"Purchase Rallys" and Brick-n-Mortar buys.

[Matt X]

Hey, I've seen alot of chatter lately re: the HDDVD camp trying to rally buys @ amazon on particular days, to spike sales figures. seems to me if they're trying to convince people their format is "alive and well", they're doing so artificially and not using a fair rule of measure (amazon sales). Personally, I prefer to buy @ brick and mortar stores, and pay cash (these credit info debacles like TJ Maxx and others have me leaning toward cash), so what service(s) better measure OVERALL sales? I would be happy to participate in BR buy rallys, but for me its happening at BB, CC, etc. I'm sure overall that BR is beating HDDVD like a red-headed stepchild, but I think those that are "on the fence" would be better served by seeing BR supporters promote a measure that is not easily manipulated by a few zealots (again, amazon, etc.)

[Zaphod]

The only problem with brick and mortar stores is that their prices are unreasonable. I agree cash is king, however there is no use in spending more of it if you don't have to.

When you look at the two you mentioned, BB and CC, their prices are a tad below MSRP, or at it for that matter, and range anywhere from 20-40% more than of the e-tailers out there on the WWW (local sales tax is comparable to the shipping charges).

I guess until there is one clear winner, u-hem...Blu-ray, then these brick and mortar stores have no reason to lower the prices. Every time I am in either BB or CC, I run by their Blu-ray display to see if they lowered their prices, and every time I am disappointed. Oh well I guess they like having excess stock sit on their shelf, all the while paying interest on it as it sits there.

[Matt X]

yeh, it's true that B&M is more expensive but I'm willing to deal w/that if that means my credit info isn't in the hands of someone who shouldn't have it.
So, w/that said, I'd love to hear from folks on what we might do about promoting sales figures reported for retailers (e- or otherwise) as an aggregate.
I would think that a very large amount of people (if not a majority) tend to return to the retailer they bought their hardware from to buy software (bought my PS3 @ Target, which unfortunately has a piss-poor selection on BR titles, so CC and BB on release week usu. get my $$). This could be a significant sales figure, so who reports it better? I don't know if all potential HD consumers consider amazon as simply part of a whole when it comes to sales #'s.

[ay221]

What is up with the brick and mortar? When I used to buy normal dvds I would buy them when they first came out and was usually cheaper or same price as Amazon. Not so with high def.

[Matt X]

I think w/ BR pricing we won't see the "1st week of release discount" that DVDs currently enjoy, at least not at first. I think it's a matter of market saturation - when sales #'s get large enough, and profit margins high enough, BR (and I guess HDDVD if it's still alive by then) will take up more and more real estate in the aisles at B&M stores - remember VHS and laserdisc? and the slow, inevitable expansion of DVD from one endcap to a whole rack to a whole store? took awhile, but it happened, and as it happened competition heated up and that's when it benefits the consumer (eg. 1st week discounts!) not happening yet, but it will. I'll pay extra till then.

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by Matt X

I think w/ BR pricing we won't see the "1st week of release discount" that DVDs currently enjoy, at least not at first. I think it's a matter of market saturation - when sales #'s get large enough, and profit margins high enough, BR (and I guess HDDVD if it's still alive by then) will take up more and more real estate in the aisles at B&M stores - remember VHS and laserdisc? and the slow, inevitable expansion of DVD from one endcap to a whole rack to a whole store? took awhile, but it happened, and as it happened competition heated up and that's when it benefits the consumer (eg. 1st week discounts!) not happening yet, but it will. I'll pay extra till then.

Yea the reason DVDs get the price-break now when the first come out is that the store is willing to break even, or sometimes take a loss (calling the product a "loss-leader," at least BB uses that term) to get you in the store. They see it as that they'll get you in the store to buy that DVD, and then you'll see other things you want and get them. So, a quick trip for one DVD turns into 30 minutes of meandering around and buying some other movies, too.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by nhaase

Yea the reason DVDs get the price-break now when the first come out is that the store is willing to break even, or sometimes take a loss (calling the product a "loss-leader," at least BB uses that term) to get you in the store. They see it as that they'll get you in the store to buy that DVD, and then you'll see other things you want and get them. So, a quick trip for one DVD turns into 30 minutes of meandering around and buying some other movies, too.

