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DVD2Blu trade-up scheme lets you swap any old DVD (plus $4.95) for a Blu-ray
We may have to rethink our original stance comparing Warner's DVD2Blu trade-up program to a particular Maine shop owner, now that it's announced it will accept any DVD (only studio releases sold at retail and no porn, please) as trade towards one of its selection of 105 Blu-ray releases with most priced at $4.95 each. Add in the offer to waive the $4.95/per shipping fee for orders above $35 and you've got a pretty quick way to fatten up one's Blu-ray library, assuming you like films like 2001: A Space Odyssey, American History X, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, etc. Hit the source link for a full list of titles available and other details (U.S. only, sorry Canada.)
Toys R Us offering iPod trade-in
We here at TUAW aren't quite sure how great a deal this is, but just in case you want to take advantage, Toys R Us is apparently offering trade-ins on old iPods. From October 17 to the 23rd, the toy chain will take old iPods (no model is specified, but I'd assume older won't get you as much money) at the customer counter, paying out up to $100 in gift cards, just to buy a new version of the device. Unfortunately, the deal's not available online, and not all stores are participating in the promotion, so the old "Your mileage may vary" adage very much applies here. Definitely call before you go, and if you do bring an iPod in, you probably shouldn't expect to get any extra money for that full catalog of Aerosmith CDs you've got saved on there. Who knows, though -- if your household happens to have a few old nanos sitting in a drawer somewhere and you want a quick and easy way to turn them into a new device, this might be worth trying out. If it works for you, be sure to let us know.
Warner's DVD2Blu trade-up program gets bigger, cheaper (maybe)
Warner Bros. is making things a little less needful for new Blu-ray buyers with extensive DVD libraries in need of upgrading, slashing the lowest prices on its DVD2Blu upgrade program to $4.95 (+ the original DVD copy) and adding more movies to the list of eligibles for a total of 87. Of course there's still a catch, as the minimum order needed to score free shipping ($4.95 per order) has risen $10 to $35. Of course, if you've been looking for an opportunity to catch 2001: A Space Odyssey and Gran Torino and Ocean's Eleven in all their 1080p glory then check the price list after the break and do the math -- this offer might be for you.
Sprint offering instant credits for phone trade-ins
Saying that it hopes to boost the practice of phone recycling (with customer conquests a welcome side effect, we're sure), Sprint is now expanding its Buyback Program to cover over 900 devices with an instant credit when you trade them in to any of over 1,000 participating corporate-owned retail locations. Naturally, Sprint isn't about to hand you a wad of cash for these things, but the credits -- ranging from $5 to over $300 depending on the model, apparently -- help cut the bottom line on your account balance, and you can take advantage of the service up to three times per active line every 12 months. Unfortunately, it might not be that great of a deal: in the press release, they specifically call out the Bold 9700 as having a $161.05 -- and considering you can flip a used, locked Bold 9700 on eBay for well over $300, this looks more like a new revenue stream for Sprint than anything else. And who's recycling a Bold 9700 already, anyway?
Disney's Upgrade2Blu Program saves you $8, lets you keep your DVDs
That company with that mouse sure is open to trying new things, and as if the whole Snow White Blu-ray vs DVD box art wasn't interesting enough, now we have Upgrade2Blu. Like other offers, via an $8 rebate it saves you a few bucks on Blu-ray Discs that you already own on DVD, but what is different is that you get to keep the DVD. This makes sense from a company like Disney since it's been including DVDs with all the Blu-ray releases, which is especially useful for kid's movies. You see as much as we want our kids to grow as HD snobs like us, we still wouldn't dare driving more than an hour in the car without a Disney DVD being played in the back seat.
Warner's DVD2Blu trade-in swaps Blu-rays for your DVDs, Leland Gaunt approves
After baptizing the remaining HD DVD faithful, Warner has moved on to teaching new Blu-ray converts the five pillars of faith with a trade-up program. Send in your old DVDs (just the box art won't cut it this time around, better buy some blanks and get to ripping if you still enjoy Training Day on long car trips), $7.95 - $9.95 per movie plus $4.95 for s&h (orders over $25 ship for free) and expect HD versions back in 4 - 5 weeks. Is it worth it? Depends on how many of the 55 flicks on the approved list you own (included after the break) but for most you're probably better off keeping the ones you have and eyeing budget bins carefully, nabbing catalog flicks like Harold & Kumar for less than $15 without any mail-in shenanigans shouldn't be too hard for the truly thrifty.
