🚀 go-pugleaf

re: wdao@castor.usc.edu (Walter Dao), writes...

> I had the curiosity to look at the price of the laser disk player at the
> local video store and was completely basted away when I found out that it
> was priced at about $800.  Wow, that's a lot of dough.  Is there any place
> that sells such machines for a much much cheaper price ?  or is $800 the
> average price ?

$750 is the approximate entry-level list price since Pioneer discontinued
the LD-838D last year.  But cheer up...

  * 10-to-20% discounts are common on LD players (I got 18% on my current
    one).  I have seen close to 30% on mail-order.

  * Pioneer will be introducing new low-end players at the $400 and $500
    list price points this year, or so my local dealer tells me.

  * New LD-838Ds (list $550) are still available from dealers at steep
    discounts.  I would not pay more than $350 for a new one.

  * LD dealers often stock 838s for rental use.  They will want to flush
    these out and get new models this year, so you may be able to find
    a used 838 for under $300.00.

  * Consider a used player, as other owners upgrade to digital field store
    and/or auto-changer models.  I started with a 10-year-old Pioneer
    VP-1000 for $125.00.  It still works (and is about to be re-sold by its
    current owner - and it already has a buyer - sorry).

Regards,                                              Hewlett-Packard
Bob Niland        rjn%hpfcrjn@hplabs.HP.COM           3404 East Harmony Road
                  [hplabs|hpu...!hpfcse]!rjn          Ft Collins CO 80525-9599