Gizmodo: Target

Which of the EIGHT Versions of the Iron Man DVD Should You Buy?

matt buchanan — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:00:00 EDT

Okay, so you don't have a Blu-ray player and you're not getting a new Dell. That still leaves you with eight—EIGHT—different versions of Iron Man to choose from, with everyone from Walmart to Borders hawking their own exclusive kit. Best Buy's might be the most exquisitely fanboy fapworthy, ~~encasing~~ with the flick and a custom lithograth, plus a Mark III mini-bust made by Sideshow Collectibles. Here's a guide to the rest, which we've placed in order of awesomeness, if you need some help deciding.

Target also goes the Iron Man trophy head route, though it just has the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition, in both DVD and Blu flavors, inside.

FYE and Suncoast deliver the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition in a superclassy steelbook case that I really, really like.

Walmart waltzes in with not one, but two exclusives, though only the first one matters to you: Ultimate 2-Disc edition with an exclusive Nick Fury comic. The other packs the first ep of the Iron Man animated series in with the single disc edition of the movie.

Costco's gift set throws in a bobblehead of each Iron Man suit from the movie. Feh for bobbleheads.

Borders rolls with a collectible book loaded with sketches and the top 24 Iron Man comic covers.

Circuit City gives you access to some exclusive Marvel Digital comics, snore.

Kmart and Sears are knocking five bucks off the Ultimate Edition if you buy $25 in Craftsman tools. I'm...not really sure what's going on there either.

Which version are you going to pluck from this overloaded orgy of marketing? This "exclusive" crap—and most of it is crap—has really gotten out of hand. Update Best Buy is just selling the bust, the DVDs aren't in it, as some of you guys pointed out.

On September 30th, Paramount Home Entertainment will release the critically acclaimed box office smash IRON MAN: 2-DISC ULTIMATE EDITION on DVD and Blu-ray!

With this release comes EIGHT fantastic retail exclusives! Below, you will find details and article work on these eight exciting, exclusive offers!

Here are the details for these Eight Exciting Retail Exclusives:

**Circuit City - Access to exclusive Marvel Digital Comics featuring the artwork of Adi Granov.

**Best Buy - Custom Lithograph created by Marvel artist Gerald Parel.

**Target - Target Deluxe Edition includes exclusive Mark III mask packaging. Available on both the Ultimate 2-Disc Edition and 2-Disc Blu-ray.

**Costco - Giftset includes the Ultimate 2 Disc Edition DVD and 3 Iron Man Bobbleheads, with all 3 Iron Man suits from the film. Giftset includes the "Battle Damaged Mark II", available exclusively in this giftset at Costco.

**Walmart - Two exclusive SKUs. Ultimate 2 Disc Edition packed with an exclusive comic book chronicling the Nick Fury story. The single disc giftset is packed with the 1st episode of the new Iron Man animated series.

**Kmart & Sears - Save $5 on the Ultimate 2 Disc edition with any $25 Craftsman purchase.

**Trans World - FYE and Suncoast Exclusive Steelbook Package available on the Ultimate 2- disc Edition. (pictured above, left)

**Borders - On pack collectible book featuring original sketches by Bob Layton and the top 24 comic cover of Iron Man.

[Paramount]

Verizon Waited Almost Four Days to Help Authorities Find Body of Missing Woman

Sean Fallon — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:20:00 EDT

Despite repeated pleas from family, friends and the FBI, Verizon took its sweet time getting around to helping out in the search for woman in Kansas City who was last seen being abducted on camera in a Target parking lot. When a technician did finally arrive three and a half days after being initially asked, they were able to locate her body within 45 minutes using her cellphone as a guide. The authorities believe that Verizon's participation could not have had an impact on her death, but they are struggling to figure out why they took so long to help out. Was it laziness or incompetence?

The Johnson County District Attorney, Phill Kline is leaning towards the latter explanation:

There was a lack of understanding on their end of what they were incapable of doing. I was on the conference call with Verizon, and we had three technicians telling us different things and using different terms, and we can't guess their mind. We've got a girl that's missing. We have a girl that's missing, we have a likely abduction, we need to find her.