Warner reintegrates HD DVD faithful with Red2Blu trade-in program
U.S. HD DVD fans that passed up Best Buy's offer of $3 per disc, or just those who stocked up on cheap movies after the format gave up the fight have another option coming from Warner Bros. Send in the cover art sleeve (keep the disc) including UPC from your HD DVD case (plus $4.95 per movie and $6.95 / $8.95 per order S&H) and it will send you back a brand new Blu-ray copy. There's a few other restrictions, like 1 copy per movie and 25 different movies per household, but the biggest decision is likely to be whether giving up your precious I Am Legend sleeve is worth the trade, hit up Red2Blu.com for all the details and necessary forms. It seems to us like a decent offer to make HD DVD owners whole, we'd be surprised if Paramount and Universal came through with similar plans.[Via DVDTown]
Rumored AT&T trade-in program could provide easy alternative to eBay
No question, you'll totally score more for your old handset by listing it on eBay or Craigslist than turning it over to AT&T, but wouldn't it be nice to have the option if you're really in a bind? According to Boy Genius Report, the aforesaid carrier is mulling the idea of implementing a trade-in program that would allow existing subscribers to put a "used value" towards the purchase of a new phone. While none of this has yet to be confirmed, we're told that any phone traded in must be less than two years old and in relatively good shape, and the new phone you're after won't have any subsidies attached; your trade-in value is the discount. Oh, and regardless of how awesome that shiny new whatever is, the maximum value of any trade is capped at $200. We'll keep an ear to the ground for more, but we wouldn't be shocked at all to see this go live sooner rather than later.
Orange to trade up iPhones?
According to Boy Genius Report, French iPhone carrier Orange may be offering current iPhone users a 3G iPhone for €30 €50 (thanks to kol and jaxx for pointing out my typo!) if they trade in their old iPhone, as well as "generous subsidies" for users who wish to upgrade and keep their current handset. The news comes from reader tips to French tech site PCInpact, though Orange apparently has no official statement yet.We can just add this to the number of other 3G iPhone rumors that have been swirling as of late.[via CrunchGear]
Best Buy Trade-in Center HD DVD prices posted
So what's your remnant of a format war gone by worth? Best Buy has updated its Trade-In Center website with prices for HD DVD players and movies, and quite frankly you're probably better off just keeping it. Prices for players are highest for combo players, like the BH-200 ($285*) and BD-UP5000 ($255), then for players equipped with high end scalers for DVD upconverting like the HD-XA2 ($165) then everything else like the Xbox 360 add-on ($21) or HD-A3 ($36). Movies (along with a player, not by themselves) net less than $3 each. Of course, there's always value in a fresh start so go ahead and check it out for yourself. *All prices assume excellent condition with all cables & manuals
Best Buy offers HD DVD owners $10 million in gift cards, trade in, shoulder to cry on
Best Buy is following Future Shop, Circuit City and others in reaching out to casualties of the format war. In this case, anyone who bought an HD DVD player from Best Buy before February 23, 2008 can request a complimentary $50 gift card for each player. For those too traumatized to even look at their discontinued hardware and software, Best Buy also announced it's adding HD DVD players and media to its Trade-In Center program, starting March 21. No word on how much a player can net you, but once it's updated, check BestBuyTradeIn.com to get an estimate and decide how much holding onto the past is worth.[Thanks, Harmin C.]Update: Best Buy just issued a press release with additional information about the more than $10 million in gift cards it plans to distribute, and details on how to make sure you get yours, check out the full PR after the break.
360 Elite trade-in offer further clarified
The Gamestop Xbox 360 trade-in increase we talked about earlier in the week needs further clarification due to the evidence we just received. Kevin, a Gamestop assistant manager, sent us scans of the actual coupon flyers for the Elite trade-in promotion. All the Xbox 360 trade-in increases that what we reported on earlier ($250 Premium, $200 Core, $50 Xbox) are correct, but the promotional dates and how the program works is a little different than what we were told. In a memo to Gamestop managers, it clearly states that the Xbox 360 Elite trade-in coupon flyers must be held until April 29th (Elite launch day), when they'll be given out to all Elite purchasers. Then, before May 27th, you can bring in your special coupon from the flyer, old Xbox 360, and the receipt from your Elite purchase to get the increased trade-in values. This will allow you to buy an Elite, take it home, transfer all your data from your old 360, and then go back to Gamestop to trade it in for the increased value.Sorry for the confusion everyone, but it sounds like the managers we talked to either don't read their memos or just don't care what corporate says. We can't argue with flyer scans from Kevin. Xbox 360 Elite flyer proof posted after the break.
