Executives at electronics retailers say they stand to bear the brunt of a consumer backlash should the next generation hi-def DVD format wars drag on. Michael Vitelli, senior vice-president of Best Buy’s consumer electronics division, told Reuters recently that the biggest U.S. gadget retailer will likely devote  minimal real estate in its stores to hi-def DVD players and related movie disks this year.

So what have Best Buy employees been instructed to tell curious shoppers?

“Tell them the facts — that these are two incompatible formats. And if you want to see a movie, it may not be available because that studio decided not to do it,” he said. “If you want to watch every movie that comes out, you are going to have to buy both (versions) of them.”

Next Generation DVD players are sure to be one of primary electronics products that both excite and frustrate consumers this holiday shopping season. The current format war means that consumers who buy the machines take a chance that whatever they buy — at a cost that can top $1,000 — may be useless in a few years. Most movies will only work on one type of DVD player and not the other. 

Click here to read about DVD players and other consumer electronics in Franklin Paul’s coverage of the holiday gadget lineup.