Is There Blu-ray Bigotry?

[ibeetle]

Blu-ray bigotry. How here have experienced it?

My local Blockbuster is currently the only place to rent high definition video; Blu-ray or HD DVD. Unfortunately it is managed, and assistant managed by two Blu-ray bigots.
I noticed that the only Blu-ray titals they get in are only titles that are simultaneously released on HD DVD as well. I asked them about this. They told misinformation and down right out and out lies about Blu-ray.
Things like Blu-ray picture is worst than even DVD on some players. Blu-ray disc are more expensive than HD DVD. That you can play a HD DVD on any DVD player, but Blu-ray requires a special Blu-ray player that will only play Blu-ray movies... not even standard DVD. Sony is the only company that is supporting Blu-ray; everybody else is putting all their movies on HD DVD... and so on. I am sure you have heard it all before.

The managers ended their anti-Blu-ray remarks by saying the best thing that could happen is if Blu-ray just went-a-way. They told me that the company required them to carry Blu-ray, but they do not require them what to carry, so they only carry the absolute minimum in Blu-ray Disc. Which means they do not order any Blu-ray exclusive titles.

I do have Netflix, however sometimes it takes a week or two to get that really big Blu-ray release in... and I want to see it now! lol So, it is either wait or go to Blockbuster and put up with their nonsense.

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by ibeetle

Blu-ray bigotry. How here have experienced it?

My local Blockbuster is currently the only place to rent high definition video; Blu-ray or HD DVD. Unfortunately it is managed, and assistant managed by two Blu-ray bigots.
I noticed that the only Blu-ray titals they get in are only titles that are simultaneously released on HD DVD as well. I asked them about this. They told misinformation and down right out and out lies about Blu-ray.
Things like Blu-ray picture is worst than even DVD on some players. Blu-ray disc are more expensive than HD DVD. That you can play a HD DVD on any DVD player, but Blu-ray requires a special Blu-ray player that will only play Blu-ray movies... not even standard DVD. Sony is the only company that is supporting Blu-ray; everybody else is putting all their movies on HD DVD... and so on. I am sure you have heard it all before.

The managers ended their anti-Blu-ray remarks by saying the best thing that could happen is if Blu-ray just went-a-way. They told me that the company required them to carry Blu-ray, but they do not require them what to carry, so they only carry the absolute minimum in Blu-ray Disc. Which means they do not order any Blu-ray exclusive titles.

I do have Netflix, however sometimes it takes a week or two to get that really big Blu-ray release in... and I want to see it now! lol So, it is either wait or go to Blockbuster and put up with their nonsense.

Sad that people in that profession can either be so misinformed or intentionally lie about it.

[zombieking]

Those 2 must have some serious stock in Universal and the hd-dvd market!!

[BLu-Balls]

They are just simple corporate tools that have no mind of their own and are probably to lazy to do any research

[Sane]

If it's any consolation, I've had a few conversations with employees and a manager at Blockbuster which were all very positive. Hopefully, it's just those 2 at your local store that are like that.

If anything, I would have thought that rental companies would push for BR more than anyone else because of the anti-scratch layer...? (a big reason why I usually only rent new movies because I hate getting a scratched up disc).

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Originally Posted by BLu-Balls

They are just simple corporate tools that have no mind of their own and are probably to lazy to do any research

Seems like the wrong take. They are just idiots already personally attached to the HD-DVD side of the argument. Blockbuster would want them to do the profitable thing and promote the winning format and push blu-ray if they have customers wanting that. The Blockbuster corporation is NOT anti-blu-ray. You make it seem as if they are just towing the corporate line which seems ludicrous.

[Merrick]

I agree with some of the already stated sentiments. The fact that Blockbuster requires them to stock Blu-ray probably means that as a company they are basically format neutral. And, really, why should they care? Whichever format wins (or if neither wins) they just keep renting whatever sells.
This is almost certainly just two idiots.

[buckshot]

if I were you (i'm a prick) i'd inform their regional manager of their intentions. carrying the bare minimum of bluray hurts profits, I can't think of any regional manager who would go along with that. managers and assistant managers at these places are typically the people who stick around the longest because they can't find other jobs. so its bottom of the barrel. like shift managers at kfc.

[kindredwolf]

[QUOTE=ibeetle;108412]Blu-ray bigotry. How here have experienced it?

My local Blockbuster is currently the only place to rent high definition video; Blu-ray or HD DVD. Unfortunately it is managed, and assistant managed by two Blu-ray bigots.
I noticed that the only Blu-ray titals they get in are only titles that are simultaneously released on HD DVD as well. I asked them about this. They told misinformation and down right out and out lies about Blu-ray.
Things like Blu-ray picture is worst than even DVD on some players. Blu-ray disc are more expensive than HD DVD. That you can play a HD DVD on any DVD player, but Blu-ray requires a special Blu-ray player that will only play Blu-ray movies... not even standard DVD. Sony is the only company that is supporting Blu-ray; everybody else is putting all their movies on HD DVD... and so on. I am sure you have heard it all before.

The managers ended their anti-Blu-ray remarks by saying the best thing that could happen is if Blu-ray just went-a-way. They told me that the company required them to carry Blu-ray, but they do not require them what to carry, so they only carry the absolute minimum in Blu-ray Disc. Which means they do not order any Blu-ray exclusive titles. QUOTE]

All of the people i talk to that are neutral (meaning vendors of both Blu and HD, or people who have both or still undecided) all give praise to both formats but admit blu-ray advantages are more likely to carry it through to victory.

All of the people i talk to, or hear from, who have HD-DVD players say that HD dvd is the sure-fire winner and blu-ray is dirt.

