Question: I recently visited a retailer to see the Panasonic TC-P42X1 plasma. I noted that the price was higher than I had seen in publications and websites.

The salesperson told me there are three different series of the TC-P42X1 and that they sold only the Series A (the best, most costly TC-P42X1), whereas Best Buy and other big boxes offered only the inferior Series B or Series C versions. Is this true?

Answer: No, it is not true. In fact, it is one of the most outrageous lies I have ever heard to justify a noncompetitive price. I contacted executives at Panasonic for their comments, and they confirmed that a TC-P42X1 is a TC-P42X,1 no matter where you buy it. For their "Series A, Series B and Series C" sales pitch, this retailer gets an "F" for honesty and integrity and an "F" for customer service.

The only time you may see a letter attached to a differently priced model is when it is the letter "B" as in B-stock, an industry term often used to identify refurbished units. If a product is marked as "B-stock" you should be told up front that it is a refurb, and you can expect to spend significantly less than for a factory fresh unit. B-stock is not inferior in performance, but warranty terms will likely be different; so make sure the savings are appropriate for the product and terms offered.

Don't feed the Monster department: My recent column reluctantly recommending Monster TV screen cleaner generated correspondence from readers and Monster's competitors, all recommending alternatives. I tested several and picked two favorites that I can heartily recommend to anyone looking for a screen cleaner. Though they are not as ubiquitous as Monster in the marketplace and you may need to buy online, it will be worth it as you will get better products and save money, and you will be supporting two great companies with good reputations.

The first recommendation is for St. Paul, Minn.-based Sanus Systems. Sanus makes high quality and affordable audio racks, speaker stands and TV mounts, and their screen cleaners are excellent as well. The Sanus ELM101 includes a spray cleaner free of alcohol and ammonia, an antistatic brush and a microfiber cloth, all packaged in a convenient case. Listing for $29.99, I have found the ELM101 online for as little as $14. That gets you more than the Monster offering, for less money. Learn more at www.sanus.com.

Next up is Klear Screen, a company that specializes in ... you guessed it, cleaning screens. Klear Screen is the choice of the FAA, the Navy and Air Force, Apple, Dell, Panasonic, the Guggenheim, the Smithsonian and NASA, which uses Klear Screen HD Screen Cleaner to clean the windows of the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. Klear Screen has five different offerings for cleaning TV screens. Prices range between $12.95 and $29.99.

Klear Screen's nontoxic, alcohol- and ammonia-free fluid is made in its own factory here in the United States. Refill bottles are available, so you do not have to replace the whole kit when the fluid is used up. Klear Screen also offers a variety of cleaning products for iPods and computers. See more at www.klearscreen.com.

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