Black Friday high-def player deals
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Nov 16th 2007 at 10:33AM
There are two kinds of people when it comes to Black Friday; those who love it, and those who avoid it like the plague. But, for those who'll do anything for a deal the anticipation of Black Friday can be better than Christmas itself. So if you've got high-def movies on your list, Format War Central has done the leg work and composed a list of the deals to be had. As expected, HD DVD wins again in the price category, and so far it appears that an HD-A3 will be had for $169, while at the same time the best deal on a Blu-ray player appears to be at Circuit City, where you can expect to pick up a Samsung BD-P1400 with three free movies for $377. Of course the PS3 for $319 (with coupon) from K-Mart is a better deal, but people don't buy PS3s to play movies, right?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Adam @ Nov 16th 2007 10:44AM
Sorry...what does this have to to with deals on actual HD discs (movies)? Only players are talked about.
Kyle @ Nov 16th 2007 10:50AM
I agree with the last poster--I thought this was going to be about media deals. I had looked through all the BF ads and was shocked that none of the stores seem to be having any promos on HD media--just super-cheap prices on all the SD DVDs that are also available in an HD format. When are the HD-DVD studios going to off great BOGO deals like Sony and Disney--not that my wallet is ready to handle another BOGO sale?!
JustinID @ Nov 16th 2007 10:51AM
The best price on the A3 will be $169 (from Sears), not $199. Somebody should correct the article. ;)
Ben @ Nov 16th 2007 11:03AM
Opps, thanks for the correction.
Mike @ Nov 16th 2007 6:28PM
Actually, the best price for the A3 (so far) is $149.97 @ hhgregg. Maybe time for another revision? ;)
Tim H @ Nov 16th 2007 11:10AM
I hate plaque... it makes my teeth feel so gross and slimy...
prateeko @ Nov 16th 2007 11:12AM
Awww, I thought this was going to be about cheap discs...
Ryan @ Nov 16th 2007 11:22AM
I was in BJ's last night and I saw them selling a Sony BDP-S301 for $349 after an instant rebate...
I'm an HD-DVD supporter but that seemed like a pretty attractive price which is why I took note of it.
Shack @ Nov 16th 2007 11:46AM
Samsung BD-P1400 $339.99 at Amazon.com with free shipping and no tax (in Texas).
HD Tom @ Nov 16th 2007 11:32AM
1 - "Black Friday high-def disc deals." 2 - "I did not have sex with that woman .... Miss Lewinsky." 3 - "Mission Accomplished." .... what do the three have in common? They are all inaccurate statements. I get all excited about this post, then I see it's about HD-DVD and BluRay players rather than disks. I already have my HD-DVD player and now I'd like some cheap disks. WTF?? I don't doubt there will be some on sale, though, especially at Wal-Mart.
Don @ Nov 16th 2007 11:49AM
Well played.
Eduardo @ Nov 16th 2007 11:50AM
Ryan: Where is BJ?
Ryan @ Nov 16th 2007 1:25PM
BJ's is a wholesale club like Costco or Sams. It might not be in a lot of areas, but I know they have them in Florida and I've seen them in the Northeast as well.
Joe Maki @ Nov 16th 2007 12:17PM
Amazon has a "Customers Vote" for holiday deals. Currently under the "Go High-def" round the HD-A35 is in the lead. If it wins some 500 voters wil have chance to pick one up for $149.
http://promotions.amazon.com/gp/holiday/amazon-customers-vote
Yes, I know this is a player, not media deal.
Godfa7h3r @ Nov 16th 2007 12:21PM
"...but people don't buy PS3s to play movies, right?"
No they don't as you've stated:
"...only 40% of PS3 owners realize that there is a Blu-ray player built in..."
And only 50% of that number (down to 20% total here) have actually used it as a BR player.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3161833
Gotta love this place though. Quote from Ben when HDDVD players were being sold for $99 at Walmart:
"In the world of consumer electronics, 90k isn't that impressive..." that was in a single weekend mind you.
But when the PS3 moves 100K in an entire week, it's a big deal. Even though by your own statistics, an absolute MAXIMUM of 40K know it's a BR player, and 20K will be using it as a BR player.
To sum up Ben's math:
90K standalone HDDVD players sold in a weekend isn't a big deal
20K PS3's sold in a week that are being used as BR players is
MJD @ Nov 16th 2007 12:28PM
FYE or Sears has HD DVD titles for $16.95 on Black Friday. I'm thinking it's FYE.
joe @ Nov 16th 2007 1:53PM
"90K standalone HDDVD players sold in a weekend isn't a big deal"
You meant to say 100k in a MONTH.
That makes the 80k ps3's far more competitive and gives you perspective about the growing gap given that 90k was due to a special 1 time deal.
JermTool @ Nov 16th 2007 1:59PM
You're so smart. You just made Ben look so dumb. You should feel so good. Can I meet you? Please? Engadget should employ you. What are they thinking? Are they even thinking?