So far, Verizon has not offered up an official explanation. Whatever the reason, Verizon really dropped the ball on this one. Obviously, their actions in this situation lead to two or three extra days without closure for the family of the deceased. In case you were wondering, Target went out of their way to help on their end. So at least we know that they can be trusted should something terrible go down while you are perusing their electronics department for batteries.[Fox via Consumerist]

60GB XBox 360 Shows Up in a NYC Target

Sean Fallon — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:57:21 EDT

If you are too impatient to wait for an August delivery, you should know that a 60GB console has shown up on the shelves of a NYC Target. It's not a guarantee that your local store will have it in stock, but might be worth a trip just in case. [Penny College]

Xbox 360 Pro Hits $299 at Target

Jason Chen — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:40:00 EDT

The Xbox 360 price drop has pretty much gone official, with Target offering an in-store price of $299.99. The only thing weird about this is that it's not the rumored 60GB version that we thought was coming, so it's possible that Target is just clearing out old inventory for the new SKU? We won't know anything for certain until someone from Microsoft gets up on stage and says it. Or until they put out a press release. [Target]

Rumor Dealzmodo: $299 Xbox 360 with $25 Gift Card

Mark Wilson — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:30:00 EDT

The worst-kept secret in the video game industry has to be Microsoft's upcoming $299 Xbox 360 Pro (surely, only because Microsoft wants it that way). Now a Target ad seems to have leaked revealing an even better deal. Starting this Sunday when the cheaper 360 goes on sale, they'll give you a $25 gift card with purchase. That essentially brings the 360 down to $275...which is so much more justifiable than that $350 pricepoint, no? [Xbox360Fanboy]

Rumor Smashed: Target NOT Going Totally Blu-ray Exclusive

matt buchanan — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:50:00 EST

Fire out of the Philips press conference was that Target was going Blu-ray exclusive, a rumor that had already made the rounds before and was debunked. We just talked to the Blu-ray guys and to Philips—it's actually the same news as before. Target is still selling HD DVD discs and the Xbox 360's HD DVD player. God, it would've been the last thing HD DVD needed.

Target Selling Pre-Owned iPods, TVs and Game Consoles for Sorta Cheaper

Matt Buchanan — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:25:10 EST

After realizing lots of customers bring back perfectly good electronics, Target's deciding to resell the unloved-but-working wares at (slightly) discounted rates online. Up for sale in the pre-owned aisle are TVs, iPods and game consoles that have been checked and refurbed by a third party. Only problem is that so far it looks like Black Friday mania's a better bet: Consoles are vapor, most HDTVs are cut less than $100, and none of the iPod deals are stellar. But! You can get a 3rd-gen iPod or iPod mini for $140, which is actually pretty cool for nostalgia, if not a killer deal. [Target via Yahoo!/Reuters, Flickr]

Kmart and Target Black Friday Ads Up

Jason Chen — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:30:54 EST

Blackfriday.info has both Kmart and Target's Black Friday ads up, showing off girls' sweaters ($7.49) and eight piece luggage sets ($49 - great deal!), but what you really care about are electronics.

Well, over at the 'mart, they've got a Polaroid A801 8-megapixel camera for $79, as well as the Wii for standard price, Guitar Hero II Xbox 360 bundle for $59 and three PS2 games for $8.99. Target's game list is slightly longer so we won't list them here, but their electronics deals have an Olevia 37-inch 1080i HDTV for $549, which is a pretty good price for those of you just getting into the HD game. Be prepared to fight both the cold and other cheap people if you plan on lining up for these deals. [Target via Kmart]

Target's offering an exclusive Guitar Hero ...

Matt Buchanan — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:39:40 EDT

Target's offering an exclusive Guitar Hero III bundle for the PS2 that includes the game and two controllers for $110, saving you 20 bucks on buying another guitar, if you don't already have like, 17. Oh, and they've apparently got a pukey red and white color scheme, to go with the whole Target thing. [Kotaku ]

Girl Finds Rocks Where Her iPod Should Be, TWICE

Mark Wilson — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:01:50 EDT

For her birthday, a 14-year-old girl from Texas wanted an iPod. So her mother took her to the Target in Fort Worth to buy her one. After surely promising to not load the device with "devil music," the family purchased the new $350 iPod. And then they opened it. And it was full of rocks. (And not pretty rocks like we used to make this article look better.)

Ahh, but they lied, you say? They went home, took the iPod, grabbed some rocks, refilled the box, high-fived like mofos and cashed in? Not the case. Because when the family returned to Target, they were forced to take in-store credit and so they had to head to another Target to buy another iPod (because apparently the Fort Worth Target store carries one iPod at all times). At the second store, the girl bought another iPod and opened it in front of store employees. What did they find? More rocks.

