Are prices getting better?

[thdeanmachine]

I think prices on older titles are at about what they should be. New releases really arent that much more either. The blu-ray is usually about 3-4 dollars more than the 2 disc special edition dvd of any movie, which makes sense since you are getting a better product. Does anyone remember when DVDs were this price? I do.

[paperthrower2000]

I can find a lot more deals now than I used to be able to for titles.

[Travis]

Recently ordered Jeff Beck and Diana Krall, 16.49 each, both have been out a very short time. When I first starting buying Blu-rays last November, I never thought I'd be picking up new release for less than 20 bucks half a year later.

Lovin' it.

And both Beck and Krall are just $2.48 more than the DVDs. It's nice to know we aren't getting completly hosed by buying a new format. It makes it easier to convert others. I feel like a Blu-mormon, "Have you heard the good news?" I'm going to get my PS3 and copy of Blade Runner and Baraka and start knocking on the neighbors' doors.

[Rizor]

I never had much of a problem with the price of Blu-ray. Heck, one of the biggest reasons that got me to make the jump from SD was that Blu-rays didn't cost much more than the SD versions. I'm the type that opts to go for the special editions, and when you go to a store and they're selling the 2-disc SE DVD of a title for $22.99 and the BD for $25.99, it's a no brainer.

The reason I suspect prices are "high" are because compared to SD, they need to be higher. Most new SD DVDs have a suggested price of $29.99 while catalog titles typically go for $19.99. Blu-ray is considered a premium format so the suggested prices are higher. It's not really an issue if you're able to shop around a bit. I've been able to purchase many Blu-rays for cheaper than the SD counterparts.

[benricci]

3 years into the blu-ray format, and most titles can be found for about $19.99 new.

3 years into DVD, most titles were still around $24.95-29.95 (for lower quality).

I'm fine with where we are now, and look forward to even lower pricing as the format takes hold. Most everything I buy on Blu is around $15 from the Amazon marketplace, anyway.

[shadows4545]

Originally Posted by OARmaster

There is nothing wrong with the current prices. Despite the complaints...they really are not high.

Really? You're entitled to your opinion, but I completely disagree with it.

[MosHighDef]

not really any better. Most people still dont buy Blu Rays compared to DVDs

[bongzilla]

I have started waiting for the new stuff to make it in a few shops around here
that sell used BD,s, got 3 last night. Ranges from 11.00-17.00.
Hancock, Serenity, and a Imax Coral Reef adventure.

[HRC]

You can dramatically lower the cost of your collection by shopping around and/or price matching. THEN, you need to keep an eye out for the next 30-45 days for sale prices. Places like Best Buy will give you the difference back. Many times each month, I go into BB and purchase price matched blurays and then they hand me cash back from purchases I made 3 weeks earlier. It adds up big time if you stay on top of things! You MUST keep track of your purchases! Best way is to print out statements from credit card, bank account, or Rewards Zone before each trip to store. Then you can easily compare what you have bought in the past 30 days to todays sale prices. It's ALMOST like free money and worth the effort. I have saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars this way.


Example of routine trip to BB......

Title A is $15.00. Another store has it for $9.99. Price matched.

Title B that I bought 2 weeks ago is now on sale for $5 less than I paid.

Title A ends up costing me $5 instead of $15.


Sometimes my trips just consist of making rounds to collect cash!! I made more when Circuit City was around as they had the same policies.

[#Darren]

YES prices are dropping, significantly.

[Afrobean]

Originally Posted by OARmaster

There is nothing wrong with the current prices. Despite the complaints...they really are not high.

They're higher than DVD is now, and that's all people see.

People have short memories I guess. They don't recall how expensive DVD was in its first years, or even VHS for that matter. They probably also were never exposed to the absurd prices on things like laserdisc. They've grown accustomed to picking up DVDs for like 5 dollars in the bargain bin and they expect to be able to get a better format for that price too, even on other titles that just came out. I don't care if you can get Idiocracy for 5 dollars at Best Buy, you won't be buying The Dark Knight on Blu-ray for 5 dollars any time soon.

[Zyclone]

when blu first came out here in oz new releases were around $40-50 now you can get new stuff for around $30 at some stores heck the other day i picked up young frankenstein for $20 brand new so my two cents the prices are getting better.

and if you don't mind importing you can normally get some good region b titles from the uk fairly cheaply compared to local releases.

[Sir Platypus]

In my opinion, no standard release should be priced over $30 MSRP. Maybe some nicer titles (think Criterion or the LOTR EE DVDs), but it is ridiculous that I see a $35 tag on some movies at Best Buy.

More $10-15 sale prices would be nice, but that is more up to the retailers. Hell, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart all have $4 DVDs. Some customers are gonna be hard to win over when there's that much of a price difference.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by K_Williamson42

I dont think any catalog title should be priced more then $10-$14.99 because most catalog titles are double dips for me. New Releases, screw the digital copy price dont neeed it so give me a new blu for $19.99-$24.99 and if its a 2 disc (blu + dvd) $29.99. I think with the drops in prices with the TV's and blu-ray players over the last year making the movies more affordable well help get this technology into the average consumer home. Not just movie buffs and HT guys like us.

There is no way that you will see catalog titles priced that cheap for quite some time. At least not newly released catalog titles. While I understand people saying that the average consumer doesn't realize that BD's should cost more than a DVD (bargain bin or not), companies aren't going to lower prices just because the average consumer is stupid. Maybe they need to still improve on how they explain the format to the average consumer, but honestly, it shouldn't be that hard to understand. I know that the people that buy a lot of BD's would know more about the format than the average consumer, but still.

