How Best Buy is selling HD DVD

[sodrock]

I was at two Best Buys today to see the state of the war was looking like. And as I expected there are now 4 Blu-ray displays and 1 HD DVD. Their entire stock of the A3's and A30's out on the floor, "clearing them out". There were not less than 5 open box units on display, with a sign saying to ask customer service for additional units.

Secondly, one of the employees was educating a customer on Blu-ray, i.e. HDTV Blu-ray deal. And the customer wanted to see the Regza, it happened to be hooked up to an HD DVD player. Conversation below

Customer: "What is this?"
BB E: "Oh, that plays DVD up to 1080p."
Customer: "Oh, only DVD's"
BB E: "Well, they also play HD DVD's"
Customer: "I see, Toshiba is competing with Blu-ray"
BB E: "Well, they did up until two weeks ago. Blu-ray has won the war."

Just as I had thought, Best Buy is going to clear out the HD DVD players as Upconverting DVD's and push Blu-ray as the High-def format. Why would an employee say such a thing unless directed.

[Luis_A51]

nice
thanks for the good news

[kpkelley]

He could just be the rare intelligent BB employee.

[sodrock]

Originally Posted by kpkelley

He could just be the rare intelligent BB employee.

True. He seemed pretty matter of fact and was dancing around that it played HD DVD as opposed to confidently speaking of upconverting.


I would also like to post a pic but not sure how to do so.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by sodrock

Customer: "What is this?"
BB E: "Oh, that plays DVD up to 1080p."
Customer: "Oh, only DVD's"
BB E: "Well, they also play HD DVD's"
Customer: "I see, Toshiba is competing with Blu-ray"
BB E: "Well, they did up until two weeks ago. Blu-ray has won the war."

Just as I had thought, Best Buy is going to clear out the HD DVD players as Upconverting DVD's and push Blu-ray as the High-def format. Why would an employee say such a thing unless directed.

Nothing new I said BB was going to start doing this two weeks ago. BB want's to sell off all they're hd dvd players while they are still worth something.

[w_tanoto]

employees are still humans, and they got brain. This one is one that can be grouped as intelligent. I doubt BB dictate anything to him/her

[gand41f]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

employees are still humans, and they got brain. This one is one that can be grouped as intelligent. I doubt BB dictate anything to him/her

Actually, they might be telling their employees to try to sell them as upconverting DVD players. That way they will have less risk of a return when customers discover that Warner doesn't make HD-DVDs anymore or Universal or P/DW switch.

enjoy
gandalf

[darkwing]

makes sense, its the only way to sell them now

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by gand41f

Actually, they might be telling their employees to try to sell them as upconverting DVD players. That way they will have less risk of a return when customers discover that Warner doesn't make HD-DVDs anymore or Universal or P/DW switch.

enjoy
gandalf

or maybe toshiba itself telling the stores to sell it as upconverter

[sodrock]

Originally Posted by gand41f

Actually, they might be telling their employees to try to sell them as upconverting DVD players. That way they will have less risk of a return when customers discover that Warner doesn't make HD-DVDs anymore or Universal or P/DW switch.

enjoy
gandalf

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

Nothing new I said BB was going to start doing this two weeks ago. BB want's to sell off all they're hd dvd players while they are still worth something.

Yeah that is the point of my thread. It was just interesting to see it in person. Because I firmly believe the last nail for the coffin is in the hands of the retailers. I guess I should post this over on Highdefforum or highdefdigest, since most over there have their blinders on.

[sodrock]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

or maybe toshiba itself telling the stores to sell it as upconverter

I don't think you are too far off from this. But I sincerely don't think retailers are going to replenish their wherehouse.

[Dragonraine]

File this under Random Retail Report # 456888332

[blu-ray fan002]

That's great news. Has it been confirmed that Blu-ray has won (like HD DVD even has a chance)? I checked out a customer the other day at Hastings who was buying an HD DVD movie and he told me that he had been looking for that movie on that format all over town and couldn't find it anywhere but there (hastings). My first thought in my head was, "that because HD DVD sucks and nobody wants it." By the way he described how happy he was buying that HD DVD movie, he will be surprised when that DVD isn't worth anything.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

employees are still humans, and they got brain. This one is one that can be grouped as intelligent. I doubt BB dictate anything to him/her

Of course they are individuals, but they have been dictated to sell them as upconverts.

[davidPS3]

Hate to say it, but my local BB, which is one of the larger stores just gave HD-DVD back thier space from Blu. It was 6 sections to 2. Now it is 4 to 4.

[sodrock]

Originally Posted by davidPS3

Hate to say it, but my local BB, which is one of the larger stores just gave HD-DVD back thier space from Blu. It was 6 sections to 2. Now it is 4 to 4.

I think that is just to spread out the titles for those who still own an HD DVD to purchase a title they may not have seen before, to again clear out inventory. Let's face it the HD DVD rack is so condensed it hurts the eyes to look at; meanwhile the Blu ray racks have spaces between the movies themselves.

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

Of course they are individuals, but they have been dictated to sell them as upconverts.

Any good new tibits from your man and Best Buy?

[davidPS3]

Originally Posted by sodrock

I think that is just to spread out the titles for those who still own an HD DVD to purchase a title they may not have seen before, to again clear out inventory. Let's face it the HD DVD rack is so condensed it hurts the eyes to look at; meanwhile the Blu ray racks have spaces between the movies themselves.

I agree, but it is frustrating to see when the blu was spread out you could actually see movie covers on many titles and with the space now they are all turned sideways. Makes it a pain for those new customers to try to look or browse for titles.

[bdoc]

Originally Posted by blu-ray fan002

That's great news. Has it been confirmed that Blu-ray has won (like HD DVD even has a chance)? I checked out a customer the other day at Hastings who was buying an HD DVD movie and he told me that he had been looking for that movie on that format all over town and couldn't find it anywhere but there (hastings). My first thought in my head was, "that because HD DVD sucks and nobody wants it." By the way he described how happy he was buying that HD DVD movie, he will be surprised when that DVD isn't worth anything.

If he was that happy it's got worth to him... he wasn't out to buy the thing that had the most value in your mind.

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by mystiksuicide

Nothing new I said BB was going to start doing this two weeks ago. BB want's to sell off all they're hd dvd players while they are still worth something.

Its crazy the prices they are still going for on e-bay... aren't these computer age, informed persons ??

ps .. Mystic...noticed the change in your sig .. nice