Why do people still think that Blu-rays cost A LOT more than DVDs?

[MrHT]

I went to Best Buy the other day and I saw a couple of tourists there (a man and a woman) looking through their movies. I overheard their conversation and it went something like this:

MAN: Oh! There’s the Blu-ray section.
WOMAN: Blu-ray? Are they more expensive than DVDs?
MAN: They’re A LOT more expensive.
WOMAN: Why does it cost a lot more?
MAN: Well, people supposedly think that the quality is much better.

I swear, I was so tempted to just clench my fist and just let him have it good!!! What an ignorant thing to say!!! First he says that Blu-rays are “A LOT” more expensive and he has the nerve to says that we “supposedly think” the quality is better. First of all the quality IS better. Period. It is much better, in fact! And it only costs a few bucks more if you know where to shop. BDs do not cost “a lot” more. These people need to watch what they say because it just shows how ignorant they are.

What is wrong with these people? Why do people still seem to think that Blu-ray movies are so much more expensive than DVDs? Do they not look at the friggin’ price tags??? How can a few dollar differences be “A LOT” more???

[Member-115369]

Partly misconception.

Partly still true. The gap has narrowed, but Blu rays still cost a good bit more. New releases are often fairly close in price. But it's hard to beat the $3-5 deals you see on DVDs throughout the year where as Blu-rays are seldom below $8-10 on sale yet for major catalog titles.

I still buy some DVDs cheap like that. Things like comedies that I don't care about having in HD etc. since I'm not much of a videophile and only really care about HD for movies with lots of special effects or absolute favorites I watch every few months etc.

[HD Goofnut]

I don't understand this either, especially with new releases. You walk into any Wal-Mart or Best Buy and you'll see a BD or BD/DVD combo anywhere from $19.96 to $29.99 in most cases. Then you'll see the DVD next to it for about the same price and sometimes the DVD is actually the exact price as the BD/DVD combo version. Why anyone would pick up a $20 DVD when they could buy the BD/DVD combo for the same price is beyond my comprehension. Also, if you know where to shop online you can get newly released BDs for less than $15 shipped and sometimes even less.

[Lacit170]

well, people who talk like this obviously are not huge on movies etc like people on this site are....

when the average customer walks into Best Buy and see a movies costs $29.99, what do you expect them to think

Best Buy and a few other stores are what give BD a bad name in regards to price becuase they overprice most movies...they have sales etc. but no movie should be over 20 bux imo

[Chordata]

THE NERVE OF SOME PEOPLE!!! HOW DARE THEY@!!!!

Instead of dreaming about punching the guy, you should've taken the opportunity to "educate" him.

[Blu-Benny]

best buy doesn't help matters when their regular prices are in the neighborhood of $29.99.

[HockeySlasher]

Maybe a "few" dollars is considered a lot to the guy. Who knows what type of financial situation he is in.

But there is some truth to it.

I did a quick check at Best Buy-

Batman Begins DVD - $6.99
Batman Begins Blu - $14.99

True Grit (2010) DVD - 19.99
True Grit (2010) Blu - 29.99

Dark Knight DVD - 9.99
Dark Knight Blu - 19.99

Sure, new releases maybe closer in price (it looks like Source Code will only be 5 bucks different).

Anyway, point being, if John Doe walks into Best Buy and scopes out some prices, odds he'll see a pretty significant difference.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Blu Tide

Maybe a "few" dollars is considered a lot to the guy. Who knows what type of financial situation he is in.

But there is some truth to it.

I did a quick check at Best Buy-

Batman Begins DVD - $6.99
Batman Begins Blu - $14.99

True Grit (2010) DVD - 19.99
True Grit (2010) Blu - 29.99

Dark Knight DVD - 9.99
Dark Knight Blu - 19.99

Sure, new releases maybe closer in price (it looks like Source Code will only be 5 bucks different).

Anyway, point being, if John Doe walks into Best Buy and scopes out some prices, odds he'll see a pretty significant difference.

Batman Begins - $10.49 online
True Grit - $18.99 online
The Dark Knight - $9.99 online

Just making a point.

[P@t_Mtl]

Because they do cost more then DVD for a lot of people.

You, me and the others we are on this site because

1. we like Blu-ray
2. we like movies

(then take like and replace by ultra nut case that will sometime spend more then they should on this hobby)

Now for most people movies are just not that big a deal, so if they see a $10 or even $5 difference between the Blu-ray and the DVD, guess what? They will say that Blu-ray is more expensive.

