Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by WKoA13

I guess, but based on the DiabolikDVD situation, it sounds like most other retailers won't even get it on "release date".

Scream/Shout direct pre-orders will go out two (sometimes more) weeks before their advertised street date. Then AMAZON alone? will actually get them on the listed street date. And then 3ish weeks after that, other retailers will get them.

I see what you're saying about just waiting for release date, but with how SF is handling things right now, the only option for actual release date is Amazon (or SF themselves, but again...that's pre-ordering). And just now checking Amazon for "today's" SF releases, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 2 is sitting at 35 USD, which is 10 bucks more than going directly through SF.

And sure, one could just be patient period, and wait til well after release date to purchase....but for some collector's that ruins part of the fun. And also, same logic could apply to almost any release, not just Shout/Scream titles.

For me personally I rarely pre-order Scream Factory titles, but I take actions like this very seriously. I have had a personal vendetta against Apple for much the same reason in that I feel that they artificially boost prices for their products that more often than not fail to provide the same abilities a non-apple product would provide at a fraction of the price. I've refused to purchase an Apple product for my household as a result of what I see as shifty practices.

I don't like when companies attempt to pull the wool over the public's eyes and engage in practices that muddy up what should be a transparent process. In this case, Shout Factory licensed these titles and wants to sell as many units as possible. Rather than attempt to get the products into the market as much as possible however, they've chosen to restrict the flow of products to keep prices high and prevent competition between retailers.

[RedHarvest]

I preorder almost all of my Scream Factory titles directly from Shout, so this doesn't affect me. I want that shit early!

[Cutter_]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

All of this is of course Scream Factory's prerogative, but it just looks really poorly of them.

Yes it does. And the Diabolik deal was just ridiculous, with the Shout Police jumping in like that and making them remove the order page. It makes them look like big time jerks.

There is only one title that I can think of that I gotta have: Valley Girl. Other than that, titles like Trick r' Treat and Creepshow, screw it. I'll stick with the bare bones releases, rather than give my money to Shout. Only, if I can find them discounted at a later date will I purchase a Shout title from now on. And, I really don't want to do this as I probably own 50 Scream/Shout titles. But, this has made me mad.

[Grimfrost]

oh Shout! why are you alienating the people and companies that helped get you where you are today. I hope the complaints are loud enough they see the light, or maybe they don't care

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by WKoA13

Sorry if I'm overlooking a prior post, but

The HOWLING/ARMY OF DARKNESS/LIFEFORCE steels are showing up on Best Buy's site, but with a status of "Getting more, will ship by 9/20/18"

Those steelbooks were always up to preorder. ROTLD2 and Brainscan are the only releases for today that were blacklisted.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Grimfrost

oh Shout! why are you alienating the people and companies that helped get you where you are today. I hope the complaints are loud enough they see the light, or maybe they don't care

The only way this changes is if the sales numbers come in below expectations. Hopefully the folks that are upset about this wait to order and either utilize Best Buy/Wal-Mart/Diabolik/etc or just don't order until much later on down the line. Ordering direct or from Amazon sends the message that you're ok with this practice. Obviously there will always be those titles that people "have to have" and will order regardless, but as long as that remains the minority then a clear message will still be sent.

[Marsupial Werewolf]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

The only way this changes is if the sales numbers come in below expectations. Hopefully the folks that are upset about this wait to order and either utilize Best Buy/Wal-Mart/Diabolik/etc or just don't order until much later on down the line. Ordering direct or from Amazon sends the message that you're ok with this practice. Obviously there will always be those titles that people "have to have" and will order regardless, but as long as that remains the minority then a clear message will still be sent.

I’m keeping my CREEPSHOW order, but I’m passing on everything else until I can get them from any retailer. This is absurd.

Also, Scream Factory should be ashamed of its (lacking) communication here.

[jthefrank]

****, I forgot to cancel my RotLDII order. Blah, I think that is the first time I've ever paid more than $22 for a title

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by BrianJoynt

I preorder almost all of my Scream Factory titles directly from Shout, so this doesn't affect me. I want that shit early!

I paid $31+ for ROTLD 2 from Shout - about $7 more than I wanted to spend. I didn't envision paying this much for this film but I assure you it WON'T happen again. Shout Factory isn't the only publisher out there releasing Blu-rays.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by Grimfrost

oh Shout! why are you alienating the people and companies that helped get you where you are today. I hope the complaints are loud enough they see the light, or maybe they don't care

I could be wrong, but I get the impression their margins must be pretty tight if they are resorting to this. Personally, I hope they are and go under quickly because of this.

[WKoA13]

Thanks to the SDCC promo, I got a good enough deal on my pre-orders that weekend that I can't really bring myself to cancel what I already have.

But....yeah, I think they sadly might be my last Scream Factory titles until this gets turned around.

Do they have new leadership, or something? Obviously nothing official has been said by SF themselves, but this type of practice just SCREAMS (no pun intended) someone new is in charge, and very much insists on "making things better"/making their mark on the company as soon as possible. At least in my experience, anyway (either with companies I have worked for, or done business with)

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

I could be wrong, but I get the impression their margins must be pretty tight if they are resorting to this.

