Oh noes teh sky is falling!

[GenPion]

Best Buy making this move is a bad business decision. I suspect it will eventually lead to them going out of business.

On a related note, I don't even understand why someone would want to purchase a high end television if one isn't going to use it to watch Blu-ray/4K discs predominately. With streaming services, the quality is so-so comparatively so it makes me wonder why a person who doesn't collect physical media would even bother. Won't this hurt TV sales at Best Buy too?

[MileHigh AI]

Originally Posted by thecalm_7

I understand physical media isn’t the seller it once was but I don’t see what they could possible sell in that meager amount of space that could sell.
-Video games- Best Buy’s near me only have a limited amount of games. The switch games are behind the counter and they have these faded signs in acrylic lock boxes saying what game. PS5 is a few flops at 70$ and Best sellers, Xboxis abysmal with maybe an armspan of games.
-CDs gone aside for Christmas music from 5 years ago
-toys like NECA just trashed and ripped up so they don’t sell, lots of hot wheels and legos, and a few random Funko pops from Hamilton.
-home stereo- some sound bars and maybe a few receivers on display
-TVs, maybe more TVs so they aren’t in the walk way
- car stereo most of it is used and in baggies behind a display case
- cell phone section- avoid as the cases and accessories are way more than other retailers and it’s always people screaming
- appliances- never see them getting bought or delivered
- computer section- old folks walking around with questions while carrying their comically heavy old PC around with them. Maybe a group of obnoxious teens being loud talking trash about the gaming PCs.
-cameras and drones and vr- nobody ever there unless they’re taking a call or obviously pricing something in hand.
What I see people buying- TVs, movies, PS5/xbox console, and occasionally small appliances like a Ninja. Usually I wait in line behind numerous returns and people saying geek squad fouled up their stuff.

My Best Buys have used the space that was once reserved for physical media to put their camera displays (of which they do not have any in stock and haven't for the last 18 months) and grills......so yeah whatever space remaining media areas become they likely aren't gonna be used efficiently.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by Cplhicks

Used to love shopping at Best Buy (and Fry's back in the day). Go in for some movies, wander around check out/buy other stuff. The movies were the main reason I went though. Since BB has turned their movie section into a crappy corner of the store, I have been maybe once. At least they had okay online sales and steelbooks though. Without that, I really have no reason left to go to Best buy, unless maybe once in a blue moon I am looking for a new appliance. This means black friday sales will probably be a lot worse, with a major competitor out. And possibly steelbooks etc become more rare. I am sad physical media is so unloved by the general public.

Between this and the RightStuf anime store closing down, it's been one big bummer recently as a media fan.

I was just about to post the same thing I guess hiccups like this do occur. Looking back at who I was buying phyiscial media from online 20 years ago I see many are no longer around. Deep Discount is but in name only. And physical stores like Borders, Circuit City are long gone. In that time new stores have arrived such as all the great online boutique sellers. Many of which have store locations. That’s the future of physical media buying it seems.

[SoggyMiniMuffins]

The last time I was in a Best Buy I got berated by the manager for trying to make a return and I was a plus member. Safe to say I won’t miss them as they’ve become incredibly anti consumer over the years.

[JGCramp]

Whatever. Others will fill the gap and, for now at least, we’ll still be able to get movies and damaged steelbooks. I remember being bummed when Circuit City closed shop, but I’ve never been a fan of Best Buy. I’ve only ever purchased movies from BB, so I’ll gladly never give that chain more money after movies are phased out.

I import a lot of my steelbooks these days from Europe, and I’ve been directing as many non-exclusive purchases away from big corporate retailers anyway.

[ben6543]

So when will Best Buy mass discount those ugly AF Disney 100 Steelbooks that plague their shelves cause nobody is buying them?

[garyd97]

This seems like a really bad idea. Their CEO is going to bankrupt them sooner, rather than later.

[SoggyMiniMuffins]

Originally Posted by garyd97

This seems like a really bad idea. Their CEO is going to bankrupt them sooner, rather than later.

It seems they want to live in a fantasy world where they sell millions of high priced items a day.

[dtyndall]

The only reason I go into a physical Best Buy store anymore is to return something. Somewhat recently (maybe a year or two ago) they changed the whole floor layout and basically devote half the store for returns and the other half for fridges and TV's. It's definitely a strange business model (IMO) and doesn't seem sustainable either.

It's pretty sad honestly because I have fond memories of going in as a kid growing up in the 90's, picking through the PS1 discs. As well as the blu-ray era and going to the store near me to pick up the newest releases. Ah, oh well.

