Elephant in the Blu-ray room: The Economy

[Anthony P]

He means its a problem nobody wants to adress

but it is not a problem. if it is a problem then he should prove it. At this point, like a drunk guy, he sees a pink elephant and for some reason he thinks the rest of us don't want to deal with it. Like I said in the post you quoted and like many others have said, every time in history bad times lead to movie booms and not busts. And all the data so far shows the same is happening this year and not only for BD (where it would be hard to show since it is an emerging standard and so will naturally have growth) but for DVD and studios.

[jd213]

He's just parrotting all the bloggers that have been posting chicken little "the economy is going to kill Blu-ray" stories based on wishful speculation. They all conveniently ignore the fact that the entertainment industry does great in recessions.

[RazorFromHRSnet]

Originally Posted by DEMCAD

"The entertainment industry is one of those that are resistant to economic turmoil."

Really, if you believe that, you're delusional.

The problem is that too many mainstream stores are overpricing these blu rays.

Originally Posted by jd213

He's just parrotting all the bloggers that have been posting chicken little "the economy is going to kill Blu-ray" stories based on wishful speculation. They all conveniently ignore the fact that the entertainment industry does great in recessions.

Particularly now with home entertainment. If someone can pick up a $200 Bluray player for the family on Black Friday and start watching movies at home, they will. Especially when where I live, the cheapest way to see a movie is at an AMC when they do "A.M. Cinema" on Friday, Sat and Sunday - they have 1 showing of each movie before noon, and it's $7. So if you need to buy 3 adult tickets and 2 child tickets you're looking at $31... plus snacks and gas - you're looking at a minimum of $50 to take a family of 5 to the movies. (I am assuming that one of the three kids is over 11 and has to pay grown up price).

Compare that to even a full price of $35 for a BluRay and a bag of microwave popcorn?

[vanscottie]

Yup, just takes a little searching of websites and in-store sales. Personally I won't spend more than $23.00 for a Blu, plus I like to wait for "Buy 1 Get 1 Free" deals through Deep Discount and Columbia House. The key is to just wwaaaiiitt, whatever you want will eventually go down in price

[dad2erin]

Just keep your eyes open many of us got die hard last week for 6.95. It looks and sounds awesome, especially at 6.95.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by jd213

...They all conveniently ignore the fact that the entertainment industry does great in recessions.

During "The Great Depression" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression) two things remained popular. Movies, and Pinball. Yes, Pinball was developed during the depression and it was 6 balls for a nickle. I recall reading a story how out of work men would spend all day playing and watching Pinball. It was a fascination like no other.

That is not what I call responsible job hunting, but you had to figure any jobs like construction were snapped up early in the morning. Within an hour or so those temp jobs were gone. So, they passed the time for the rest of the day at the Pinball parlors.

It's funny no matter how tight money becomes people will still see that movie, buy that game, get a coffee, etc.

http://www.bmigaming.com/pinballhistory.htm

[4K2K]

I am confused. What has the question got to do with elphants?

[NovaCrystallis09]

I think this time around things may be different. Things are a lot worse in this day and age than they were back then IMO.

Not to mention people are hopefully smarter. I mean if you're struggling to make ends meet I hope you're not dumb enough to go buy Bluray.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by DEMCAD

"The entertainment industry is one of those that are resistant to economic turmoil."

Really, if you believe that, you're delusional.

The problem is that too many mainstream stores are overpricing these blu rays.

Delusional?

Did you see the sales for the Blu-ray Disc of Iron Man?
Did you see the Box Office receipts for The Dark Knight while gas was at 4.99/gallon?

I'd say it's been pretty bloody resistant throughout all economic turmoils of the last 100 years. Just because the economy will limit the scope of movies getting green-lighted, it hasn't slowed down the box office or the retail/rental departments.

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by tron3

During "The Great Depression" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression) two things remained popular. Movies, and Pinball. Yes, Pinball was developed during the depression and it was 6 balls for a nickle. I recall reading a story how out of work men would spend all day playing and watching Pinball. It was a fascination like no other.

That is not what I call responsible job hunting, but you had to figure any jobs like construction were snapped up early in the morning. Within an hour or so those temp jobs were gone. So, they passed the time for the rest of the day at the Pinball parlors.

It's funny no matter how tight money becomes people will still see that movie, buy that game, get a coffee, etc.

http://www.bmigaming.com/pinballhistory.htm

I thought it was spent heavily drinking at bars.

[supercutz]

Originally Posted by DEMCAD

"The entertainment industry is one of those that are resistant to economic turmoil."

Really, if you believe that, you're delusional.

The problem is that too many mainstream stores are overpricing these blu rays.

Someone needs a history lesson.

[fighthefutureofhd]

if there is one thing history has shown us is what great fools we have become or can become at times.

[Heart_Collector]

Originally Posted by NovaCrystallis09

I think this time around things may be different. Things are a lot worse in this day and age than they were back then IMO.

