Only the retailers can help save this format war now.

[tron3]

Block Buster already decided they would be blu-ray exclusive supporters.
While this is good news in the rental realm, it does little to deter HD-DVD as a viable selling product.

If more large retail outlets would say, "We will only carry blu-ray movies and players." this could force Paramount to back peddle. They will "fire" the executive responsible for that exclusive deal and re-support blu-ray. Or give him the chance to "change his mind". Why should he loose his job over something he would fix? He would be motivated to keep his job and make it up to us in some way.

Walmart has TONS of marketing influence. Love them or hate them, they can put your product on the map, or take it off. Now, if Walmart, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc would sell ONLY blu-ray players and movies, this would seal the fate of HD-DVD.

I'm not saying it should all go in the land fill. As I have been saying, dual format players will let them keep their current movies without eating the cost. It does little to prolong the life of HD-DVD movies if you know you will stop production of them in 6 months.

I'll say it again, don't kick HD-DVD adopters to the curb. Don't force them to loose hundreds or thousands of dollars in movie titles. Give them a trade-in and the sales of blu-ray movies will make up the difference. Penny wise and pound foolish, remember? Think longer term.

The stock holders can be saved if you convert the stock. Not sure how that works, but no one really has to get screwed here. Toshiba, I applaud your technology, it was the next natural step, but it was a step too small. You can maintain your dignity. I for one would not rub your nose in it. Your stiff competition helped convince people that blu-ray was a viable choice. Thus, helping it to take off. For that, we are all indebted to you.

[stockstar1138]

Toshiba did not start the concept of HD movies for consumers. Blu-ray was being worked on way before HD DVD even came into existance.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

Toshiba did not start the concept of HD movies for consumers. Blu-ray was being worked on way before HD DVD even came into existance.

Ok, modified that statement. Competition is good for business.

[cawgijoe]

The only way a store will drop one of the formats is if one is not selling well enough to keep and take up shelf space. As long as both are making accepatable profits for the store, they will continue to be carried.

It's all about the money.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by cawgijoe

The only way a store will drop one of the formats is if one is not selling well enough to keep and take up shelf space. As long as both are making accepatable profits for the store, they will continue to be carried.

It's all about the money.

Agreed, but don't forget the old business principle of supply and demand. When demand is up, prices go up. When demand is down, prices go down. If HD-DVD was the only game in town, we all would be paying those "blu-premiums".

When laserdic first came out, people balked at paying $80 or more to own the movie. But people did pay it. When I bought my first VCR I had to special order TRON on VHS and it cost me $35. Thinking back to laserdisc, which I never had, I thought that a fair deal. The 20th anniversary TRON DVD was $20. How much will it be on blu-ray? I don't really care too much because it is a staple movie of my younger days.

I have an older friend who adopted VHS years sooner than I did. He remembers paying $35 for his first BLANK VHS tape. I knew a guy who paid nearly 10 grand for the first pc harddrive. A whopping five (5) megabytes. Just the hard drive, not the pc. But he boasted how much faster he got things done.

As long as people are flooding the stores for blu-ray players and movies, prices won't budge very much. This move by Paramount actually helped us price-wise. Thus the other business adage, "Competition is good for business."

[jermwhl]

Originally Posted by tron3

Walmart has TONS of marketing influence. Love them or hate them, they can put your product on the map, or take it off. Now, if Walmart, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc would sell ONLY blu-ray players and movies, this would seal the fate of HD-DVD.

[/U]

While I agree with you on this topic in some scenarios, I don't believe Wally world can decide the format war. I have two wal-marts by my house and neither of them stock BD. I was in michigan and the one i went to there did not stock them either.

But yes, if all the major retailers went exclusive...that would have a enormous impact. Include amazon.com in that scenario..........GAME OVER.

[T-Town Oil]

I say just keep on buying blu-ray movies. The more money you spend, the more you are helping the cause.

[aristotles]

Guys, this is why I've bought all of my Blu-ray titles at local retailers so far from various retailers in the city. I may buy some Amazon pre-orders in the future or buy titles not available locally but I believe that local retail sales add more to the visibility of the format than online sales do.

Imagine if you are a retailer and you see your Blu-ray sales outnumbering HD DVD sales by 4:1 say. Would you be inclined to consider ordering a full catalog of Blu-ray titles for display in your store and reducing shelf space for HD DVD?

What if the opposite were true in your area and HD DVD was selling more than Blu-ray? Retailers might decide to not risk shelf space for product that is not selling for them even if Blu-ray sales nationally were much higher.

Finally, consider the trickle down effect. Try to imagine which type of player a consumer might choose and how local availability of titles might affect their decision. Shelf space and local visibility can be a powerful thing.

I'm not saying people should blindly buy all of their stuff locally but they might want to consider a strategy of supporting local stores that give you good service and promoting local sales of titles and players at the same time.

[Mr.Neutral]

Retailers..etc... doesn't matter. It may make a difference, but it doesn't really matter.

All that matters is growth. And so long as blu-ray grows at the same rate or better, it will keep its 2:1 lead. Eventually, the gap will be at a point where Universal and Paramount will be forced to release on blu-ray.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by jermwhl

While I agree with you on this topic in some scenarios, I don't believe Wally world can decide the format war. I have two wal-marts by my house and neither of them stock BD. I was in michigan and the one i went to there did not stock them either.

But yes, if all the major retailers went exclusive...that would have a enormous impact. Include amazon.com in that scenario..........GAME OVER.

The Walmart near me, and many of us, had mere pittance in a blu-ray selection. HD-DVD was slighter better, but probably because it does not sell as well. I think Walmart is testing the waters with both and will decide on one vs the other.