Lesson of the day? Buy your gadgets online and save tax. [startelegram via ars]

Target is doubling the amount of shelf space ...

blongo3 — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:46:34 EDT

Target is doubling the amount of shelf space allocated to Blu-ray movies. Take that, HD DVD! [TG Daily]

Rumor Smashed: Blue Zune Not Blue Zune

Jason Chen — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:35:27 EDT

False alarm. The Blue Zune we showed you in the Target ad isn't actually a Blue Zune, it's a Black Zune that just looks blue thanks to the crappy image. The black one does actually look slightly blue when you look at it (the doubleshot is blue), so we can see where the confusion comes from. But still, the image was REALLY blue. [Zune Online]

Target Ad Scoops Blue Zune Release

Jason Chen — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:30:32 EDT

Next week's Target ad shows both a $199 price cut in the Microsoft Zune player—something we've covered before—and a brand new Blue Zune. We haven't seen this anywhere yet, but it looks like it's blue with light blue doubleshotting, and will be the same $199 that all the other Zunes are priced at. If Target's going to start getting Zune scoops, we're going to have to start teaming up with Martha Stewart and selling crocheted underpants. [Electronista]

Sony Aims for the Masses With Target-Exclusive Bravias

Matt Buchanan — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 14:42:55 EDT

Even if Target isn't so cozy with Sony as to sell Blu-Ray as its exclusive HD player, they're buddy-buddy enough that Target's selling some exclusive Bravia LCD sets through Target.com. Both are 720p, with the 26-inch model going for $800, and the 32-inch for $900; they'll also be available in-store next month.

They're both part of a Bravia line for big-box retailers (Wal-Mart's getting theirs next) directed at the mass market, much of which still balks at the prospect of dropping more than a grand on a TV—I know I do. While some of you guys might balk at lower-end HDTVs on the other hand, getting prices down to this level (or even lower) is really the only way most of the country's going to be dragged into the HD world proselytized for so hard by the industry. [Target/Target via Crave]

Next Gen SlapFest: HD DVD Responds to Blu-ray's Target Exclusivity

Jason Chen — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:50:48 EDT

Who'd have thought the next-gen format spin war would be full of half truths and twisted facts? Oh, right, EVERYONE. It all started from Sony's statement that Target stores will feature Sony's BDP-S300 as the exclusive high-definition player, and AP's article picking up on it saying Target was exclusively featuring Sony's player in lieu of selling any HD DVD players. That's exactly not true. Here's what Sony really said:

Beginning this fall and continuing at least through the holiday season, Target will feature Sony® Blu-ray Disc® players as the exclusive product in the emerging category of high-definition home video systems, as well as an expanded assortment of Blu-ray Disc movies.

That sentence is vague enough that you can say Sony claimed to be the exclusive high-definition product sold at Target, both in terms of standalone players and overall. Sony's the exclusive standalone high def player, but not the exclusive high def player period. Target's still selling Xbox 360 HD DVD players. The HD DVD camp struck back today in a statement saying:

Target will continue to carry the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive as well as HD DVD titles so we don't see much of a change in their plans to carry both formats. In fact, they continue to sell Toshiba HD DVD players on their website. Sony appears to have bought an end cap, just as HD DVD has in retail stores such as BestBuy and Circuit City.

This is true too, however Sony didn't say that they were going to feature only Sony Blu-ray movies, just the Blu-ray players. What Sony actually did was pay Target for the right to "end caps," which are prominent displays at the end of aisles. Putting BD players there means it's right in prime real estate for sales.

Target itself is saying it's not picking sides in the war and continues to offer both types of discs even while only choosing the BDP-S300 as the sole standalone player.

What does this mean to you? Not a whole lot, in the end. You can't pick up Toshiba standalone HD DVD players at Target proper, but you can still buy them on Target's website. You'll still be able to pick up the now discounted Xbox 360 drive in brick and mortar stores if that interests you. The lesson to take away from this is not to trust either camp entirely, but to look at what both are saying and make up your own mind. [Mercury News]

Sony Statement

HD DVD Statement:

Target will continue to carry the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive as well as HD DVD titles so we don't see much of a change in their plans to carry both formats. In fact, they continue to sell Toshiba HD DVD players on their website. Sony appears to have bought an end cap, just as HD DVD has in retail stores such as BestBuy and Circuit City.
What's important is that standalone HD DVD players are still much more affordable than Blu-ray players, plus they offer a better experience—just compare titles appearing in both formats like "300" or "Blood Diamond." Ultimately consumers will be the ones that determine what format provides the greatest value.

