How to buy a Toshiba HD-A3 for $87

by Ben Drawbaugh, posted Nov 2nd 2007 at 11:39AM

The only thing better than buying last year's entry level HD DVD player for $99, is buying the latest for $87. While this might not be the most honest hack, we're pretty sure it's not illegal. Our friend Tyler from Format War Central decided to pick up an HD-A2 from Best Buy yesterday -- why not at $99? -- and noticed that in addition to getting two free movies, the receipt said he bought an HD-A3. So he figured he'd take Circuit City up on their "Low Price Guarantee" and upon displaying his Best Buy receipt they happily sold him a $300 HD-A3 for $87 (out the door) -- which also had two free HD DVDs in the box to boot.

Filed under: HD DVD

Tags: formatwar, HD-A2, HD-A3

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Low Ranked

h4ldol @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:51AM

Sad, the level HD DUD fans will stoop to...

Highest Ranked

TrentD @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:32PM

This is very ironic from the biggest troll on the internet, who tolls every single HD related thread to bash it. Shouldn't you be out protesting at Wal-Mart or something?

Neutral

Jeff @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:58PM

come on now, that all you got?

Neutral

mike @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:55AM

I still don't know whether I should buy one of these...because who is going to win? Will it be pointless?

Highest Ranked

John B @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:36PM

And why would it be pointless if you get **any** enjoyment out of it? Even if HD DVD does lose this war, it will take years to determine that. So, that's a few years that you could be watching HD content via HD DVD. And for $87 -- hell, even if you pay the full $299 for the HD-A3!

If you can get a few years of enjoyment out if it, then stop worrying about who will win or who will lose.

Neutral

Christian Otte @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:56AM

Hey, that's not his fault - that's just smart thinking :) .

Highly Ranked

david @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:05PM

Very slick guy. Glad he actually looked at his receipt. I picked one up at wallyworld today but they had them hidden in the back. You had to ASK for them. Now that I have both formats I can rest assured that I am too impatient to wait for an end to this nightmare format crap!

Neutral

DarkRogue @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:58AM

He must have f$cked up and entered the wrong SKU when ringing it up. Then all you need is an 110% guarantee... Where is your BB receipt?

Highly Ranked

DarkRogue @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:59AM

Nevermind I see it ...

Highest Ranked

Kris @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:01PM

Would someone ban this stupid h4Idol guy from posting here? I get so sick and tired of hearing his childish "HD DUD" remakers on every thread. This kid seriously has to be 12-13 years old and makes the blu-ray side look bad! Would someone please kick him in the crotch and give him blu-balls?

Neutral

MAK42868 @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:05PM

You can constantly post stupid remarks like that when you're 12 years old, skip school, and your parents aren't home. Or he's twenty-something, living at home, and never passed high-school. I bet J6P is his father and he's traumatized and taking it out on something he can phonetically spell (how do you spell HD DVD?) :)

Neutral

The1 @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:05PM

Nice.....................

Neutral

Alex @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:09PM

nice move!

Neutral

Robert @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:15PM

If anyone is interested Best Buy is selling the A3 for $199 right now, pick up at the store. A friend just picked one up over lunch. Comes with 2 HD DVDs in box, pick two more at BB, then get the 5 by mail of course.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8494435&type=product&id=1186003898783

Low Ranked

Kevin Murphy @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:21PM

So, some guy finds a way to get an HD DVD player he doesn't need for a silly price. This is news? I would think that "big box manager does something dumb" would rate up there with "dog bites man."

Neutral

Mike Botros @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:34PM

sure it's news. just like stories about how a lady buys her daughter a zune from walmart that has gay porn on it. or someone's laptop bursts into flames. why are you typing your comment on that computer that you don't need. you don't need a computer to eat or make money or buy clothes or stay warm. if you don't care don't read it.

