are 'they' they abusing the popularity of steelbooks?

[blurayisnice]

A lot of steelbooks have been released in the past month, and many more are going to be released. Probably 100+ combined (Best Buy exclusives, HMV exclusives, Play.com exclusives, General releases, Futureshop releases, Mediamarkt exclusives, etc.).

Are they abusing the popularity of steelbooks?

If they keep releasing steelbooks like this, their 'value' will go down (not so special anymore, almost like regular releases).

And they are charging a lot of money for the steelbooks. I mean... 22 GBP (29 euro's) for an ''old'' movie like E.T, just because it is a steelbook?

What do you guys think? Are they taking advantage (in a negative way) of the popularity of steelbooks?

I have spend hundreds of euro's in the past months on steelbooks. Just started collecting and it's damn addicting !!!

[Frasr]

I agree. As much as I like steelbooks, there are just too many being released these days. especially old titles e.g. the play.com waves

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I wouldn't say they are abusing the packaging style... yet! However, I feel there is a line which can be crossed that would make it so. I have not seen it come close to that line though.

I'm just glad that I have enough expendable money to take advantage of the latest influx without having to pick and choose. If I like the film, I know I can get the steelbook.

[lgans316]

Most of us talk about eBay scalpers. In my opinion, Studios are the biggest scalpers trying to exploit consumers especially collectors.

But, who cares? The choice is with consumers. Opt it or stay away.

[butch0]

I'm not really into steelbook collecting because of the limited value of them! I'm collecting steelbooks because I believe it's a nice packaging for the disc that I own (or want to) and just would like to have the movies I really like in this kind of packaging, no matter what.

I understand people who's concerning about the fact that we can have nearly any movie in steelbook packaging these days, but don't forget that we still have limited and hard to get steelbooks (FutureShop, japanese titles) so there's still plenty that are actually limited editions!

and by they way, if steelbooks wasn't this popular, there wouldn't be so many releases these days!!! so actually we brought this upon ourselves

[Moefiz]

I personally don't think its being abuse yet.Most of the Steels thats being release or rerelease are for very popular movies with a huge fan base around the world, now if a steel was going to be release for every movie that comes out.... now that I think would be abuse to the packaging.

[svenge]

As long as you're not using steelbooks as some form of long-term investment, I don't see the problem. They're meant for the intrinsic enjoyment of owning and displaying them.

Even if the secondary market for them collapses, they're not magically going to disappear off your shelf at home.

Also of note is that there's very few steelbooks that aren't released concurrently with a standard-case version (if a new release) or have unique on-disc content (for new releases and re-releases).

[Buddy Ackerman]

Originally Posted by butch0

I'm not really into steelbook collecting because of the limited value of them! I'm collecting steelbooks because I believe it's a nice packaging for the disc that I own (or want to) and just would like to have the movies I really like in this kind of packaging, no matter what.

Same here. I realise there are a few people who feel compelled to buy just because the film is in a steelbook or see every release as an opportunity to get a valued item.

But to the rest of us it's just nice to have the option. I love these new releases. I haven't bought many of the Play waves - I bought Incredible Hulk last week and have the two Iron Mans and The Frighteners on pre-order - but having the choice of owning favourite films in great packaging is fantastic.

I couldn't care less if they released everything in with a steelbook option. It may take away the notion of the steelbook option being 'special' and I can understand why that might be looked down upon but if it's the only reason you buy them then that's silly anyway.

As for the studios ripping us off - come on. You want it or you don't. No-one is forcing you to buy them. If you've set yourself a standard of buying every steelbook available then that's your own choice. This sounds like another example of the studios not being able to win - "We want steelbooks!", "OK, how about these?" "Too many, now they're not special enough!". Yes, they know we like them. Yes, they're aware that it will make some people double-dip. But it's supply and demand. It's the consumer deciding to double-dip.

[butch0]

Originally Posted by Buddy Ackerman

Same here. I realise there are a few people who feel compelled to buy just because the film is in a steelbook or see every release as an opportunity to get a valued item.

But to the rest of us it's just nice to have the option. I love these new releases. I haven't bought many of the Play waves - I bought Incredible Hulk last week and have the two Iron Mans and The Frighteners on pre-order - but having the choice of owning favourite films in great packaging is fantastic.

I couldn't care less if they released everything in with a steelbook option. It may take away the notion of the steelbook option being 'special' and I can understand why that might be looked down upon but if it's the only reason you buy them then that's silly anyway.

As for the studios ripping us off - come on. You want it or you don't. No-one is forcing you to buy them. If you've set yourself a standard of buying every steelbook available then that's your own choice. This sounds like another example of the studios not being able to win - "We want steelbooks!", "OK, how about these?" "Too many, now they're not special enough!". Yes, they know we like them. Yes, they're aware that it will make some people double-dip. But it's supply and demand. It's the consumer deciding to double-dip.

well said mate, well said!

[vargo]

It's their job to make as much money as possible.

If they find a section of customers who are more willing to buy things, maybe even buy twice, just because they come in a dinky metal case, then of course they are going to tap that market.

Certainly some people here seem to have addictive personalities or are very easily swayed by peer pressure. But at the end of they day they are adults who are spending their own earned money.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by vargo

It's their job to make as much money as possible.

