Sony Switzerland buys back HD DVD players

[Azumi]

Sony Switzerland has just launched an interesting initiative:

Any existing HD DVD owner (living in Switzerland) who buys a Sony S-300 or S-500 before the end of March, can "return" their HD player to Sony. They buy them back for 200 Swiss Francs (approx 190 US$) and will also throw in 6 Blu-ray movies.

A German store recently offered a similar promotion, but this initiative is different, because it's handled by Sony itself.

(warning: it's in French)
http://www.sony.ch/view/ShowArticle....=1203501622668

[HDJK]

Wow, way to go Sony

[Blaumann]

Well, that sure is a nice thing to do. Expecially for those, who got sucked into buying one of the cheap players during the last weeks before the demise. They will probably not have many HD DVDs, so they can get rid of their players and don't have to worry about having nothing to play their HD DVD collection on after the trade in (like me).

Sony doesn't have to do that, which makes the offer a really nice gesture imo.

[Annix]

it is a very nice gesture to get HD-DVDers over to Blu, but part of me thinks it's too much. Alot of us jumped in right at the begining and held to our beliefs that blu would win. It just somewhat seems that the losers are getting alot to switch to Blu. Basically about a $200 credit and 6 movies. I guess i'd just like to see the appreciation to Tru-Blu's who fought all the way with Buy-a-thon days and such but so is life i guess.

[Musashi]

I tried asking this before: Are the parts worth $200?
I've theorized that when Toshiba sold the their players so far under production cost, that what Sony's doing with the trade-in is a backfire they never saw coming. Toshiba's done selling HD players, but at this point I still wonder if it's the parts Sony's interested in, or just investing in Blu-ray.

[Beta Man]

what are the stipulations? It seems that people in Switzerland could order old, cheaper model HD DVD players, and turn them in for the cash and movies, and make out WAY AHEAD in the deal..... just order the $80 player online.....

[Nerdkiller likes BD]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

what are the stipulations? It seems that people in Switzerland could order old, cheaper model HD DVD players, and turn them in for the cash and movies, and make out WAY AHEAD in the deal..... just order the $80 player online.....

If only I lived in Switz. Then, I'll be havin' the bargin of the decade.

[Deacon220]

Well I guess it's a trend in the World that started a few decades back. Reward people who make poor decisions by subsidizing their mistakes.

[Zebulon]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

what are the stipulations? It seems that people in Switzerland could order old, cheaper model HD DVD players, and turn them in for the cash and movies, and make out WAY AHEAD in the deal..... just order the $80 player online.....

You have to know that here in Switzerland, actually a EP-30 still around 250 CHF (~230$), and in the deal, you have to buy a BDP-S500 or a BDP-S300. BDP-S300 is around 500 CHF (460$). I think it's much higher than in the US.

Anyway it's a good offer, but they are not taking risk as they was never firesale in Switzerland, and you have to had buy your HD DVD before the 26 Febuary.

I'm not aware about the number of unit sale in Switzerland, but I guess it should be pretty low (I don't have any relative that purchase hd dvd, and I have a lot of geek friends).