That's according to an article by Home Media Magazine.
From June 8 to June 14, Wal-Mart is offering the $100 gift card with the purchase of any Blu-ray player. (The gift card can be redeemed for any item in the store.) However, Home Media reports that retailers say consumers are going for the $399 PS3 and ignoring the cheaper $298 standalone Magnavox Blu-ray player.
Retailers and analysts say consumers believe that the PS3 is the best Blu-ray player on the market because it can be updated for future 'Profile 2.0' interactive features while the Magnavox (and many other Blu-ray models) can not.
“I’ll bet a lot of people at the stores, and those that read up on their purchases, know this,” analyst Rob Enderle told Home Media.
The publication contacted several Wal-Mart stores in Southern California and found them selling out its inventory of the PS3 while the $298 Magnavox gathered dust on shelves.
“I sold eight (PS3s) yesterday,” one manager said, adding that he didn't sell one Magnavox Blu-ray player.
Michael Pachter, a media analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities, told Home Media that consumers are also opting for the PS3 over the standalone Blu-ray because there are still not enough Blu-ray film titles on shelves. The PS3 can be used for both Blu-ray movies and video gaming.
“People will want BD more when there is more content, but they want consoles now,” Pachter said.
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