Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[Captain N]

Originally Posted by Slob

Scream wants a guaranteed return to make it worth their while. They've calculated that $27,000 is the minimum to make it worth their while. Their other option, at a lower price with more copies, would be to state up front that a title will be cancelled unless there are $27,000 in non-cancellable pre-orders.

Or, you know, they could do a limited preorder window like Limited Run does for select titles. I don't see why Shout couldn't have done that instead.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by Slob

Scream wants a guaranteed return to make it worth their while. They've calculated that $27,000 is the minimum to make it worth their while. Their other option, at a lower price with more copies, would be to state up front that a title will be cancelled unless there are $27,000 in non-cancellable pre-orders.

I didn't know you couldn't cancel preorders. I thought only Diabolik did this. So what, they give you store credit?

[Slob]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I didn't know you couldn't cancel preorders. I thought only Diabolik did this. So what, they give you store credit?

Once you pre-order you can't cancel. You get the movie.
If not enough interest in title by time they have to go into production they cancel title and either you're never charged or get refund.

It's a pre-order version on MOD. Same business principles involved where company doesn't have needed funds tied up in unsold inventory. Matching supply to expected demand as perfectly as possible.
Problem lies with the scalpers. Same thing use to happen with TT titles that would sell out 3000 immediately because of scalpers.

In any event, Scream isn't going to wait 2-3 years, or even 1 year, to get return on investment. They want their money back now. They can't afford for buyers to put it off. You want it? Here it is. But it now.
Again, the problem is scalpers. The 1000 number is probably close to being right on the money for number of units that would sell over longer period thru regular retail. However, to get their money they would have to wholesale it $27, so prices at other retailers would be marked up from that.

Where does that leave us?
1. Scream requires $27K is sales real quick to make it worth their while.
2. Projected demand is 1000 units (at one per customer)
3. Ergo, 1000x27=27K
4. Scream gets their $27K and everybody who wants one gets one.

The bug in the not limiting it to one per customer. That's where Scream fails. Even then there would be people who don't really want it, just buying it to resell, leaving some out in the cold.
That's just something you have to deal with when you have an interest in niche collectibles.
Still, Scream is the one gambling it's money to at least bring these titles into existence, in the only way financially feasible to them.
At the very least, they should support their customers by limiting to one per customer. That much is in their control.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by Slob

Once you pre-order you can't cancel. You get the movie. If not enough interest in title by time they have to go into production they cancel title and either you're never charged or get refund.
But it now.

Can someone confirm this? This sounds draconian and way off. This is how crowdfunding campaigns work, not e-tailers. Hell, even Diabolik offers store credit if you change your mind about something. If this is true about Shout I'm never preordering anything from them unless I'm 100% sure I want it.

BTW, the scalper problem wouldn't exist if a product wasn't limited. What's wrong with saving some inventory for latecomers? Not everyone is glued to their computers 24/7.

[deltatauhobbit]

Originally Posted by Captain N

Or, you know, they could do a limited preorder window like Limited Run does for select titles. I don't see why Shout couldn't have done that instead.

Yeah, it’s kind of silly they don’t attempt this model for certain titles if they’re unsure of the potential. Make it an open preorder that lasts one month, whatever number sells is the print run (or minimum of 1000, whichever is more). For a title like the Deathstalker combo, they severely underestimated (even their 2nd run sold out) so they’re clearly leaving money on the table.

[defile959]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Can someone confirm this? This sounds draconian and way off. This is how crowdfunding campaigns work, not e-tailers. Hell, even Diabolik offers store credit if you change your mind about something. If this is true about Shout I'm never preordering anything from them unless I'm 100% sure I want it.

BTW, the scalper problem wouldn't exist if a product wasn't limited. What's wrong with saving some inventory for latecomers? Not everyone is glued to their computers 24/7.

I'm not sure if this is correct, but I've never tried to cancel a preorder from Shout / Scream. Checking their website, I did find this:

How do I cancel an order?
Necessary information about how to cancel an order.
Updated on Mar 6, 2019
You can cancel your order if you have a Shout! Factory customer account and are logged into that account. Any order item that is still in “Order Taken” status can be cancelled by accessing the Order Details page under My Orders.

If you do not have a customer account, or the item you wish to cancel is in “Processing” status, please contact us at info@shoutfactory.com to cancel an order item. Please note that if your order has already shipped, we will be unable to cancel it.

