Best Buy merchandising bias towards HD-DVD? - Blu-ray Forum

nicoz · 10-22-2007, 12:08 PM

We have two Best Buy stores in the Jackson, MS area. One of them (County Line Road) has configured the isles so that 3 sections of HD-DVD Discs are next to 1 section of Blu-ray Discs. I'm already a Blu-ray owner, and was in shock when I saw how many more HD-DVD Discs they had. It was only until I stepped over to the next row that I noticed two more sections of Blu-ray titles. The HD-DVD’s and one section of Blu-ray Discs are on a main isle that you would walk through and see even if you weren’t shopping specifically for either of these disc formats.

Anyone making an in store decision on a player and format would definitely think HD-DVD is the winning format unless they walk to the next DVD isle and find that they have approx. the same amount of shelf space dedicated to both formats.

Is this unique to this local Best Buy store? I did my time in retail as a High School and College student. We always received merchandising plans from home office and had to follow them closely. I would think Best Buy has the same policies... The other Best Buy in my area (Flowood), is a newer store and has an entirely different floor plan.

Your thoughts on this?

Clint.

CptOzone · 10-22-2007, 12:12 PM

Our Best Buy did the same thing, only its the HD-DVD section that is split between isles.

Guess its payback for your store!

SmallvilleGirl · 10-22-2007, 12:13 PM

I noticed the same thing when I went into my Best Buy store yesterday too. I think thats what the corporate office told them to do. Why they would do that, I don't know.

squire23 · 10-22-2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicoz

We have two Best Buy stores in the Jackson, MS area. One of them (County Line Road) has configured the isles so that 3 sections of HD-DVD Discs are next to 1 section of Blu-ray Discs. I'm already a Blu-ray owner, and was in shock when I saw how many more HD-DVD Discs they had. It was only until I stepped over to the next row that I noticed two more sections of Blu-ray titles. The HD-DVD’s and one section of Blu-ray Discs are on a main isle that you would walk through and see even if you weren’t shopping specifically for either of these disc formats.

Anyone making an in store decision on a player and format would definitely think HD-DVD is the winning format unless they walk to the next DVD isle and find that they have approx. the same amount of shelf space dedicated to both formats.

Is this unique to this local Best Buy store? I did my time in retail as a High School and College student. We always received merchandising plans from home office and had to follow them closely. I would think Best Buy has them same policies... The other Best Buy in my area (Flowood), is a newer store and has an entirely different floor plan.

Your thoughts on this?

Clint.

My Best Buy is the opposite. It clearly favors Blu Ray.

nicoz · 10-22-2007, 12:17 PM

Maybe I should have taken a Poll...

Clint.

adrianf74 · 10-22-2007, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicoz

Maybe I should have taken a Poll...

Clint.

Best Buy (and Future Shop) in Canada [who are pratically one in the same] seem to have 1 rack for both at the stores I've been visiting of late. HMV seems to have more.

radagast · 10-22-2007, 12:59 PM

I was at the BB closest to my home yesterday afternoon. There are now two racks of Blu-ray and one for hd-dud.

But that's not all.

Over on an endcap next to the TVs is a display for Toshiba and hd-dvd players. Across from that is a portable two-sided display featuring ONLY BLu-ray discs.

Bias towards hd-dud? Hardly.

mystiksuicide · 10-22-2007, 01:07 PM

Our store clearly favors Blu. There 8 shelves dedicated to blu and 2 shelves dedicated to HD DVD. In the Home Theater area there are endcaps dedicated to blu's from Sony, Samsung, and Sharp. There is one endcap with the LG super blue but it's running a blu promo disc. There is no HD DVD display whatsoever. In the Magnolia Dept they have a Pioneer and Samsung blu running.

This store seems to be looking into the future when HD DVD is all but a collectors item's of failed technologies.

CptGreedle · 10-22-2007, 01:32 PM

Although I haven't been to my BB in a few weeks, every time I did go, it was very even in the HD-DVD and Blu-ray titles on the shelves. However their displays have 2 Blu-ray promos in the middle of the floor and next to the HD discs, and 1 HD-DVD display off on the side. All the MAGNOLIA technicians (and most the sales people) are pro-Blu-ray, and always seem to try to sell them to the new HDTV owners.
I'd say mine favors Blu-ray, but has a lot of HD-DVD presence still.

SS316SRV · 10-22-2007, 01:52 PM

Shelf Space does not dictate bias. Best Buy is biased towards the money. Mainly where it is coming from and where it is going towards. So their store stock space is tkane by where the cash is. It depends on how the shelves are stocked. I bet if you look most of the blu-rays were laying with thin way (all you could see was the side of the case) and the HD DVDs were laying flat way (front cover visable).

For christ sakes shelf space doesn't mean much. It does matter, but it doesn't dictate anything too significant at this point.

nicoz · 10-22-2007, 01:59 PM

Yeah I agree, I'm not saying its dictating anything. It's just an Observation, and you are correct the Blu discs were mostly showing the bindings.

