Amazon.com is the latest company to offer some special consideration for its HD DVD customers. While stores like Circuit City and Wal-Mart have extended their refund policies, Best Buy opted for gift certificates because they recognized that some people might still want to keep their players and might be due to purchase some new movies on HD DVD, or perhaps they might take a peek at other items like a Blu-ray player or USB hub.
Add Amazon to that $50 gift certificate club. If you purchased an HD DVD player from Amazon.com before February 23, 2008, then check your email for the following letter that was sent out this morning:
Dear Amazon.com Customer,
As someone who purchased an HD DVD player from us before February 23, 2008,* you might like to hear about a special offer available from Amazon.com.
New technologies don’t always work out as planned. We at Amazon.com value our customer relationships more than anything and would like to support customers who purchased these players by offering a credit good for $50 off any products sold by Amazon.com.** Just use promotional code ****-******-****** when checking out. The code is valid through April 9, 2009, so you have plenty of time to use your credit. Purchases from third-party merchants on our site are not eligible.
In addition, we’d like to share some of our top offers on Blu-ray discs , HDTVs , and other high-def technology and remind you that the Amazon.com Marketplace is available to sell items you might not want anymore as you upgrade to new ones. Also be sure to check out our monthly Amazon.com Early Adopters Delivers e-mail to find out about the latest technology.
* On February 23, 2008, the last manufacturer of HD DVD players announced it was ceasing production of those players.
** Offer cannot be used to pay for special-order titles, e-books or downloadable e-content, wireless service plans, gift certificates, gift-wrap, taxes, or shipping and handling charges. $50.00 promotional credit is per HD DVD player purchased prior to February 23, 2008–up to 10 units for a maximum credit of $500.00.
You are receiving this e-mail due to your purchase of a qualifying HD DVD player from Amazon.com. Canceled or returned orders of eligible HD DVD players are not eligible for this promotion.
You have a full year to redeem this $50 coupon on a purchase at Amazon, and it can be on anything they sell. As for me, I’m going to use it on a wireless mouse I’ve had my eye on…
April 9th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Any idea if this offer extends to the 360 add-on?
April 9th, 2008 at 8:56 am
I think I read a reader comment at some site where someone said they had a 360 add-on and got the email this morning.
The thing to note is that you need to have purchased the player straight from Amazon itself and not one of their associated vendors. Even though your transaction might have been processed at Amazon.com, if your player actually came from Beach Audio, J&R or some other place, then I don’t think those purchases qualify for this promotion.
April 9th, 2008 at 10:38 am
@ Blake: I would assume so. I bought both an A35 and an XBOX 360 at Amazon. I am only getting one $50 back as I purchased the XBOX 360 add-on on the 27th of February. Better than nothin’.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Hmm.. I bought the 360 add-on on 2/6 and didn’t get that email… think I’ll be contacting customer service about that!! My HD DVD player was definitely sold by amazon and not another seller so I don’t know why I didn’t get a promotional code..
April 10th, 2008 at 8:06 am
ah, good news to anyone else who did not receive an email w/ promotional code: I contacted customer service and referenced my order and they sent me a code within 90 minutes.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:33 am
@Megan,
Did you call Amazon, or did you email them?
April 10th, 2008 at 10:25 am
I emailed them. I referenced my order in the email as well so they could look it up easier.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:37 am
this sucks. I bought my player at wal mart. I aint giving it up for nobody. Why cant they do something nice like amazon and best buy. Stupid wal mart
April 12th, 2008 at 8:07 am
I used my code to buy more HD DVDs.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Ahhh…… I miss the days of many comments and newsworthy stories. I guess I will just go back in my room and wait for the Rapture!
But on the lighter side of things, Deep Discount e-mailed me today telling me some of the titles I ordered will not ship due to being discontinued by the manufacturer. Wait that is not good news at all! I guess it really is nearing the very end. Anyone else have a problem with HDDVD being discontinued and having items that cannot ship? Also the prices (@ DeepDiscount.com) went back to “normal” pricing before this “fire” sale begain to $22 a copy for HDDVD. Best Buy also has stopped any sort of sales on their HDDVD titles, a little depressing. WalMart’s in store pricing has remained the same with older titles at $17 and “newer” releases at $29.96 and up. I know my local FYEs have stopped carrying new HDDVD titles, but still have pre-owned titles in some stores (sidenote both FYEs near me also have not expanded their Blu-Ray either!). Also the FYE website has stopped selling HDDVD titles all together.
Another note, this is what I consider good news, Hi Def Digest at least keeps the reviews even both for Blu and HDDVD. They do a great job reviewing HDDVD imports and the like.
Long Live HDDVD!!!