Trade In HD DVD For Blu-ray At Circuit City

Gizmodo has done some remarkable detective work and uncovered Circuit City's clandestine attempt to allow trade-ins for deadpool HD DVD players. Those who have bought HD DVD players can bring them back to Circuit City and trade them in for a Blu-ray player or a gift card refund for the original purchase price. Apparently Circuit City wanted to offer world-class customer service to their valued customers by not telling anyone about the return policy. Some employees are still denying that it exists. Here's an internal memo from a Circuit City employee forum that says otherwise...

HD DVD - The End. Toshiba stated in a press release that they will stop manufacturing and selling HD DVD players. The marketplace has spoken in favor of Blu-ray. We are delighted that consumers now will be able to invest with confidence in next-generation video disc players and titles. Based on Toshiba's announcement, we expect to phase out HD DVD players and movie titles in our stores and on our Web site in the near future. FAQs

Why will Circuit City continue to sell HD DVD players for the near future?

There are large numbers of HD DVD movie titles still in circulation and some customers will want to be able to view those titles.

Also, HD DVD players are very affordable and will continue to play and up-convert standard DVDs with improved quality. So, during the phase-out, some customers will want a DVD player equipped with upconvert technology (and the ability to play HD DVD titles).

When will HD DVD players and movie titles disappear from our stores and Web site?

That will happen in the near future, depending on sell-through rates while HD DVD products go on clearance. We have implemented the following price changes (make sure your floor is tagged correctly):

These are fully functioning "upconverting" HD/DVD players that are now competitively priced!

And, of course, don't forget the HDMI cable!

What about my HD DVD Endcap?

We're developing an alternate plan over the next couple of weeks. Please keep it up in the meantime.

Important: About Returns

Q; What about customers who may try to return an HD DVD player - even if they have owned it for several months?

A: We do not want to upset our valued customers. For this special circumstance, we are happy to offer an exchange for a Blu-ray player (customer plays any difference in purchase price) - even if it has been several months since the customer made their HD DVD player purchase. If the customer does not want a Blu-ray player, we can issue a gift card refund for their original purchase price. For products purchased in the last 30 days, handle as usual.

(Note: all open-box and defective Toshiba HD DVD players are Return-to-Vendor and must be sent back to Toshiba.)

As per policy, we will not accept refunds of opened HD DVD software.

What I'm curious about is the note at the end of the bold text detailing the return policy. Circuit City will accept exchanges of HD DVD players that have been owned for several months, but all open-box players need to be sent back to Toshiba. Does that mean, they only accept returns of HD DVD players beyond the 30 day return limit that haven't been opened?

Via Gizmodo

March 6, 2008

Trade In HD DVD For Blu-ray At Circuit City