Sainsburys to stop selling physical media from 20th September 2020

[crazybeats]

That is what is being said just now and if true that is a major supermarket in the UK no longer supporting physical media. My local Tesco only has a handful of 4Ks and Asda doesn't stop any. Blu rays are limited to new releases only but DVDs have a very good selection. I think everyone expected this to happen. What also surprised me is this includes CDs and LPs, the only thing they will stock will be books which is good as I still support physical books. I don't know how well physical media does in supermarkets but apart from HMV and Fopp there really isn't anything else. I know Matalan and Primark have a lot of recent CDs and DVDs but I can't think of anywhere else for new releases.

I see my local B&M is clearing their sections out too at half price so DVDS of new films like 1917 can be had for £5. I think that's what makes me curious, I can understand a lot of films finding their homes on streaming platforms but for recent films like 1917, if you didn't have a supermarket or a B&M and you weren't near an HMV or Fopp.....where would you buy it if the supermarkets didn't have it? If other supermarkets follow suit and stop selling physical media it could end up that if you don't order online, the only way you will see a new films is by going to the cinema because they're not all going to end up on Netflix or Amazon Prime and there's no other service in the UK that can pick them up and I don't see any other service on the horizon that might collect all these films up for streaming. 2020 has been interesting thus far.

[hoejunter]

My local ASDA will have one UHD and a few Blu-rays, everything else is just DVDs.

[crazybeats]

I don't know if it simply just comes down to price for most people and DVD s the cheaper option. I have never seen a UHD player for sale anywhere so I can see why there aren't many UHDs, where would people get a player from? The only place I can think of is Currys and there isn't many of them about, I think supermarkets may carry blu ray players at the moment. It might also be that during lockdown people had more money in their pockets and found other ways to enjoy it.

[Anthifisher]

I seen this on Big Pauly's video yesterday. Their website hasn't had DVDs or Blu Rays in stock for a while so I've had a feeling this was coming for a while however don't they own argos now or argos owns them so could they just be shifting their stock over to argos now or am I being daft?

[Scottishguy]

This is just part of the mainstream death of physical media. Not the death of physical media it self. I'll just get the vigil started early.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e9l...ature=youtu.be

[dallywhitty]

People shop in Sainsbury's?

[Scottishguy]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

People shop in Sainsbury's?

Well i do my shopping there.

[oddbox83]

No loss. Whoever selects what physical media they carry has been pants lately anyway. I can't remember the last time I bought something from there, I used to like popping by on release day to see what they had and see the new bargains - they had good offers once. They used to carry exclusive Indicator editions for example, they haven't bothered for a while.

I don't think it says as much about the state of physical media as it does about Sainsbury's doing a self-fulfilling prophecy when they culled the range back a few years ago. Of course it's going to sell poorly when there isn't much choice, and the range barely gets rotated. Covid is the extra icing on the cake.

Asda ditto. I used to like browsing their Blu-rays and DVDs about 10 years ago, then it went right off the boil. They may as well drop it too.

Let's face it, the impact will be small. Those who really care about physical media have probably long given up on picking up titles in a supermarket.

[CelestialAgent]

After the 3 for £20 offer last year, or StudioCanal’s history of Sainsburys exclusives back in the day, and Arrow making their supermarket distribution exclusive to Sainsburys - this is sad news.

[drush9999]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

People shop in Sainsbury's?

Yeah the dirty peasants who can't afford M&S Food Halls

[Scottishguy]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

No loss. Whoever selects what physical media they carry has been pants lately anyway. I can't remember the last time I bought something from there, I used to like popping by on release day to see what they had and see the new bargains - they had good offers once. They used to carry exclusive Indicator editions for example, they haven't bothered for a while.

I don't think it says as much about the state of physical media as it does about Sainsbury's doing a self-fulfilling prophecy when they culled the range back a few years ago. Of course it's going to sell poorly when there isn't much choice, and the range barely gets rotated. Covid is the extra icing on the cake.

