So, I'm in the hunt for a DVD Recorder w/ built in hard drive. Post research, there's a Panasonic model (DMR EH50) and a Pioneer model (533 or 633) that I would be willing to purchase.

...if I could ever fucking find one.

Now that I've switched the hunt to the online world, I've STILL found nowhere to buy any damn thing. Further, there's very few electronics sites I 1) know about and 2) trust. So, I place it in the hands of the FOFC legion. Point me to some trustworthy sites to hunt for electronics, or better yet, find me what I seek.

A yak for he who succeeds in my quest.

as for the Panasonic.
looks like the DMREH50 is discod - or at least we stopped carrying it back in January. Bad timing - we just sold an open box version last week.
We're taking orders on the EH55 (bigger hard drive) but it's not in stock with any of our distributors. We don't deal a lot with these sorts of items, but from the look of it, this isn't even out yet.

as for the Panasonic.
looks like the DMREH50 is discod - or at least we stopped carrying it back in January. Bad timing - we just sold an open box version last week.
We're taking orders on the EH55 (bigger hard drive) but it's not in stock with any of our distributors. We don't deal a lot with these sorts of items, but from the look of it, this isn't even out yet.

I had heard that, but questioned it, as Panasonic still lists it as their top model on their site. But that's 2 people saying it's been discontinued now. Pity.

the DVR533 we discod back in November.
the 633 is heavily constrained. We've got a pretty hefty backorder list, and it looks like product is trickling in - like 3 units in the last month or so. Our tentative eta for that backlog to clear out is april 28...and those are usually being overly optomistic

Well you're just no god damn help, are you? :)

But thanks for pretty much confirming those two models be gone. Panasonic and Pioneer need to update their damn web sites.

Here's one of Panasonic's but it's used, for sale on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007YFQCG/ref=nosim/103-9850612-3511033?n=172282

There's a couple of Pioneer 533's on eBay, both claiming "new in box"
http://cgi.ebay.com/Pioneer-DVR-531H-533-DVD-recorder-with-80-GB-Hard-disk_W0QQitemZ9705566624QQcategoryZ64586QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Yeah, the retail on the EH50 is $399, and I've seen places that (used) to have it listed in the mid 300's.

I had heard that, but questioned it, as Panasonic still lists it as their top model on their site. But that's 2 people saying it's been discontinued now. Pity.

the truth is I don't really know if it's discod by the manufacturer. Disco could just mean "we can't get them so we're going to stop trying for a while". The electronics market is really just a fringe area for us (the result of a rushed 11th hour attempt a few years ago to cash in on christmas sales), so we may not have the same purchasing info that the bigger places might have