Neutral

Smee @ Nov 2nd 2007 8:03PM

I agree Kevin, how is this news?
Some guy defrauds a legitimate business out of money and people are applauding it? I could understand the who ray people doing this , but pleaaaase.

I sent this through to engdgetBD, but apparently sony selling off Sony Pictures Animation to offset rising debt is less important new then this. Dosen't this studio produce, or at least potentially produce BR movies??
Hmmmm, apparently it's not news.
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/11660.cfm

Low Ranked

800lb Gorilla @ Nov 2nd 2007 8:37PM

Neutral

Corrado @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:25PM

Another story about HDDVD/BD turns into another fight over HDDVD and Blu Ray, I really dont get it, why do people feel so strongly about it, no body will die when the format "War" is done and dusted.

Anyone preaching the virtues of either format needs to grow up and fast/get laid more. Really its not that interesting. I have never understood brand loyalty, how stupid do you have to be to support a brand? Wow the marketing guys must be pissing them selfs, could you make it anymore easy for them? It always seems to be a handful of companies that attract fanboys too, I have never met a philips fanboy..............

But yeah carry on and each to their own and all that.

Highly Ranked

Morrison @ Nov 4th 2007 4:57PM

I'm a Philips Fanboi! It brought you the cd and dvd, and is dutch to b00t! Go Philips :O

Neutral

JeffDM @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:31PM

Yeah, get laid people! The acrimony is quite baffling.

But I don't get this story. I thought the policy was that it had to be the same model AND it had to be in stock. The A2 is NOT in stock in my area's BB stores. I managed to scrape up the $99 A2 deal from a Wal-Mart this morning. If it looks like they don't have them, just ask. Probably should call ahead to see if they are still there. Said store had like a total of eight HD titles, four of them HD-DVD.

Neutral

Mike Botros @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:36PM

the story is that the guy bought an A2 for $99, the receipt said A3. He took the receipt to Circuit city and bought an A3 for 10% less cause circuit city price matched to the misprinted best buy receipt.

Neutral

Dan in DCVA @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:45PM

Sorry:

H4Idol convinced to *me* buy an HD-DUD player. I just can't stomach the idea of being Blu-Ray owner if the fans are so childish and stupid. I can't be lumped in with them.

Highly Ranked

andyg8180 @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:10PM

kinda not the most honest thing to do... but meh, if circuit city wants to give you the latest model for the old price, then go for it...

For those still fence sitting, you can always use netflix till you are certain... Until then, you still have a new upconvert DVD player built in as well, and we know those things are easily going for over $100... So theres still some value there...

Highly Ranked

Scott @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:33PM

I convinced my parents to get the HD-A2 from Wal-Mart because their DVD player was acting up. Exactly your point, at least with this you have a nice upconverting DVD player to replace any older ones. I'm sure that's a common situation too so it'll be interesting to see the sales numbers.

Highly Ranked

bigglare @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:10PM

Maybe the store clerk was busy watching Transformers on HDDVD and really didnt notice the model number.

Highly Ranked

roger_huston @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:11PM

OK, but the BIGGER question here is not whether BD is better than HD DVD, the bigger question is whether this is just a one time thing or can we run down to BB and do the same thing?

Anyone else try the same thing?

- Roger

Neutral

Robert @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:35PM

Got an A2 here in Wisconsin this morning and it showed up as an A2 on the receipt. Bummer.

Neutral

Evan @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:44PM

Well if Circuit City has anyone that reads Engadget this is probably not going to happen for anyone else. I would imagine a company wide bulletin was just posted.

Neutral

Heffer @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:48PM

This war will end in a stalemate once LG and Samsung hybrid players come down in price. I don't think any format will be dated. I don't see it as a VHS/Betamax clone because the physical dimensions of the disc are the same. So I'd be easier to make a device that plays both.

Just like DVD R+/- and RW+/- wars.

Neutral

Iscariote @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:57PM

It's starting to look like this war will end in a stalemate on the consumer side and turn into a battle for manufacturing licenses.