Cash @ Nov 16th 2007 3:35PM
People don't buy PS3's to play games either, apparently. So saeth EA's latest financial reports.
HD Tom @ Nov 16th 2007 1:03PM
Like I said before, look for Wal-Mart to step up big here. They're BF ads have been put on ice due to legal issues from what I've seen. I'm sure they'll be offering quite a discount on disks of both formats.
John @ Nov 16th 2007 1:54PM
I would encourage anybody that wants to buy a great player (A35) for dirt cheap ($149) to vote on Amazon :
http://promotions.amazon.com/gp/holiday/amazon-customers-vote
Godfa7h3r @ Nov 16th 2007 2:27PM
@Joe
Where do you come up with 80K PS3's in a month and 100K HDDVD players in a month? Please link to your sources.
And it is to 90K in a weekend. Read the headline:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/07/90-000-hd-dvd-players-sold-in-one-weekend/
And my point isn't to discredit Ben or EngadgetHD and their statistics. It's to further prove that this website is riddled with bias.
The guy can not write an article without throwing in his two cents towards Blurary
Joe Maki @ Nov 16th 2007 2:57PM
>> The guy can not write an article without throwing in his two cents towards Blurary
They are bloggers not journalists, Bias is in the bloggers bill of rights. I think it's number 3 :)
AshDraven @ Nov 18th 2007 4:15PM
That Samsung BD-P1400 is already available with 8 free movies (movie offer is a send away, not in store) at Costcos as we speak, for $379.99.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Nov 16th 2007 2:46PM
Buy.com has that BD-P1400 player for $329.99 (with $10 google checkout)
MJD @ Nov 16th 2007 2:53PM
Wal-Mart gets to set back and look at the landscape in EVERY category by not releasing their Black Friday deals. This gives them a little more power to make late tweaks, but I'm sure they've hit the printers by now.?? It's only a guess, but I bet they offer HD DVD for $149 with Sears coming in at $179. Wal-Mart is notorious about wanting the BEST listed price.
I also expect them to be very hot on HD DVD and Blu Ray movie prices. With FYE at $16.98 on HD DVD titles, I bet Wal-Mart comes in around the $15 range on both formats.
They're movies on both formats that I've been holding off on with crazy retails, I'm hoping we see an adjustment starting Black Friday:-)
shootnstr8 @ Nov 16th 2007 3:22PM
NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART IS SELLING THE SONY 300 BLU-RAY AS WE SPEAK FOR $349, BLACK FRIDAY WATCH OUT!
John B @ Nov 16th 2007 3:34PM
Please buy a new keyboard. Your Caps Lock is clearly malfunctioning. This has been a public service announcement.
EEL @ Nov 16th 2007 3:55PM
@ Ben Drawbaugh
"Of course the PS3 for $319 (with coupon) from K-Mart is a better deal, but people don't buy PS3s to play movies, right?"
Ok, you made me laugh to day. Great job.
But seriously, with the price of BluRay players, I can't blame anyone that would buy a PS3 to use it as a BluRay player ONLY. But it's still a gaming system that hasn't had anything going for it since its release a year ago other than Blu. Hopefully by the end of this year, we can all say otherwise.
Also, I'm a little surprised that Sony or Samsung aren't trying to unload any Profile 1.0 players despite the fact it can't take firmware upgrades at a matching price to HD-DVD.
TheCow5 @ Nov 16th 2007 4:35PM
Can someone help me with this as I seem to be missing something.
A standa-lone Blue Ray player (SONY 300 BLU-RAY)is 349$ and a Sony Playstation 3 with built in Blue Ray player is 349$.
The stand-alone HD DVD player is selling for 99$ to 150$.
If you want it for you home theater to play HD movies and your not going to be playing games, which do you buy.
Susanna @ Nov 16th 2007 5:29PM
Hey, I work for Circuit City and its not published yet but we are having an online sale (web-only) starting on Sunday at 10 a.m. There will be great HD products on sale. I'm not sure about the Blu-ray that is called out here but I thought I might share.
There are going to be daily special deals starting Sunday through Wednesday Here is the URL www.circuitcity.com/countdown
I hope this helps.
MJD @ Nov 17th 2007 4:31PM
Ben, you may want to udate the article one more time;-) I've got HH Gregg at $149 on the HD DVD Toshiba A3.
http://www.black-friday.net/bf/hhgregg-black-friday.html
I guess you have to paste the link. I still say Wal-Mart tops this price.
dos @ Nov 17th 2007 11:20PM
i dont see the kmart $319 deal?
Susanna @ Nov 19th 2007 9:42AM
Hey all, I mis-wrote the URL for the circuit city sale. Here is the correct one: www.circuitcity.com
Hope you find some good deals.
Bryan @ Nov 22nd 2007 1:34PM
There's a samsung BDP1400 for 298.88 after 100 "instant rebate" at Brandsmart in Atlanta. Comes with 8 blu-ray movies (mail-in coupons ofcourse but not a bad deal