It's just odd to put 1/3 of the Blu discs on one isle and 2/3 of them on another isle.

Clint.

crunchywyte · 10-22-2007, 02:06 PM

In my best buy store they have HDDUD and blu-ray next to each other and a bit more blu-ray than HDDUD, and my sunday ad had all the Kubrick films advertised with the blu-ray covers overlapped over the HDDUD covers so you could only see the tops of the DUD covers vs. the whole blu-ray cover for all

SS316SRV · 10-22-2007, 02:09 PM

This is amazing. There is one thread here talking about Best Buys preference to blu, and another one discussing its bias towards HD DVD.

Get over shelf space...

NoQuestion · 10-22-2007, 02:14 PM

here in Carmel, IN there is 2 sections for blu and 2 for hd-dud right by each other. Then over by the registers there is a portable stand with blu movies. Then by the tvs they have a sharp blu player set up and a sony blu set up. There is also a lg dual player and one toshiba player.

Carmel Bestbuy is def favoring blu more

calcajun · 10-22-2007, 02:22 PM

Yesterday my store was like that but it was the one section Hddud moved onto the BD side.
Where they use to be directly across from each other.

Overlord Magnus · 10-22-2007, 03:24 PM

ok, so now that i hope we can agree that shelf space has NOTHING to do with bias....best buy stocks things according to how corporate tells them to planogram them, and every best buy is different because the best buy business model is that they have different types of stores depending on the area they are in, for example, if it's an area with more moms and children coming in the disney or family section would be bigger or if it's a more well to do area there would be a magnolia theatre section. So really all this talking about shelf space is pointless even if they totally took OUT blu-ray in your store because chances are it's going to be COMPLETELY different at a best buy down the road.

Layd Dly · 10-22-2007, 03:44 PM

The small store has 3 and 3 but they recently moved one rack to the otehr side, but even. And the bigger BB that i goto as well has 2 and 2 next to each other

radagast · 10-22-2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Overlord Magnus

ok, so now that i hope we can agree that shelf space has NOTHING to do with bias.

It's more likely that there is more shelf space because there are more studios making Blu movies than ones only making dud.

Viiincent · 10-22-2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrianf74

Best Buy (and Future Shop) in Canada [who are pratically one in the same] seem to have 1 rack for both at the stores I've been visiting of late. HMV seems to have more.

here HVM has less, BB has more Blu, and FS has the same amount of space for both.

jsteinhauer · 10-22-2007, 04:18 PM

Duluth, MN Best Buy had only a Blu-ray display at the time of my purchase. They had a few HDDVD players and combo players, but none were connected, and they did not seem to be promoting them, and I was even discouraged from a combo player.

Notably, at that time, the local boutique home theater shop was not even selling HDDVD, only Blu-ray.

10-22-2007, 12:08 PM	#1
nicoz Member Member since:Oct 2007	Best Buy merchandising bias towards HD-DVD? We have two Best Buy stores in the Jackson, MS area. One of them (County Line Road) has configured the isles so that 3 sections of HD-DVD Discs are next to 1 section of Blu-ray Discs. I'm already a Blu-ray owner, and was in shock when I saw how many more HD-DVD Discs they had. It was only until I stepped over to the next row that I noticed two more sections of Blu-ray titles. The HD-DVD’s and one section of Blu-ray Discs are on a main isle that you would walk through and see even if you weren’t shopping specifically for either of these disc formats. Anyone making an in store decision on a player and format would definitely think HD-DVD is the winning format unless they walk to the next DVD isle and find that they have approx. the same amount of shelf space dedicated to both formats. Is this unique to this local Best Buy store? I did my time in retail as a High School and College student. We always received merchandising plans from home office and had to follow them closely. I would think Best Buy has the same policies... The other Best Buy in my area (Flowood), is a newer store and has an entirely different floor plan. Your thoughts on this? Clint. Last edited by nicoz; 10-22-2007 at 12:29 PM. Reason: Gammer

10-22-2007, 12:17 PM	#5
nicoz Member Member since:Oct 2007	Maybe I should have taken a Poll... Maybe I should have taken a Poll... Clint.

10-22-2007, 01:07 PM	#8
mystiksuicide Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Miami Blu-ray collection:305 Blu-ray reviews:27	Our store clearly favors Blu. There 8 shelves dedicated to blu and 2 shelves dedicated to HD DVD. In the Home Theater area there are endcaps dedicated to blu's from Sony, Samsung, and Sharp. There is one endcap with the LG super blue but it's running a blu promo disc. There is no HD DVD display whatsoever. In the Magnolia Dept they have a Pioneer and Samsung blu running. This store seems to be looking into the future when HD DVD is all but a collectors item's of failed technologies. Last edited by mystiksuicide; 10-22-2007 at 01:10 PM.

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10-22-2007, 12:12 PM	#2
CptOzone Member Member since:Sep 2007	Our Best Buy did the same thing, only its the HD-DVD section that is split between isles. Guess its payback for your store!

