Nils Luehrmann
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2001
- Messages
- 3,513
I ask as a visit to the North West (Gateway Plaza) Best Buy in Austin this weekend really caught me by surprise.
As I understand it, Best Buy is/was HD DVD's largest North American retail partner. BB hosted several of the early HD DVD demos, and at least at this location had an elaborate rollout with lots of publicity. They had an HD DVD displayed on their largest most expensive 1080p display right in the center of the display area where customer traffic is at it highest. In addition to the running HD DVD demo loop, BB also had several HD DVD marketing handouts with the BB logo printed on them.
I had not been back since the opening, but as I was right next door shopping at CompUSA I decided to go in and see if the HD DVD demo had changed, and what new displays they might have added.
At first, I couldn’t even find the HD DVD demo! They had moved the demo to the farthest right-hand side of the display area where almost no customers ever go to. In fact oddly enough, right next to the area of the store where they are clearing out entertainment furniture, which they are abandoning due to poor sales.
Adding insult to injury, the HD DVD player was now hooked up to a small (under 40”) 1080p display by Westinghouse. There was no audio hooked up, and only one HD DVD handout. There were several HD DVD titles stacked behind the demo for sale with most priced at $30 a piece and several previously released titles at $25 a piece.
I located the floor manger, the GM was not available, and he said they made the move because of the lack of sales, and that they were having too many returns.
Keep in mind; the BB at the Gateway Plaza is located in one of the better retail areas in Austin and located only a few miles from large neighborhoods with +$500k homes. So of all their locations in and around Austin, this should have, and was presumably expected to have sold more HD DVD product than any of their other locations.
If this location is souring on HD DVD it makes me wonder if BB is having a change of heart.
As I understand it, Best Buy is/was HD DVD's largest North American retail partner. BB hosted several of the early HD DVD demos, and at least at this location had an elaborate rollout with lots of publicity. They had an HD DVD displayed on their largest most expensive 1080p display right in the center of the display area where customer traffic is at it highest. In addition to the running HD DVD demo loop, BB also had several HD DVD marketing handouts with the BB logo printed on them.
I had not been back since the opening, but as I was right next door shopping at CompUSA I decided to go in and see if the HD DVD demo had changed, and what new displays they might have added.
At first, I couldn’t even find the HD DVD demo! They had moved the demo to the farthest right-hand side of the display area where almost no customers ever go to. In fact oddly enough, right next to the area of the store where they are clearing out entertainment furniture, which they are abandoning due to poor sales.
Adding insult to injury, the HD DVD player was now hooked up to a small (under 40”) 1080p display by Westinghouse. There was no audio hooked up, and only one HD DVD handout. There were several HD DVD titles stacked behind the demo for sale with most priced at $30 a piece and several previously released titles at $25 a piece.
I located the floor manger, the GM was not available, and he said they made the move because of the lack of sales, and that they were having too many returns.
Keep in mind; the BB at the Gateway Plaza is located in one of the better retail areas in Austin and located only a few miles from large neighborhoods with +$500k homes. So of all their locations in and around Austin, this should have, and was presumably expected to have sold more HD DVD product than any of their other locations.
If this location is souring on HD DVD it makes me wonder if BB is having a change of heart.