So, I'm ready to pull the trigger on a Samsung 46 1080p 120hz LCD, which I could've had a week ago for $1500 from Amazon and get a Blu-Ray player for free, which after selling on eBay would make the TV cost $1300. The problem was, I didn't have the money a week ago. Tomorrow, (pay day) I'll have it. The problem is, the Blu-Ray promotion is now over and Amazon was so nice to put icing on my irritation cake, by grazing the TV I wanted on Tuesday morning with a $100 mark up. Making it $1600 and I wanted to shoot myself. I was decided to go gun shopping yesterday and really shoot myself, when Amazon in all its wisdom saw fit to give the TV another markup, this time $50 more, making it $1650.

This morning, the guy who sets the TV prices at Amazon, was drunk on bourbon and decided to reduce the price back to $1600 and suddenly I started having flashbacks of Holiday season 2007 when I pulled the trigger on a 52" Samsung (LN-T5271F) for $2700 at buydig.com, cheapest price on the web on that item at that particular time, just to see the price of the TV plummet in January on all websites, all the way to $1600. - Side note - Now the TV is almost $4000. Go figure.

If I were to go, on previous experience alone, I'd say wait til' January right? But wait, the plot thickens........ When that happened last year with the Samsung 52", I don't remember the price behaving as erratic or experiencing such sudden increases as the ones I've seen at Amazon this holiday season.

In case you want specifics, the object of mi geek lust which I intend to purchase as a secondary TV (The LN-T5271F still occupies the throne in my house) is the Samsung LN46A650 - I'm also partial to the 630 which tends to be about $100 cheaper, in exchange for a little less contrast ratio - 40.000:1 vs 50.000:1 on the 650)

So here's the BIG question:

On your experience as professional deal hunters: Buy Now of Wait till January?

Disclaimer: Before you start bashing me and throw this thread off course, No' I'm not going to shoot myself, I'm just joking, (If this TV reaches $1800 before Christmas I might consider Seppuku)

Superbowl Sales in January

Closeouts on this years models by a few months after the annual Consumer Electronics Show in January where the newest models with the latest features are released.
Watch for the latest electronics and HDTVs on the morning shows on the major networks that cover the show every year.

Wait

I have a slightly different take; there is generally not a "good time" to buy a big ticket item. If you have researched available options, narrowed down your preferences, remain FLEXIBLE and PATIENT, a deal can and will pop up at any time. Frys, Circuit City, Wall Mart and Amazon will try to maximize revenues between now and the end of the year, but will likely throw a bone every now and then to stimulate interest and demand.

Expect to see an increase in returned units showing up on places like Amazon over the next 30 days - and be prepared to move quickly.

As one of the earlier posters suggested, new models are expected after the Superbowl, so you may have to wait until the spring to find that killer deal.