This holiday season Target will start selling ...

msparkes — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:15:43 EDT

This holiday season Target will start selling the Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray player for $499 along with movies from Sony and Disney in their stores, but no HD DVD players, which Target only offers HD DVD in its online store. [Forbes]

Big-Box Retailers: Why We Need iTunes and Other Online Stores

Matt Buchanan — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 21:15:47 EDT

An article in the Wall Street Journal today drives home why record labels need to hop on the DRM-free digital music train to get their wares out there. Wal-Mart, Best Buy and their ilk are now responsible for at least 65 percent of all music sales—including online stores—and they're reducing the amount of music they carry as CD sales drop. Do we really want Wal-Mart dictating what music people listen to?

On top of granting more and better shelf space to big-name releases like Justin Timberlake over say, Mike Patton's latest work, and skewing sales that way, Sam Walton's legacy flat-out refuses to sell certain titles. And matching the 20 percent plunge in CD sales this year, it's planning to shrink store real estate dedicated to music by an equal amount. Best Buy's also cutting down on the amount of space it gives CDs, so expect the number of titles they carry—8,000 to 20,000, versus defunct Tower Records' up to 100,000—to be cut as well.

Result? Big name, mainstream sludge will be pushed even harder by default. As space shrinks, so does choice.

Online stores have unlimited shelf space. They carry an unlimited quantity of millions of titles. While they're no substitute for dropping by your local record store, increasingly they're looking like the most viable way to keep choice alive in the music industry. Even just the iTunes home page has way more variety than the weekly promo displays at Target.

All of this adds up to yet another reason why the Big Four and other labels need to drop DRM to spur music sales online—it's for their own good, really. If they're still interested in keeping the industry alive, at any rate. – Matt Buchanan

Can Music Survive Inside the Big Box? [Wall Street Journal via Consumerist]
Image via Flickr

Dealzmodo (??): Apple iPod Hi-Fi, $87 B&M

Travis Hudson — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:57:59 EST

Vocabulary lesson: B&M stands for brick and mortar, or in-store only.
According to the frugalites over at Slickdeals, Target has the iPod Hi-Fi stereo/iPod dock for $87 in-store only, which is 75-percent off the retail price of $350. Apparently, Target is clearing out the devices in-store to only sell them online.

After dissecting the thread on this deal over at the Slickdeals forums, it seems a few people are finding Hi-Fi units at their store with the clearance price and a decent amount are coming up empty handed. So it is best just to go check for yourself. Note that the $87 price tag does not show up on the sticker, but take the big 'ole Apple Hi-Fi to a price checker to find out if it has been discounted. Good luck. –Travis Hudson

[Via Consumerist]

Dealzmodo: 10% Off at Target.com

Travis Hudson — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:17:52 EST

Our frugal hombres over at Dealhack scored some kind of super secret special at Target. They have snagged a 10-percent off coupon for Target.com. They suggest using it on Lego Mindstorms, but it works with almost anything, so get whatever you want. Ten percent isn't a huge discount, but every bit helps, especially this holiday season. Make sure to use the link below for the savings and the discounted price won't appear until the page where you choose the method of payment at checkout. – Travis Hudson

Target.com [Via Dealhack]

The Truth Behind the Target Wii Card

Travis Hudson — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 14:19:55 EDT

Yesterday we told you about Target's new illuminating Wii gift cards. Since then my super secret Target employee has given me some new info about this card and how it will work.

The Target mole also says that a PS3 gift card that has "similar shape and some feature to it" will be on the way. Both of these cards will be available for specials with their respected consoles. Supposedly, if you buy three games you get a $20 gift card that comes on a super-crazy illuminating gift card (!!).

