Best Buy leads the way in Blu-ray sales

[Batman1980]

Best Buy Retains Blu-ray Retail Throne
Posted May 8, 2009 03:58 PM by Juan Calonge
According to research sources, Best Buy is currently the top Blu-ray retailer in the USA, with a market share of 40% to 50%, a percentage even larger than what Wal-Mart holds in standard DVD. Wal-Mart comes second, with 20% to 30%, followed by Amazon, with about 15% to 20%, and Target, with approximately 10%.

If we compare the Blu-ray rankings with those reported in October 2007, the most significant change (apart from the disappearance of Circuit City) is that Wal-Mart has now overtaken Amazon for second place. Indeed, analysts say that Wal-Mart is likely to further expand its market share.

The DVD retail rankings are very different: Wal-Mart continues to dominate with a 40% share, followed by Target and Best Buy (neck-and-neck with 12% and 11%, respectively), and Amazon in fourth place, with 6% to 7%.

Research analysts believe that Best Buy's dominance with Blu-ray makes sense because its core electronics customer base matches perfectly with early adopters. Also, Best Buy promotes Blu-ray more aggressively than Target or Wal-Mart, by placing titles in heavily trafficked areas and emphasizing Blu-ray titles in advertising.

Amazon has also heavily promoted Blu-ray, and thus has attained a much larger share in the format than what it has on DVD.

However, research analysts predict Blu-ray retail shares will move closer to standard DVD shares in the near future, as the high-definition format becomes more mainstream.
Can't say I'm that surprised, excellent selection and their prices have been better of late.

[Blu-Runner]

THAT many people are ok with paying THAT much money for their blu-rays? Wow. Oh well, at least they're buying them, heh.

[Blu-Benny]

they've also got a lot more titles to choose from in store!!!

[assydingo]

Noticed Best Buy was attacking on the anime/sciene-fiction area. Already holds some property there.

[neos_peace]

Thats where I do most of my new releases shopping for Blu's. So I'm happy to hear about this. GLAD to see Blu-ray is cutting in close to SD DVD shares. Down with DVD, down with DVD, .......pardon my chant.

[Chordata]

I'm glad that BD is increasing market penetration, etc., but man oh man, some of Best Buy's BD prices are outrageous.

I went to my local Best Buy last weekend hoping to pick up Sin City -- it was $36.99. Couldn't believe it!

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

Wal-Mart has now overtaken Amazon for second place.

The selection at the Wal-Mart nearest me is BAAAAD! Really, really, really BAAAD! They may have 20-30 titles to choose from at any given time.

[jk1138]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

The selection at the Wal-Mart nearest me is BAAAAD! Really, really, really BAAAD! They may have 20-30 titles to choose from at any given time.

Same here walmart suck with its BD selection

[bandit29]

At their high prices? Please... I'll stick with Amazon w/prime FTW.

[FRAK]

It's just like any other retailer: you have to pick-and-choose. Best Buy's sticker prices are frakkin' ridiculous... but their SALES... that's what you've got to keep an eye out for!

I picked up Amadeus there the week after it came out, on sale for $14.99! By the following week, it was $29.99 again. Also, sometimes their online price is lower than their in-store price, but they'll price match it - I got the X-Files 2-pack for 29.99 that way the week after they came out.

I admit, it is unfortunate that you can't just walk in there and buy a BD off the shelf without feeling like you're getting screwed. ("Excuse me, Mr. Best Buy employee... I'm going to bend over now, and I was wondering if you'd be kind enough to shove this Blu-ray up my a##?")

[Blu-Benny]

what do people consider high for prices on blu's??? $24.99 & above i'd say is high, but they have quite a few titles for $15 and $19.

just curious.

i'm willing to pay $24.99 on a new release so i can watch it the day it comes out. but that's me.

[Jim L]

I still shop for price, but lately Best Buy has beat Amazon on most new titles.

Even though I have Amazon Prime, I will still go with Best Buy if it's a $1-2 difference because I don't want to wait around for their shipping which has been getting worse and worse lately.

Remember, Best Buy will gladly price-match Target or even Wal-Mart. I've tried to get Wal-Mart to pm other stores and they've refused. That's ok. It just gave me another reason to add them to my boycott list.

I shop at Target, but their prices are rarely where they need to be to get my blu-ray business.

So I'd say that BB gets 2/3 of my blu-ray purchases, and Amazon the rest. And remember, Best Buy also has their RewardZone program which is an added benefit.

[dadkins]

Originally Posted by Blu-Runner

THAT many people are ok with paying THAT much money for their blu-rays? Wow. Oh well, at least they're buying them, heh.

Many of the discs I buy at Best Buy are the same list price as found on Amazon - sure there's tax, but there is also take-it-home-now.

Not a very patient person... for me it's worth it!

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

I'm glad that BD is increasing market penetration, etc., but man oh man, some of Best Buy's BD prices are outrageous.

I went to my local Best Buy last weekend hoping to pick up Sin City -- it was $36.99. Couldn't believe it!

I buy most of mine @ best buy. Indeed sometimes they have some good dealsm other times the prices are

[icyteddy]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

I'm glad that BD is increasing market penetration, etc., but man oh man, some of Best Buy's BD prices are outrageous.

I went to my local Best Buy last weekend hoping to pick up Sin City -- it was $36.99. Couldn't believe it!

Totally Agreed!! I am somewhat surprise at the statistics! I thought Amazon would be #1. The majority of Best Buy Blu ray price is highway robbery. Even when it is supposely on sale, you can always find the same title online cheaper or for the same price.

[Iron-Blu-123]

I buy most at amzon and tower, best buy and walmart are 4 hour drive around trip.

[spolcyc]

Originally Posted by icyteddy

Totally Agreed!! I am somewhat surprise at the statistics! I thought Amazon would be #1. The majority of Best Buy Blu ray price is highway robbery. Even when it is supposely on sale, you can always find the same title online cheaper or for the same price.

I agree. I have bought several BD from Best Buy, mainly on sale and with gift cards. But if I am going to buy a movie from a retailer I will buy from BB even if they are a little more expensive and I don't want to give Wal-Mart or Target the business.

[Sammy]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

I'm glad that BD is increasing market penetration, etc., but man oh man, some of Best Buy's BD prices are outrageous.

I went to my local Best Buy last weekend hoping to pick up Sin City -- it was $36.99. Couldn't believe it!

I got them to pm their own website a couple weeks back and walked out with it for $25 plus tax. At that time it was $24.99 at amazon so I'd either have to pony up some more $ for another disc or pay for shipping.

[mreilly611]

[QUOTE=icyteddy;1889184]Totally Agreed!! I am somewhat surprise at the statistics! I thought Amazon would be #1. The majority of Best Buy Blu ray price is highway robbery. Even when it is supposely on sale, you can always find the same title online cheaper or for the same price.[/QUOTE

Amazon for a online seller has great numbers in sales but Best Buy has hundreds of stores in the United States. So having more stores should equal more sales. With the amount of stores Best Buy has they should be blowing Amazon out of the water. But they are not due to there prices being so high.

[TTC1984]

Best Buy Blu prices suck. It seems like ever since Circuit City closed, they have no competition, so they don't even bother doing decent BD sales anymore.