Best Buy offers HD DVD owners $10 million in gift cards, trade in, shoulder to cry on

[bowl-o-rama]

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/19/b...e-in-shoulder/

Best Buy is following Future Shop, Circuit City and others in reaching out to casualties of the format war. In this case, anyone who bought an HD DVD player from Best Buy before February 23, 2008 can request a complimentary $50 gift card for each player. For those too traumatized to even look at their discontinued hardware and software, Best Buy also announced it's adding HD DVD players and media to its Trade-In Center program, starting March 21. No word on how much a player can net you, but once its updated, check BestBuyTradeIn.com to get an estimate and decide how much holding onto the past is worth.

[Thanks, Harmin C.]

Update: Best Buy just issued a press release with additional information about the more than $10 million in gift cards it plans to distribute, and details on how to make sure you get yours, check out the full PR after the break.

[bt12483]

I understand the olive branch idea, but shouldn't I get a gift card for picking correctly (i.e. the winning format)?

They get a free $50 because they chose wrong? And they still get to keep the damn HD DVD player?

Some of these HD DVD purchasers knowingly bought into HD DVD knowing things weren't looking good for the future of HD DVD, but took advantage of the firesale pricing, and now they get $50 free?

If anything this should be a trade up to blu program or something, where they return their HD DVD player and movies.

Not just free $$.

[Sky_Captain]

Originally Posted by bowl-o-rama

http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/19/b...e-in-shoulder/

Best Buy is following Future Shop, Circuit City and others in reaching out to casualties of the format war. In this case, anyone who bought an HD DVD player from Best Buy before February 23, 2008 can request a complimentary $50 gift card for each player. For those too traumatized to even look at their discontinued hardware and software, Best Buy also announced it's adding HD DVD players and media to its Trade-In Center program, starting March 21. No word on how much a player can net you, but once its updated, check BestBuyTradeIn.com to get an estimate and decide how much holding onto the past is worth.

[Thanks, Harmin C.]

Update: Best Buy just issued a press release with additional information about the more than $10 million in gift cards it plans to distribute, and details on how to make sure you get yours, check out the full PR after the break.

You're awful mouthy for someone that only owns 13 Blu-rays. How's that rental scheme workin' for ya?

[tranzparentl]

I'd like to see some sort of trade in program from Universal and Paramount for movies.

Does the Best Buy trade in program include the 360 drive? Doubtful but that would be cool.

And it's not "free money" its a gift card so its money thats going right back in Best Buy's pocket.

I'll bet most of the people who get the gift cards will use it towards a BD Player, BD movies, or to get some HD DVD movies on clearance.

[spacejamz]

I bought an open box A3 for $65 from Best Buy...a $50 Gift card for buying that would be sweet...

[joey0480]

my mom bought mine two xmas ago at BB so I guess she better get me that $50

[calereneau]

According to the full press release, this does include Xbox add-ons as well. Sweet action! I love that I don't even have to do anything. Just sit back and wait for my rebate to come in the mail...

Definitely takes the sting away from the whole "I spent $1000+ on a dead format" thing.

[Kosty]

Originally Posted by bt12483

I understand the olive branch idea, but shouldn't I get a gift card for picking the correctly (i.e. the winning format)?

They get a free $50 because they chose wrong? And they still get to keep the damn HD DVD player?

Some of these HD DVD purchasers knowingly bought into HD DVD knowing things were looking good for the future, and now they get $50 free?

If anything this should be a trade up to blu program or something.

Not just free $$.

Ya want a cookie?

Idea is to build goodwill to those consumers who demonstrated the willingness and spend money on a cutting edge tech. They are a nice potential market and are more likely to buy a Blu-ray player than the general public. Makes perfect sense to target them for a promotion.

If a marketing gimmick works to get them to spend money on another piece of tech at Best Buy thats a good deal for consumers and Best Buy.

You are already a landed fish. The just want you to buy more BD movies or another BD player.

[Jimbo976]

Do you get to pick which Best Buy employees shoulder to cry on? Some would be a much better experience than others.

