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Best Buy Offers $50 Gift Cards To HD DVD Buyers
Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 03:00 PM ETTags: Best Buy, Industry Trends, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
Hoping to help heal the battle scars of the High-Def format war, Best Buy has announced plans to offer $50 gift cards to all customers who purchased HD DVD players before February 23, 2008.
As announced via press release this morning, customers will receive the gift cards for every HD DVD player or HD DVD attachment purchased at Best Buy before the February 23, 2008 cut off date. All told, the company estimates it will distribute more than $10 million dollars in gift cards.
“The DVD format war has divided our customers in a way we haven’t seen since Betamax took on VHS,” said Brian J. Dunn, President and Chief Operating Officer for Best Buy. “Now that the format war is over, we hope these gift cards will reassure our customers that we will help them make a smooth transition into the right technology for their needs.”
Best Buy says it will proactively mail the cards to all customers whom they can determine purchased qualifying equipment. Best Buy Reward Zone members, Performance Service Plans (PSPs) participants, and online customers should expect to receive their gift cards in the mail by May 1. Other customers should have credit card proofs of purchase or Best Buy receipts ready and call (888) BEST BUY.
“The beauty of this offer is that it doesn’t require our customers to give up their HD DVD player,” said Best Buy’s chief marketing officer, Barry Judge. “We know that many people who purchased these players have HD DVD movies that they would like to continue to watch. We’re telling our customers they can keep their players to play these movies as well as their older DVDs and use the $50 to treat themselves to anything else in our stores.”
Customers who want to trade in all of their HD DVD equipment and movie libraries will also have that option. By visiting www.bestbuytradein.com beginning March 21, visitors can get instant estimates regarding the value of their collections, regardless of where they were purchased. If they agree to the estimates, they will then be able to send their items to the Trade-In Center for free by downloading prepaid shipping labels. These customers will also receive payment in the form of an additional gift card.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the Best Buy HD DVD Action Center.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Best Buy Stands Behind Customers By Awarding More Than $10 Million in Gift Cards to HD-DVD Purchasers [Press Release]
- Best Buy HD DVD Action Center [Best Buy]
HD DVD Group Responds to Netflix, Best Buy News
Tue Feb 12, 2008 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Best Buy, Netflix (all tags)
The HD DVD Promotions Group has issued a statement following a pair of news stories Monday that saw two leading brands in the home entertainment industry endorsing Blu-ray.
The statement (which was first published by CNET late Monday) calls Netflix's decision to exclusively back Blu-ray "unfortunate," while emphasizing that although Best Buy will recommend Blu-ray, the retailer will continue to stock HD DVD.
The complete text of the HD DVD Group's statement follows below:
"We have long held the belief that HD DVD is the best format for consumers based on quality and value, and with more than 1 million HD DVD players on the market, it's unfortunate to see Netflix make the decision to only stock Blu-ray titles going forward. While the Best Buy announcement says they will recommend Blu-ray, at least they will continue to carry HD DVD and offer consumers a choice at retail."
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Best Buy kicks HD DVD while it's down [CNET]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Best Buy to Recommend Blu-ray over HD DVD (Feb 11, 2008)
- Netflix Goes Blu-ray Exclusive (Feb 11, 2008)
New 3-For-2 Deal on HD DVDs at Best Buy
Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Best Buy, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
Capping off a holiday season filled with next-gen media sales, Best Buy is offering up one last "buy two get one free" deal on HD DVD discs.
The retailer is advertising a total over 200 qualifying discs (representing the vast majority of HD DVD movies it carries) at prices ranging from $24.99 to 34.99. After the discount, that brings the effective price per disc down to somewhere between $16.00-24.00.
Included among the eligible titles are such top-sellers as 'The Bourne Ultimatum,' 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' and 'Transformers' (click here for the complete list).
The sale is scheduled to run today through next Saturday, December 29, and is being offered both in-store and online.