They both show HD movies on my TV, and I can play either of them, now let's see who can pump out their discs cheaper.

Highly Ranked

Paul Fernandez @ Nov 2nd 2007 1:56PM

Hello all. Listen, the best thing for HD DVD and Blu-ray supporters to do is simply ignore childishly negative posts on this blog. Just don't respond; it only provides fuel for the fire. These folks know they can't pull this crap on AVSForum of Hi-Def Digest, so they come here for the attention they don't get at home (or from women, lol).

Re this little glitch, I wouldn't try it. Retailers will get wise to it real fast, and in six months, Toshiba's 3rd gen players will be cheaper anyway, moreso if Warner drops the atomic bomb and announces HD DVD exclusivity. Yes, this sounds like wishful thinking, but all of these announcements by major retailers like Wal-Mart, Sears, and K-Mart make me think they know something the rest of us don't.

Sony/Columbia, Fox/MGM and Disney vs Universal, Paramount and Warner in an epic battle for high-def market share? This would be akin to JLA vs Avengers. Or Thanos vs Darkseid depending on your viewpoint.

Neutral

Kooly @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:32PM

Maybe not illegal, but certainly immoral! Fraud does come to mind

Neutral

Interested Watcher @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:46PM

Dual format won't end in anything but an HD DVD win.

Assuming something alike to a DVD -R/+R scenario then with dual format players everywhere the studios will have no reason not to go with the most profitable and low cost solution.
Which is HD DVD.

But it will not come to that.

People will be glad about this week, the appeal for 'someone' to 'call' this format war was made and it has just been answered.

The retail industry just called the war for HD DVD.

Watch Warner go HD DVD exclusive in Jan 2008, others will follow (possibly after a short period of 'format neutrality' for decency's sake.....especially Disney once the 51gb TL HD DVD emerge).

Neutral

Alex @ Nov 2nd 2007 2:53PM

who cares if this is honest or not? How many people have BestBuy and CircuitCity screwed over with bait-and-switch ads, "lost" rebate forms, denied extended warranty claims, etc???

F* them, F* the way they do business, everyone get an A3 for $99!
(and then take your A2 back to Best Buy)

Neutral

Andy B. @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:32PM

Circuit City's price guarantee doesn't allow for this type of sale item...
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/lookLearn.do?cat=-13318&edOid=105471&c=1

Highly Ranked

med1320 @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:55PM

Well, Lets start at the begining. If you remember Toshiba invented the dvd we know and use today,
When dvds were first introduced LASER DISC was the thing of the future, Those 12" Lp record looking
discs that Pioneer was behind. We all know that Toshiba's dvd sunk laser disc fast. let's see, Sony had beta, Failed. Sony had mini disc, Failed. I believe Sony also had laser disc, failed also. Blu-ray will fail!

Neutral

JeffDM @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:11AM

The LD format example doesn't make sense. LD did do pretty well as a niche format. A LOT of movies were put on LD over its 20 years of manufacture.

Both Toshiba and Sony were made laserdisc players. Sony and Toshiba EMI made laserdiscs. I think it was Pioneer's format, I don't think it really belonged to anyone else except as licensees.

Neutral

GhostDoggy @ Nov 2nd 2007 9:23PM

Interesting. Last Tuesday I bought my second A2 from Circuit City for $197. Upon learning that Walmart and Best Buy were selling them for $99 today I tried to get a price adjustment. No deal. Why? Because two Best Buy stores and two Walmarts closest to me had nothing in stock and as a result Circuit City refused.

I had confirmed the lack of inventory nearest me as I've never seen these stores stock the A2 in the past four months. Anyway, learning of this and that I've decided to take back this extra unit as it just doesn't seem like its worth $197 in the face of all this.

