Blu-ray.com Limited Edition Steelbooks! Open Debate.

[jayturner514]

Originally Posted by cudzndrips

Thanks for your input guys. For me it's not possible to do the Blufans approach and get different artwork for the steelbook, it'll simply take too much planning and money. I don't agree with the sticker replies though, what would make a steel with my sticker any different from say ES? Those that have removed their ES stickers have stuck them inside the case, and those who keep them for collectable reasons leave them sealed with the stickers on. Both GI Joe and Jack Reacher were available elsewhere so what makes them collectable having a sticker.....

I'm just trying to add a little something special that Blu-ray.com members can benefit owning. So far the mods think it could be a good idea.

IMO, stickers can be replicated very easily. And to answer your question about what makes the ES copies of GIJ and JR collectible.....they're really not (6 JR's sold in the last 2 weeks on ebay from $32 to $42, most of those in the mid $30's; which is actually $12 less than brand new from ES). They were sought after at first, but then eventually they were overshadowed by identical releases that were not limited.
So, I'm sure you will probably get the approval of the mods (because it will promote the site) and if you keep the size of the release low, you will probably sell them all. Unfortunately it will be just a collectible sticker...

[UFOX]

Launch a kickstarter campain to raise money for a special limited edition steelbook only available to backers
You can easily get lots of $£¥€

Anyway good luck!!

[Ill_Be_Back]

That's a great idea but I agree with others it would have to have more than a sticker, for example alternate artwork or inside artwork. It is a good idea, if it ever happened.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by cudzndrips

Thanks for your input guys. For me it's not possible to do the Blufans approach and get different artwork for the steelbook, it'll simply take too much planning and money. I don't agree with the sticker replies though, what would make a steel with my sticker any different from say ES? Those that have removed their ES stickers have stuck them inside the case, and those who keep them for collectable reasons leave them sealed with the stickers on. Both GI Joe and Jack Reacher were available elsewhere so what makes them collectable having a sticker.....

I'm just trying to add a little something special that Blu-ray.com members can benefit owning. So far the mods think it could be a good idea.

Well, in that case, why not just sell the sticker then? That way anybody can turn any of their steelbooks released anywhere in the world at any time over the entire lifespan of the Blu-ray format into a Blu-ray.com exclusive for $1 or $2?

Heck, you could sell the stickers in bulk and people could turn their entire collection into a Blu-ray.com exclusive, steelbook or not?

And, that should all help clear up my thoughts about the ES approach to creating "exclusive" releases.

[FilmFanSam]

I don't even collect steelbooks but that still sounds pretty damn cool

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Sam McCormack

I don't even collect steelbooks but that still sounds pretty damn cool

I don't see how it sounds all that cool though.

"Hmmm... I can order this steelbook from Amazon.co.uk for £20 + £3 shipping. Oh, wait... Blu-ray.com has an exclusive version for £21 + £8 shipping! I want THAT one!"

And yet, THAT one is just the Amazon.co.uk version with a sticker put on it? Sorry. That just sounds like an overall bad idea.

P.S. Those prices are pretty accurate based on the materials cost of creating the sticker added onto the price of the product being approximately £1 and the actual minimum group buy shipping price for cudzndrips previous efforts being £8. So, technically speaking you are looking at an extra £6 (at least) for a sticker attached to the shrinkwrap of something available elsewhere. It just doesn't compute logically to me why anyone would a) want to partake, and b) believe that the sticker makes it something specially oriented to this website as an actual exclusive.

[Ben_R]

Originally Posted by cudzndrips

I don't agree with the sticker replies though, what would make a steel with my sticker any different from say ES? Those that have removed their ES stickers have stuck them inside the case, and those who keep them for collectable reasons leave them sealed with the stickers on. Both GI Joe and Jack Reacher were available elsewhere so what makes them collectable having a sticker

That's the point many members make regarding ES and their so-called "exclusive releases".

