Best places in Paris for blu-ray deals

[keelhaul_isaiah]

I'm going to Paris next weekend, and I wanted some advice about where to go blu-ray shopping. I've already looked up the Virgin and FNAC closest to where I am staying (3rd arrondissment), but are there any other places worth checking?

Also, any suggestions on blu-rays I should buy...

Thanks in advance...

[discking]

It's only just recently that the cut rate DVD sellers in Paris, like DiscKing, have started carrying Blu-Ray discs. The biggest problem with Blu-Ray in France is that the French retail environment is very anti competitive, both by law and by custom, and especially in Paris.

Even if the prices were in dollars, not Euros, the prices would still be very high there, relative to what BDs are usually discounted and sold for in the US and UK. Also, there is a substantial value added tax. If you're ordering from Amazon FR, for delivery to the US, they cut out the tax, which reduces the price by almost 20%, but then they take it back again with high shipping costs.

Typically, Amazon FR will have prices that are lower than any walk in seller in Paris. So, to sum up: ordering from Amazon FR, for delivery in the US, with no French tax but with high shipping charges, will get you a net received price that's still probably lower than what you would get walking into Virgin or FNAC.

BDs are still not as widely accepted in France as DVDs, and are considered to be a status item, always a green light for the French to charge double. So there isn't the wealth of obscure DVD titles that one can usually find of French and other films, available only if you're there.

[keelhaul_isaiah]

....ok. Thanks.

And I'm in the UK. But I guess your points are still valid.

[marvinski]

Originally Posted by discking

It's only just recently that the cut rate DVD sellers in Paris, like DiscKing, have started carrying Blu-Ray discs. The biggest problem with Blu-Ray in France is that the French retail environment is very anti competitive, both by law and by custom, and especially in Paris.

Even if the prices were in dollars, not Euros, the prices would still be very high there, relative to what BDs are usually discounted and sold for in the US and UK. Also, there is a substantial value added tax. If you're ordering from Amazon FR, for delivery to the US, they cut out the tax, which reduces the price by almost 20%, but then they take it back again with high shipping costs.

Typically, Amazon FR will have prices that are lower than any walk in seller in Paris. So, to sum up: ordering from Amazon FR, for delivery in the US, with no French tax but with high shipping charges, will get you a net received price that's still probably lower than what you would get walking into Virgin or FNAC.

BDs are still not as widely accepted in France as DVDs, and are considered to be a status item, always a green light for the French to charge double. So there isn't the wealth of obscure DVD titles that one can usually find of French and other films, available only if you're there.

That pretty much sums it up for the whole European Market. Blu's are really considered to be a Premium Thing in comparison to DVD. I almost just pre-order online, I find myself paying less for Imports from the US or Canada (1-5 months in advance! ) than waiting for their more expansive European Editions. Mostly I don't see the necessity to wait for a European Edition just because of some different packaging ...

[Jerome]

in the Fnac and virgin stores, you can find almost all the time, some operations like 3 Blu-ray discs for 30 euros.