Exactly. We have a 'Discounter' here that screams out everywhere to have the lowest prices. But if you do some comparing, most things aren't cheaper or even cost more. It's just some 'lure-in' items that sell really cheap to get the customers in the store.

[Matt X]

PS, one more thing, it worries me a bit when seeing opposing camps backing one format or another, being I was kinda on the front lines during the last format war. No, not VHS vs. Beta, I'm talking DVD vs. Divx (the "rental" format backed by CC). I worked @ CC during that time and actually posted info to Bill Hunt @ theDigitalBits.com re: CC's underhanded attempts to try to put DVD out of business. The bottom line was there was one group trying to push one format (Divx camp), through underhanded means (not to say that the HDDVD camp is underhanded, but manipulating sales figures isn't exactly letting things shake out fairly) , and there was another trying to make sure that the FACTS came out clear - that DVD was a format that gave the consumer more choice.
I understand the comparison may not be completely relevant, as the main issue argued is technical superiority as opposed to customer choice (but then again, can't some parallels be drawn between CC and MS - format backers w/an agenda?), but all I'm saying it worries me that a technically inferior product (even if disk space is the only clear argument won by BR) might win a format war (again - remember Beta was considered better than VHS?) because of unfair tactics/smear campaigns/sales figure manipulation - I saw it before w/Divx (thankfully that time the inferior product lost).

[Eve6insideandout]

I can't imagine DVD's are expesive to make. You can buy them for like $0.20.

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by Matt X

(even if disk space is the only clear argument won by BR)

I think even more important is the higher bitrates. Only then can you take advantage of more space on the disk.

[Matt X]

Originally Posted by HDJK

I think even more important is the higher bitrates. Only then can you take advantage of more space on the disk.

...true dat

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by Zaphod

The only problem with brick and mortar stores is that their prices are unreasonable. I agree cash is king, however there is no use in spending more of it if you don't have to.

When you look at the two you mentioned, BB and CC, their prices are a tad below MSRP, or at it for that matter, and range anywhere from 20-40% more than of the e-tailers out there on the WWW (local sales tax is comparable to the shipping charges).

I guess until there is one clear winner, u-hem...Blu-ray, then these brick and mortar stores have no reason to lower the prices. Every time I am in either BB or CC, I run by their Blu-ray display to see if they lowered their prices, and every time I am disappointed. Oh well I guess they like having excess stock sit on their shelf, all the while paying interest on it as it sits there.

At Fry's Electronics, I generally pay $1 to $4 more than Amazon.com with taxes includes, but I get my copy right away. When I'm not excited about a title I might buy from Amazon.

[Ascended_Saiyan]

Originally Posted by HDJK

Exactly. We have a 'Discounter' here that screams out everywhere to have the lowest prices. But if you do some comparing, most things aren't cheaper or even cost more. It's just some 'lure-in' items that sell really cheap to get the customers in the store.

Yep. That's why I try to check the Amazon prices before I set out to buy BD titles from a B&M store.

[Zaphod]

Originally Posted by Ascended_Saiyan

At Fry's Electronics, I generally pay $1 to $4 more than Amazon.com with taxes includes, but I get my copy right away. When I'm not excited about a title I might buy from Amazon.

I wish I lived in a state which has Fry's, unfortunately I don't think they are in Florida, oh well...I would much rather get my Blu-ray's immediately at a B&M, instant gratification!

[AlaskaDon]

Originally Posted by Matt X

I think w/ BR pricing we won't see the "1st week of release discount" that DVDs currently enjoy, at least not at first. I think it's a matter of market saturation - when sales #'s get large enough, and profit margins high enough, BR (and I guess HDDVD if it's still alive by then) will take up more and more real estate in the aisles at B&M stores - remember VHS and laserdisc? and the slow, inevitable expansion of DVD from one endcap to a whole rack to a whole store? took awhile, but it happened, and as it happened competition heated up and that's when it benefits the consumer (eg. 1st week discounts!) not happening yet, but it will. I'll pay extra till then.

Actually, Suncoast is discounting new releases during the first week. Usually $22.95 on the BD's that have $29.95 list prices. I can't tell what they do on the higher priced releases from Fox since there haven't been any lately. If you have a Suncoast discount card to get the extra 10% off then they are not too bad at all when the titles are on sale. Also, I've noticed that they are not very good about advertising the fact that the Blu-rays are on sale, but you find out when they ring up the purchase.