Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by critterdvd

Or trying to keep the line alive and the lights on... It's pretty obvious that if they were making money hand over fist they wouldn't have to do a policy change in the first place...

And what makes you think Scream is struggling? If you believe the fanboys and sycophants on these threads, they put out one "Amazing" and "Awesome" release after another, and judging from comments on these threads, everyone jumps on their pre-orders as soon as they are announced (until the new shenanigans took place), so why would they now have to jack up their prices to keep the lights on?

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

There decision to enter into expensive licensing agreements with the studios does not equal my obligation to support them. Thankfully for them, they appear to have enough of you drinking the Kool-Aid.

So as a result of these agreements, pass the expense on to the customer. That sounds like the more plausible reason for the price increases. And there is no obligation to support them unless you've drunk from the "Kool-Aid".

[davidthenikonuser]

Originally Posted by Mystic

And what makes you think Scream is struggling? If you believe the fanboys and sycophants on these threads, they put out one "Amazing" and "Awesome" release after another, and judging from comments on these threads, everyone jumps on their pre-orders as soon as they are announced (until the new shenanigans took place), so why would they now have to jack up their prices to keep the lights on?

I'm not sure if they are struggling, but they did just buy Corman's library, and got a deal with Warner Bros and have a deal with Hammer Films. Also, the deal for the Spanish horror I'm sure was big bucks. So that could be why they are trying to get more people to buy from them and the price increase.

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by davidthenikonuser

I'm not sure if they are struggling, but they did just buy Corman's library, and got a deal with Warner Bros and have a deal with Hammer Films. Also, the deal for the Spanish horror I'm sure was big bucks. So that could be why they are trying to get more people to buy from them and the price increase.

So the price increases are going to lead more people to buy from them? It seems to me that it would have the opposite effect. It sounds to me that by entering into expensive licensing agreements and film library purchases, that Scream bit off more than it could chew financially, and now they're passing the costs down to the customer.

[Thomas Veil]

Buy them or dont buy them. I just buy on amazon with prime so free shipping. Well worth it for all i buy on there not just movies. The price always goes down from preorder prices, never had it not. I guess Im not getting the big deal especially since you really dont know how this is going to shake out...its all just knee jerk outrage at this point.

Not a fan boy, or drinking kool aid or whatever just think there is a lot of overreacting...especially about preorders (which mean very little at this point). Carry on, just sucks this thread has devolved into ugliness.

[Braktastic]

Originally Posted by Mystic

So the price increases are going to lead more people to buy from them? It seems to me that it would have the opposite effect.

I think the exclusivity or pre-order exclusivity window might draw more people to their storefront, but, no, I can't see this increasing their customer base overall. I think what you're seeing here is akin to what a few other boutique labels are trying through varying methods:

They're hoping to get the die-hards to fund as much of the licensing as up-front as possible with super deluxe editions or timed-exclusives, etc. and then release them to the masses and reap whatever customer base is leftover.

I mean that's fine if you're a die-hard and you're OK with being exploited. Fortunately, I'm neither. It would have to be a really special title to get me to reconsider.

Originally Posted by Thomas Veil

The price always goes down from preorder prices, never had it not.

It did not for Return of the Living Dead Part II until customers complained. It's too early to tell how Amazon pre-order prices will behave under the new policy. They have little incentive to drop now.

[bb8977]

Originally Posted by ryanmj1993

I asked them about what Diabolik said and this is their response.

Well at least they are reiterating the fact that things should return to normal soon... My guess is that they were just trying to maximize profits over the next few months with all of the high profile titles they have in the way

[Thomas Veil]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

I think the exclusivity or pre-order exclusivity window might draw more people to their storefront, but, no, I can't see this increasing their customer base overall. I think what you're seeing here is akin to what a few other boutique labels are trying through varying methods:

They're hoping to get the die-hards to fund as much of the licensing as up-front as possible with super deluxe editions or timed-exclusives, etc. and then release them to the masses and reap whatever customer base is leftover.

I mean that's fine if you're a die-hard and you're OK with being exploited. Fortunately, I'm neither. It would have to be a really special title to get me to reconsider.



It did not for Return of the Living Dead Part II until customers complained. It's too early to tell how Amazon pre-order prices will behave under the new policy. They have little incentive to drop now.

I didnt buy that one. And like you say too early. I just know that the outrage is a little early yet.

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

I think the exclusivity or pre-order exclusivity window might draw more people to their storefront, but, no, I can't see this increasing their customer base overall. I think what you're seeing here is akin to what a few other boutique labels are trying through varying methods:

They're hoping to get the die-hards to fund as much of the licensing as up-front as possible with super deluxe editions or timed-exclusives, etc. and then release them to the masses and reap whatever customer base is leftover.

I mean that's fine if you're a die-hard and you're OK with being exploited. Fortunately, I'm neither. It would have to be a really special title to get me to reconsider.

I think that's the way a lot of us feel. This is a forum and there's no harm in expressing our displeasure here regardless of whether some folks like that or not.

[Spooked]

Originally Posted by bb8977

Well at least they are reiterating the fact that things should return to normal soon... My guess is that they were just trying to maximize profits over the next few months with all of the high profile titles they have in the way

Well, they said normal, or close to normal. I think some of these changes will be permanent from here on out, though I don't know which ones - or how it will all shake out in the end. They're definitely leaving some 'wiggle room' in their canned response. The whole thing is weird, and kind of makes me want to stick my head in the sand until October and then see what's what. Until then, we're all just speculating.

[rillog]

If things had stayed the same I would have ordered Return II, Someone's Watching me, Unborn, Tingler and Straight Jacket by now. Due to their new policy I ordered none.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by rillog

If things had stayed the same I would have ordered Return II, Someone's Watching me, Unborn, Tingler and Straight Jacket by now. Due to their new policy I ordered none.

and how many of those will you eventually order within the next 30 days?