10-22-2007, 12:13 PM	#3
SmallvilleGirl Junior Member Member since:Oct 2007	I noticed the same thing when I went into my Best Buy store yesterday too. I think thats what the corporate office told them to do. Why they would do that, I don't know.

10-22-2007, 12:59 PM	#7
radagast Blu-ray Samurai Member since:May 2007 Location:Indianapolis	I was at the BB closest to my home yesterday afternoon. There are now two racks of Blu-ray and one for hd-dud. But that's not all. Over on an endcap next to the TVs is a display for Toshiba and hd-dvd players. Across from that is a portable two-sided display featuring ONLY BLu-ray discs. Bias towards hd-dud? Hardly.

10-22-2007, 01:32 PM	#9
CptGreedle Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Sworn super-hero now services Atlanta (and suburbs). Blu-ray collection:128 Blu-ray reviews:5	Although I haven't been to my BB in a few weeks, every time I did go, it was very even in the HD-DVD and Blu-ray titles on the shelves. However their displays have 2 Blu-ray promos in the middle of the floor and next to the HD discs, and 1 HD-DVD display off on the side. All the MAGNOLIA technicians (and most the sales people) are pro-Blu-ray, and always seem to try to sell them to the new HDTV owners. I'd say mine favors Blu-ray, but has a lot of HD-DVD presence still.

10-22-2007, 01:52 PM	#10
SS316SRV Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Appleton, WI Blu-ray collection:74	Shelf Space does not dictate bias. Best Buy is biased towards the money. Mainly where it is coming from and where it is going towards. So their store stock space is tkane by where the cash is. It depends on how the shelves are stocked. I bet if you look most of the blu-rays were laying with thin way (all you could see was the side of the case) and the HD DVDs were laying flat way (front cover visable). For christ sakes shelf space doesn't mean much. It does matter, but it doesn't dictate anything too significant at this point.

10-22-2007, 01:59 PM	#11
nicoz Member Member since:Oct 2007	Yeah I agree, I'm not saying its dictating anything. It's just an Observation, and you are correct the Blu discs were mostly showing the bindings. It's just odd to put 1/3 of the Blu discs on one isle and 2/3 of them on another isle. Clint.

10-22-2007, 02:06 PM	#12
crunchywyte Senior Member Member since:Apr 2007 Location:Jacksonville, FL Blu-ray collection:64 Blu-ray reviews:16	In my best buy store they have HDDUD and blu-ray next to each other and a bit more blu-ray than HDDUD, and my sunday ad had all the Kubrick films advertised with the blu-ray covers overlapped over the HDDUD covers so you could only see the tops of the DUD covers vs. the whole blu-ray cover for all

10-22-2007, 02:09 PM	#13
SS316SRV Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Appleton, WI Blu-ray collection:74	This is amazing. There is one thread here talking about Best Buys preference to blu, and another one discussing its bias towards HD DVD. Get over shelf space...

10-22-2007, 02:14 PM	#14
NoQuestion Power Member Member since:May 2007 Location:Indiana Blu-ray collection:568 Blu-ray reviews:3	here in Carmel, IN there is 2 sections for blu and 2 for hd-dud right by each other. Then over by the registers there is a portable stand with blu movies. Then by the tvs they have a sharp blu player set up and a sony blu set up. There is also a lg dual player and one toshiba player. Carmel Bestbuy is def favoring blu more

10-22-2007, 02:22 PM	#15
calcajun Active Member Member since:Feb 2007	Yesterday my store was like that but it was the one section Hddud moved onto the BD side. Where they use to be directly across from each other.

10-22-2007, 03:24 PM	#16
Overlord Magnus Junior Member Member since:Aug 2007	ok, so now that i hope we can agree that shelf space has NOTHING to do with bias....best buy stocks things according to how corporate tells them to planogram them, and every best buy is different because the best buy business model is that they have different types of stores depending on the area they are in, for example, if it's an area with more moms and children coming in the disney or family section would be bigger or if it's a more well to do area there would be a magnolia theatre section. So really all this talking about shelf space is pointless even if they totally took OUT blu-ray in your store because chances are it's going to be COMPLETELY different at a best buy down the road.

10-22-2007, 03:44 PM	#17
Layd Dly Expert Member Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Orlando, Florida Home Theater Gallery:83 Blu-ray collection:405 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:2	The small store has 3 and 3 but they recently moved one rack to the otehr side, but even. And the bigger BB that i goto as well has 2 and 2 next to each other

10-22-2007, 04:18 PM	#20
jsteinhauer Gaming Moderator Member since:Aug 2007 Blu-ray reviews:120 Trading Score:66	Duluth, MN Best Buy had only a Blu-ray display at the time of my purchase. They had a few HDDVD players and combo players, but none were connected, and they did not seem to be promoting them, and I was even discouraged from a combo player. Notably, at that time, the local boutique home theater shop was not even selling HDDVD, only Blu-ray.

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