Aeon Japan will begin selling a 32″ flat panel tv for 49,800 yen tomorrow (February 20, 2009). Aeon is the giant retail company that runs Jusco, Saty, Max Valu supermarkets, and owns a ton more retail outlets. Although they sell electronics now, they are testing the waters to enter the market in earnest with the release of this inexpensive digital flat panel tv. The television will be sold throughout the country with the exception of Okinawa. The maker was not noted in the press release, but the television in this picture is the one that will be sold.
Some reports say that if this experiment works out, Aeon will begin entering the computer and other home electronics race in earnest. Because of the size, power, and influence of Aeon, this could mean much cheaper electronics in the near future as the major electronics and appliance companies and Aeon battle for customers. If you are not familiar with Aeon, it is somewhat comparable to Walmart in the U.S., except with a much wider variety of stores and companies under it controls.
You really didn’t need to tell me that! I have been looking for cheap LCD TVs for ages and really can’t justify spending money on one when I don7t know if I’ll be here beyond July!
I’ll get a photo or a pamphlet when I go shopping and see one in the wild this weekend. None of the news reports mentioned a brand, but the built in dvd player’s a nice feature… Dave, you’d have to come up to the mainland to get one, or have it shipped to you anyway adding to the price and PITA factor.
Wonder why Okinawa is excluded? Is it because they assume people here are so poor and would rather spend their money on pachinko and the local firewater?!
Ah well, just as well it’s not available here. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on it after seeing it first hand. Thing is, the low-to-mid range TVs these days seem to have very little difference in quality and lifetime.