[Vidfreek]

Thats interesting, will have to tell my parents about this one

What I also heard though is that Best Buy is going to be sending all the in store HD DVDs back at the end of March, which honestly pisses me off, if you check around online HD DVDs are selling like mad because of the really low prices, why not clearance these in stores and sell them to people who dont mind buying them even though HD DVD is dead? I certainly dont mind buying them, when I can get them priced equal to or less than their regular DVD counterpart, why not? $8.75 for some, $9.99 for others and tons of other sales at Hollywood video, etc. I just dont get why they would just pull them and not try to clearance them and sell them off first, THEN send back what doesnt go

I've never heard of that happening, usually if something isnt made anymore they clearance the stuff and they dont restock it, do the same thing and let people get some good HD deals

[Kosty]

Best Buy Stands Behind Customers By Awarding More Than $10 Million in Gift Cards to HD-DVD Purchasers
Leading Consumer Electronics Retailer will Send $50 Gift Cards to Customers Who Purchased an HD-DVD Player from Best Buy in the U.S.

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--With Blu-ray declaring victory over HD-DVD in the high definition movie format war, Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer electronics retailer, is giving $50 gift cards to customers who purchased an HD-DVD player or HD-DVD attachment from its U.S. stores before February 23, 2008. Customers will get a gift card for each player or HD-DVD attachment that they purchased. Through this program, Best Buy will distribute more than $10 million in gift cards to customers across the country.

"The DVD format war has divided our customers in a way we haven't seen since Betamax took on VHS more than 20 years ago," said Brian J. Dunn, president and chief operating officer for Best Buy. "At Best Buy, we understood and shared our customers' frustrations as they were being asked to choose one format or the other. 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."

Most Best Buy customers won't have to do anything to receive their gift card. As a demonstration of its commitment to its customers, Best Buy will proactively mail cards to all customers that the company can identify as having purchased an HD-DVD player. Members of the Best Buy Reward Zone program, customers who purchased Performance Service Plans (PSPs) or who made their purchase on BestBuy.com should look for their gift cards in the mail by May 1. Other customers who may not be easily identified can call (888) BEST BUY to receive their gift cards with proof of purchase through a credit card or their Best Buy receipt.

"The beauty of this offer is that it doesn't require our customers to give up their HD-DVD player," said Barry Judge, chief marketing officer for Best Buy. "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."

HD-DVD players can actually deliver greatly enhanced video performance with standard DVDs by upconverting the video resolution.

Beginning on March 21, customers who do want to get rid of their HD-DVD players can visit Best Buy's Online Trade-In Center at www.bestbuytradein.com. Visitors to the site will receive instant estimates of the value of their HD-DVD players and movies. Those who agree with the estimates can then ship their goods to the Trade-In Center free of charge by downloading a prepaid shipping label and will receive an additional gift card as payment for their trade-in. This service is open to HD-DVD owners regardless of where they bought their player.

For more information visit www.bestbuy.com/hddvd.

Its like a super duper $50 coupon to former HD DVD owners. Only better.

...and they can keep the players. Nice.

[bt12483]

Originally Posted by Kosty

Ya want a cookie?

Idea is to build goodwill to those consumers who demonstrated the willingness and spend money on a cutting edge tech. They are a nice potential market and are more likely to buy a Blu-ray player than the general public. Makes perfect sense to target them for a promotion.

If a marketing gimmick works to get them to spend money on another piece of tech at Best Buy thats a good deal for consumers and Best Buy.

You are already a landed fish. The just want you to buy more BD movies or another BD player.

Right...so if a kid fails a test in school should we just give him an extra few points so that he passes? Regardless if he learned his lesson?

You were wrong...but it is OK, we will let it slide and give you a free ride.

This offer should have more stipulations to it is all I am suggesting.

Not a blanket coverage.

People who bought into HD DVD in 2006, early 2007 should be getting this, not people who bought in Feb. 2008 at 50% prices - now they get an additional $50 for their lack of forsight?

Any purchases after the WB announcement should not count.

This way, people who got HD DVD as an xmas gift are still covered...but after the WB announcement - no one should have logically bought into HD DVD imo.

[DustoMan]

It's an interesting concept. I like that RewardZone members and people that bought a Service Plan will just get the gift cards sent to them. AND the press release says HD-DVD players and attachments. That implies that the Xbox 360 Add-on Drive will be included in this offer. So I should have a gift card coming to me and I don't have to lift a finger or give up my add-on. (Not using my gift card to buy a Blu player though. Ha ha.)

[Cymbol]

And Paramount should give every Blu-ray owner a free copy of Transformers, Shrek, and Blades of Glory - . . . on second thought, they can keep those.

Still, it's not quite fair - but hey, little has been "fair" in this format war.

At least it's over. If $50 helps someone get over their bitterness - then great.

[bt12483]

I wish I got $50 for all of the wrong choices I've made throughout my life.

I'd have a nice little nest egg formed by now.

It sure is nice to be rewarded for poor decisions. God Bless America!