Toshiba to have an INFERNO sale?

[mmmhome]

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2007/...hd-dvd-player/

[Stundra]

Some more information about that (in German):
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/92708
To summarize it:
* Low end player with 1080i max
* Time limited 99$ offer from July 22-29
* 3 HD-DVD titles included (not yet mentioned which)
* Offer to be announced at Home Media Expo (Las vegas)
Not officially confirmed yet!

[monkyman]

not the news we want to hear, as blu as I am, I would consider picking one up if the free movies are decent.

[Titus37]

This offer is only for people attending the Home Media Expo.

http://www.homemediaretailing.com/ne...ticle_ID=10894

[BluFox]

sounds like they are clearing stock

also:

The e-mail says "for more information and details on how to cash in on this PERFECT offer go to registration at next week’s HOME MEDIA EXPO."

So, it may well be an offer just for show attendees, although that would be most unusual... after all, if they're practically giving them away, they might as well actually give them away to influential people within the industry and the trade press.

http://www.dvddossier.com/2007/07/a2-toshiba-hd-d.html

[nhaase]

http://www.dvddossier.com/2007/07/a2-toshiba-hd-d.html

Here's the gist:

I just received an e-mail tonight from the folks at the EMA (Electronic Merchant's Association), who are responsible for a big industry event next week, the Home Media Expo. The e-mail is ostensibly an attempt to boost last minute attendance at next week's trade show, which will run July 16th - 19th in Las Vegas.

But the e-mail looks more like an ad for Toshiba than for the show itself. Even so, I found the pitch absolutely irresistible:

TOSHIBA HD DVD PLAYER for ONLY $99 PLUS 3 FREE HD DVD’s

For one week only, starting July 22, 2007, Toshiba will be offering the HD A2 player for only $99. With your purchase you will also receive 3 HD DVD's.

I can't tell if this is an offer being made exclusively to show attendees, or if it's a consumer offer that Toshiba will announce at the Home Media Expo next week at the Venetian Resort. I suspect it's the latter, although it's nearly midnight on a Friday night and I have no way of confirming that at the present time.

The story was updated, too:

Update 7/15/07 - 10:15 AM

Since we published this story late Friday night, it's been picked up by many other sites, some of which have declared it a desperate fire sale by Toshiba. Others say it's a great marketing coup that will have the HD DVD guys eating Blu-ray for breakfast.

And many of those who have commented say they're already making plans to purchase one of the low-priced HD DVD players, completely ignoring the caveat about it possibly being for show attendees only.

We've e-mailed the show's press representative for clarification; we'll let you know when we receive a response.

In the meantime, thanks for stopping by. Don't be a stranger! Bookmark us or add us to your RSS feeds or sign up for our weekly newsletter for information on the latest DVD releases and more industry news.

Anyone have any other info on this? If this is a consumer sale, then "fire sale" does not even begin to describe the desperation. If it's just to people who attend the trade show, it's still pretty bad.

[RUR]

Originally Posted by nhaase

Anyone have any other info on this? If this is a consumer sale, then "fire sale" does not even begin to describe the desperation. If it's just to people who attend the trade show, it's still pretty bad.

The HD DVD folks over on AVS are stating that this is for paid attendees only.

[hyperdine]

They might as well give them away for free. This is EXTREME desperation. Even if it's only for the show attendees. Maybe it's their "going out of business" sale

[bluflu]

That's $99 too much for a laserdisc player.

[gandley]

to be fair though, there not the first company to do this. In one UK show you could buy the Sony Ruby almost 2K yes 2K cheaper than retail.

I could list other deals i know show gowers have recieved, this is nothing new and in light of toshibas position is quite a good move on there part.

this is being blown out of proportion IMHO. other companys will have deals going as well.

[nhaase]

Thanks for clearing that up, RUR. I figured that cutting the price $200 even for just a week a bit too much money for MS to cover Toshiba on.

[Helicon]

Originally Posted by nhaase

Thanks for clearing that up, RUR. I figured that cutting the price $200 even for just a week a bit too much money for MS to cover Toshiba on.

Ba duuum tsss

[Cain]

I would get one for 99 ..

[dialog_gvf]

Is Toshiba Giving Away The Razor To Get You To Buy The Blades?

They make too little off the blades. They are giving away the razor in hopes other people will buy the razors at full price later.

I'm pretty sure that never works. The consumer quickly adjusts their price expectations. When they see others getting something for $99, they want it for $99 too.

So, unless the becomes a generally available deal, who is going to be buying an HD DVD player for $250 now?

Gary

[buckshot]

i'd get one......if they had a ''hidden'' blu ray capability as was hypothesized in a thread from a few days ago. i'd hate to be a toshiba shareholder, i'd be pulling my hair out at all these cost cutting promotions making tosh bleed money.

SELL SELL SELL

[kaliraver]

I read this story over at engadgethd.com

"Toshiba is running a short, promotional sale by selling its HD A2 HD DVD player for $99 with three HD DVD movies over at the Home Media Expo in Las Vegas. You may be thinking this is great news: but wait, there's a catch. Only attendees of the show will be able to take advantage of the deal, and with ticket prices of between $100 and $500, the deal isn't as great once you get in. Toshiba, maybe you should focus on reducing the prices for general consumers rather than running these awkward "promotions." The fact that you're trying to sell players at a conference reeks of desperation, which is weird since it looks like you've got nothing to worry about."

To me this is a real desperation move trying to sell their equipment over at a trade show. This isn't really good deal since it cost the attendees money to get into the expo.

[kaliraver]

Originally Posted by buckshot

i'd get one......if they had a ''hidden'' blu ray capability as was hypothesized in a thread from a few days ago. i'd hate to be a toshiba shareholder, i'd be pulling my hair out at all these cost cutting promotions making tosh bleed money.

SELL SELL SELL

Can you say fire sale

[159753]

In a last pitch battle against Blu-ray, according to Gizmondo, Toshiba is going to sell its HD A2 player for a week started on 22nd July for just US$99 with 3 free discs.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/dealzmodo...ies-278541.php

Talk about desperation!!

[clyon]

The "BUT" part is that you have to goto Las Vegas & goto a Home Media Expo. to get the $99 player.

[Cain]

Does it cost anything to go to that Home Media Expo ??