Best Buy offers $50 GC to HD-DVD owners

pjc · 03-19-2008, 07:37 AM

...if you bought your player from them prior to 2/23/08

http://www.tvpredictions.com/bestbuy031908.htm

Quote:

News
Best Buy Offers HD DVD Owners $50 Gift Card
The card can be redeemed on anything in the store.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (March 19, 2008) -- Best Buy today will announce that it will offer a $50 gift card to customers who purchased an HD DVD player from any Best Buy store.

That's according to an article by The New York Times.

The gift card, which can be spent on any item in the store, is part of a growing industry effort to appease HD DVD owners who chose the wrong format in the high-def disc war between Blu-ray and HD DVD.

Toshiba announced last month that it's pulling the plug on HD DVD at the end of March, meaning that the studios will stop releasing HD DVD titles in the coming weeks.

“We don’t want to leave customers hanging," said Brian Dunn, Best Buy's president, according to The Times.

Circuit City has also pitched in by offering a complete credit for the return of an HD DVD purchased at a Circuit City store. However, the player must be returned within 90 days of purchase.

The New York Times reports that the Best Buy gift cards will be mailed automatically to customers who purchased HD DVD players by February 23 through rewards programs, the company's web site or those who purchased extended warranties. All others must show proof of purchase to get the card.

The card will not include an expiration date, The Times writes.

ClashFan · 03-19-2008, 09:48 AM

Nice gesture. I wonder if Sony/BD group is bankrolling this? I'm guessing not or they'd want to say so for PR purposes.

Stew4HD · 03-19-2008, 10:12 AM

What this doesn't say is: Would we need to return the purchase or do we just get the money, just because?

Brodee · 03-19-2008, 10:29 AM

An excellent gesture indeed. Looking forward to those $300 total in GC. And it doesn't look like I'll even have to return anything!

Too bad I bought two of my players after that February deadline.

Uvarules · 03-19-2008, 12:17 PM

that keeps on giving!

By the time I get the 50$ from BB, the price drops on the A-30, and the 9 total free HD-DVDs, I think they will have paid me to own this product.

Good stuff!!

pjc · 03-19-2008, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew4HD

What this doesn't say is: Would we need to return the purchase or do we just get the money, just because?

sounds like it's just because.....

Smthkd · 03-19-2008, 12:24 PM

No you actually have to return the item! Bestbuy sends you a shipping label and you send the item to a return center. They then send you a gift card for a specified amount in 7to 10 days!

junehhan · 03-19-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smthkd

No you actually have to return the item! Bestbuy sends you a shipping label and you send the item to a return center. They then send you a gift card for a specified amount in 7to 10 days!

The New York Times reports that the Best Buy gift cards will be mailed automatically to customers who purchased HD DVD players by February 23 through rewards programs, the company's web site or those who purchased extended warranties. All others must show proof of purchase to get the card.

The card will not include an expiration date, The Times writes.

According to this quote above, it sounds like you don't have to return anything. Can anyone verify this?

Smthkd · 03-19-2008, 12:46 PM

Just Verified! Thanks:

UPDATE!!!: Sorry but I have to retract my statement!!!! Just received this from Businesswire!!

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.

junehhan · 03-19-2008, 12:49 PM

That's awesome since that means that i'll be getting $100 back since I have the HD-A1, and had the X360 HD-DVD drive which I sold on Ebay. The sad thing for the buyer, was that he bought it from me for $102, and Microsoft dropped the price on it to like $80 the next day.

With that $100, I can buy GTAIV + a couple more HD-DVD movies, or maybe I should finally buy another gig of memory for my Laptop..............

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smthkd

Just Verified! Thanks:

UPDATE!!!: Sorry but I have to retract my statement!!!! Just received this from Businesswire!!

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.

DSNY FN · 03-19-2008, 12:54 PM

Hmm I wonder if they will do this up here for the Canadian customers LOL not likeley if they do I have 50 bucks coming my way for a few more HD DVD movies. Actually that would be 100 bucks as my second A2 was also purchased from them.

HDWANNABEE · 03-19-2008, 01:03 PM

Nice, $100 bucks. Maybe ill get another A-3.

pjc · 03-19-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smthkd

No you actually have to return the item! Bestbuy sends you a shipping label and you send the item to a return center. They then send you a gift card for a specified amount in 7to 10 days!

I see you've added to another post with the actual information...but FYI, you are semi-right. Best Buy has a trade-in site that will take HD-DVD players bought from any retailer as a trade in. You would then follow the procedure above. Look for the link on the main page of Bestbuy.com. It explains the gift card and the trade in.

junehhan · 03-19-2008, 01:23 PM

Here is something official from BB themselves. Enjoy!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....&type=category

An Important Message from
Best Buy for HD DVD Player Owners
For months, there has been much debate surrounding the two competing high-definition video formats: Toshiba's HD DVD and Sony's Blu-ray Disc. Recently, Toshiba announced that they will no longer produce HD DVD players, and movie studios have decided not to release new titles in the HD DVD format.

