Digital Bits Informal Poll: Blu-ray player sales jump to 20:1 in Orange County, CA

[Ispoke]

We are starting to see the impact on sales now it seems:

In order to better assess retailers' possible next moves, we contacted a variety of local Orange County, CA retail locations yesterday (including Best Buy and Circuit City stores, as well as Frys Electronics and a couple of specialty retailers) for an informal poll, and have learned that since Warner's decision on Friday, Blu-ray Disc hardware has begun outselling HD-DVD hardware dramatically, jumping from 3 to 1 early last week to a factor of roughly 20 to 1 (on average) over the weekend. Sales people are now more confidently recommending Blu-ray to their customers as the preferred of the two formats, and there have apparently been returns of HD-DVD decks. Said one Best Buy employee yesterday of HD-DVD: "We'll keep it around until it goes on clearance, but in a couple months, it probably won't be there anymore."

My Two Cents

[Manco]

[stockstar1138]

that would put the nielsens near 95:5 i believe!

[bageleaterkkjji]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

that would put the nielsens near 95:5 i believe!

i doubt it most of the people who own hddvd will probably not even know some studio is not making anymore movies for them until come may and there are no new releases

[Kairav]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

that would put the nielsens near 95:5 i believe!

100:0

[glenn22]

That's insane... I can't see how Universal or Paramount could not move to neutrality.

[kenga236]

Anyone sensing that Paramount and Universal have all made the decision to go blu. Only thing holding up announcements is probably some red tape. I also suspect the BDA is heavily involved right now also.

[ezcobar411]

I hope that this trend continues and is uniform with other areas in the country.

[Loudninja]

Wow

[bluperch]

Cool shoes!

What I love is that Toshiba has been taken out of the equation. No matter what they say, they won't/can't be heard over all the media talking about HD DVD's demise. Which leads me to--what? Hold on a sec. Are you sure? Okay, then. The fat lady says she's ready to belt one out.

[mystiksuicide]

I think victory is at hand we just need one more crushing victory to make those idiots at Universal and Paramount to make the switch.

As to the sales of blu-ray players Cris tells me his store is completely sold out of Sony 300 and Samsung 1400. A customer yesterday went looking for the Sony 300 at his store and when told the nearest BB that had one was 24 miles away, she asked that it be held she was already on her way to pick it up!!!!

[Go Blu]

Actually it's "Hardware" that is selling 20:1 not discs.

[Luis_A51]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

that would put the nielsens near 95:5 i believe!

The article is talking hardware... so dont get too excited. The increase in neilsen numbers will be gradual, but we should soo expect 75:25 to be the norm, and 80:20 the norm in the near future.

[Banjo]

So who said Blu-ray Disc would be a niché market?

[J6P]

Nice! Mystik has reported time and time again about the lopsided sales numbers being racked up in her boyfriend's Best Buy over the last three or four months. And I've heard anecdotal evidence from plenty of other retailers down in the trenches as well. This trend will continue.

People who have been screaming at the BDA about not countering firesale prices are about to see what real mass adoption is all about. 2008 is going to be good.

Edit: Oh yeah... what she said up there.

[Ispoke]

Opps.... sorry thought I had included 'hardware' it in the title, my bad

Edit: Asked mod to add 'hardware' in the title

[bluperch]

Originally Posted by Banjo

So who said Blu-ray Disc would be a niché market?

I think Friedrich Niche said that (what, too far a stretch?).

[HeavyHitter]

I guess I'm still not quite understanding why Paramount and Uni are not willing to throw in the towel NOW. Are they that stupid, or do they have something else in mind. I mean there obviously is some kind of motive.

[bt12483]

Originally Posted by Luis_A51

The article is talking hardware... so dont get too excited. The increase in neilsen numbers will be gradual, but we should soo expect 75:25 to be the norm, and 80:20 the norm in the near future.

Also, I am sure BB, CC etc. don't want to see the sales turn too quick to blu, as they want those xmas time return periods to expire so people can't return their HD DVD hardware. If everyone starts going blu and spreading it word of mouth, anyone with a new HD DVD player might be more persuaded to return it. I am sure that is going to be a nightmare for them.

Return periods usually end in early Feb. for the holidays right? After that I would expect to see blu pushed a lot more, since people will no longer be able to return any HD DVD gear they got for the holidays. Then the war will really be over, as evidenced by studio support, retail, Nielsen, etc.

[jkwest]

Awesome news!!!