[Jay Mammoth]

Originally Posted by darkness2918

I'm always willing to support labels I like & SF is one of them. I only pre order titles I really want though from their site. Any others I'm happy to wait for a better price on. I only have 6 titles pre ordered with them right now, the 6 I wanted most.

Yeah the haters in these threads are hilarious. I rarely preorder titles, when I do it’s from the SF site to get the Lithos and early release.

[themp3000]

Originally Posted by Jay Mammoth

Yeah the haters in these threads are hilarious. I rarely preorder titles, when I do it’s from the SF site to get the Lithos and early release.

So people with valid complaints and are against this anti-consumer policy are haters.

Even though they’ve been some of the label’s most ardent supporters. Now that’s hilarious.

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by Mystic

And what makes you think Scream is struggling? If you believe the fanboys and sycophants on these threads, they put out one "Amazing" and "Awesome" release after another, and judging from comments on these threads, everyone jumps on their pre-orders as soon as they are announced (until the new shenanigans took place), so why would they now have to jack up their prices to keep the lights on?

I don't believe I am drinking the Kool-Aid, I am just trying to look at this from the point of view of a business model. Shout!/Scream Factory is first and foremost a business and business can only stick around if they turn a profit. Don't get me wrong, I miss the days of being able to pre-order all of their collector's edition at $20 for release day on amazon with free shipping. However, the market is changing. The demand for physical media is dropping by the year (see here) and when demand drops, then prices will typically increase.

I am just stating my opinion that I do not believe that Shout!/Scream is doing this to be greedy or make more money (they would be in a different line of work if that is the case), they just want to be able to keep doing what they are doing. And, as a consumer I would rather pay a couple extra dollars to receive a product that I really want vs the product not existing. When and if, the second the Mom and Pop-isq companies like Shout, Kino, Criterion, etc. disappear so will physical media.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by critterdvd

I don't believe I am drinking the Kool-Aid, I am just trying to look at this from the point of view of a business model. Shout!/Scream Factory is first and foremost a business and business can only stick around if they turn a profit. Don't get me wrong, I miss the days of being able to pre-order all of their collector's edition at $20 for release day on amazon with free shipping. However, the market is changing. The demand for physical media is dropping by the year (see here) and when demand drops, then prices will typically increase.

I am just stating my opinion that I do not believe that Shout!/Scream is doing this to be greedy or make more money (they would be in a different line of work if that is the case), they just want to be able to keep doing what they are doing. And, as a consumer I would rather pay a couple extra dollars to receive a product that I really want vs the product not existing. When and if, the second the Mom and Pop-isq companies like Shout, Kino, Criterion, etc. disappear so will physical media.

But how does limiting the avenues to obtain their product make them more money? I don't follow the logic. Shout is still listing the product at the same prices. Amazon is now selling their pre-orders at full list, because they have no pre-order competition so THEY are making more money per unit sold. Bullmoose, Diabolik and other sellers can't do pre-orders, and have no way of knowing how many to order under this new model. If I were a buyer for them, I would under order until I can determine how badly this has impacted my sales. So Shout will likely sell less in the short term, and the longer term ramifications are unclear at this point.

[Donl1282]

Originally Posted by critterdvd

I don't believe I am drinking the Kool-Aid, I am just trying to look at this from the point of view of a business model. Shout!/Scream Factory is first and foremost a business and business can only stick around if they turn a profit. Don't get me wrong, I miss the days of being able to pre-order all of their collector's edition at $20 for release day on amazon with free shipping. However, the market is changing. The demand for physical media is dropping by the year (see here) and when demand drops, then prices will typically increase.

I am just stating my opinion that I do not believe that Shout!/Scream is doing this to be greedy or make more money (they would be in a different line of work if that is the case), they just want to be able to keep doing what they are doing. And, as a consumer I would rather pay a couple extra dollars to receive a product that I really want vs the product not existing. When and if, the second the Mom and Pop-isq companies like Shout, Kino, Criterion, etc. disappear so will physical media.

I thought drop in demands would lower the price not increase it?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Donl1282

I thought drop in demands would lower the price not increase it?

If it costs the same to get the rights, manufacture and produce the disc, but the amount being sold goes down, then I can see the prices going up.

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by JasonMichael

But how does limiting the avenues to obtain their product make them more money? I don't follow the logic. Shout is still listing the product at the same prices. Amazon is now selling their pre-orders at full list, because they have no pre-order competition so THEY are making more money per unit sold. Bullmoose, Diabolik and other sellers can't do pre-orders, and have no way of knowing how many to order under this new model. If I were a buyer for them, I would under order until I can determine how badly this has impacted my sales. So Shout will likely sell less in the short term, and the longer term ramifications are unclear at this point.

Basically, my thought process is that by limiting the number of places one can preorder the item, more customers would order through Shout directly. Any order through their own website is going to make them 2x as much much (if not more) than if someone was to purchase the title via a third party, like Amazon. Amazon may be selling the product for the same price as their direct website, however, with Amazon they are only seeing a percentage of the price the customer paid. A direct sale is that much more profit, and they try to incentivize the customer by offering them an earlier release date and various swag.

Originally Posted by Donl1282

I thought drop in demands would lower the price not increase it?

A drop in demand will not lower the price, because the cost of creating the disc stays the same. A drop in demand just means a smaller return on investment, so they have to charge more to try and recup their upfront costs.

[amarster]

I'm not too familiar with the Scream Factory complaints but I'm happy with:
In the Mouth of Madness
Pumpkinhead
The Exorcist 3
the Thing
The Howling
The Fog
Night Breed