[Cortiz]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

best buy doesn't help matters when their regular prices are in the neighborhood of $29.99.

I agree. BD's should not cost more than $15 for a catalog release, and $20 for a new release.....

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by Blu Tide

Maybe a "few" dollars is considered a lot to the guy. Who knows what type of financial situation he is in.

But there is some truth to it.

I did a quick check at Best Buy-

Batman Begins DVD - $6.99
Batman Begins Blu - $14.99

True Grit (2010) DVD - 19.99
True Grit (2010) Blu - 29.99

Dark Knight DVD - 9.99
Dark Knight Blu - 19.99

Sure, new releases maybe closer in price (it looks like Source Code will only be 5 bucks different).

Anyway, point being, if John Doe walks into Best Buy and scopes out some prices, odds he'll see a pretty significant difference.

That's the thing....

At Amazon you can buy...

The Dark Night Blu- $9.99 (same price)
True Grit (BD/DVD Combo)- $18.99 ($1 less)
Batman Begins Blu- $9.99 (a few bucks more)

That's not "a lot" more. In fact, True Grit is CHEAPER when you buy the combo at Amazon.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Batman Begins - $10.49 online
True Grit - $18.99 online
The Dark Knight - $9.99 online

Just making a point.

Nice point but you will be quite surprise at how many people do not, never will, have no wish to shop online. So for them Blu-ray are more expensive then the DVD.

[Cevolution]

Often people who have attitudes like that are cheap, meaning they always find it hard to see the value in anything more expensive whether it be blu-ray, a tv or even a toaster, as they think every product is of equal quality and have convinced themselves that they are not missing out on anything if they buy the cheapest product available. They are also proud of themselves because they believe they didn't get sucked into any marketing hype and they think they saved themselves a lot of money. A lot of people like that are always complaining about everything being a rip off in life, like everything is some kind of conspiracy.

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Nice point but you will be quite surprise at how many people do not, never will, have no wish to shop online.

And what's their reason???

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by MrHT

And what's their reason???

The internets are scary.

[dexsdarkpassenger01]

I totally agree twith you and your situatation. The Problem that people have is that they appaerently do not remember back in the day How much VHS tapes were. I can remember they ran about 150.00 a piece. So if it was me I would have explained to them that it is no different then that. and explian to them the quaulity it 110% better.

[Member-115369]

Originally Posted by MrHT

That's the thing....

At Amazon you can buy...

The Dark Night Blu- $9.99 (same price)
True Grit (BD/DVD Combo)- $18.99 ($1 less)
Batman Begins Blu- $9.99 (a few bucks more)

That's not "a lot" more. In fact, True Grit is CHEAPER when you buy the combo at Amazon.

But again, keep in mind the average person isn't a huge movie fan like us on a site like this. So they aren't buying many movies in general, or shopping around online for them.

They're just catching a few movies a year in the theater, renting a few movies and just buying every once in a while.

They also probably don't care much about HD as not everyone is into the A/V stuff.

So it makes since for those kind of people that seeing the price differences on the shelves in places like Best Buy would be jarring as they're just not the type to spend much money on movies in general.

Hell, I don't buy much anymore as I realized it was a waste since I hardly ever watch my own movies as I'd rather watch something new on Netflix.

[Member-115369]

Originally Posted by Cevolution

People who generally have attitudes like that are usually cheap, meaning they always find it hard to see the value in anything more expensive whether it be blu-ray, a tv or even a toaster, as they think every product is of equal quality and have convinced themselves that they are not missing out on anything if they buy the cheapest product available, and are also proud of themselves because they believe they didn't get suck in to any marketing hype and I think they saved themselves a lot of money. People like that are always complaining about everything being a rip off in life, as if everything is some kind of conspiracy.

Or they're just people who are less fortunate that you or I and don't have much disposable income and have to pinch pennies to make ends meet.

No reason to be so blindly judgmental toward people with different values and opinions about what movies are worth.

[Matt Stieg]

Well, Universal for one does seem hell bent on maintaining that thought...their catalog prices are just atrocious. $26.99?!?

[Cevolution]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Or they're just people who are less fortunate that you or I and don't have much disposable income and have to pinch pennies to make ends meet.

No reason to be so blindly judgmental toward people with different values and opinions about what movies are worth.

In some cases yes they might be less fortunate, but there still are plenty of people who can afford things but think the way I described in my previous post.