Sony Offers Blu-ray Rebate to German HD DVD Owners

In the latest advertisement from German retailer Saturn, Sony is offering 150 Euros off the purchase of a Sony BDP-S300 when current HD DVD owners turn in their used players. This is an outstanding deal for those high definition fans in Germany who would otherwise have been left with a very expensive paperweight. Currently this offer is only available in Germany. Admittedly, the Sony BDP-S300 is more expensive in Germany at 499 Euros ($737), so this offer brings the player down to a more familiar price of around $500. Even so, I'm sure there are plenty of people in US who would love to take advantage of a similar deal. Unfortunately for them, HD DVD adoption is much higher in the US, meaning a similar plan here would cost Sony hundreds of millions of dollars to execute. In other words, don't hold your breath.
Source: HiFi Forum (DE) | Permalink	Relevant for:

NJMetsFan  » Jan 29, 2008
Wow, that some great news...for Germans at least. Maybe they will offer something like that in the states within the year.

Teazle  » Jan 29, 2008
NA HD-DVD owners: ship your old player to Germany!

hubcityrider  » Jan 29, 2008
A very good deal for the Germans!!! Guess not as many idiots bought in2 hd-dud over there

Zazou  » Jan 29, 2008
Interesting tactic though, nontheless.

ESUNintel  » Jan 29, 2008
That's a smart move on their part. What are they going to do with the turned in HD-DVD players?

spyrmak  » Jan 29, 2008
nice!!!!!!!!

Zarathustra  » Jan 29, 2008
I love the idea! Not only are you gaining customers, you're draining theirs. With all those HD-DVD players they should have a bonfire in the name of a 2008 Blu victory! haha

Xerious  » Jan 29, 2008
is this part of the "concessions" that the BDA is planning? if so, good job BDA, make some new Bluboys and girls and give the good old middle finga to Tosh & Crew. It's slick, it's classy, and it's in-yo-face... your call Tosh!

Magic  » Jan 29, 2008
What an excellent idea. Hopefully this same marketing strategy finds its way to places outside of Germany as well.

GreatWhite83  » Jan 29, 2008
Sony dont have to do this, its a good move on their part, at least they are trying to help those who probably want to change to blu ray, or those people who were mis-sold hd-dvd in the shops. Not everyone follows the internet, so i think its a considerate move by Sony.

tru blu  » Jan 29, 2008
Great deal if you live in Germany. But Europe is mostly Blu, they should be doing this in the U.S. You're market is the only real hurdle. Can't wait to here what the reds have to say about this. They'll bring up some crap how we're so against Toshiba paying Paramount blah blah blah. I guess the gloves are off. At least Sony cares about those who took the red pill...

EvolutionCherry  » Jan 29, 2008
Thats awesome for the people of Germany. Can't be any more clear to the Paramounts, the Toshiba's, and the Universals that the party is over in camp HD DVD.

Rainman208  » Jan 29, 2008
Good idea.

Barulez2k7  » Jan 29, 2008
Smart move from Sony. Even it cost Sony millions of dollars but it will be a bigger profit later this year. This format war needs to be over very soon. Paramount, Toshiba and Universal needs to quit and move to Blu-ray. Enough said!!!!!

Malosch78  » Jan 29, 2008
Smart move from Sony ... I guess the 2 HD-DVD-owner in Germany are happy with this deal :-)

Shaman  » Jan 29, 2008
I'd sure to see this happen in North America it would another nail in the coffin!

CptGreedle  » Jan 29, 2008
What a deal! Go Germany! Now I don't think we can offer something that extreme in the states, but maybe some kind of incentive for HD DVD owners would be appropriate.

PaulGo  » Jan 29, 2008
In the US the cost of an HD-DVD player is also much less. A $50 trade in rebate would help ease the pain and cause a lot of people to go Blu-ray.

ibeetle  » Jan 29, 2008
I bet the hard core HD DVD fanboys would be furious at this. I remember Circuit City doing this when their Divix format failed after less than 10 months of being on the market.

TheTenth  » Jan 29, 2008
Germans are very Blu-ray active, they released a sound improved Phantom of the opera Blu-ray.

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