I’m starting to wonder if their endgame is selling exclusively from their web store.

[RedHarvest]

I always preorder two titles with each SF order. Usually a CE and a non-CE. That puts the price just over $50, and I get it with free shipping. I've been doing this for years now. You gotta remember, specialty Blu-rays around $30 are the norm, aside from sales. Twilight Time, Criterion, Arrow, Vestron, Synapse, Blue Underground...they're all around the same price new, some a lot higher. Kino is the only one releasing catalog titles at "decent" prices, but keep in mind Mr. Destiny isn't in the same league as Creepshow. Vinegar Syndrome releases cheaper stuff, but I'm not going to even get in to the quality of films they release. Nothing near the classic status as Carrie or even Night of the Demons. I'm not sure what all you people expect. As physical media becomes more and more rare, prices are only going to go up. Scream Factory is, more or less, becoming the Criterion of horror. If you want these classic films for cheaper than $25-$30, you might have to start waiting for a biannual event with retailer sales. The big studios are caring less and less about physical media. Especially when it comes to catalog titles. Look at what Disney is doing. And I'm sure other studios are going to attempt to copy their mold. Refusing to purchase the films you want, you're only hurting yourself in the long run.

[RedHarvest]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

I’m starting to wonder if their endgame is selling exclusively from their web store.

It very well could be. Code Red, Twilight Time, Synapse...with the exception of Diabolik, they all sell directly from their website. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

[bruce holecheck]

Special Features announced for Adam Simon's BRAIN DEAD (1990):

* NEW Audio Commentary With Co-Writer/Director Adam Simon And Filmmaker Rodman Flender
* Deleted Scenes
* Theatrical Trailer

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

I’m starting to wonder if their endgame is selling exclusively from their web store.

Perhaps they've taken on Bill as a senior executive in charge of distribution.

[NeMo_ET]

I get it, but at the same time I'm trying to see it from their point of view. I've seen others report that they've received stuff prior to the official release date. Maybe they're punishing them but maybe they're trying to figure out how to get better controls in place. Haven't had any issues with Amazon, which is also likely their biggest channel so they leave that in place not to mess with the current release schedule too much while they iron things out. I'm sure any business or company would be equally as annoyed if stuff was hitting the street prior to official release date.

Seeing the other side of the coin also tells me that if a random shop is releasing stuff earlier than everyone else, they're taking advantage of the system and getting an unfair advantage over others. As a business, I'd be annoyed about that too because you end up burning all the other distributors.

Same reason Gamestop does midnight releases of the big hit games. I'm sure the game studios would be pretty upset if a random shop started handing them out early.

Not trying to argue with anyone here, we're all friends and collectors lol. Just trying to see the glass half full.

[donidarko]

I was considering some blind buys like Scream for Help but this new preorder policy has killed my interest in any of Scream Factory’s product. I got Someone’s Watching Me from Amazon last week and I felt is was overpriced at $22.99. Now it’s dropped a couple bucks. Someone is smoking something if they think they’re gonna move discs at those $34.99 preorder prices. Eventually every good company goes south due to greed. I’ll be supporting Arrow, Warner Archive, Kino Lorber this fall.

[WKoA13]

Originally Posted by BrianJoynt

I always preorder two titles with each SF order. Usually a CE and a non-CE. That puts the price just over $50, and I get it with free shipping. I've been doing this for years now. You gotta remember, specialty Blu-rays around $30 are the norm, aside from sales. Twilight Time, Criterion, Arrow, Vestron, Synapse, Blue Underground...they're all around the same price new, some a lot higher. Kino is the only one releasing catalog titles at "decent" prices, but keep in mind Mr. Destiny isn't in the same league as Creepshow. Vinegar Syndrome releases cheaper stuff, but I'm not going to even get in to the quality of films they release. Nothing near the classic status as Carrie or even Night of the Demons. I'm not sure what all you people expect. As physical media becomes more and more rare, prices are only going to go up. Scream Factory is, more or less, becoming the Criterion of horror. If you want these classic films for cheaper than $25-$30, you might have to start waiting for a biannual event with retailer sales. The big studios are caring less and less about physical media. Especially when it comes to catalog titles. Look at what Disney is doing. And I'm sure other studios are going to attempt to copy their mold. Refusing to purchase the films you want, you're only hurting yourself in the long run.

Ya know....that is a good point. If it's true. And especially with growing competition as labels like Arrow get bigger/more pull, and additional, smaller boutique labels seeming to pop up as well. It could well be that their older business model just wasn't sustainable anymore with the bigger push for digital....but, this seems a rather huge, and swift change of pace. And if that is the case, it would still really be in their own interest to communicate that with their end customers/fans via e-mail and public announcement.

Handling it this way feels very.... MoviePass methodology.

[jthefrank]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

I could be wrong, but I get the impression their margins must be pretty tight if they are resorting to this. Personally, I hope they are and go under quickly because of this.

Why? What purpose would that serve?