Neutral

Mike @ Nov 2nd 2007 9:28PM

Don't any of you think about trying this. Technically speaking, this is fraud/false pretenses. He knows he didn't buy an A3 player, he knows he bought an A2 player. To commit fraud/false pretenses, you have to knowingly lie to get something of value (be it money or property) from your lie. By producing a receipt that says he bought an A3 to get a discount, he is defrauding Circuit City out of $213.

In most states there is a set amount that a person has to defraud- in Vermont, if you defraud someone out of more than $900, it's a felony: 10 years maximum, $2,000 maximum fine, or both. If you defraud someone out of less than $900, it's a misdemeanor: 1 year maximum, $1,000 maximum fine, or both. (13 VSA 47 � 2002)

Now, would anything ever happen to this guy? No. Circuit City almost certainly won't care, but both them and Best Buy better move quickly before more people try to take advantage of this.

Engadget, you might want to update your post with an explicit note for your readers to warn them not to try this.

Neutral

Dan in DCVA @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:20PM

I just realized something...

You folks buying the A2/A3 units DO realize it can't play Blu-ray right? That means NO good movies to watch except horrible Universal exclusives, all encoded under a lowly sub-par 29.4 Mbit/s...

Neutral

JeffDM @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:05AM

Most movies, Blu-Ray or not, don't even get near 30Mbps, so I think you're smoking a big crack pipe.

The typical rate I've seen is around 18-23MBps. You need to provide examples of Blu-Ray movies exceeding the 30MBps rate for a meaningful amount of time.

Besides, it's not just the exclusives that can be played, it's not as if an HD DVD disc can't play because it's also available on Blu-Ray.

Neutral

HDpurist @ Nov 4th 2007 8:54PM

Haha, you're the one smok'n the big crack pipe especially thu your *ss!!! There are hoards of BD discs that are encoded on average over 30 mbit/s, often reaching 40 (I'm talkin only video) - and 48 mbit/s including both vid and audio.

Neutral

JeffDM @ Nov 4th 2007 9:29PM

I call. If there really were tons of them, then you could have actually named several, but you did not bother to do that. As such, I just don't believe you.

Neutral

HDpurist @ Nov 4th 2007 9:41PM

I call. If there really were tons of BDs that "don't even get near 30Mbps", then you could have actually named several, but you did not bother to do that. As such, I just don't believe you.

But you are correct on that the low 30 or less mbit/s applies to only those films released on BD and HD-DVD, but the exclusives are often encoded way higher. HD-DUD is such a sub-par spec, it's slowing down the advancement of Hi-Def.

Neutral

JeffDM @ Nov 4th 2007 10:30PM

h4idol; I have not even seen any exclusive titles go far above 25. I'm talking Disney PoTC, Sony's Stealth and Black Hawk Down. The Spider-Man movie gets close to 30, and that's the highest I've seen so far. Sony's Memento averages at 20, in MPEG-2 and it looked great.

Neutral

HDpurist @ Nov 5th 2007 11:03PM

Many BDs go 30-40 mbits/s....Apocalypto, FF4:RotSS, Deja Vu, Spider-man 3, 28 Weeks Later, etc. Too many too list.

Neutral

Greg @ Nov 5th 2007 3:05PM

Funny that everyone gets on H4idol for being childish and rude, but not one of the HD DVD fanboys seem to mind the following poster calling the competing format "Blu Gay"?
How is that for childish, rude and downright stupid Prejudice?
Tells a lot more aboutthe average HD DVD fan mentality than a mere "HD DUD" imho.

Neutral

Andrew @ Nov 8th 2007 10:55AM

I think all of you are missing a big piece of this puzzle. I't s Sony's moral stance that will lead to the down fall of Blueray, even though Blueray is better technology. Sony will not License porn for Blueray, and the porn industry drives EVERYTHING... With HD DVD players cheap, and no porn on Blueray, it's just a matter of time. Just like VHS and Betamax... it's Pron that will be Sony's downfall. It's really a shame.

A

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