When contacting us with your cancellation request, please be sure to provide us with your six digit order confirmation number and the specific item(s) you would like to cancel.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Can someone confirm this? This sounds draconian and way off. This is how crowdfunding campaigns work, not e-tailers. Hell, even Diabolik offers store credit if you change your mind about something. If this is true about Shout I'm never preordering anything from them unless I'm 100% sure I want it.

BTW, the scalper problem wouldn't exist if a product wasn't limited. What's wrong with saving some inventory for latecomers? Not everyone is glued to their computers 24/7.

He's talking about a hypothetical situation moving forward regarding limited run films, not Shout's current pre-order process. His idea is that Shout should post a film for pre-order for a period of time say 4-6 weeks and that the ONLY way it gets pressed and released is if a set number of sales occur within that time frame... Say 750. This ensures that Shout recoups their investment before the product has even been created while also helping to minimize the immediate impact Scalpers have on the system. His argument is that for this idea to work, the pre-orders would have to be non-cancelable so that Shout could depend on having that money. Personally I don't see the need to limit cancellations as the order wouldn't be filed until the deadline reached its end anyways and so people could/should order and cancel all they want.

I'd also add that selling a guaranteed 1000 during the pre-order period wouldn't be necessary to re-coup costs and make a profit and so this model likely could/would work rather well for these otherwise limited to 1000 copies Corman releases.

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

The next batch is supposed to be "epic". I'm guess we'll know what the titles are next Monday or the Monday following.

Honestly, I would have preferred SF hadn't said anything concerning the next batch of announcements or at least hadn't used the word "epic". Undoubtedly, it will create big expectations with people expecting the second coming of Jesus only to end up disappointed. I can already see the endless pages here of people *****ing how SF let them down, how come SF doesn't release X and Y, etc...

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

Honestly, I would have preferred SF hadn't said anything concerning the next batch of announcements or at least hadn't used the word "epic". Undoubtedly, it will create big expectations with people expecting the second coming of Jesus only to end up disappointed. I can already see the endless pages here of people *****ing how SF let them down, how come SF doesn't release X and Y, etc...

This has happened enough in the past that I'm not convinced folks have their expectations unrealistically high. Given what we know and what we think we know I'd honestly expect that they are more likely to meet our expectations as opposed to significantly letting us down ala the recent VS debacle.

[BarnDoor]

Did Scream actually use the word 'epic' in relation to the next batch of announcements? I thought the poster said they were mistaken?

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Did Scream actually use the word 'epic' in relation to the next batch of announcements? I thought the poster said they were mistaken?

The poster said he believed he had mixed up comments from various sources. I don't believe Shout ever used the word 'epic' - they just alluded to it. They were replying to someone who had asked why June was so light with something along the lines of "wait til next month". In any case, we'll all find out next week. I expect some heavy announcements.

[Rayjg]

Epic can only mean the Carnosaur trilogy

[sfmarine]

Just came across this on Reddit and thought it was pretty funny.

[Ruined]

Shout Factory with their website LEs making Dark Force look like Criterion

[defile959]

Except for, you know, the Shout Factory editions actually selling out, their website not being down for weeks at a time, and SF issuing replacement discs when they screw something up... but go off

[DukeTogo84]

Recently watched A Stranger is Watching for the first time and enjoyed it. Hope Screams gives this one a release.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Recently watched A Stranger is Watching for the first time and enjoyed it. Hope Screams gives this one a release.

Didn't UK label Indicator announce this one?

[BarnDoor]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Didn't UK label Indicator announce this one?

Not that I know of. Plus it's with Warner Bros, so Scream Factory is probably our best bet.

[NeonStreetMelt]

Originally Posted by Slob

Once you pre-order you can't cancel. You get the movie.
If not enough interest in title by time they have to go into production they cancel title and either you're never charged or get refund.

Do you know this for sure? What announced Scream titles have ever been canceled like this?
I held off on Streetwalkin' and Deathsport for weeks last year and it took them longer to sell out than recent releases. Are you saying you don't think they'd have gone into production if by early 2021 they still hadn't sold all 1000 copies? They wouldn't keep people who did order waiting indefinitely, no?

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Didn't UK label Indicator announce this one?

I think you are thinking of and confusing it with the similarly titled, Someone to watch over me. Indicator is releasing that one.