I have just got a call from head-office telling me they will try to work out some form of a discount, but no promises as of now.
I remember my cousin who was a VP in Sansui telling me that the manufacturing cost of flat panel TVs is only about 20% of the selling price. They forecast after taking into account the warranty claims and then some for televisions.
No wonder micromax,videocon,philips et all can offer TVs at low prices and extended warranty and still make profit. Only if they could match the picture quality of the bigger brands even if they charge a little more than the rock bottom prices. the bigger brands no doubt rip off the consumers keeping in view the reliability factor