Would this guerilla tactic be immoral?

[Existentialist]

I have an idea for a great guerilla tactic that would increase the sales of blu-ray movies. Yet I am debating on the morality of it. It is a pretty simple idea; go to shops like Hastings, or anywhere that does special orders, and order a few blu-rays, that you don't intend to pick up. I know at Hasting's after a month of not picking it up they will put it on the shelf to sale to anyone. Sooner if you call and tell them you changed your mind.

I feel this would help them get more titles on their shelves, in the form of unclaimed special orders, as well as getting more sales for blu-ray.

Like I said it would be dishonest, but Hastings did fire me for no reason, so I can justify myself doing it there. As for the rest of you, what do think? Would this be sinking too low?

[Rob71]

Taken from sonshi.com

The question still remains: is deception wrong? To Sun Tzu, it is the Way of warfare; it must be applied. For him, deception increases the chances of a quick victory. With it come reduced hardships and the sparing of soldiers' lives. In fact, if the general can successfully deceive the enemy, he will likely achieve the highest accomplishment in warfare -- victory without fighting.

[glenn22]

I don't think it would make more than a drop in the bucket difference as most people aren't going to do this. I also don't think we need to resort to such tactics. All we really need to do is buy the Blu-ray movies that we want. Showing your support with dollars in the form of movie purchases speaks louder than anything else.

[Blue]

There is an easier way that is Moral. Go in and ask when are you going to ... in stock unless they have it in stock, just say oh well I will just get at ... they have stock or if a new release will have stock on .... It won't take long for it climb the chain. Have too many unfilled orders and it may back fire.

[Existentialist]

Originally Posted by glenn22

I don't think it would make more than a drop in the bucket difference as most people aren't going to do this. I also don't think we need to resort to such tactics. All we really need to do is buy the Blu-ray movies that we want. Showing your support with dollars in the form of movie purchases speaks louder than anything else.

If you go into alot of places that sell blu-rays, they only have the big blockbusters, and none of the lesser known films that have made their way to blu-ray. I think it would help, as it would get these lesser known movies on to the shelf. Also each shipment of movies these retailers order shows the demand for blu-ray to the suppliers.

You are right, it may not make a that big of a difference, but it would be neat if the blu-ray selection at my local Hasting's suddenly doubled because of unclaimed orders.

On a side note, it is not like I wouldn't still pick up the special orders I wanted to get. Just maybe order one I want, and one I probably won't pick up.

[Hanzaki]

Eeeeeh, why don't you just BUY some more blu-ray disc? Your claim doesn't make any sense at all

[DavePS3]

Well if I was working for Hastings and I brought in a whack of titles for orders that were later cancelled, I might get peed off enough to halt any further ordering until my present stock depleted itself. Plus all the cancellations might lead Hastings to conclude the format is losing ground.

[whippersnapper]

Hell yes it would be immoral. It also would be wrong and counterproductive. Let's be the format that takes the high road.

[Existentialist]

Originally Posted by DavePS3

Plus all the cancellations might lead Hastings to conclude the format is losing ground.

Goodpoint. I just got the idea becuase I am pissed off about there lack of selection. This would be a good way to get more titles on the shelves. Honestly I don't think Hasting's people are smart enough to figure out a trend like theat though. Alot of stupid people and policies running that place. They don't have anyway to track whether a special order has been picked up or not.

[DavePS3]

I think the more ordering they see in the format will lead them in the right direction just like any retail operation. If they see their competion getting the orders for stuff they don't stock, they'll get wise. Nobody's in business to lose money to competition. Stay on 'em. The more people they get asking for stock, the more chance they'll dive in.

[tobytobe2002]

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

Hell yes it would be immoral. It also would be wrong and counterproductive. Let's be the format that takes the high road.

Amen.

[Existentialist]

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

Hell yes it would be immoral. It also would be wrong and counterproductive. Let's be the format that takes the high road.

Words like "wrong" and "counterproductive" get thrown around so losely these days. In this crazy, topsy, turvy world who is to say what is "right" or "wrong?" And "high road" is that not just a higher version of the "low road?" You see they are but opposite ends of the same spectrum...when you have become enlighted you will see this. Here is an ancient buddhist koan designed to trick a mind into enlightenment, ponder this:

"If an HD-DVD is ordered, paid for, and placed on the shelves by a retailer and no-one is there to buy it, was it ever acctually sold?"

[blubyyou]

Sounds a little childish especially for the reasons listed IMHO.

[shatta]

i got a better idea...let go to our friends house that have 360 add on and/or the hd-dvd player.....wait until tis turn off tho..then pour some soda through the vent and wait to hear the news next day

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by Existentialist

Words like "wrong" and "counterproductive" get thrown around so losely these days. In this crazy, topsy, turvy world who is to say what is "right" or "wrong?" And "high road" is that not just a higher version of the "low road?" You see they are but opposite ends of the same spectrum...when you have become enlighted you will see this. Here is an ancient buddhist koan designed to trick a mind into enlightenment, ponder this:

"If an HD-DVD is ordered, paid for, and placed on the shelves by a retailer and no-one is there to buy it, was it ever acctually sold?"

