HD-A2 $198 at Wal-Mart

[theone2]

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/showthread.php?t=21334

I am an associate for WalMart and yesterday I did a RollBack for the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player. It went from $298.00 to $198.00. The players should be available in store within the week as the layouts for electronics are changing as of 10/15. Just thought I give you folks a heads up

Update

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=922556&page=2

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

Yes, I JUST did a few hours ago at my local Wal-Mart. I saw it yesterday at $298 and today it was $198 (may have had some change after it, not sure). Before yesterday I had never seen at A2 at this store before...and boom, there it is. Not sure if it was a new shipment or they just 'found' them in the back, but the one and only A2 sold at my Wal-Mart to some random guy. No Blu-ray players at all, no other HD DVD players, and no HD/BR movies, lol.

Remember, each Wal-Mart has to be taken as a YMMV in terms of deals. Sometimes corporate will change the price, and sometimes its up to the managers to clear inventory. The price was NOT marked anywhere on the shelves, I simply saw the A2 as I was walking into the department with $198 being rung up. Another Wal-Mart of mine has the Blu-ray BDP-300 for $366 on clearance while another has the same unit for $499.99. Its all up to the individual stores to set certain prices.

Originally Posted by D-X

I can confirm this. Went back to work today and a new Toshiba UPC popped up in my system:

Toshiba HDA2-W $198.00

Wal Mart item number: 564786/570634

Now I work in a store in the woods of east Texas that usually doesnt receive higher end merchandise. I find the two different item numbers kind of odd. The numbers are cross referenced so the onhands/orders/units sold will always be the same. But usually two numbers are cross referenced if they the same basic item with a different model number or some sort of "free" offer with one of them.

Another observation: I am receiving 3 tonight with 14 more on order for my store. Some promo is obviously coming down the pipe since this item is not on my new modular update for DVD players due this week.

[ClashFan]

I still have my doubts that even that price point will lead to any kind of massive sales for either HD DVD or Blu-Ray, but it will be interesting to see if $198 starts to move some serious HD DVD players.

I wonder if the A3 will sell for $198? The A2's may be running low in stock.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Aren't they $100 more currently? So probably not until at least black friday.

[theone2]

Originally Posted by E-A-G-L-E-S

Aren't they $100 more currently? So probably not until at least black friday.

You can buy the A2 for 199$ shipped http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=922527

It would be nice to see this kind of pricing at Wal-Mart

[The Doctor]

I don't know about this. However considering Amazon and few other are flirting with this price, it's not impossible.
Guess We'll find out in day.
It would be a brilliant marketing stroke to have $198 players to go along with the Transformers release.

[BuckNaked]

Where does this leave the Venturer?

The $199 price-point was supposed to be Venturer's territory. Who would pick one over a Toshiba with the price being equal?

[PopcornReady]

I was thinking the same thing: Transformers at $27.98 and clear out HD-A2s for $198. Then swap in the HD-A3s around the end of the month in time for Shrek 3 (Nov 16) back up around the $298 price ... and then down to $198 for Black Friday rolling into $249 for the balance of December. Sounds like a plan, Stan.

[alliance4g63]

Having it at that price is pretty pointless when:
1)The selection is horrible
2)When you actually see a movie you want you have to
A)Find someone to get the movie for you
B)Wait for said person to find a manager to get the movie for you(took about 30 minutes of wait time just to get 300)

Wal-Mart is not serious about HDM at all. At the moment atleast.

[PopcornReady]

Originally Posted by BuckNaked

Where does this leave the Venturer?

Target is the one carrying Venturer, not Wal-Mart. If Wal-Mart does bring in an off-brand it can work the $249-to-$199-to-$149-bundle with an HDTV game. I'd expect Target would do something like that although it contracted to leave HD DVD out of bricks&mortar stores till year end.

[kkozma]

Originally Posted by ClashFan

I wonder if the A3 will sell for $198? The A2's may be running low in stock.

But hey, if you listen to the nice fella's over at Blu-ray.com, Wal-Mart is NOT going to carry HD DVD. lol

[Traveler62]

I was in the North Kansas City Walmart last Thursday and they already had the A2W marked for $198. They had two units then.

[suffolk112000]

$198 won't get sales moving for HD-DVD. $149 is the magic price point.
We also forget the media for both formats is to high. Discs need to sell for $19.99. People are not going to pay this much for movies... especially those who shop at Wal-Mart.
How much is Transformers going to sell for??

Craig

[kevivoe]

Originally Posted by suffolk112000

$198 won't get sales moving for HD-DVD. $149 is the magic price point.
We also forget the media for both formats is to high. Discs need to sell for $19.99. People are not going to pay this much for movies... especially those who shop at Wal-Mart.
How much is Transformers going to sell for??

Craig

There is a large crowd waiting at $199. I am sure there is an even larger crowd waiting at $149. Then there are cheapskates looking for $29 VHS players.

Wal-Mart associates need to tell people this plays DVD and HD DVD's all for only $199, just like any good up-converting player we carry. Wal-Mart needs to dump all HD up-converting players Jan. 2008.

[suffolk112000]

Originally Posted by kevivoe

Wal-Mart associates need to tell people this plays DVD and HD DVD's all for only $199, just like any good up-converting player we carry. Wal-Mart needs to dump all HD up-converting players Jan. 2008.

Most Wal-Mart associates don't even know what HD movies are, let alone know what the capabilities of the players are, so that won't happen. Wal-Mart won't be dumping SD players for a long time either.
$149 is the magic number. As crazy as that sounds, even $149 is WAY overpriced for some people.

