Killing The Hobby

[The hitcher]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Not yet!

That stuff started like 20 years ago, I think we're safe

[deatheats]

Originally Posted by Kenneth M

Just a couple things
…
Personally, I don't care about anything but content and we are seeing a response to that with companies now including an extra movie. (Ninja Terminator, Bruceploitation Box) Now I will always jump on that and hope we see more limited editions with extra movies of beat-up, last surviving elements on BD as a special feature. That's exciting! But the oversized boxes and trinkets matter naught.
…

Funny you should say that. I recently purchased 3 movies, in great part, due to the multiple features included: Ninja Terminator, The Swordsman of all Swordsmen, & Age of Consent. I truly appreciate the extra content provided.

With that said I do also enjoy some “tat” for movies I really enjoy and have posters, both folded and rolled, on display in my house. The trick for me has been discovering what is and isn’t worth getting a collector’s edition of.

As time has gone on and the physical size of my collection grows it will be inevitable I start weeding out features I’m not as fond of. The good news, with limited edition collectors editions, I’m likely to get a better return when selling those compared to the retail edition.

In regards to whether this kills off labels, that seems a bit nonsensical. Labels will follow the money…if they think Special editions will sell better that’s what they will sell.

[Professor Echo]

Times have sure changed since Twilight Time started years ago and were met with so much negative opposition to their “Limited Edition” business model. Now the announcement of a Limited Edition seems to be met with celebration and joy. Well, of course, the hobby has changed a lot over the years, but I was not a fan of Twilight Time’s business model nor one of labels copying it today.


MifuneFan seems obsessed with my comment about KINO taking a fall along with the labels who keep exploiting this gimmick release plan, but KINO was just an example I used of a solid label who continually release no excess frills titles that so far have largely avoided this apparent cash cow of bells and whistles editions. I could say the same for Criterion who also largely eschew all the gimmicks, but I’m sure are facing stiff competition these days from labels like ARROW. Will labels like Criterion and Indicator jump on this current bandwagon and cash in or might they be left behind? Same for Radiance who are also pretty much a back to basics label.

Honestly, not trying to monger fear, I’m giving it serious consideration and hoping for discussion, not to be negative just to be negative, but to see if others feel like me and find the hobby slipping away from them financially these days.

[Driver78]

To me it sounds more like the OP is just frustrated that he can’t afford the pricier releases. It’s true that prices are rising ever higher but I think that is more a reflection of labels passing higher overall costs on to the consumer like all businesses do. Add to that declining physical media sales, which in effect causes labels to raise prices to cover shortfalls and prior overstock. In other words, expect to pay more for discs as time marches on and more people elect to stick with streaming vs. discs. I’m 100% prepared to pay more for my physical media as movie watching is the only thing I engage in for entertainment and have no one but myself to look after.

Also, I love big box sets but they really are a drain on shelf space and wish some labels would tone down their extravagance.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Driver78

To me it sounds more like the OP is just frustrated that he can’t afford the pricier releases. It’s true that prices are rising ever higher but I think that is more a reflection of labels passing higher overall costs on to the consumer like all businesses do. Add to that declining physical media sales, which in effect causes labels to raise prices to cover shortfalls and prior overstock. In other words, expect to pay more for discs as time marches on and more people elect to stick with streaming vs. discs. I’m 100% prepared to pay more for my physical media as movie watching is the only thing I engage in for entertainment and have no one but myself to look after.

Also, I love big box sets but they really are a drain on shelf space and wish some labels would tone down their extravagance.

A typical response these days from people, if they are not affected by something personally they don’t care and/or it doesn’t exist.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by deatheats

Funny you should say that. I recently purchased 3 movies, in great part, due to the multiple features included: Ninja Terminator, The Swordsman of all Swordsmen, & Age of Consent. I truly appreciate the extra content provided.
.

Just to be clear, I’m not talking about extras on the discs themselves or even books and booklets, all of which are essential components of well rounded releases. I’m talking about fancy slipcovers, postcards, Steelbooks, dog tags, limited edition numbers, etc., largely superfluous shiny things that just attempt to justify a higher price.

[spaceball-one]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

Ten Years ago I bought an Epiphone Special for $100 at Guitar Center at one of their Holiday Sales.

It said on the back of the headstock: Limited Edition Epiphone Custom Shop with a very nice logo stamp!

Almost as good as my Custom 50s reissue Squier! Lol

[Neutron82]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Just to be clear, I’m not talking about extras on the discs themselves or even books and booklets, all of which are essential components of well rounded releases. I’m talking about fancy slipcovers, postcards, Steelbooks, dog tags, limited edition numbers, etc., largely superfluous shiny things that just attempt to justify a higher price.

nearly every release has a more standard (cheaper) version available somewhere, you might have to import in some cases but still

[prkchopexpress]

decrying special editions…. i swear, do some you even like movies?

if you're excited about a movie coming out and want to let people know, apparently you’re a plant. but if you complain and every release not being perfect, you’re somehow not a troll.

the only thing killing the hobby is the people who only want to talk about shipping and never about the movies itself. or the constant complainers about “scratches” on every disc.

but sure. being excited about labels putting more releases out as the number of outlets shrinks where you can browse in person gets closer to single digits… they’re the problem.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by The hitcher

That stuff started like 20 years ago, I think we're safe

It was used more as an illustration of needless gimmickry to charge more for a product and not necessarily as a definitive cause of the vinyl collecting industry imploding.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by prkchopexpress

decrying special editions…. i swear, do some you even like movies?

if you're excited about a movie coming out and want to let people know, apparently you’re a plant. but if you complain and every release not being perfect, you’re somehow not a troll.

the only thing killing the hobby is the people who only want to talk about shipping and never about the movies itself. or the constant complainers about “scratches” on every disc.

but sure. being excited about labels putting more releases out as the number of outlets shrinks where you can browse in person gets closer to single digits… they’re the problem.