[anomaly7]

I guess the only people going to best buy for movies was those into Steel books?

I hardly go to Best Buy anymore, but the ones near me have a limited movie section and mostly just for new releases in the last month or so and a variety of kids films or big franchise films. Nothing special. If I had a gift card, I'd use their site for an online order for some films, but that was about it. Still, I'd have to figure that in terms of retailers in the US selling physical movies, they'd be in the top 5, if not top 3. Not a good sign if this news is true.

[SteelbookCat]

Originally Posted by ben6543

So when will Best Buy mass discount those ugly AF Disney 100 Steelbooks that plague their shelves cause nobody is buying them?

bet they get as low as that frozen 1 steelbook that went for 4.99.

[Comicfan]

This is very bad news for me. I use Target and Amazon occasionally but get most of my physical media at Best Buy.

One of the big problems for me is that i use gift cards to buy my physical media. I don't like using credits cards online when i can plus i use them for more important stuff.The issue with Walmart is that you can only buy Walmart giftcards in Walmarts where Best Buy,Target and Amazon,I can get gift cards at any food store near me.The Walmart near me closed about two years ago and the closet one is a bit out of my way now.So for example. for their upcoming Meg 2 steelbook. I had to travel out of my way just to get a gift card to order it at their online store. That's why I get very little physical media from Walmart now.

Maybe this is why Walmart is also getting a 4K + Blu Ray steelbook for The Exorcist: Believer along with Best Buy.

[Poya]

Hopefully the backlash will get them to reverse course.

[thecalm_7]

Originally Posted by garyd97

This seems like a really bad idea. Their CEO is going to bankrupt them sooner, rather than later.

This is Best Buy ,they undercut and crippled others only to bounce out the game shortly after they couldn’t afford it.
There’s no PC shops around, I needed a new cord for my desktop computer and went to BB and the guy kinda had an attitud because I asked for a computer cord. Sorry not everyone wants RGB fans and keyboards, sometimes we need a cord or basic mouse on the fly. Not sold in stores or at least not near me.
Just an example of BB kind of slowly doing themselves in. Speaker wire, same thing, not sold in the 4 closest locations and no competition. So had to order it. No big deal but when you destroy others then don’t do what they did, I lose much respect. Same thing for car stereo installs but I do see more of car stereo/electrical accessories shops on the rise.
Back to steelbooks, Clerks 3 and Bobs Burgers 4K exclusives yet they were impossible for many to obtain. I hate the lack of a competitor but almost good riddance and hopefully we can get capable outlets in the end.

[El Rey]

lol at everyone saying this will be the death of Best Buy
if they ever do fold, its not going to be due to no longer carrying physical media - hilarious

physical media is increasingly niche - steelbooks a niche of that niche. some of you fail to realize that there is an existence of people beyond these boards. if John Smith is going to opt for a movie purchase, he is more likely to choose the convenience of buying a digital copy rather than physical.

[mysticwaterfall]

Terrible news. As a lot of people here know, I get a lot of things with BB points from the credit card. Might have to look into switching to the Amazon card or something. That or just use my points for electronics.

[Chedwiggen]

How can physical media sell this bad compared to everything else? Stores can't have one or two aisles of movies but can have seven clogged aisles of toys??

[mgdking]

For me physical media is the only way I choose to watch a movie. I hate streaming movies! Why would I want to watch a digital movie that's downgraded in audio and video vs my physical 4K disc? When I watch a movie I want the best possible video and audio I can get not some streaming crap. All my digital codes that come along with the steelbooks I have ever bought have been sold or given away. If this indeed holds true BB will most likely lose my business as well. Absolute imbecile move BB!

[1924]

This is actually surprising. While the Best Buy near me shrank their physical media section they expanded it a bit recently and even started selling discs from boutique labels like Arrow and Shout Factory

[Pip: The Movie Fan]

Originally Posted by anomaly7

I guess the only people going to best buy for movies was those into Steel books?

I hardly go to Best Buy anymore, but the ones near me have a limited movie section and mostly just for new releases in the last month or so and a variety of kids films or big franchise films. Nothing special. If I had a gift card, I'd use their site for an online order for some films, but that was about it. Still, I'd have to figure that in terms of retailers in the US selling physical movies, they'd be in the top 5, if not top 3. Not a good sign if this news is true.

I don't buy steel books. Best Buy is the closest store near me to buy movies and TV shows on Blu ray.