Apart from a pointless sticker and the English J-card nothing whatsoever distinguishes their releases from anyone else's. But this excuse is used to charge customers more money.

In fact I would go as far as to say their only real exclusives are FP & NBK but I digress.

So is that what you are looking to do? Profit from group buys by offering a sticker or will it be done as a gesture of good will?

Originally Posted by cudzndrips

I'm just trying to add a little something special that Blu-ray.com members can benefit owning. So far the mods think it could be a good idea.

How exactly will members benefit?

[,deeii]

I really like the idea, but just a sticker, I am not so sure about that...

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Ben_R

That's the point many members make regarding ES and their so-called "exclusive releases".

Apart from a pointless sticker and the English J-card nothing whatsoever distinguishes their releases from anyone else's. But this excuse is used to charge customers more money.

In fact I would go as far as to say their only real exclusives are FP & NBK but I digress.

So is that what you are looking to do? Profit from group buys by offering a sticker or will it be done as a gesture of good will?




How exactly will members benefit?

Even as a gesture of good will, see my calculations in my quote below. That gesture of good will, at its very base cost factor on his end, will benefit the member purchasing it by making it cost more. And, those calculations are based strictly on the notion that there wouldn't be a profit margin for cudzndrips.

So, cudzndrips makes no money on it and the member pays more for the product which is only given a faint illusion of actually being some form of "only available through Blu-ray.com" release?

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

I don't see how it sounds all that cool though.

"Hmmm... I can order this steelbook from Amazon.co.uk for £20 + £3 shipping. Oh, wait... Blu-ray.com has an exclusive version for £21 + £8 shipping! I want THAT one!"

And yet, THAT one is just the Amazon.co.uk version with a sticker put on it? Sorry. That just sounds like an overall bad idea.

P.S. Those prices are pretty accurate based on the materials cost of creating the sticker added onto the price of the product being approximately £1 and the actual minimum group buy shipping price for cudzndrips previous efforts being £8. So, technically speaking you are looking at an extra £6 (at least) for a sticker attached to the shrinkwrap of something available elsewhere. It just doesn't compute logically to me why anyone would a) want to partake, and b) believe that the sticker makes it something specially oriented to this website as an actual exclusive.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I should clarify something. I am involved with this debate from a very specific perspective. As much as I say that I think it is a silly idea, I also fully support those members who may wish to participate.

I just want those members who may decide to do so to know exactly what they are getting into before making any decisions. There will be a lot of members who don't know any better and will be upset once the item arrives and find out it is identical to other widely available releases.

[cudzndrips]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

I don't see how it sounds all that cool though.

"Hmmm... I can order this steelbook from Amazon.co.uk for £20 + £3 shipping. Oh, wait... Blu-ray.com has an exclusive version for £21 + £8 shipping! I want THAT one!"

And yet, THAT one is just the Amazon.co.uk version with a sticker put on it? Sorry. That just sounds like an overall bad idea.

P.S. Those prices are pretty accurate based on the materials cost of creating the sticker added onto the price of the product being approximately £1 and the actual minimum group buy shipping price for cudzndrips previous efforts being £8. So, technically speaking you are looking at an extra £6 (at least) for a sticker attached to the shrinkwrap of something available elsewhere. It just doesn't compute logically to me why anyone would a) want to partake, and b) believe that the sticker makes it something specially oriented to this website as an actual exclusive.

But what about the idea of the sticker but also it would have a collectable such as some exclusive postcards or action figure etc etc!

[cudzndrips]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

I should clarify something. I am involved with this debate from a very specific perspective. As much as I say that I think it is a silly idea, I also fully support those members who may wish to participate.

I just want those members who may decide to do so to know exactly what they are getting into before making any decisions. There will be a lot of members who don't know any better and will be upset once the item arrives and find out it is identical to other widely available releases.

