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Amazon Handing Out $50 to HD DVD Victims

Following up Best Buy's $50 pledge to HD DVD victims, Amazon is also doling out a $50 credit to anyone who bought Toshiba's folly before Feb. 23, 2008. Naturally, they're encouraging you to use it on a shiny new Blu-ray player, but you could use it to take advantage of their HD DVD fire sale. Unfortunately, they're not doing trade-ins, so this is all you're gonna get. Check out the email below for all the fine print.

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 PROMO CODE HERE 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 email 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.

[Thanks Andrew]

11:59 AM on Wed Apr 9 2008
By matt buchanan
8,884 views
25 comments

Comments

kramthegram at 12:13 PM on 04/09/08
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Wait a sec, I bought a xbox 360 hd-dvd player and I didn't get this email, what a rip off!
aurf at 12:19 PM on 04/09/08
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That's exactly what I bought and I got the email. Email them.
Slap Bet at 12:20 PM on 04/09/08
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Whoever this andrew clown is, I can't believe he got this in before me. @kramthegram: I would email them, I bought mine in october and they emailed me.
lburgguy at 12:24 PM on 04/09/08
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Darn. So I could have gotten an upscaling DVD and HD-DVD Player for around $100, plus a bunch of free movies a couple of months ago. Then come April, I get $50. I knew I should have bought one.
frigg at 12:37 PM on 04/09/08
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Connectedness Index: 78
Brought to you by Acura TSX

@lburgguy: It's still loose-loose, for reasons that are hard to pin down.
frigg at 12:38 PM on 04/09/08
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Connectedness Index: 78
Brought to you by Acura TSX

*errr.... "lose-lose"
h0mi at 12:40 PM on 04/09/08
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I wished CC had done this with the 360 add on.
Hvedhrungr at 12:42 PM on 04/09/08
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frigg is right.
And even if you wanted it just for the upscaling, you'd be replacing it sooner or later with a full-blown next-gen player in any case.

However, the point remains that the "new DVD" will have a hard time selling because to appreciate the higher definition, you need a new TV set, a player, and discs that cost 2-5 times as much as regular DVDs. And with content available in digital form (as opposed to physical), I don't think Bluray will turn out to the be profit machine Sony is trying to market it as.
jigsawfallingintoplace at 12:49 PM on 04/09/08
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"Amazon is also doling out a $50 credit to anyone who bought Toshiba's folly after Feb. 23, 2008."

I think you meant before...
ripfire4 at 12:50 PM on 04/09/08
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"HD DVD Victims"

You make it sound like a natural disast... Aaahhhh. Hehe. Good one.
AndyDuncan at 01:02 PM on 04/09/08
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The more retailers that start offering this the more I'm convinced it's part of a deal with Toshiba.
Canadian Impostor at 01:09 PM on 04/09/08
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I emailed Amazon since I didn't get the email myself. I bought the 360 player in August of 2007. Here's hoping I get $50, I like free money.
kelptocratic at 01:26 PM on 04/09/08
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I just got off the phone with Amazon - the $50 is automatically applied to your account assuming you qualify. I didn't get the e-mail yet; however, you'll only see it when you checkout - there will be an apply promo checkbox. So yeah, if you bought the player, check your account before wasting your time with customer service!

Also, here's to GTA4 for 9.99!
peterfnet at 01:26 PM on 04/09/08
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Huh? I'm confused. Did blu-ray win?
SomeoneUKno at 01:39 PM on 04/09/08
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Giz: "Following up Best Buy's $50 pledge to HD DVD victims, Amazon is also doling out a $50 credit to anyone who bought Toshiba's folly after Feb. 23, 2008."

Amazon: 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."

Ummm Matt, maybe you should read the email again..
Jugernot at 02:03 PM on 04/09/08
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For those who haven't recieved their code yet, Amazon customer service told me to use the form below (click the email link and put in your order number) and they replied a minute after I filled it out saying I'd get my code late today or tomorrow:

[www.amazon.com]
Jugernot at 02:18 PM on 04/09/08
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I emailed Amazon.com customer service and they told me to use the link below ot request my gift cert. I did and 1 minute later got a reply saying my order was eligible and I would be receiving it today or tomorrow.

Make sure to use the "Email" portion and include your order number:

[www.amazon.com]
Canadian Impostor at 02:26 PM on 04/09/08
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I just got an email reply from Amazon:

"Thanks for writing to us at Amazon.com.

I have checked your account and can assure you that your $50.00 promotional certificate has been automatically redeemed onto your account. You will not receive a claim code.

When you place a qualifying order, you should see the promotional funds listed in the order cost summary that appears just before you submit your order. As long as the order qualifies, you will not need to do anything to receive the promotional discount."

I cut off the list of terms and conditions, but at least in my case it seems that emailing them helped. Cool.
mikemacman at 02:43 PM on 04/09/08
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I bought an Xbox 360 HD DVD player in Sept 2007. I have not received a promo code in email. I also tried to buy some things on Amazon and the discount was not applied to my cart. I have emailed Amazon asking them to check on my account.
mobilehavoc at 02:48 PM on 04/09/08
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Just write an email to Amazon...I did and 5 mins later they responded with my claim code. Sweeet! I have had the Toshiba HD-A2 since last March 2007 so I'll gladly take the $50.
BostonPimpDaddy at 03:56 PM on 04/09/08
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Amazon is THE BEST!
ZildjianKX at 04:06 PM on 04/09/08
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CC sucks... teach me to buy from them.
BostonPimpDaddy at 04:58 PM on 04/09/08
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@ZildjianKX: There's a reason they are called Circuit Shitty
FLskydiver at 11:29 PM on 04/09/08
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Amazon.com. Best customer service of any company in America.
hypnotoad at 11:22 AM on 04/12/08
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I got the 360 Elite bundled with the HD-DVD drive back in August, and it qualified for the $50 credit. Thanks Dealzmodo!