Relax, use proper punctuation and try to follow the thread before having a conniption. Nobody is decrying “Special Editions,“ just aspects that now define the term. People complaining about shipping issues and scratches on message boards are hardly ruining the hobby.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Neutron82

nearly every release has a more standard (cheaper) version available somewhere, you might have to import in some cases but still

Not a reasonable resolution, too many IFs to contend with. And certainly not accurate anymore with labels so hungry for “exclusives.”

[Neutron82]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Not a reasonable resolution, too many IFs to contend with. And certainly not accurate anymore with labels so hungry for “exclusives.”

what is reasonable to you?... I've imported for years and for the most part haven't had any major issues, especially if you're just going for standard releases I don't think there's anything to worry about

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Neutron82

what is reasonable to you?... I've imported for years and for the most part haven't had any major issues, especially if you're just going for standard releases I don't think there's anything to worry about

There is always the question of IF there is any other edition anywhere. It’s easy to just say there are, but it’s not always the case. Also, even with alternate releases, how is the quality compared to the more expensive Limited Edition? What are the differences in extra features? How much will international processing and shipping add to the cost? You need a multi-region player for many foreign releases. You can’t just say that it’s an unqualified alternative that is always a suitable replacement. There are things that have to be taken into account.

[Member-839946]

Heh. I want bare bones. Given what I usually do after purchase, just give me an unlocked full res download, charge the same price amazon does after the shiny wears off and you're talking craptons of profit (no physical media, no slips, no returns due to scratches, etc, etc, etc).

I throw my slips away and I never redeem digital versions. Just give me the movie in a format I can put on my htpc. I'm willing to pay, but ANY extra crap just means more goes in the landfill.

(Just presenting the extreme other end of this. Not only do I not want swag, I don't want -matter-. Any.)

[Neutron82]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

There is always the question of IF there is any other edition anywhere. It’s easy to just say there are, but it’s not always the case. Also, even with alternate releases, how is the quality compared to the more expensive Limited Edition? What are the differences in extra features? How much will international processing and shipping add to the cost? You need a multi-region player for many foreign releases. You can’t just say that it’s an unqualified alternative that is always a suitable replacement. There are things that have to be taken into account.

there is an international search bar at the top that can be very helpful in finding a certain release, not to mention all the forum threads full of info... all of the other questions (except the need for a region free player) also apply to releases in whatever country you're in so I'm still trying to figure out what you want... have you tried streaming instead?... less costly and you don't have to worry about packaging, period

[The hitcher]

For every release that you can't buy because it's Limited Edition only, there are 500 blind buys you could pick that you would like just as much.

Just like vinyl!

It's easy to wait for standard versions. I've waited this long, what's another month or two?

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Neutron82

there is an international search bar at the top that can be very helpful in finding a certain release, not to mention all the forum threads full of info... all of the other questions (except the need for a region free player) also apply to releases in whatever country you're in so I'm still trying to figure out what you want... have you tried streaming instead?... less costly and you don't have to worry about packaging, period

Why can you not understand, let alone accept, that your resolution is not a slam dunk method that has no other considerations involved?

Eff streaming, I’m not discussing that! I’m simply trying to illustrate to you that importing Standard Editions is not always possible or viable. Yes, it CAN work and yes I’ve done it numerous times myself, but it is NOT 100% without question or doubt.

Why are you not understanding this? Your ideas are sound, but not flawless! Think about it please before responding again.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by The hitcher

For every release that you can't buy because it's Limited Edition only, there are 500 blind buys you could pick that you would like just as much.

Just like vinyl!

It's easy to wait for standard versions. I've waited this long, what's another month or two?

There isn’t always a guarantee a Standard Edition will surface later. Labels like Indicator have lost rights to movies before their Limited Editions have gone OOP.

Blind buys are fun and often work out, but they hardly compensate for a specific favorite you can’t afford as a LE because it comes with Cracker Jack toys included.

P.S. Your avatar is great, so soulful.

[Neutron82]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Why can you not understand, let alone accept, that your resolution is not a slam dunk method that has no other considerations involved?

Eff streaming, I’m not discussing that! I’m simply trying to illustrate to you that importing Standard Editions is not always possible or viable. Yes, it CAN work and yes I’ve done it numerous times myself, but it is NOT 100% without question or doubt.

Why are you not understanding this? Your ideas are sound, but not flawless! Think about it please before responding again.

I never said it was but I'm trying to offer solutions, it seems like you're more content on complaining and shooting everything down