I understand your concerns Petra and I appreciate your comments, I really do. I couldn't possibly do the Blufans thing as I'm only a collector myself and not a shop or group. Besides I think you'd have to go through the whole copyright issues getting the artwork approved not to mention there would probably be a minimum print order at scanavo. Other than that what do you think would make it more desirable?

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by cudzndrips

But what about the idea of the sticker but also it would have a collectable such as some exclusive postcards or action figure etc etc!

Postcards are recycling fodder. But, collectible figure? Now we are talking! Again though, you have to weigh the cost factors. Can you make such a package as financially viable for the member as buying those items separately themselves? If I place an order for the steelbook and figure from Amazon.co.uk, will you be able to get that to me for the same price? Unlikely given the shipping cost power of a company like Amazon.

Which, again, brings up the issue of exclusivity since the figure would have to be something truly unique. That means that it would either have to be made specifically and only for the purpose of including with the Blu-ray purchase through you/Blu-ray.com, or it would have to be something that is a rare figure that is no longer available on the open market... which makes the exclusive factor more appealing, but also near impossible to put together.

[cudzndrips]

What makes Fast & Furious 6 a Zavvi exclusive when it's already available at Amazon - the addition of postcards that's all yet people still wanted the Zavvi edition.

[besi]

exclusive steelbooks through bluray.com is a good idea,but sorry, just a sticker not gonna cut it.
Exclusive artwork or some collectible stuff inside the case would be great but it would cost a lot of money.
It would be better to do just an exclusive bluray.com slipcover for regular bluray or some lenticular magnetic card for steelbooks.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by cudzndrips

I understand your concerns Petra and I appreciate your comments, I really do. I couldn't possibly do the Blufans thing as I'm only a collector myself and not a shop or group. Besides I think you'd have to go through the whole copyright issues getting the artwork approved not to mention there would probably be a minimum print order at scanavo. Other than that what do you think would make it more desirable?

Honestly, since I first read about this idea, I've been trying to come up with a positive direction in which to help "push the envelope" so to speak. But, without something of value that is truly "only available through Blu-ray.com," it is a very tough conundrum to see past. You really need to come up with something unique that is unavailable anywhere else, can be produced in quantities so that you can meet whatever demand you have created, and can't just be assembled by anyone of their own accord.

Postcards? I can print my own. Stickers? I can make my own, but I also open all of my steelbooks and throw the shrinkwrap/stickers/inserts/j-cards away. Figure? I can buy the figure and steelbook separately and have them both at a slightly more reasonable cost than you could probably offer because of the shipping cost factor.

It really is a difficult scenario to try and find a solution for.

[Ben_R]

Ahem, cough, cough...

Reposted from above as it seems to have been overlooked.

So what you are looking to do? Profit from group buys by offering a sticker et cetera or will it be done as a gesture of good will?

Originally Posted by cudzndrips

I'm just trying to add a little something special that Blu-ray.com members can benefit owning. So far the mods think it could be a good idea.

How exactly will members benefit?

[Petra_Kalbrain]

The only thing that I can think of is trying to get in touch with the studios and ask them for some official promotional items in quantity that you could use. But, even then, they'll not really see any benefit for them in doing so for you. They would have included those things in their own special edition if they saw a benefit. But, you could always try?

[cudzndrips]

Originally Posted by Ben_R

Ahem, cough, cough...

Reposted from above as it seems to have been overlooked.

So what you are looking to do? Profit from group buys by offering a sticker et cetera or will it be done as a gesture of good will?



How exactly will members benefit?

No I'm not thinking about doing this for a huge profit, I'd obviously charge a little extra to cover some costs if it involves including a collectable such as postcards or figures but if it was just the sticker then there would be no additional costs.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by cudzndrips

No I'm not thinking about doing this for a huge profit, I'd obviously charge a little extra to cover some costs if it involves including a collectable such as postcards or figures but if it was just the sticker then there would be no additional costs.

Well... no additional costs beyond the shipping difference between your personal post office rates and Amazons corporate rates.