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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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

[yankeedawg21]

At the Best Buy I work at we have like 15 HD DVD players only 4 of them are new the rest are all returns. Also our system shows no replenishments on them for our next 2 trucks and last nights truck had none

[blu-rayfan101]

Nice!

[Maxell]

The only "direction" that is told is from supervisors or managers of each store. This is not a corporate strategy so far. As much as the stores look the same, every store and every employee is different.

[GTsmokeya]

I work at CC and have only 2 blu-ray players left in stock and alot of hd-dvd players. To give you a snap shot the area I work in has alot of money and a guy today asked if we carry the $800 hd-dvd player I was suprised and said no I am sorry we dont, I asked why out of curiousity and he said I just want it for the upconversion its rated the best. He than asked how much the panasonic blu-ray player was going for and said he already has one. I almost laughed at the fact he did not care about its cost or hd-dvd playback.

GTsmokeya

[Marcusarilius]

Originally Posted by GTsmokeya

I work at CC and have only 2 blu-ray players left in stock and alot of hd-dvd players. To give you a snap shot the area I work in has alot of money and a guy today asked if we carry the $800 hd-dvd player I was suprised and said no I am sorry we dont, I asked why out of curiousity and he said I just want it for the upconversion its rated the best. He than asked how much the panasonic blu-ray player was going for and said he already has one. I almost laughed at the fact he did not care about its cost or hd-dvd playback.

GTsmokeya

Dangerous combination. Stupid People with Too Much Money! Good for the economy though.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by Maxell

The only "direction" that is told is from supervisors or managers of each store. This is not a corporate strategy so far. As much as the stores look the same, every store and every employee is different.

Do you work for BB corporate?

[pitabun]

Originally Posted by Maxell

The only "direction" that is told is from supervisors or managers of each store. This is not a corporate strategy so far. As much as the stores look the same, every store and every employee is different.

Of course its a corporate strategy!!!!

Do you think each BestBuy gets to pick and choose which products to sell?

Corporate just sends them a shipment. They have no control over what they are being sent! Also, its not like they have printers in the back printing all of those labels and editing them to their choosing.