Hello, I am new to this site and am seeking advice on my next TV purchase. I have had my heart set on a plasma TV for a couple years now. I only recently learned that they are being phased out and most major brands have dropped them. So I started doing research. From what I have read, the best plasma currently available right now is the Samsung F8500 series. I've read many, many reviews that were very much positive, very few negative.

My question is more related to my recent experience with the salesman at best buy. I go in there with the intention of buying this TV. The salesman I dealt with seemed very knowledgeable. I told him up front I wanted a plasma. He then proceeded to show me several different options comparable with plasma as far as contrast and frame rate go. He seemed knowledgeable so I let him do his thing. He boasted highly about the Sony 4k series, which did indeed have excellent picture and is in a similar price range. Now I was a little torn about what I wanted. I mentioned plasma again and he seemed to become a little hostile. He exclaims "plasmas are done, out the door" and "you can't get them anymore." So I say "Really? You can't get the Samsung F8500 anymore?" This is where he threw me for a loop. He says "The F8500 is one of the worst TVs available." For a guy that seemed so knowledgeable, I couldn't believe he said that. Nearly every review I've read (and I've read a lot) suggests the exact opposite. He then showed me the one and only plasma TV they still had on display in the store. It was a Samsung, but not the F8500. The picture was terrible. Very pale color contrast and horrible glare. I told him I was unsure and wanted to do a little more research. As soon as I said this he was off to the next costumer. No "have a nice day" or anything, which is fine.

Sorry for the long question. Really I am seeking opinions more than a direct answer. The salesman said that 4k is the next big thing and is "future proof". But I've wanted a plasma since the first time I seen one at a friends house. And since I recently learned they are going extinct, I am ready to pull the trigger on one. Thanks for reading and all opinions are welcome. Should I go with a 4k TV or plasma? Also, any thoughts on the salesman's behavior?

In one respect her is correct, plasma is old tech and has been superseded.
4K is the up and coming standard of SUPER high def and will be around for many years to come, although 720/1080 are freely available in LED formats.

Samsung make excellent display panels and are highly recommended.
Really depends on your budget, but plasma is best avoided at this point in time.

He is a sales person, his job is to sell you the higher priced item when possible, his job is to tell you anything bad about something, they do not sell, and tell you why to buy their product.

Again, the new Tech is better than Plasma but if you just want one, it is now old school, but go for it, They should be getting very cheap at this point

If you want the F8500 and are sure that is the one you want after having read your reviews, then why even talk about it to a salesman?

Both TV's I have purchased (Toshibas) are ones that I spent hours researching before buying each one. I knew what I wanted and I researched and found the best rated TV in my price range. I then looked for who had them in the store and went there. The salesman had to do nothing except write me up as I went in there and when I got the "Can I help you with something?" I simply told them "Yes, I want such and such TV." One salesman asked if he could show me anything else and I told him that no, I knew what I wanted and that is what I was going to buy. That was it...nothing more.

So if you are sure you want this one, then find who has it, go there and tell them you want it.

Thanks for the responses. After much more research and listening to opinions, I'm still going with the Samsung plasma. The reason I spoke with the salesman is because I am really unfamiliar with new technologies and just wanted to hear from someone more knowledgeable than me about what's up and coming. The last time I bought a new TV, it was a Sharp Aquos back in like 2003 or 4. I really didn't expect the salesman to trash plasma the way he did, but it seems he was indeed correct about 4k being the future. The problem is that 4k content is not widely available and probably won't be for a few more years. Also from what I've read, OLED seems to be the next big thing that is going to surpass everything, it's just crazy expensive right now. So until 4k content becomes more standard (including basic cable and sports) and until OLED TVs drop in price, I'm going with the old school technology.