Blu-ray: A 2008 Holiday Hit?

[FinalEvangelion]

By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (December 2, 2008) -- Newspapers across the nation reported over the weekend that many Black Friday shoppers purchased sub $200 Blu-ray players. Some publications called the high-def disc player one of the hottest items on consumers' shopping lists.

"Flatscreen TVs, Blu-Ray players, vacuum cleaners and toys were selling fast at a Wal-Mart store at Fairfax, Va," Money/CNN reported Friday. One newspaper said a $128 Magnavox Blu-ray player was sold out by 9:30 a.m. at another Wal-Mart.

The reports have prompted some analysts to wonder if Blu-ray is finally reaching a mass audience -- thanks to those lower prices. Until recently, Blu-ray players started at $399, which has led to disappointing sales. (Less than three million people own standalone Blu-ray players.) But with retailers dropping prices under $200 for the holidays, the reports could signal a Blu-ray sales rush.

Of course, the Black Friday news reports are based on eyewitness accounts rather than actual sales numbers.

But now two new reports have emerged that could give substance to the speculation that the 2008 holiday season could be a turning point for the high-def disc.

First, the National Retail Federation reported Monday that Blu-ray players were among the top-selling items during Black Friday weekend.

And today, PriceGrabber.com said that the Blu-ray player was the third hottest item during Black Friday weekend, trailing only "women's boots" and watches. The site, which monitors online shopping prices and trends, says online sales of Blu-ray players rose 147 percent compared to last year.

In addition, Sony's BDP-S350 was the third most popular product on Black Friday, PriceGrabber.com reported, trailing only Nintendo's Wii and the Ugg Australia 'Classic Short' boot.

The 2008 holiday shopping season has just begun. But if these reports continue, this could be a Blu Christmas.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/blu120208.htm

Even though I'm currently living in Japan, I've been hearing mainly success stories of BD and Black Friday. After BF, I've noticed that the "Blu-ray is dead, DD is coming" articles have really gone into the void. It sounds like we may be into the next step for adoption.

[Blu Titan]

Thanks for the post Swanni really rules. conbina sales of Blu-ray players accounted for the best selling item of the day.

[saprano]

I thought there were 6 million SA's in america?

[Septimus Prime]

What the hell, vacuum cleaners!?

I guess people partied REAL hard over the holiday.

[Ataneruo]

I meet a lot of new people each day at work, and I constantly hear people saying that they are considering buying a BD player and some that have bought one already. Today on a TV at the office I saw a Walmart BD advertisement. It is entering the everyday parlance, and this can only be a good thing

[MAPdead]

Great news!

[snoofie71]

I can't tell you how many times I have been asked about Blu Ray from the girls at work. Of course, they are still calling it Blu Ray DVD, but at least they are talking about it. One of them wanted to buy a new HDTV and figured she might as well get a Blu Ray player to go with it. I gave her some ideas and pointed her in the right direction. One more down.....

[Blu-dock Saint]

Bout time to be able to read something about what went on last friday with sales of Blu-ray players, be nice to see some actual numbers as well.

[Beast]

I'm sure the Blu-Ray haters will spin this with some of their typical moronic FUD any day now.

[FinalEvangelion]

I'm hoping for some actual numbers soon as well. Maybe end of this week or early next week. Will this weeks HMM include BF's figures?

Edit: @ Beast - they have been deathly silent the last few days. They may have to think of something else to attack BD for.

[Anthony P]

I'm sure the Blu-Ray haters will spin this with some of their typical moronic FUD any day now.

don't you know it changes every week. This week is "everyone should boycott BD because the disks are way too expensive"

[blu2]

Originally Posted by saprano

I thought there were 6 million SA's in america?

Roughly 1.3 Mliion as of the start of september, based on info from CEDIA '08. No data since then, just some projections for end of year.

[EQ3282]

There was a news snippet on the local Fox affiliate news last night, saying that it looks as though BD players were in the top three for cyber Monday sales, based on prelim figures. Aside from one of the reports calling them "blu-ray DVD players" (which can be taken either way, as BD players do play DVDs too...), it was a nice little story.

But, I think this holiday season will do enough to quell the nay-sayers.

[doctorsteve]

So let me get this straight:

By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (December 2, 2008) -- Newspapers across the nation reported over the weekend that many Black Friday shoppers purchased sub $200 Blu-ray players.

There it is - Swanni gets his Blu-ray news from the newspaper.

I again encourage you to ignore this "source" of information, He's no more informed than any newspaper buyer. I wish someone would compile a list of all the things he's been WRONG about. Predictions, my backside...

Grumble, Grumble (ooo, a Zelda reference!)

Doc

[Blu-dock Saint]

Originally Posted by EQ3282

There was a news snippet on the local Fox affiliate news last night, saying that it looks as though BD players were in the top three for cyber Monday sales, based on prelim figures. Aside from one of the reports calling them "blu-ray DVD players" (which can be taken either way, as BD players do play DVDs too...), it was a nice little story.

But, I think this holiday season will do enough to quell the nay-sayers.

I believe it as well that this holiday season will do well for blu-ray, but at the same time, half the public does not realize blu-ray can not play dvd's as well, so maybe for Joe six pack it's best they call them blu-ray dvd players, maybe they comprehend it better.

[Septimus Prime]

Originally Posted by Beast

I'm sure the Blu-Ray haters will spin this with some of their typical moronic FUD any day now.

Ready for it?

"Sales show that consumers would rather vacuum their house than watch Blu-ray SUCKERS!!!!"

[STARSCREAM]

I knew it. Blu-ray is gonna be huge this Christmas. Everyone in my family is finally starting buy players and even my mom was asking me the other night about the differences the Blu-ray's have over dvd's.

[jeabombers]

"One newspaper said a $128 Magnavox Blu-ray player was sold out by 9:30 a.m. at another Wal-Mart."

Man, I wish that I would have known those players were that un-popular. Please. It's not popular unless it sells out in the first hour of the sale. Pretty much EVERYTHING any store has on a BF ad has sold out by 9:30.... I sure would have loved to go pick it up, though (providing Consumer Reports knows what they are doing when they say it's right behind the Denon players....) I'm getting tired of moving my PS3 back and forth from my "less sociable" apartment to the family room so that we can ALL watch a movie, though it's easier now that both TVs are the Samsung LN40A650.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by jeabombers

"One newspaper said a $128 Magnavox Blu-ray player was sold out by 9:30 a.m. at another Wal-Mart."

Man, I wish that I would have known those players were that un-popular. Please. It's not popular unless it sells out in the first hour of the sale. Pretty much EVERYTHING any store has on a BF ad has sold out by 9:30.... I sure would have loved to go pick it up, though (providing Consumer Reports knows what they are doing when they say it's right behind the Denon players....) I'm getting tired of moving my PS3 back and forth from my "less sociable" apartment to the family room so that we can ALL watch a movie, though it's easier now that both TVs are the Samsung LN40A650.

The Walmart close to my home had 50 of the Magnavox BD palyers and they were sold in the first hour. I know, because I actually asked the electronics manager (pretending I wanted to buy one).

[Trean]

Originally Posted by Blu-dock Saint

so maybe for Joe six pack it's best they call them blu-ray dvd players, maybe they comprehend it better.

I noticed that many of the players actually just put Blu-ray/DVD/CD Player on the actual box. Seems logical to me; if it can play them all might as well advertise it.