Japanese electronics retailer Edion has instituted a take-back program for its customers who purchased HD DVD players, offering to replace the units with Blu-ray players. That is true class.
Throughout March, customers can return any of seven Toshiba HD DVD decks and swap them for a BD unit from Sony, Panasonic or Sharp. If the latter is more expensive, customers need to make up the balance, but if it’s cheaper they’ll actually get a refund of the difference.
Honest / insane retailer swaps old HD DVD for new Blu-ray gear [DigitalWorldTokyo.com]
Wow, why would anyone give up their HD-DVD player for a crappy Blu-Ray? No ulta-sweet PIP, no superior upconversion of standard DVD’s, no downloadable update? And you have to buy into Sony’s proprietary, over priced, collusion-party with the studios.
Screw Blu-Ray – I’m hangin’ on to my HD-DVD player and waiting next year for kick-ass HD downloads.
David B.
Regardless of the pros and cons of the different formats, this is a very honorable – and likely profitable – thing for a retailer to do. Get Best Buy and the other US outlets to do this! Hats off to them.
David B,
How exactly is a Blue Ray players ability to upscale a normal DVD less superior than an HD DVD player?
No downloadable update? Depends on the player.
PIP? Gimmick. Not that big of a deal.
Sony’s propietary? You do know that Sony is only one member of the BDA right?
Screw Blue Ray all you want. Have fun wasting time and bandwidth on HD downloads.
This is kind of interesting. What if you were given the option to purchase a future proofing insurance for speculative purchases. Perhaps something similar to this program. Would it be worth $20 up front on competing technologies?
I guess this would only make sense for a certain length of time with certain technology. Of course innovators generally don’t care about price and have the resources to absorb failures. It is the early adopters and early majority that are more cautious. Perhaps a fit for that group to adopt a technology earlier.