The main thing that needs to happen is that B&M stores such as Best Buy and Target need to have their prices at Amazon.com levels. I think the majority of BD's are reasonably priced at Amazon. The price differences between them and Amazon on most titles after the first week of release is ridiculous, except for some sales here and there. It's these stores that need to drop the prices, not the studios.

[ckenisell]

Originally Posted by Afrobean

They're higher than DVD is now, and that's all people see.

Blu-Ray prices SHOULD be higher than DVD prices. It's a MUCH better product.

If I had the choice between a $15 DVD and a $20 Blu-Ray (same title), to me, the $20 Blu-Ray is a MUCH better value. I don't see much incentive for the studios to lower their prices on BDs since their adoption rate on BDs is in a much better state than DVDs were this far into their life cycle. Plus, consumers have to understand, BDs cost more to produce than DVDs do.

4 times the video resolution combined with lossless audio tracks and I'd say that a few extra bucks is worth it.

That said, if you buy on release week, bestbuy.com has the same prices as amazon.com and the Best Buy retail stores will price match their own online store. Assuming you can buy the same title at Best Buy that you can on amazon.com at the same price, here are the only differences:

• Amazon.com - You don't have to pay tax. (in most states)
• Best Buy - You do have to pay tax.
• ADVANTAGE: Amazon.com

• Amazon.com - You don't have to pay shipping if your order is over $30 (or is it $25)? Either way, to get free shipping, you usually have to purchase at least 2 titles on the order to get the free shipping. Also, if you chose the free shipping option, Amazon.com sits on your order a day or two after the release date before shipping. So, it takes a LOT longer to get your title. In my experience, expect titles to arrive a week after release date.
• Best Buy - No need for shipping. Get the product on release day.
• ADVANTAGE: Best Buy

• Amazon.com - Since the items are shipped, items may get damaged while shipped. Sure, Amazon.com will resolve any of these types of issues, but who wants to deal with the hassle?
• Best Buy - You can choose from a higher quantity of the same title and inspect the product before making the purchase.
• ADVANTAGE: Best Buy

• SUMMARY - Use Amazon.com to get your products a few bucks cheaper, but possibly damaged a week after release or use Best Buy to pay tax and get your titles undamaged on release date.
• ADVANTAGE - That's for you to decide.

[Gone2HiDef]

Originally Posted by HRC

You can dramatically lower the cost of your collection by shopping around and/or price matching. THEN, you need to keep an eye out for the next 30-45 days for sale prices. Places like Best Buy will give you the difference back. Many times each month, I go into BB and purchase price matched blurays and then they hand me cash back from purchases I made 3 weeks earlier. It adds up big time if you stay on top of things! You MUST keep track of your purchases! Best way is to print out statements from credit card, bank account, or Rewards Zone before each trip to store. Then you can easily compare what you have bought in the past 30 days to todays sale prices. It's ALMOST like free money and worth the effort. I have saved hundreds and hundreds of dollars this way.


Example of routine trip to BB......

Title A is $15.00. Another store has it for $9.99. Price matched.

Title B that I bought 2 weeks ago is now on sale for $5 less than I paid.

Title A ends up costing me $5 instead of $15.


Sometimes my trips just consist of making rounds to collect cash!! I made more when Circuit City was around as they had the same policies.

It's this kind of research and ambition by us on this forum that likely makes it look like BD prices are coming down. Many of us search avidly for the best deals when titles come out, others use the strategy of waiting a while for prices to come down after a title drops, and we all post about it on BD.com. And thus, we read more about great deals and price drops on catalog and new release BD titles. Meanwhile WB and Disney issue collector's sets like Wizard of Oz and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with huge price tags. I betcha when Amazon price matches another retailer like Best Buy or Walmart at a great price (like they did with the Star Trek Movie Collection recently), it'll just add to the mentality that BD prices are dropping, when technically it really isn't if the SRP is still high.

[Berek]

I finally picked up Point Break for 16.99 at Best Buy instead of the usual 24.99 to 34.99 when I used to see it at those prices.

[Nutbunnies]

Amazon.com sits on your order a day or two after the release date before shipping.

I just got my pre-orders of Ghostbusters and Dr. Strangelove on release day.

[Variable]

I'm very happy with prices. lots of catalog titles come out at 19.99 now which I think is reasonable. new releases at 29.99 is completely fair imo, plus if you order from amazon you generally get a better deal than that.

[Travis]

Just came back from browsing over at Amazon.com. WOW! The prices on pre-orders, and new releases are great. Terminator Salvation, Harry Potter, Fight Club 18.99, Transformers ROTF, Snow White 19.99 (got mine for 9.99) are great prices.

Catalog titles released a month ago are falling to 20, 15 bucks very quickly. Braveheart, Gladiator 19.99, Contact 17.99, American Werewolf 15.99, Ghostbusters a few moths ago was in the 20s now 12.50.

ROTF and HP are even cheaper than the DVDs. Along with Lethal Weapon and a few more.Take that naysayers!

I was thinking I wouldn't reach 100 until next year, but with the current prices and a few good new releases and still quite a few on my wishlist, I may only make it till Christmas.

note: Sorry I know some people frown on trying to bring life back to old threads. Let them die, right? And I know a lot of people frown on creating new threads about old topics. What to do? Just something I want to say.