellent, too. The Sanus ELM101 includes a spray cleaner free of alcohol and ammonia, an antistatic brush and a microfiber cloth, all packaged in a convenient case. Listing for $30, I have found the ELM101 online for as little as $14. That gets you more than Monster, for less money.
Next up is Klear Screen (www.klearscreen.com), a company that specializes in cleaning screens. Klear Screen is the choice of the FAA, the Navy and Air Force, Apple, Dell, Panasonic, the Guggenheim, the Smithsonian and NASA, which uses Klear Screen HD Screen Cleaner to clean the windows of the space shuttles and the International Space Station. Klear Screen has five offerings for cleaning TV screens for $13 to $30.
Klear Screen's nontoxic, alcohol- and ammonia-free fluid is made in America. Refill bottles are available so you don't have to replace the whole kit when the fluid is used up. Klear Screen also offers a variety of cleaning products for iPods and computers.
