HD-A2: $99 at Walmart, 11/2/07 Only!

[SRW1000]

As part of their Secret In-Store Specials promotion, Walmart will be offering the HD-A2 this Friday for only $99 (while supplies last)! :eek:

One caveat: There is an asterisk next to the price, stating the price may be higher for those of us living in Wisconsin. (I'm guessing it's due to our archaic minimum mark up law.)

They are also featuring some HD DVD movies for just $14.96.

Go to Walmart.com, and click on the Secret In-Store Specials link for all the details.

This is a fantastic deal, for anyone thinking about upgrading to HD DVD.

Scott

[Ralph Kramden]

I don't see that link.

[LuckySe7ens]

http://holiday.ri-walmart.com/?section=secret

And the 5-free HD-DVD movies apparently still apply:

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/hddvd/data/pdf/Toshiba_Online_Rebate_R08.pdf

[LoadStar]

Note the fine print that says that prices may vary in Wisconsin (among 3 or 4 other states). I would highly suspect that you will not find the $99 HD-DVD player in the state at all.

[RLJSlick]

Best Buy is selling the same one it looks like now:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/best-buy-offers-the-toshiba-hd-a2-for-100-too-and-other-hd-dv/

[Steve Mann]

Best Buy is selling the same one it looks like now:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/best-buy-offers-the-toshiba-hd-a2-for-100-too-and-other-hd-dv/

Yeah, but not a one in stock in SE Wisconsin. :( I tried getting CC to refund the difference between BBs price and what I paid for mine at CC last Friday. They were going to honor their 'price guarantee' until they called BB and found they had none in stock in any of the local stores.

[HDefinicktion]

Well, it has been an interesting day. I decided to go to the Circuit City in McHenry, Illinois because they said they had then in stock at $197. I was going to be headed out of school for lunch anyway, so it seemed like a good idea. When I got there their stock showed up as two. They couldn't find one, and I was not going to take the floor model, so they gave me the HD-A20 at the same price. Not a bad option...since I was originally going to just get the A2 until a 1080p model came down in price, and move the A2 to the basement on the 720p set. This works out well. The only issue I think I will have is sending in the rebate as the receipt says HD-A2...and not the HD-A20.

Naturally I wanted to get my hands on Transformers as a test run, but they didn't have one, so I had to stop at my local Wally World (Burlington) on the way home. Sure enough they have a huge advertisement for the A2 in the door as a secret sale starting tomorrow morning at 8. The salesman in electronics said that they received 20 of them for the sale.

[SRW1000]

Well, it has been an interesting day. I decided to go to the Circuit City in McHenry, Illinois because they said they had then in stock at $197. I was going to be headed out of school for lunch anyway, so it seemed like a good idea. When I got there their stock showed up as two. They couldn't find one, and I was not going to take the floor model, so they gave me the HD-A20 at the same price.That is a really nice deal for the A-20. Congratulations.

[davezen2]

Just got back from the Walmart in Germantown...

With Wisconsin's minimum markup law, the players are ringing up at about $190.

[Drummerboy]

This minimum mark-up law needs to be addressed. Anyone good at writing letters so we can let our district representatives know how we feel about it (assuming others are disappointed with this law)? If someone wrote up a form letter and posted it here (or may be in the off topic forums) may be we could initiate corrective action (that's a fat may be).

[HDefinicktion]

I am never one to stand in lines for items around Christmas, but I decided to go into the Walmart on my way to work this morning and pick one of the A2s for 99 bucks. It has to be better than the upconverting player I am using now. Everyone that was standing in line was there for some $350 laptop. I walked in bought it, and was out in 15 minutes. They had 10 in the pile that I grabbed from. They also had a stack of HDDVDs for $14 as well....The Big Lebowski tonight.

[Steve Mann]

I am never one to stand in lines for items around Christmas, but I decided to go into the Walmart on my way to work this morning and pick one of the A2s for 99 bucks. ...

This was a Wisconsin Wal-Mart? As stated up thread, I didn't think they could sell them here at below costs. I called the local WM in Pewaukee and they told me the price was at $198.00.

EDIT: Looking at where Waterford is, I bet you work in IL and stopped there for the A2?

[HDefinicktion]

I went to the Burlington Walmart this morning. I live in Waterford, but work near Wilmot, which is close the border. The nearest Circuit City was about 12 miles from the school I work at. I went there yesterday for the A2, but ended up getting the A20 for $199.