Craig

[quantumred]

Originally Posted by theone2

...
I am an associate for WalMart and yesterday I did a RollBack for the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player. It went from $298.00 to $198.00.

What does "I did a rollback" mean? It's bizarre how people read this and convert it to "Walmart is selling the HD-A2 for $198."

[BuckNaked]

Originally Posted by quantumred

What does "I did a rollback" mean? It's bizarre how people read this and convert it to "Walmart is selling the HD-A2 for $198."

Yea, that is exactly what it means.

[homerx]

They are just clearing out the A2s for the A3s. Id guess once they sell out their won't be any more. So now is the time to buy

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Originally Posted by theone2

You can buy the A2 for 199$ shipped http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=922527

It would be nice to see this kind of pricing at Wal-Mart

I was respoonding to the post above mine who wondered if the A3 would be at $198 at walmart...not the A2.

[quantumred]

Originally Posted by BuckNaked

Yea, that is exactly what it means.

Then were are the reports of people seeing A2's in Walmart for $198? The Walmart A3 thread has lots of people reporting A3's on the shelf for sale. Did they forget to mention there are A2's alongside for $100 cheaper?

I'd like to see it, but I think running around telling people Walmart is selling A2's for $198 is premature until there is at least some confirmation.

[PopcornReady]

Originally Posted by quantumred

I'd like to see it, but I think running around telling people Walmart is selling A2's for $198 is premature until there is at least some confirmation.

At that price, it won't be premature for long. They'll be sold out!

[Toeside]

Originally Posted by quantumred

What does "I did a rollback" mean? It's bizarre how people read this and convert it to "Walmart is selling the HD-A2 for $198."

A "rollback" is Walmart-speak for price drop. So, if Walmart does a rollback on the HD-A2 to $198, guess what the HD-A2 is selling for there?


Have you ever shopped at Walmart or seen a Walmart commercial? "Rollback" is not a hidden term.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Originally Posted by Toeside

Have you ever shopped at Walmart or seen a Walmart commercial? "Rollback" is not a hidden term.

srry dbl post...

[PopcornReady]

Originally Posted by suffolk112000

$198 won't get sales moving for HD-DVD. $149 is the magic price point.

And when players reach $149, the new magic point is $129? and then no, no, wait .. $99? and then no, no, wait .. $79!

Each $10 drop can probably be tracked statistically for market impact (no doubt a legion of folks at Wal-Mart do exactly that analysis daily). The potential market for a $199 players vs. a $299 player is huge. And, yes, it gets significantly "huger" at $149. The more easily the purchase can be contained in a single paycheque -- even with self-rationalising -- the more of these babies will fly off the shelves.

Media cost is a factor of course: but that comes later. That treadmill begins with the first 2 or 3 discs -- suddenly $30 isn't as bad as it seemed at disc 4. And lots of people rent discs: this is a perfectly acceptable option which helps erode the high cost of media purchase. And discs will come down over time.

[BuckNaked]

Originally Posted by quantumred

Then were are the reports of people seeing A2's in Walmart for $198? The Walmart A3 thread has lots of people reporting A3's on the shelf for sale. Did they forget to mention there are A2's alongside for $100 cheaper?

I'd like to see it, but I think running around telling people Walmart is selling A2's for $198 is premature until there is at least some confirmation.

I'm just taking what the OP said in his quote at face value: "I am an associate for WalMart and yesterday I did a RollBack for the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player. It went from $298.00 to $198.00."

As others have pointed out, this is not a secret insiders' term. It's on their national TV commercials where the floating cartoon smiley face bounces around lowering (rolling back) prices.

[GCanada]

I need the a35 to do a lil price dropping. I'll be waiting for that to drop a tad or just get samsungs dual player when that comes out in december.

[quantumred]

Originally Posted by Toeside

A "rollback" is Walmart-speak for price drop. So, if Walmart does a rollback on the HD-A2 to $198, guess what the HD-A2 is selling for there?
Have you ever shopped at Walmart or seen a Walmart commercial? "Rollback" is not a hidden term.

Have you ever shopped at Walmart? If there is a price rollback, then I expect to see it on the shelf for that price. Since when does an associate have to "do" anything to make it happen? If it's a sale starting soon, then when does the sale start? I guess you're not interested or don't think these details are important, but anyone wanting to actually buy one will need to know, or else drive to their local store only to find nothing on the shelf.

Originally Posted by Toeside

..guess what the HD-A2 is selling for there?

I would rather not guess. Since you're so sure, please show us some pics of the $198 HD-A2's on the shelf at Walmart. We'd all like to see them.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Originally Posted by quantumred

Since when does an associate have to "do" anything to make it happen?

or else drive to their local store only to find nothing on the shelf.

They don't have the marked on shelf or in computer prices changed magically.

'local' means close, so is that really such a big strain? You could even call them on the phone first and ask an associate to take a look

[luclin999]

Originally Posted by quantumred

Have you ever shopped at Walmart? If there is a price rollback, then I expect to see it on the shelf for that price. Since when does an associate have to "do" anything to make it happen?

The associates are the ones who change the shelf and tag pricing for the products. If they did not, then the item's price would be changed at the register but the shelf price would be incorrect.

When a Wal-Mart associate makes the changes on the floor, they refer to having done the rollback for the item in question. This is how they report that the change is complete to their supervisors.

The OP was simply using the same terminology in their post which is commonly used in the store.

[quantumred]

Ouch, unbelievable.

Has anyone seen with their own eyes seen a Toshiba HD-A2 at Walmart for $198, for sale, on the shelf, in the store, not a demo, within the last week, anywhere in the USA? It is the title of the thread.

I'm sure everyone would like to know, myself included.