Retailers have been dropping their HD DVD products like, well, a dead format ever since Toshiba quit the hi-def scene. It's now Best Buy's turn to break the in-case-of-emergency glass by offering US$ 50 to all its customers who bought HD DVD products.

According to the apology-promo of sorts, Best Buy Co. will give US$ 50 to all of its customers who bought HD DVD players or HD DVD attachments prior to February 23 (which was around the time that Toshiba dropped the format).

CNN estimates that the promo will cost Best Buy around US$ 10 million in gift cards. (Nothing compared to Toshiba's estimated losses though.) Best Buy will be mailing the gift cards through its Reward Zone program. The company will be mailing them out on May 1.

If you're one of those who aren't part of the program, you can still get your gift card by providing a Best Buy receipt or credit card information for proof of purchase. As an alternative, you can also trade-in your players starting on March 21.