Exciting news if you bought your HD DVD player from Best Buy
As the owner of an HD DVD player, you may have concerns about these developments. At Best Buy, we are dedicated to making sure you always have the right technology for you. That's why we're offering you a complimentary $50 Best Buy gift card for each HD DVD player you purchased from Best Buy before February 23, 2008. (See details and qualifying models.) Use the gift card to treat yourself to anything you want in our stores or online. Most qualifying customers will automatically receive their complimentary gift card by mail in the coming weeks. If you qualify and haven't received yours by May 1, 2008, please call us at 1-888-BEST-BUY to verify your eligibility (have your receipt handy, if possible).

Good news (even if you didn't buy from us)
Be assured that your HD DVD player will continue to play existing HD DVD titles (and upconvert standard DVDs to near-HD quality) as it always has. If you purchased a Best Buy service plan with your HD DVD player, we will continue to honor it for the life of the plan. If, however, you wish to trade in your HD DVD player and HD DVDs, we offer a convenient way to do so via our Best Buy Trade-In Center. Beginning March 21, visit BestBuyTradeIn.com to get an instant estimate of the value of your HD DVD player and movies. See below for further information, along with additional resources that we hope you'll find helpful as you examine your options.

Chris Gerhard · 03-19-2008, 02:24 PM

Wish I had purchased a player at Best Buy. This is sure odd. Consumer audio video formats come and go all of the time and I don't ever recall owners of one that disappeared getting treated so well. HD DVD owners got to purchase players below manufacturing cost for the most part, the players work great, they received free software and now many owners get free money. It is certainly strange in my opinion. Anybody that paid attention had to have known from the start it was a long shot that the format would last as long as it did.

Chris

03-19-2008, 09:48 AM	#2
ClashFan Joe Strummer Lives! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 1,293	Nice gesture. I wonder if Sony/BD group is bankrolling this? I'm guessing not or they'd want to say so for PR purposes. __________________ My gear: 42" Philips LCD HDTV (768p) Onkyo TX-SR674 receiver JBL Venue fronts, Infinity TSS-1100 center Infinity TSS-1100 surrounds and rear surrounds JBL SUB12 subwoofer Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player (firmware 2.7) (100+ HD DVDs) Sony BDP-S550 BD player (32 BDs) Xbox 360 game console Comcast Motorola 6412 HDTV cable box Logitech Harmony 550 Remote 1 wife, 2 sons (ages 15 and 8)

03-19-2008, 10:12 AM	#3
Stew4HD Black Dog Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Sugar Land, Texas Posts: 7,695	What this doesn't say is: Would we need to return the purchase or do we just get the money, just because? __________________ ___________________________________ having been PURPLE all along in the format war does not make me a REDDIE or BLU-BOT... just a movie lover.. and a bit whacked for spending too much time arguing with thick people

03-19-2008, 10:29 AM	#4
Brodee Sex/Love < HD Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 145	An excellent gesture indeed. Looking forward to those $300 total in GC. And it doesn't look like I'll even have to return anything! Too bad I bought two of my players after that February deadline. __________________ Sony KDS-R70XBR2 1080p TV Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD Player Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player Toshiba HD-D3 HD DVD Player Toshiba HD-A30 HD DVD Player Toshiba HD-A35 HD DVD Player x2 Xbox 360 with HD DVD Add-on PS3 (for BD only) Sony STR-DE997 7.1 HD DVD's: 178 Blu-Rays: 50 SD DVD: 1116

03-19-2008, 12:17 PM	#5
Uvarules High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 38	HD-DVD is just like Christmas: that keeps on giving! By the time I get the 50$ from BB, the price drops on the A-30, and the 9 total free HD-DVDs, I think they will have paid me to own this product. Good stuff!! __________________ Mitsubishi LT-37131 1080P LCD TV Toshiba 34HF85 1080I CRT TV Toshiba 20HL67 1080I LCD TV Sony PS-3 Blu-Ray Toshiba A30 HD-DVD Player JVC RX-720DB AV Receiver X-BOX 360 X-BOX 360 HD-DVD Attachment DirecTV HR10-250 DirecTV HR20-100 DirecTV HR20-700 connected to VOD Niles 5.1 In-Wall Surround-Sound BIC Sub-Woofer

03-19-2008, 12:24 PM	#7
Smthkd BD Supporter/ HDDVD R.I.P Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,220	No you actually have to return the item! Bestbuy sends you a shipping label and you send the item to a return center. They then send you a gift card for a specified amount in 7to 10 days! __________________ Media/Family Room: HP MD6580n 1080p DLP Onkyo 705 Receiver Sony 400 Dics CD Player Sony 5 Disc DVD Player Toshiba XA2 (28 HD DVD's) Sony 120gig PS3 (80 Blu-Ray/12 Games) Infinity CC2; 4 Infinity RS5; 2 Infinity RS2 Velodyne DDS12; Directv HR20 Monster Power HTS2500 MKII Master Bedroom: Hitachi 55HDS69 Plasma; Toshiba A2, Sony STR-DA4ES; Velodyne DDS10 Directv - H20 Receiver Seating Room: Panasonic 34" Widescreen HDtv, Toshiba A2, Directv - H20 Receiver