In the case of the PS3—spend almost $800 at Target and get a $20 gift card. Sounds like one hell of a Dealzmodo to me! Images via Go Nintendo– Travis Hudson

Target Illuminates Wii Gift Cards

Travis Hudson — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:02:10 EDT

RawmeatCowboy (yum) got some of the first shots of the illuminating Wii gift card that will be available at Target. It's all part of an elaborate scheme to get you to buy more shit at Target. The card is obviously too thick to easily fit in a wallet, so Target expects you to forget the gift card at home and be forced to buy their goods without the gift card. Geniuses! Actually this card looks pretty snazzy—even if it is thick as hell. – Travis Hudson

Target Wii gift cards [Go Nintendo]

Kotaku Confirms Rumor: UMDs Pulled From Target Stores

Charlie White — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 12:34:56 EDT

Following up a post from yesterday, we heard a Target employee noticed prerecorded movies distributed on Sony UMDs (an acronym meaning UnMitigated Disaster, um, rather, Universal Media Disc) were suddenly absent from the store where he worked, and from other Target locations, too.

Now our beloved brothers at Kotaku have found confirmation from another reader, saying the chain has decided to devote shelf space to other products, but noted that Target will keep trying to move those slow-selling PlayStation portable UMD disks on its web site.

Kotaku sleuths further confirmed by calling a couple of local Target stores, which admitted that the doomed UMD products were indeed no longer on sale at Target retail outlets. Can every other store in the world be far behind? Die, UMD, die! And every other proprietary format! And the horse you rode in on! – Charlie White

Rumor Confirmed: Target Pulls UMDs From Stores [Kotaku]

Rumor: Sony UMD Movies Vanish from Target Store Shelves

Charlie White — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 12:35:50 EDT

Our pencil-necked gamester in-laws at Kotaku gathered a rumor today, where an employee of the vast retail empire Target noticed that Sony's proprietary UMD movies had suddenly disappeared from his store. Could it be the doomed format's death rattles are beginning to bear their certain, inevitable fruit?

I work at a local Target store, at the electronics department. I walked in today and noticed something missing, other than my desire to be working, it was the PSP UMD movies section. Thinking it was moved I searched then finally decided to ask around. To my suprise, my boss told me that Target wasn't going to be selling them anymore. Now I'm not sure if its in every store, but I decided to give the other targets a call in my city, and they also said they had pulled them. So, not sure what that means, but with so many people saying the UMD movies are pretty pointless, and sales being sluggish, I cant help but wonder if PSP movies are soon to go the way of the Betamax.

We saw this coming months ago, as did nearly everyone else. Maybe one of these days Sony will finally realize that every proprietary consumer format it's introduced has tanked. Add one more to it with the UMD, where its absence from Target is probably just the beginning of its one-way trip to the ash heap of history. – Charlie White

Rumor: Target Pulling UMDs [Kotaku]

Target, Red Cross First Aid Kit

Travis Hudson — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 10:17:13 EDT

Everyone knows you haven't lived until a Black Cat has exploded in the palm of your hand, preferable with the fist closed. Sure you can pour water on the wound and try to clean it up before going to the hospital, but this first aid and preparedness kit from Target should do the trick this fourth when your hands are burned to a crisp. This kit includes whistles, dust masks, duct tape, a poncho, a radio, a color book and even more. It sounds more like a detox kit rather than a first aid kit, but whatever. Travis Hudson

First Aid & Preparedness Kit [Yanko]

On Target for Xbox 360

Noah R — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 18:53:54 EST

The Xbox 360 Inventory Locator is up and running. Or do as reader Markus says and call Target Guest Services:

If you call guest services sometime after midnight but before 8 AM (why before 8? Because that's when the stores open) go through the VRU to inquire about the availability of an item and they will ask from some of your personal info (name, address, phone number, email, etc) and then the SKU/Item number you'd like them to do an inventory search for. They will search the inventory database with in a certain radius of your home zip code and tell you what stores have them in their inventory as of the refresh from the prior night. I only had to use this method for 2 days before I got my 360 this morning.

Guest services 1-800-303-0308

premium xbox 360 207-21-0001
core xbox 360 207-21-0002

iPods For $4.99? Target Didn't Think So Either

gizmodo.com — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 13:37:32 EST

Every once in a while somebody comes around wanting to scam someone else. Usually it's something stupid that gets them caught and thrown in jail. In this case, we have a 19-year-old gentleman who decided to use the program BarCode Magic to create custom iPod barcodes that made them drop in price...a lot. So it should come as no suprise that when the $4.99 iPod and other insanely low-priced electronics came up, Target caught on and busted the teenager on the spot. Next time try moving that decimal point over one and you might have a better shot, buddy.

Barcode Scam Redux - Target's $4.99 iPod [Slashdot]