F.Y.E. Deals Thread (YMMV)

[InuYashaCrusade]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It's pretty clear that FYE is struggling to adapt as the market for physical media shrinks with each passing year.

I'm not sure FYE lasts another 2-3 years.

It's depressing but I'm surprised they've lasted this long. If pop culture didn't explode in the last couple years then they probably would've closed up shop years ago.

I don't understand why FYE doesn't get competitive with their physical media prices or price match. If you think about it, all of the companies who don't price match are the ones struggling the most right now. Gamestop, Barnes and Noble, FYE and so on.

[Clark Kent]

It's an uphill battle switching up your established business model after years of success. They likely don't have the cashflow for that even if they wanted.

[QuasidodoJr]

Originally Posted by InuYashaCrusade

It's depressing but I'm surprised they've lasted this long. If pop culture didn't explode in the last couple years then they probably would've closed up shop years ago.

I don't understand why FYE doesn't get competitive with their physical media prices or price match. If you think about it, all of the companies who don't price match are the ones struggling the most right now. Gamestop, Barnes and Noble, FYE and so on.

The companies that can afford to sell their physical media at lower prices and price match do not rely on profits made from physical media. The majority of their profits come from appliances, TVs, clothing, etc.

[noiradelic]

Originally Posted by InuYashaCrusade

I don't understand why FYE doesn't get competitive with their physical media prices or price match. If you think about it, all of the companies who don't price match are the ones struggling the most right now. Gamestop, Barnes and Noble, FYE and so on.

Barnes & Noble's been struggling since e-books took off in 2007. Plus their book prices are more or less competitive. They're different than FYE and Gamestop because they don't sell used media.

Which companies with competitive prices and price-matching whose primary business is physical media aren't struggling? I can't think of any.

[BluPat]

At my local FYE, I got a 7" NECA Clark Griswold from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for $7. They also had the retail release of Billy from Silent Night, Deadly Night for $7.

[obssessive]

Originally Posted by BluPat

At my local FYE, I got a 7" NECA Clark Griswold from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for $7. They also had the retail release of Billy from Silent Night, Deadly Night for $7.

Saw the Billy figure. Wish I would've come across the Clark figure!

[Ari_Gold]

Originally Posted by BluPat

At my local FYE, I got a 7" NECA Clark Griswold from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation for $7. They also had the retail release of Billy from Silent Night, Deadly Night for $7.

Were they marked this? Or did they just happen to scan this?

My local FYE is huge compared to others, but it is poorly run, and they hardly ever adjust prices and tags. I have a feeling these would be on their shelf marked regular price.

[Baguda]

Originally Posted by InuYashaCrusade

I don't understand why FYE doesn't get competitive with their physical media prices or price match. If you think about it, all of the companies who don't price match are the ones struggling the most right now. Gamestop, Barnes and Noble, FYE and so on.

Unfortunately pricematching seems to be going away. Only Best Buy and Target do it with a lot of conditions on it. My theory as I mention below is FYE's trouble with media lately is due to paying too little for trade-ins and selling them for too much. It also doesn't help collectors that their shelves are such a mess. They cater to people who impulse buy and those people are usually not collectors.

Originally Posted by QuasidodoJr

The companies that can afford to sell their physical media at lower prices and price match do not rely on profits made from physical media. The majority of their profits come from appliances, TVs, clothing, etc.

Are you referring to the major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart? FYE is one of the few retailers that sells used media, just like Gohastings (RIP). There is also Zia Records and local used dealers. I almost never find any good deals at any of them, so I rarely visit them.

Unfortunately I find a big problem at every one of these places, FYE included. They typically pay $1-$2 for any Bluray trade-in that's older than 1 year and turn around and try to sell it for $10-$20. Many years ago $3-$5 was a more common trade-in price for an older Bluray. In the last couple years I have seen people trade in multiple garbage bags full of CDs for 25 cents each and they end up on the shelf for $5-$10. Basically FYE and most other used retailers have gone too far paying too little for trade-ins and charging too much when they resell. I think it's a 10-20x markup. If they would've settled for maybe a 5x markup, things might be different.

Couple that with FYE having closed all but one location in my area which is their smallest store in a mall. Their movie selection is a genre sorted mess with mostly DVDs mixed in. Most of the store is now overpriced collectibles. They should rename themselves to The Funko Pop and Collectibles Store.

Originally Posted by InuYashaCrusade

Why hasn't there been any formal announcement about all of these closures? FYE locations are closing up left and right and have been for over a year now. At this rate, I honestly doubt they're going to be around at all in a year or two.

I never heard any announcements, but I was aware by word of mouth that many stores were closing across the country. One guy made some sweeps on the east coast and came away with some amazing 80% off used hauls that would make you drool. He bought stacks of recent used but like-new 4Ks for $3.24 each.

It seems FYE never found the right balance for media pricing. They paid too much for trade-ins for a while and then went to the opposite extreme. They usually sold their used media for too much with occasional exceptions and sales like B1G1F. Like all stores, their promos got worse over time, B1G1 $1, B1G1 50%, B2G1F.

