If you have purchased a TV from JB Hi-Fi in 2011, you can claim a free Kogan cable by emailing your proof of purchase to jbcon@kogan.com.au. The terms and conditions for the promotion say the offer closes at 5pm on 31 March 2011, or at the discretion of the promoter.
The three metre gold plated 1.4 HDMI cable normally retails for $3. Kogan Technologies has also knocked off the price of shipping.
If you’ve been following Kogan in the news lately, this spout of generosity towards JB Hi-Fi customers may seem a bit strange. Just last week, Kogan Technologies founder Russlan Kogan accused JB Hi-Fi’s CEO of being dishonest to his share holders and challenged him to a one million dollar bet. (The full details of the stoush can be read here.)
The campaign intends to shed light on what Kogan refers to as "ridiculous markups' on the price of HDMI cables, some of which are “more than 60 times" the price of Kogan’s offering.
“Some retailers have decided that it’s appropriate to trick unsuspecting Aussie shoppers into thinking a $200 HDMI cable is somehow better than a $3 cable,” Ruslan Kogan said. “What they conveniently forget to tell you is there’s no difference in picture quality.”
While it's true that the improved video quality of premium-level HDMI cables is somewhat questionable, there are also other factors at play. It's worth noting that by the end of the year, cables won't be able to use the 'HDMI 1.4' moniker. Instead, they will fall into five separate categories, ranging from Standard HDMI to High Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet.
Whether you think this is a legitimate campaign or just a shrewd publicity stunt, the end result is the same: a free HDMI cable for JB Hi-Fi customers. We find it’s always handy to have a spare laying around.
The free HDMI cable offer will last until the end of the month. You can find out more about the 'Cable Con' campaign at the Kogan Technologies website.
