Some Best Buys Dropping HD DVD

By : Chris Tribbey | Posted: 27 Mar 2008
ctribbey@questex.com

Best Buy is quietly removing HD DVDs from some of its stores, and offering deep discounts for the format war loser in others.

The electronics retailer has no formal plan for its stock of HD DVDs, according to Best Buy spokesman Brian Lucas, with some stores offering the discs for as much as 50% off, while others are making room for DVD and Blu-ray Discs only.

“Right now they're just being discounted, but some stores are pulling them off shelves, depending on their inventory,” Lucas said. “We're keeping an eye on the customer. Some have an HD DVD player that they still want discs for, but at a certain point it doesn't make sense to carry them.”

Lucas said Best Buy was “undecided” as to what it would do with unsold stock of HD DVDs.

Best Buy this month said it will ship $10 million in gift cards to customers who bought HD DVD players from the retailer, and also is offering a trade-in program at www.bestbuytradein.com.

Circuit City also announced this month it too will offer a trade-in option for HD DVD owners.