I'm glad that you and your values are not representative of the Blu-ray community.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by Existentialist

I have an idea for a great guerilla tactic that would increase the sales of blu-ray movies. Yet I am debating on the morality of it. It is a pretty simple idea; go to shops like Hastings, or anywhere that does special orders, and order a few blu-rays, that you don't intend to pick up. I know at Hasting's after a month of not picking it up they will put it on the shelf to sale to anyone. Sooner if you call and tell them you changed your mind.

I feel this would help them get more titles on their shelves, in the form of unclaimed special orders, as well as getting more sales for blu-ray.

Like I said it would be dishonest, but Hastings did fire me for no reason, so I can justify myself doing it there. As for the rest of you, what do think? Would this be sinking too low?

Heh, they prolly had a reason, it may not have had anything to do with you, but I do know security dropped the hammer on a few stores after they caught management level employees stealing.

Anyway, umm, if it gets shelved or not depends on the product status. It'll show up on the return report if it's not something normally stocked and then it kinda does need to get returned to DC in Ammy. Further, if the store's stock number is supposed to be 0, when the special order status fades, then it'll show up on the Overstock reports [or get caught in a Cycle Count] and get sent back to DC. If it's happening otherwise, well, the IC manager must not care about their APR.

All you really manage to do is waste Hasting's employee time, and lower the in store-sales numbers for Blu-Ray.

[Existentialist]

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

I'm glad that you and your values are not representative of the Blu-ray community. I'm assuming that you are a not particularly bright child or an immature adult. You are adding absolutely nothing of value here.

I don't think that this forum is an appropriate place, or anywhere in my beliefs, for that kind of behavior. It is one thing to disagree with someones values, and another to outright insult someone by calling them stupid. In the OP I pose a question about the morality of a hypothethical situation, one of which I do not engage in, but rather becuase I was interested in hearing what you guys thought. (I am a big fan of ethics) You answered with a short, to the point answer, and seemed genuinely miffed by my query. I decided to lighten the mood by giving you a silly response.

I don't want to start an argument, I just wanted you to know that, at least on this forum, that resulting to name-calling is a disrespectful and out of place behavior, which can result in hurt feelings. Please take more care in your future posts.

[hyperdine]

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

I'm glad that you and your values are not representative of the Blu-ray community.

I agree with this. ^^

I'm assuming that you are a not particularly bright child or an immature adult.

But this was unnecessary. ^^

[Existentialist]

Originally Posted by reiella

Heh, they prolly had a reason, it may not have had anything to do with you, but I do know security dropped the hammer on a few stores after they caught management level employees stealing.

Anyway, umm, if it gets shelved or not depends on the product status. It'll show up on the return report if it's not something normally stocked and then it kinda does need to get returned to DC in Ammy. Further, if the store's stock number is supposed to be 0, when the special order status fades, then it'll show up on the Overstock reports [or get caught in a Cycle Count] and get sent back to DC. If it's happening otherwise, well, the IC manager must not care about their APR.

All you really manage to do is waste Hasting's employee time, and lower the in store-sales numbers for Blu-Ray.

The reason wasn't corporate, i can tell you that.

Anyway as far as I remember from working there, and I know things have changed since then, all unclaimed special orders were put on the shelves. I remember having unclaimed records that sat on our shelves for months. When you are dealing with items the company does not generally order in bulk, they order only one from a special supplier. Once hasting's has paid for it they are stuck with it. I assume it would be he same with blu-rays. Only big corporations like Wal-Mart, have the bargaining power to have merchandise fronted to them, or the ability to return unsold merchandise. In Hasting's case, correct me if I am wrong, as soon as they buy a blu-ray from say, one of Sony's distrubitors, it is immediately tallied as a sale.

While it may be the case you get return sheets, I believe they are only to be shipped to other stores for special orders, ect... or to be sent to the warehouse, never back to the supplier.

Again I could be wrong on some of this.

[hyperdine]

Originally Posted by Existentialist

Goodpoint. I just got the idea becuase I am pissed off about there lack of selection. This would be a good way to get more titles on the shelves. Honestly I don't think Hasting's people are smart enough to figure out a trend like theat though. Alot of stupid people and policies running that place. They don't have anyway to track whether a special order has been picked up or not.

I used to work at Hastings a long time ago. The management team there was very reasonable. No need to have any sort of complicated scheme. Just talk to the store manager (politely) and request that they carry more Blu-Ray titles. If you don't want to talk to them, just buy more Blu-Ray titles. Nothing sends a stronger messge than $$$.