Asda ditto. I used to like browsing their Blu-rays and DVDs about 10 years ago, then it went right off the boil. They may as well drop it too.

Let's face it, the impact will be small. Those who really care about physical media have probably long given up on picking up titles in a supermarket.

HMV really needs to go boutique if they are to survive as a business. Fopp in Edinburgh has set out most of their downstairs for vinyl, films are most of the upstairs with a small section for CD. Aye, vinyl is given more floor space.

That's the way physical has to go I'm afraid. The legacy and enthusiast route.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Anthifisher

I seen this on Big Pauly's video yesterday. Their website hasn't had DVDs or Blu Rays in stock for a while so I've had a feeling this was coming for a while however don't they own argos now or argos owns them so could they just be shifting their stock over to argos now or am I being daft?

They used to have their own site for entertainment, but when Crisis hit they where down to a handful of titles you could add to your groceries. I think they dropped those for essential items (and haven't added them back).

The funny thing is when I was going out, I'd go to the supermarket with the best selection and considering what folk spend on shopping, that's a lot of missed revenue if others do the same.

It won't happen, but I'd love Currys to make room for a decent entertainment aisle or three. I could rarely make it to HMV, but Currys is easy enough to get to. I know stores will say they can't make room for relatively stagnant stock, but you have something that rivals HMV and you place it near the OLEDs and new consoles and don't tell me you'll sell a few of those when people are picking up the latest UHD.

I remember our local Comet had a fantastic section, I'd visit a couple of times a week to buy DVDs and CDs.

I still have Angel Season 3 (and I few others) on my shelf. I know it's from Comet as they used that awful tape they put around boxes for security purposes and the marks are quite visible.

[oddbox83]

I think, generally, this is exactly what HMV is doing with more emphasis on indie labels and limited editions.

A shame they aliened Eureka with their deliver to individual shops model though. That seems counterproductive to a store whose survival might well rely on said labels. In it together or die together.

[SeeMoreDigital]

Hmmm....

I never liked the idea of large UK supermarket chains being able to sell music, booze, fuel, clothes, hardware goods, etc as its all helped to speed up the deaths of specialist retailers!

They should have only been able to sell food. Sadly, it's too late now!

[moviegeek1992]

Supermarkets were a way to sell physical media to casual buyers and the general public, the rise and popularity of streaming services has meant that something like Netflix is now almost viewed as a basic utility and a means to watch thousands of films at the click of a button. Most folks (mainly those who used to buy DVDs over Blu-rays due to cost) wouldn’t even pay £3 for a DVD now if there’s a chance it will be available to stream.

[Modman]

I can count the times I've bought a movie from a Supernarket on one hand in the last 3 years.

[franzsanchez]

I used to go on an annual splurge when the nectar double up came round but otherwise i've bought my blurays elsewhere so not surprised this is happening

the bluray / dvd aisle in my local sainsburys is always very quiet with pretty much no-one browsing. shame they couldn't have hung on until january to allow for one last double up rush. i've got £90 in points i've been saving

[rapta]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

After the 3 for £20 offer last year, or StudioCanal’s history of Sainsburys exclusives back in the day, and Arrow making their supermarket distribution exclusive to Sainsburys - this is sad news.

You were lucky, my local large Sainos were massively hit and miss on these titles. I rarely saw anything I wanted in them. Last surprise I remember seeing there was Eureka's Police Story 1&2 in the 2 for £25 (but no title I wanted enough to pair it with).

[Happenstance]

Originally Posted by Scottishguy

Well i do my shopping there.

Yep, me too.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by franzsanchez

I used to go on an annual splurge when the nectar double up came round but otherwise i've bought my blurays elsewhere so not surprised this is happening

the bluray / dvd aisle in my local sainsburys is always very quiet with pretty much no-one browsing. shame they couldn't have hung on until january to allow for one last double up rush. i've got £90 in points i've been saving

I used to have a field day on double up. Last few years it was hard to find anything I really wanted, so ended up getting wine with the double points instead...