Kmart says it still supports Blu-ray
Although rumors have been swirling lately that Kmart has agreed to exclusively support the HD DVD format, they appear to be false.
Not supporting HD DVD exclusively after all.
(Credit: Kmart)When reached for comment, K-mart sent a rather defensive-sounding statement attributed to Jonathan Magasanik, vice president of home electronics for Sears Holdings, Kmart's parent company: "There have been numerous statements in the media (Wednesday), attributed to Toshiba, indicating exclusive support for the HD-DVD format in Kmart stores. These statements are false. Kmart intends to support both the HD-DVD and Blu-ray platforms, and has no plans to support either platform exclusively."
Kmart representatives didn't elaborate on what that means, but a quick perusal of the Kmart.com site shows that it offers standalone HD DVD players, but not standalone Blu-ray players. It does, however, sell the Sony PlayStation 3, which has an embedded Blu-ray player.
The same sort of confusion developed a few months back when Target stores began carrying Blu-ray endcaps, or stations at the end of each aisle promoting Blu-ray Disc titles. Media reports emerged then that Target was going Blu-ray-only, but it turned out Target.com still sells HD DVD players and the HD DVD attachable drive for the Microsoft Xbox 360.
Claims of exclusivity aside, the so-called HD DVD versus Blu-ray format war has quickly metamorphosed into a price war. In anticipation of the upcoming holiday shopping season, several retailers are now selling an HD DVD player for $200, and on Thursday Wal-Mart and Best Buy began offering a Toshiba HD DVD player for $99.
A riposte from Blu-ray is expected. Sony, the biggest muscle behind the Blu-ray format, has already announced it will drop the PS3 price from $499 to $399. And now it looks like Sony's own standalone Blu-ray players will be close behind. Sony Electronics President Stan Glasgow said Thursday evening that $399 Blu-ray players this holiday are not out of the question.
So, both formats will likely be available anywhere you want to shop this holiday. But questions remain whether $100 or $200 is still too high for a machine that only plays certain movies. After all, as long as studios are choosing sides of the format war, consumers are still likely to hold out until the titles they want to see are available regardless of the format.
Erica Ogg is a CNET News reporter who covers Apple, HP, Dell, and other PC makers, as well as the consumer electronics industry. She's also one of the hosts of CNET News' Daily Podcast. In her non-work life, she's a history geek, a loyal Dodgers fan, and a mac-and-cheese connoisseur. E-mail Erica. 
even bet they are out of the top 15. Why would their next gen
sales matter to anybody?
As far as selling HD-DVD or BluRay technology, I couldn't imagine it. The one person working in electronics stopped me to have a conversation, and was trying to explain to me how digital cameras worked, for no apparent reason. Their electronics section looks more like something you would call a clearence section at any other store. The did, however, have large packs of batteries on clearence for $0.79. So, for that reason, they picked up another sale that day. I don't really see the stores surviving, unless they are just sitting on some nice real estate, because the few I see left are in prime locations. I don't think their decision in the area of future technologies has any impact on the market at all.
So I don't care weather someone sells a HD DVD player for $1.
- Kmart
- by citykitty41 December 28, 2007 6:29 PM PST
- I am posting this entry due to my frustration with Kmart in general. I was to receive an engagement ring for Christmas. This ring was ordered from Kmart.com. Per the website, if the item was purchased by dec 16, it would be delivered by Christmas eve. The ring still show available and in stock online today. It is now dec 28 and still no ring. I have contacted customer service repeatedly and I only get statements such as, "I'm sorry, I don't know the name of vendor shipping your order, I don't know when it will be shipped, the order has not yet been processed to be shipped".
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(8 Comments)My surprise proposal has been ruined, my actual proposal has been ruined, the joy of sharing the event with my family and friends over the holiday has been ruined. Tomorrow I must go home (long distance) and I still do not have my ring.
I will never order from Kmart.com nor will I ever spend a dime in Kmart or Sears. I am so upset. Although I have been very cheerful about this situation in front of my boyfriend.....I've even made jokes about the terrible ordeal....this morning I spent time alone so that I could finally CRY.