[RLJSlick]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/02/no-blue-light-special-at-kmart-for-blu-ray/

[LuckySe7ens]

If you haven't had luck finding them, CircuitCity.com appears to be selling them for $130 now, with free shipping.

It's not $99, but still not a bad deal.

[bubbaridesfast]

I am never one to stand in lines for items around Christmas, but I decided to go into the Walmart on my way to work this morning and pick one of the A2s for 99 bucks. It has to be better than the upconverting player I am using now. Everyone that was standing in line was there for some $350 laptop. I walked in bought it, and was out in 15 minutes. They had 10 in the pile that I grabbed from.

I went to the Burlington Walmart this morning. I live in Waterford, but work near Wilmot, which is close the border. The nearest Circuit City was about 12 miles from the school I work at. I went there yesterday for the A2, but ended up getting the A20 for $199.

So you bought the A20 yesterday and the A2 today? Are you returning one or did I misunderstand your posts?

[HDefinicktion]

I wanted one at 199, but didn't realize that they were going to go for 99 today at Walmart. So I went and tried to get one, but they were not in stock, so they gave me the A20 for the same price of the A2. Only because they showed they had stock, but could not find the unit. Now I see they dropped the price to 129. I will have to get a price adjustment. I am not returning one. I am putting the A20 with my 1080p set in the living room, and the A2 with the 720p set in the basement. After the price adjustment, it will have cost me total of 230 for both players.

[Ralph Kramden]

I just got back from CC, and I got a price adjustment. I bought the HD-A2 Saturday for $158, and now it's reduced to $129 on their website. So they refunded $29. If it drops again they'll give me another refund(As many times as it drops within 30 days).

[LowSignal]

Picked one up for $99 at the mukwonago Walmart at noon(they are now sold out FYI), This morning I tried the one on 27th st in Franklin and they wanted 198.99. Funny thing too because I stopped at the mukwonago walmart for a usb wireless adapter for a customer only to see a large stack of HDDVD players marked $98.:rock:

[flash]

I picked one up this morning and asked if I could have two of them and the clerk said I'd have to get back in line....................



I turned around.....................................




there was one person in line..............






I got behind them.............................






I bought a second one for $98:rof:

[flash]

Now I have to buy a new tv with HDMI and a new Denon AVR with HDMI.......


poor me...... LOL

[gparris]

Good news for you flash, but the HDMI really works well with a HDTV and AVR, so equipped, for both advanced audio codecs and high bit rate transfers in video, IMO.

If I had the chance to find one for my Sony 60" in the rec room, I would have got one to match up with the PS3 for Blu-ray movies:
We were going to watch "Transformers" on HD DVD with the theatre seat setup in that location of the house, but then I remembered the HD DVD player was up in the family room, instead and unpluging and resetting the HD-A1 up once again was a bit awkward.

At that "new" price of $98, there is definitely a reason to have more of them around the house if there is a HDTV in the room, definitely.:D

[tazman]

The West Bend Walmart has about a dozen of them on the shelf marked at $185.00 with a sign taped to the shelf stating "Do to Wisconsin State law we are unable to sell below cost."

[Steve Mann]

The West Bend Walmart has about a dozen of them on the shelf marked at $185.00 with a sign taped to the shelf stating "Do to Wisconsin State law we are unable to sell below cost."

I called two stores this morning. The one in Pewaukee and the one on Capital in Milwaukee. They both stated that the prices had indeed been lowered to the $98 level. How or why, I don't know. But it appears sometime last night most of the WI Walmarts lowered the pricing.

[flash]

The West Bend Walmart has about a dozen of them on the shelf marked at $185.00 with a sign taped to the shelf stating "Do to Wisconsin State law we are unable to sell below cost."

I wonder why different Wally Worlds charge different prices.
All I know is that I bought 2 of them and they both were $98.

I'm selling the second one to my brother in law for what I paid for it.
He was pretty excited about getting the 5 free HD DVD's also.

Hey Taz, have the West Bend Walmart match the price of the Burlington Walmart where I got mine. :rock:

[SRW1000]

I can verify that these are available at the Saukville Walmart for $98!

I stopped by tonight. The sign on the shelf said $185, but I had the old guy in Electronics scan it anyway. He said it was just going to ring up at the posted price, but he humored me anyway.

It scanned at $98, as I explained to him that there were reports that the prices were changed in the computers overnight. He wasn't too pleased that nobody had let them know, and said he might buy a couple of them himself.