On Pi Day one can hope they will have 31.4% off online, and apart from that and rare sales, FYE is basically a non-factor.

[TheZatch]

Originally Posted by Baguda

Unfortunately pricematching seems to be going away. Only Best Buy and Target do it with a lot of conditions on it. My theory as I mention below is FYE's trouble with media lately is due to paying too little for trade-ins and selling them for too much. It also doesn't help collectors that their shelves are such a mess. They cater to people who impulse buy and those people are usually not collectors.

Are you referring to the major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart? FYE is one of the few retailers that sells used media, just like Gohastings (RIP). There is also Zia Records and local used dealers. I almost never find any good deals at any of them, so I rarely visit them.

Unfortunately I find a big problem at every one of these places, FYE included. They typically pay $1-$2 for any Bluray trade-in that's older than 1 year and turn around and try to sell it for $10-$20. Many years ago $3-$5 was a more common trade-in price for an older Bluray. In the last couple years I have seen people trade in multiple garbage bags full of CDs for 25 cents each and they end up on the shelf for $5-$10. Basically FYE and most other used retailers have gone too far paying too little for trade-ins and charging too much when they resell. I think it's a 10-20x markup. If they would've settled for maybe a 5x markup, things might be different.

I took a large bag full of 20-25 DVDs and BDs to one of my FYEs to free up shelf space a week or so ago and after the cashier scanned everything, The only thing valued at $1 or more was a DVD double feature of “Silent Night, Deadly Night” 1 & 2. After telling the cashier I desired store credit, that brought it up to a whopping $1.25.

A few days later, I went back to the same store and saw it on the shelf for $12.99.

[travisbickle]

Originally Posted by Cherokee Jack

20% off when you buy two steelbooks together in-store. Another 20% off if you use the code you get for signing up for Dlux (https://www.fye.com/dlux.html). Stack 'em and that's 36% off your purchase. Several recently recently steels are already discounted so you can get some really great prices by doing this (Halloween II & III will go from $19.99 to $12.79 for example).

Is this still going on?

[BluPat]

Originally Posted by Ari_Gold

Were they marked this? Or did they just happen to scan this?

My local FYE is huge compared to others, but it is poorly run, and they hardly ever adjust prices and tags. I have a feeling these would be on their shelf marked regular price.

They were all marked on Clearance.

[Cherokee Jack]

Originally Posted by travisbickle

Is this still going on?

Dlux signup discount is still listed on the site. Not sure about the in-store steelbook discount though.

[eddiesd123]

Stopped by FYE tonight, picked up Yoga Hosers new for $4.99 and Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (original release without UV) for $1.24 new from the clearance section.

Also saw Changing Lanes for $1.75 new in the Drama section. Also saw a Canadian version of Jacobs Ladder for $14.99

[styrofoamboats]

FYE is currently offering an online only President's Day sale where they give 25% off a purchase of $30 or more.

[meremortal]

Getting a dollar or higher offers for blus these days is pretty rare. At least F.Y.E. are transparent with how much each one is going for with the few stores still around. No local F.YE. around in years and other stores in the area typically just give you one 'take it or leave it' offer with no indication of how much individual items are trading. But they're almost always under a dollar each. People usually give in and take the offer since they just want to get rid of them.

[InuYashaCrusade]

Originally Posted by meremortal

Getting a dollar or higher offers for blus these days is pretty rare. At least F.Y.E. are transparent with how much each one is going for with the few stores still around. No local F.YE. around in years and other stores in the area typically just give you one 'take it or leave it' offer with no indication of how much individual items are trading. But they're almost always under a dollar each. People usually give in and take the offer since they just want to get rid of them.

I remember years ago FYE used to be better than Newbury Comics when it comes to trading/selling. Nothing too substantial but I feel like Newbury Comics doesn't always know what they have and the value of it, whereas FYE does.

[SMOOT]

Seeing the post here about 25% off at FYE made me check out the site and try to make an order.
Forget it.
Does FYE have the most awful webpage of any online physical media store?
What a mess.
Is there a magic trick that others have figured out to make FYE worth checking ?

[YogiYahooeys]

Originally Posted by SMOOT

Seeing the post here about 25% off at FYE made me check out the site and try to make an order.
Forget it.
Does FYE have the most awful webpage of any online physical media store?
What a mess.
Is there a magic trick that others have figured out to make FYE worth checking ?

There's no magic trick. They "upgraded" their website last year and actually made it significantly worse. It's a disaster...

[jcs913]

Does anyone know if Horror Express is the Arrow version??? The pictured version is, but the price ($25) nor some of the description lead me to believe that they will send me the Severin version, which would suck. With the 25% off, it's a great deal, but not for the Severin one...

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by jcs913

Does anyone know if Horror Express is the Arrow version??? The pictured version is, but the price ($25) nor some of the description lead me to believe that they will send me the Severin version, which would suck. With the 25% off, it's a great deal, but not for the Severin one...

What's wrong with the Severin one? That's the one I have.