In another bonus for online shoppers, the retailer is also waiving shipping fees on all orders of HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. (Note that readers have reported that each set of three titles must be purchased as separate transactions in order for the discount to be applied at checkout.)
To discuss these and other HD DVD hardware and software deals, visit the HD DVD Bargains area in our forums area.
- Related links:
- Buy Two HD DVDs, Get One Free [BestBuy.com]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- The Bourne Ultimatum (HD DVD)
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (HD DVD)
- Transformers (2007) (HD DVD)
Best Buy Goes BOGO For HD DVD, Blu-ray
Sun Dec 16, 2007 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Best Buy, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
In what may be the best next-gen disc offer yet, Best Buy has just kicked off a new 2-for-1 sale that includes a collection of the most sought-after Blu-ray and HD DVD titles currently on the market.
Although "buy one get one free" offers on high-def discs have become almost commonplace this holiday season, this new Best Buy offer is unique in that it includes such newly-released and best-selling titles as 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,' 'Spider-Man 3' and 'Transformers.'
The retailer is advertising a total of 30 qualifying discs (see lists below), at prices ranging from $19.99 to 34.99. After the discount, that brings the effective price per disc down to somewhere between $10.00-17.50.
The sale is scheduled to run today through next Saturday, December 22, and is being offered both in-store and online.
In another bonus for online shoppers, the retailer is also waiving shipping fees on all orders of HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. (Note that readers have reported that each pair of titles must be purchased as separate transactions in order for the discount to be applied at checkout.)
The complete list of titles included in the promotion follows below.
Qualifying Blu-ray discs:
(click here to buy from BestBuy.com)
28 Weeks Later ($29.99)
300 ($29.99)
Are We Done Yet? ($29.99)
The Condemned ($29.99)
Crank ($29.99)
The Departed ($29.99)
Fantastic 4: Rise Of The Silver Surfer ($34.99)
Harry Potter & Order Of The Phoenix Blu-Ray ($32.99)
Hostel: Part II ($29.99)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith ($34.99)
Mr. Brooks ($34.99)
Ocean’s Thirteen ($29.99)
SAW III ($29.99)
Spider-Man 3 ($29.99)
Underworld: Evolution ($29.99)
Qualifying HD DVD discs:
(click here to buy from BestBuy.com)
300 ($34.99)
Arctic Tale ($34.99)
Blades Of Glory ($29.99)
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Departed HD-DVD ($34.99)
Disturbia ($29.99)
Evan Almighty ($19.99)
Harry Potter & Order Of The Phoenix ($32.99)
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry ($29.99)
Knocked Up: Unrated ($19.99)
Mr. Bean’s Holiday ($29.99)
Ocean’s Thirteen ($34.99)
Shooter HD-DVD ($34.99)
Shrek The Third ($29.99)
Transformers ($29.99)
To discuss these and other next-gen hardware and software deals, visit the Blu-ray Bargains and HD DVD Bargains areas in our forums area.
- Related links:
- Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Select Blu-ray Discs [BestBuy.com]
- Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Select HD DVD Discs [BestBuy.com]
Best Buy Offers Three-Disc HD DVD "Starter Packs"
Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Best Buy, High-Def Retailing, Paramount (all tags)
Paramount Studios and Best Buy have partnered to offer a series of discounted three-disc HD DVD "Starter Packs" at Best Buy locations nationwide.
The companies are offering four packs in all, each bundling three previously-released HD DVD titles at a price of $49.99 (that's a 33% savings compared to buying the same three HD DVD movies individually at Best Buy).