Not to mention people are hopefully smarter. I mean if you're struggling to make ends meet I hope you're not dumb enough to go buy Bluray.

The only reason it seems worse is because we're witnessing it first-hand. The globalization of markets and currency contributes (possibly offset by the forthcoming Amero dollar, but maybe not), but that's the primary reason. I personally believe it's all been orchestrated for specific ends, but that's neither here nor there.

I heard somewhere that video games are being considered this generations "recession-proof" industry, which is what I was thinking, but we'll see how true it is.

*edit* and for the struggling to make ends meet argument, people need entertainment. It's not the unimportant aspect some make it out to be. A human being can only deal with so much stress before they need the pressure released...to enjoy themselves. Unfortunately, many rely on chemicals to attain that goal, which only leaves a deeper hole to fall back into. Movies, video games...anything that a person enjoys is just as important as the facts and figures' aspects of life.

[AintNoSin]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

I am confused. What has the question got to do with elphants?

In Middle Earth, do they talk about the Mumakill in the room?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by saprano

He means its a problem nobody wants to adress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_in_the_room

I know.... I was making light of the Spelling error..... it's my childish defense mechanism

[camper]

Originally Posted by saprano

He means its a problem nobody wants to adress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_in_the_room

I'm really surprised at how few people understood this analogy.

Anyway, the REAL elephant in the room is that the media has a hard-on for a recession. They're trying REALLY hard to convince everyone that one has been here since last January, because they're either trying to influence the election or are hoping to get a pulitzer out of it somehow.

If there really was a recession, 50% of the people here would have been gone long ago and there wouldn't be anyone spending $100+ for a copy of Little Big Planet on ebay because they don't want to wait a week.

camper

[Bobby Henderson]

You're confusing a recession for a depression.

There is no media conspiracy to lie-together a recession. The economy truly is in trouble after a full decade of the general public being price gouged in so many areas while their pay went nowhere. Our economic growth this decade has all been on credit, which amounts to the economy being based on bulls***. That credit bill finally came due. So here we are in the current situation. I'm amazed the good times lasted as long as they did, but lots of Americans love living way beyond their means.

People are going to still spend money on little things like going to the movies, renting movies at home or maybe adding a few to their collection. What they're not going to be doing for some time is buying major big ticket items like houses, cars, etc.

[camper]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

You're confusing a recession for a depression.

For us to be in a recession, the gross domestic product has to have declined for two straight quarters. First quarter saw an increase of .9%, while the second quarter increased by 4.4%. Third quarter results will be released at the end of this month.

Point being, sales have to have an ACTUAL DECREASE, not a 'we expected this billion in profits, but got a slightly lower amount - which was higher than last quarter'.

Think about it - amazon is 'in trouble' because the profits didn't meet expectations, but there was still an increase in sales from previous months.

While I agree there is some disturbing things in the economy right now, it is NOT as bad as many would want you to believe. The media is freaking out more because when a plant closes out west it's something that happened, but when some of their wall street drinking buddies lose a job, it's national news.

But yes, whenever you have americans doublingn their debt instead of paying off what they have, trouble is not far behind. Murphy's law.

camper

[raskal66]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

You're confusing a recession for a depression.

There is no media conspiracy to lie-together a recession. The economy truly is in trouble after a full decade of the general public being price gouged in so many areas while their pay went nowhere. Our economic growth this decade has all been on credit, which amounts to the economy being based on bulls***. That credit bill finally came due. So here we are in the current situation. I'm amazed the good times lasted as long as they did, but lots of Americans love living way beyond their means.

People are going to still spend money on little things like going to the movies, renting movies at home or maybe adding a few to their collection. What they're not going to be doing for some time is buying major big ticket items like houses, cars, etc.

The fraud continues on November 4 when the same studios and directors that brought you "Credit Crisis: How 300 Million People Were Duped Into Paying Higher Prices Than Anything Is Worth" bring you the chilling Sequel: "Election: How 300 Million People Were Duped Into Thinking That Either Choice of Candidate is Going to Change Anything." It has the same cast as the first movie.

$1.50 gas + $17.99 New Realease Blu -Rays = The Way it Ought to Be

(Those Blu-Rays had better have great PQ and stellar lossless audio.)

[ThePhantomOak]

Originally Posted by DEMCAD

With this severe economic downturn, is it realistic to think that people will pay 35 dollars for a home video (blu ray).

I own over 550 DVDs, recently purchased a Playstation 3 and several blu ray movies. I don't think that blu ray can go mainstream if stores like Best Buy and Circuit City continue to sell blu rays movies for 30 and 35 dollars.

The third quarter retail numbers were horrible and it looks like people aren't going to be spending much this holiday season, because of the fears of a recession.

Blu ray prices MUST come down.

I'm talking...
DVD $15
Blu ray $20

I wont spend over $15. I have ~50 BD's. Letters from Iwo Jima And planet Earth are the only 2 I got for more than $15

If normal price was $15, I would not spend more than $5