Perhaps your store managers fall under the 2nd group?

..The closer one is to death, the more they struggle...

[Wolfie]

Log on to www.blockbuster.com and issue a formal complaint about them. They will either "train" them on what to say, or find someone else to work there. It doesn't take rocket science to work at a video rental store.

Wolfie

[ibeetle]

I wanted to clarify that I did not mean to imply that all Blockbuster video stores were managed with the same attitude that mine is managed with.

Would anyone mind sending one of your mangers my way?

I have contacted Blockbuster corporate. I spoke to the head of the district reps for my area. Basically my district reps boss. He told me that Blockbuster has not made a formal decision in what if any of the two high definition formats they will exclusively carry. He went on to tell me that just like we all have our favorite video game system we have our favorite high definition format, and any customer who feels that they are being belittled or harassed for rented or buying their format of choice will not be tolerated.

I gave him what information I had about the store and employees in question. He told me that he would be in contact with that stores corporate district rep and find out exactly what is going on in relation to customers renting or buying a format that the management does not like.

Maybe in a few days the mangers will find them self's be re-educated in Blu-ray Disc and customers relations.

[IamNhobdy]

Originally Posted by ibeetle

I wanted to clarify that I did not mean to imply that all Blockbuster video stores were managed with the same attitude that mine is managed with.

Would anyone mind sending one of your mangers my way?

I have contacted Blockbuster corporate. I spoke to the head of the district reps for my area. Basically my district reps boss. He told me that Blockbuster has not made a formal decision in what if any of the two high definition formats they will exclusively carry. He went on to tell me that just like we all have our favorite video game system we have our favorite high definition format, and any customer who feels that they are being belittled or harassed for rented or buying their format of choice will not be tolerated.

I gave him what information I had about the store and employees in question. He told me that he would be in contact with that stores corporate district rep and find out exactly what is going on in relation to customers renting or buying a format that the management does not like.

Maybe in a few days the mangers will find them self's be re-educated in Blu-ray Disc and customers relations.

Yeah! Go you. I personally would've snapped a cell phone pic to accompany my complaint, but good job all around.

managers and assistant managers at these places are typically the people who stick around the longest because they can't find other jobs. so its bottom of the barrel.

Yeah...these people tend to stay where they are because of their ignorance. They laugh at you now, but they're not smart enough to succeed in life. They just proved this to us all with their a$$ backwards claims.

Probably just bought their 360Elites and feel an overwhelming need to justify their poor, uneducated decisions.

"...this is HD tv. It's got better resolution than the real world!"
-Phillip J. Fry

[john_1958]

Originally Posted by ibeetle

Blu-ray bigotry. How here have experienced it?

My local Blockbuster is currently the only place to rent high definition video; Blu-ray or HD DVD. Unfortunately it is managed, and assistant managed by two Blu-ray bigots.
I noticed that the only Blu-ray titals they get in are only titles that are simultaneously released on HD DVD as well. I asked them about this. They told misinformation and down right out and out lies about Blu-ray.
Things like Blu-ray picture is worst than even DVD on some players. Blu-ray disc are more expensive than HD DVD. That you can play a HD DVD on any DVD player, but Blu-ray requires a special Blu-ray player that will only play Blu-ray movies... not even standard DVD. Sony is the only company that is supporting Blu-ray; everybody else is putting all their movies on HD DVD... and so on. I am sure you have heard it all before.

The managers ended their anti-Blu-ray remarks by saying the best thing that could happen is if Blu-ray just went-a-way. They told me that the company required them to carry Blu-ray, but they do not require them what to carry, so they only carry the absolute minimum in Blu-ray Disc. Which means they do not order any Blu-ray exclusive titles.

I do have Netflix, however sometimes it takes a week or two to get that really big Blu-ray release in... and I want to see it now! lol So, it is either wait or go to Blockbuster and put up with their nonsense.

know what you mean alot of places refuse to carry either Hd movies and when they do they over charge by doubling the price

[reiella]

Originally Posted by john_1958

know what you mean alot of places refuse to carry either Hd movies and when they do they over charge by doubling the price

Alot of places got burned by the UMD recently. So they're not going to be inclined to adopt new formats.

[haushausman]

I wish some tardmuffin at whatever store started preaching to me about how HD-DVD is superior. I'd of ripped them a new one with a my words and a sharpened BD.

[rmatt]

Originally Posted by reiella

Alot of places got burned by the UMD recently. So they're not going to be inclined to adopt new formats.

Another reason is the profit margin on HDDVD is very small, so some stores are leary about Blu-ray because HDDVD left a bad first impression.

[Xerious]

this is why blockbuster is going out of business... technotards

[k20king]

What I shame.

Business should stick to business.

Look at it this way. They are jockying and battling for HD DVD. Its their choice.

But the reprocussions could be, once the format war is over. They are stuck in the hole they dug them selves. Instead of finding a steady market of Blu Ray Customers, they will be stuck with no future business.

Go BLu Ray!

[WickyWoo]

The problem with UMD was that it had a big bump when people bought PSPs, there were no games but lots of movies. So people bought movies.

Then about a month later, everyone figured out you could just rip your DVDs and stick them on a memory stick. Pay less for the DVD and have both

Personally I believe the real future is that they include on the BR disc an iPod/PSP/PDP/laptop version taht you can unlock and download through a USB connection on the player, after paying a $2-3 fee.

Not only does this keep the chain of authorized DRM in place iTunes style, but everyone wins. You get to move the movie around, people get paid, and everyone wins, so long as they hold to one standard DRM scheme.

[Wondermaker]

It's kind of amusing looking at this thread in retrospect to yesterday's news...