If they find a section of customers who are more willing to buy things, maybe even buy twice, just because they come in a dinky metal case, then of course they are going to tap that market.

Certainly some people here seem to have addictive personalities or are very easily swayed by peer pressure. But at the end of they day they are adults who are spending their own earned money.

THAT is ultimately the bottom line in this situation. The companies see an opportunity to make money. If the individual consumers can't keep up with the ENTIRE output of their action plan for profit, well then it's "tough titty" for the individual consumer. They know that someone else will step in and make the other purchases instead.

Like I said earlier, I'm just glad that I can afford to keep up with all of the releases that I want. Hell, I just even bought the John Carter FutureShop release for $40 in-store without even the slightest concern. I'm also looking at acquiring a Minority Report release for $40 USD. The only thing stopping me there is a response from someone regarding how much they'd sell it to me for by comparison to the $40 USD I found it listed for elsewhere.

[DJJez]

There has been a dramatic increase recently what with bestbuy releasing 20 steelbooks and play.com releasing god knows how many and i think thats because all the big companies have finally realised people will buy steelbooks no matter what. doesnt matter if its been released on steelook before, there is always a high demand for it especially if you re-release it in a different country.

Country exclusives e.g Canada are getting re-released in usa and the uk now.

IMO we are only going to see more steelbooks being released and any country exclusive steelbook will get re-released so we can all have them.

[tenderheartbear]

They can release every film ever in a steelbook for all I care, in fact it would be better for me if they did.

I only buy the ones that interest me. I buy very few films, but when I do I go for the steelbook option if there is one. I'm not interested in their resale value, I just want them on my shelf. Having said that, I'll only pay the retail cost for them, and if they're easy to get. There really isn't any movie that I love that much to pay over the odds for no matter how rare the packaging might be, or how much I want that version.

[BluBonnet]

Supply and demand, people.

As long as there's demand, don't be surprised if distributors increase supply so that it meets with the demand.

It's called capitalism, by the way.

[supersix4]

I would be happy if I owned allot of the older ones (steelbooks) that might not see re-releases anytime soon. The reason why is the more they release now (while those values would take a big hit), the more new fans would want older titles (raising values).

[richieb1971]

Its nice to have the steelbook choice.

For me personally, I believe if a movie is already in a steelbook format that should be that. I noticed Kick ass has gotten 3 or 4 releases globally.

If studios run out of artwork A and then release another steelbook with artwork B. Then I have a problem.

If a steelbook is less than £20 at retail, i have no problem.

[Thwip]

In my humble opinion we may be reaching market saturation (I know it is getting close for me personally). I can understand the retailers and the studios wanting to make money, and I can appreciate them wanting to capitalize on the surging popularity of SteelBooks, but eventually everything like this hits a ceiling/breaking point.

I have seen it happen to something I enjoyed before (comic books in the late 90s). Supply was limited (theoretically for special issues), demand was high, and collecting was popular. The comic book publishers started pushing out more and more special editions, unique covers, multiple covers, etc.; before too long the "collectors editions" weren't so special, and the multiple variants became too difficult/expensive to keep up with...the popularity imploded.

In my opinion SteelBooks are walking dangerously close to this type of implosion now. The shear number being released seemed daunting to me (although I only collect Canadian releases). To me the most vivid (and personally reminiscent) sign that we are reaching a breaking point, is the pending multi-cover release of The Hunger Games by FS Canada. If that sort of thing takes off/continues, I know I am out.

[blurayisnice]

Maybe we have to mass-mail them (Play.com/FS etc.) that they have to stop releasing so much steelbooks, otherwise the fun of collecting them is gone.

[DJJez]

Originally Posted by Thwip

In my humble opinion we may be reaching market saturation (I know it is getting close for me personally). I can understand the retailers and the studios wanting to make money, and I can appreciate them wanting to capitalize on the surging popularity of SteelBooks, but eventually everything like this hits a ceiling/breaking point.

I have seen it happen to something I enjoyed before (comic books in the late 90s). Supply was limited (theoretically for special issues), demand was high, and collecting was popular. The comic book publishers started pushing out more and more special editions, unique covers, multiple covers, etc.; before too long the "collectors editions" weren't so special, and the multiple variants became too difficult/expensive to keep up with...the popularity imploded.

In my opinion SteelBooks are walking dangerously close to this type of implosion now. The shear number being released seemed daunting to me (although I only collect Canadian releases). To me the most vivid (and personally reminiscent) sign that we are reaching a breaking point, is the pending multi-cover release of The Hunger Games by FS Canada. If that sort of thing takes off/continues, I know I am out.

excellent answer

[laz305]

Originally Posted by butch0

I'm not really into steelbook collecting because of the limited value of them! I'm collecting steelbooks because I believe it's a nice packaging for the disc that I own (or want to) and just would like to have the movies I really like in this kind of packaging, no matter what.

I understand people who's concerning about the fact that we can have nearly any movie in steelbook packaging these days, but don't forget that we still have limited and hard to get steelbooks (FutureShop, japanese titles) so there's still plenty that are actually limited editions!

and by they way, if steelbooks wasn't this popular, there wouldn't be so many releases these days!!! so actually we brought this upon ourselves

Well put