The four packs are themed by actor and/or genre, and feature the following movies (click linked movie titles to read our comprehensive reviews of each HD DVD disc):
Pack 1:
Four Brothers
Shooter
Italian Job (2003)
Pack 2:
The Warriors: Ultimate Director's Cut
Aeon Flux
Payback: Straight Up - The Director's Cut
Pack 3:
Anchorman
Blades of Glory
Old School
Pack 4:
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Sleepy Hollow
All four "Starter Packs" have been listed on BestBuy.com with a release date of Tuesday December 11, but members of our forums area have reported already seeing the packs on store shelves this weekend.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- HD DVD Starter Packs [BestBuy.com]
Report: Weekend Toshiba HD DVD Player Sales Top 90,000
Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 09:00 AM ETTags: Toshiba, High-Def Retailing, Wal-Mart, Best Buy (all tags)
Video Business is reporting record-breaking sales numbers for Toshiba's HD-A2 player following last Friday's price drops at Wal-Mart and Best Buy.
As we've previously reported, both big box retailers offered the entry-level 1080i HD DVD player at the record-low price of $99 late last week.
Quoting sources close to the retailers, VB estimates that 90,000 units were sold at top outlets, including Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Circuit City. According to the trade paper, that's nearly as many sales as the best-selling stand-alone Blu-ray Disc player (Sony's the $499 BDP-S300) has sold since its launch.
In a separate report, BetaNews estimated that 40,000 to 70,000 of the 90,000 units were sold at Wal-Mart alone.
Toshiba and the HD DVD Promotions Group have thus far declined comment on this past weekend's sales numbers, but if these numbers are accurate, here's betting we'll see some sort of official statement in the coming days.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- HD DVD set-top player $99 sales moves units [Video Business]
- How HD DVD Got its Groove Back [BetaNews]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- HD DVD Takes Centerstage at Wal-Mart (Nov 01, 2007)
- Best Buy Drops Toshiba HD DVD Player to $99; Supplies Very Limited (Nov 01, 2007)
Best Buy Drops Toshiba HD DVD Player to $99; Supplies Very Limited
Thu Nov 01, 2007 at 05:10 PM ETTags: Best Buy, Toshiba, High-Def Retailing (all tags)
In the immortal words of Crazy Eddie, Best Buy is now offering Toshiba's entry-level HD-A2 HD DVD at a price so low they're practically giving it away.
Coming only a week after retailers almost universally dropped prices for the 1080i player below the $200 mark, Best Buy has lowered its price on the player to just $99. This latest price drop from Best Buy follows this morning's news that Wal-Mart would offer the same player for just $98 as part of a special in-store sale beginning this Friday.
There is a hitch, however. Although Best Buy's website listed the HD-A2 at its new low price earlier today, it also stated that the player was sold out. Some consumers have had better luck finding it at the chain's physical locations, but there too, many have reported that the player is out of stock.
At press time there was no word on whether new allotments of the player would be offered by Best Buy.
For those unable to find the player at Best Buy, there's still Wal-Mart's $98 "Secret In-Store Special," which kicks off Friday at 8am, although be warned: promotional materials state that the player will not be available in all Wal-Mart loactions.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player [BestBuy.com]
- Secret In-Store Specials [Wal-Mart.com]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- HD DVD Takes Centerstage at Wal-Mart (Nov 01, 2007)
- Circuit City, Amazon Join $198 HD DVD Player Club (Oct 29, 2007)
Free 'Heroes' HD DVD Bundled With Xbox 360 Add-On
Mon Oct 22, 2007 at 03:04 PM ETTags: Bundles, Xbox 360, Microsoft, Universal, Best Buy, Amazon (all tags)
Universal and Microsoft have teamed up to offer the 'Heroes: Season One' HD DVD box set free with sales of the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on.
The promo kicked off yesterday and is set to run for 1-2 weeks at select retailers. (So far, it has been spotted at Buy.com and at Best Buy.)
Combined with Microsoft's existing "Five Free Discs" offer and the free in-box 'King Kong' HD DVD (on select models), this latest incentive brings the value of all bundled HD DVD discs included with the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on to roughly $220 -- that's forty dollars more than the total list price for the add-on itself.