There were about eight available at around 6:30 PM tonight.

Scott

[LoadStar]

I can verify that these are available at the Saukville Walmart for $98!

I stopped by tonight. The sign on the shelf said $185, but I had the old guy in Electronics scan it anyway. He said it was just going to ring up at the posted price, but he humored me anyway.

It scanned at $98, as I explained to him that there were reports that the prices were changed in the computers overnight. He wasn't too pleased that nobody had let them know, and said he might buy a couple of them himself.

There were about eight available at around 6:30 PM tonight.

Scott

Confirmed - got the last one at New Berlin. Not sure if I'll keep it, money's a little tight right now... but I wanted to grab it before someone else did.

[Matt Heebner]

LOADSTAR,
If you think about selling, let me know...I will take it off your hands for the price you paid plus a 12 pack of your favorite malted beverage......:D

[gparris]

Sounds like the HD-A2 got sold almost everywhere the last couple of days.
Now maybe the high def DVD player market has expanded.
Or, maybe its just us HDTV users that got their second one for the other HDTV room.:D
Hopefully, this HD DVD player will be connected to HDTVs - with the correct cabling to GET the HD picture.
I can just see it now:
1. Someone buys the HD-A2 from Wal-Mart.
2. Connects it to their 25" CRT analogue set
3. With composite cables.
4. Puts in a SD DVD
5. Now thinks they have "HDTV" on their screen.
:eek:

[Dan the Man]

I got into an discussion (arguement) with a guy at work about HD-DVD/BlueRay players. He insisted that you need a "BlueRay" TV to watch any type of high definition DVD. Granted, the set needs to have a HDMI connection to get 1080P, but you can still get 1080i if I don't have the HDMI input.

I told him there was no such thing as a BlueRay TV. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

[SRW1000]

I told him there was no such thing as a BlueRay TV. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.No, there's no such thing as a Blu-ray TV. But I don't think Sony would mind if people thought all of theirs were Blu-ray ready. :D

Scott

[gparris]

:rolleyes: Welcome to "Misinformation City"

There is no such thing as a "Blu-ray TV" or any other variant.
To get the best picture out of a Blu-ray disc playing in a Blu-ray player, the preferred connection is an HDMI cable from player to HDTV so equipped.
Set the player to either 1080i output or 1080p output.
Then let the 1080i or 1080p output to the display (be it LCD, DLP, LCoS or plasma/LCD panel) do its work.
You can watch HDTV at its very best with either format, HD DVD or Blu-ray, just make sure your connection is at least component video set at 720p or 1080i output to the display or HDMI set to 1080i or 1080p, your choice.
Some set their HD-A2 (HD DVD 1080i only) or Sony S300 (Blu-ray) players to output 1080i and let their HDTV set do the conversion with no visible loss.
It comes out the very best it can - either way - on ANY display, as long it can display 720p or 1080i/p.

[bubbaridesfast]

Next people will try to buy Blue-Tooth TV sets!:D

[Johnny Legion]

I talked to Walmart this morning and found out that they will be hosting these types of specials in electronics every week up to Xmas. HD-DVD was just the first of many, and the employees won't know until next Friday what the special is on sale.

[Blitzburgh]

Is it really worth it since they will be obsolete?

[SRW1000]

Is it really worth it since they will be obsolete?
There's no indication that these will be obsolete anytime soon. Given the success of this latest promotion, I wouldn't vote against the format.

People on this forum want to see HD, and they want to see HD now. This player is an amazingly affordable way to do that. Considering that you get five free movies with a $98 player, it's the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to jump into prerecorded HDM with almost no risk.

Congratulations to everyone that got in on this deal. I hope you get many, many hours of enjoyment from your purchase. I know that I have with my mine.

Scott

[flash]

Is it really worth it since they will be obsolete?
My SD DVD was going really bad and I had to replace it so for $98 I couldn't go wrong....... and 5 HD DVD's to boot.

[gparris]

For those who had a PS3 or some other BD player, the HD-A2 for less than $200 or even less than $100 was a way to go "format neutral".
Those looking to see what the big deal was with HD DVDs, got a chance, finally.

Good for them, no big loss and with five free HD DVDs ($25-30 each x 5)
- almost a "no-brainer" as it made the player like...free!:rock:

[Ralph Kramden]

Damn right it's worth it. The player is basically free. Most of the HD-DVD's are at least $20. $20 X 5 = $100.