03-19-2008, 12:46 PM	#9
Smthkd BD Supporter/ HDDVD R.I.P Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,220	Just Verified! Thanks: UPDATE!!!: Sorry but I have to retract my statement!!!! Just received this from Businesswire!! 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. __________________ Media/Family Room: HP MD6580n 1080p DLP Onkyo 705 Receiver Sony 400 Dics CD Player Sony 5 Disc DVD Player Toshiba XA2 (28 HD DVD's) Sony 120gig PS3 (80 Blu-Ray/12 Games) Infinity CC2; 4 Infinity RS5; 2 Infinity RS2 Velodyne DDS12; Directv HR20 Monster Power HTS2500 MKII Master Bedroom: Hitachi 55HDS69 Plasma; Toshiba A2, Sony STR-DA4ES; Velodyne DDS10 Directv - H20 Receiver Seating Room: Panasonic 34" Widescreen HDtv, Toshiba A2, Directv - H20 Receiver

03-19-2008, 12:54 PM	#11
DSNY FN High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Ont Canada Age: 39 Posts: 2,242	Hmm I wonder if they will do this up here for the Canadian customers LOL not likeley if they do I have 50 bucks coming my way for a few more HD DVD movies. Actually that would be 100 bucks as my second A2 was also purchased from them. __________________ HD IS THE ONLY WAY Bedroom setup Viewsonic N2752w Xpressvue 6100 Toshiba HD A2 Harmony 520 Livingroom setup Samsung HL-S5687WX Toshiba HD-DVD XA2 Xpressvue HD PVR Denon 3801 PSB Full surround Harmony 880 Nintendo GC Nintendo Wii (this console rocks) Mario Kart Wii friend code 4768-8283-5991

03-19-2008, 01:03 PM	#12
HDWANNABEE High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: VA Age: 25 Posts: 92	Nice, $100 bucks. Maybe ill get another A-3.

03-19-2008, 01:23 PM	#14
junehhan High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2006 Age: 28 Posts: 5,595	Here is something official from BB themselves. Enjoy! http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....&type=category An Important Message from Best Buy for HD DVD Player Owners For months, there has been much debate surrounding the two competing high-definition video formats: Toshiba's HD DVD and Sony's Blu-ray Disc. Recently, Toshiba announced that they will no longer produce HD DVD players, and movie studios have decided not to release new titles in the HD DVD format. Exciting news if you bought your HD DVD player from Best Buy As the owner of an HD DVD player, you may have concerns about these developments. At Best Buy, we are dedicated to making sure you always have the right technology for you. That's why we're offering you a complimentary $50 Best Buy gift card for each HD DVD player you purchased from Best Buy before February 23, 2008. (See details and qualifying models.) Use the gift card to treat yourself to anything you want in our stores or online. Most qualifying customers will automatically receive their complimentary gift card by mail in the coming weeks. If you qualify and haven't received yours by May 1, 2008, please call us at 1-888-BEST-BUY to verify your eligibility (have your receipt handy, if possible). Good news (even if you didn't buy from us) Be assured that your HD DVD player will continue to play existing HD DVD titles (and upconvert standard DVDs to near-HD quality) as it always has. If you purchased a Best Buy service plan with your HD DVD player, we will continue to honor it for the life of the plan. If, however, you wish to trade in your HD DVD player and HD DVDs, we offer a convenient way to do so via our Best Buy Trade-In Center. Beginning March 21, visit BestBuyTradeIn.com to get an instant estimate of the value of your HD DVD player and movies. See below for further information, along with additional resources that we hope you'll find helpful as you examine your options. __________________ X360 Gamertag junehhan Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD player -Klipsch RSW10 Subwoofer -Pioneer VSX1016TXVK reciever -Klipsch Synergy Quintet III 5 channel speakers AIM: jhhan80 HD-DVD's: Loving it! BD's: When we get a reasonably priced BDP with lossless decoders Everyone wants to live at the expense of the state, they forget that the state lives at the expense of everyone - Frederich Bastiat, 1848

03-19-2008, 02:24 PM	#15
Chris Gerhard High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,795	Wish I had purchased a player at Best Buy. This is sure odd. Consumer audio video formats come and go all of the time and I don't ever recall owners of one that disappeared getting treated so well. HD DVD owners got to purchase players below manufacturing cost for the most part, the players work great, they received free software and now many owners get free money. It is certainly strange in my opinion. Anybody that paid attention had to have known from the start it was a long shot that the format would last as long as it did. Chris

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