Meanwhile, in a separate 'Heroes'-related Xbox 360 promo, Amazon.com is giving away 90 'Heroes' themed Xbox 360 game systems over the next 30 days. Sweepstakes winners will receive a special 'Heroes' decorated 20GB Xbox 360 Console with matching HD DVD add-on, plus a copy of 'Heroes: Season 1 on HD-DVD'. Click here for complete details.
To see what members of our forums area are saying about these and other similar HD DVD promos, be sure to visit the HD DVD bargains area of our forums.
- Related links:
- Free 'Heroes' HD DVD With Purchase of Xbox 360 HD DVD Player [BestBuy.com]
- Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player [Buy.com]
- Xbox 360 'Heroes' Sweepstakes [Amazon.com]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Heroes: Season One (HD DVD)
- King Kong (2005) (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- Microsoft Reduces Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Price; Adds Five Free HD DVDs (Jul 26, 2007)
- Microsoft to Bundle 'King Kong' with Xbox 360 HD DVD Player (Sep 27, 2006)
Report: Best Buy Sells Most Blu-ray, HD DVD Titles
Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 09:00 AM ETTags: High-Def Retailing, Industry Trends, Best Buy (all tags)
According to a new research report, Best Buy is America's high-def disc leader, outselling both Wal-Mart and Amazon.com by what's being described as "a wide margin."
The report from NPD Group ranks Best Buy well-ahead of all other retailers in HD DVD and Blu-ray disc sales; Amazon.com is number two, while Wal-Mart (the nation's top standard-def DVD seller) is ranked number three.
Rounding out the top five is Circuit City (at #4), followed by Target.
In an article published by Video Business, a Best Buy spokesperson attributed the big box retailer's lead to its unique demographics as a specialty electronics chain.
"We generally have an audience that loves movies, where they are not casual fans, and these people are likely to have a great home theater experience," said Brian Lucas. "As one of the market leaders in HDTV sales, our customers tend to understand high-def more than the average consumer."
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Best Buy named leading high-def retailer [Video Business]
Nine Free HD DVDs With Toshiba HD DVD Player at Best Buy
Tue Oct 02, 2007 at 02:22 PM ETTags: High-Def Retailing, Best Buy (all tags)
Upping the ante for high-disc bundles, Best Buy is offering a total of nine free HD DVD discs with purchase of Toshiba's new $399 HD-A30 player.
The new deal was first unveiled in Best Buy's weekly newspaper insert this past Sunday (click to view). It builds on the retailer's existing bundle deal, which provides a total of seven free HD DVDs with purchase of any 2nd-Gen Toshiba HD DVD Player.
As we've previously reported, the first five movies are available by mail from a selection of 15 titles, while the second two ('300' and 'The Bourne Identity') come in the HD-A3 box. The remaining two titles are being made available directly from Best Buy at the point of purchase (excluding TV DVD and box set releases).
"It’s a good start to a [HD DVD] collection," Best Buy spokesperson Brian Lucas told Home Media Magazine.
Lucas added that despite an ongoing lack of widespread consumer adoption, interest in high-definition packaged media remains constant at Best Buy, saying "we wouldn’t devote insert space every week to formats nobody is interested in."
(Thanks to Scott for the tip!)
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- Best Buy Sunday Newspaper Insert: 9/30/07 [High-Def Digest]
- Best Buy, Toshiba Up Free HD DVD Titles [Home Media Magazine]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) (Blu-ray)
- The Bourne Identity (HD DVD)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- New Disc Bundles to Accompany Toshiba's Third-Gen HD DVD Launch
MORE HD DVD NEWS TAGGED "BEST BUY":
- Microsoft, Comedy Central Team Up for 'South Park' Xbox 360 HD DVD Exclusive Mar 06, 2007
- Toshiba, Retailers Spin Strong First-Week HD-DVD Player Sales Apr 26, 2006
- Early Adopters Report Retail Leaks of First HD-DVD Players, Discs Apr 17, 2006
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