Recession effect on Blu-ray

[StilettoViper]

I live in NoVA and besides the housing market, everyone has jobs and are still driving BMW's. It's all psychological. There are tons of defense jobs and defense contractor jobs. I don't see any signs of a recession much less a depression in this area. People just panic because of the media in many ways. It's not THAT bad. As long as there are jobs we will be okay. I've bought 8 Blu's in the last month!

[sardaukar1977]

wow, there sure are alot of doomsayers on this forum, Now I am depressed.

[Simplayer]

Originally Posted by StilettoViper

There are tons of defense jobs and defense contractor jobs.

I'm sure the defense industry is doing fine right now.

[coolmilo]

I'll starve and walk rather than hold back purchasing blu-ray movies.

[Beta Man]

buying consumable goods and services stimulates the economy..... it's those that get the "fear" that the bottom is gonna fall out, and shut themselves in their homes, don't invest their money, and let it sit under their mattress, and alter their lifestyles..... those are the ones who hurt the economy.......

[StilettoViper]

Originally Posted by Simplayer

I'm sure the defense industry is doing fine right now.

And manufacturing, and telecom, and r&d, and services...all are doing fine. Defense pushes all of them in many ways. Always has. People are just panicky.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by dmhpro

What kind of effect do you think the recession we are in or heading towards will have on blu sales in the United States. I know personally last year, i was buying eevry blu that came out, and now have to slow down substantially because of oil/gas/food increases.

In the past week I have purchased, I am Legend, Independence Day, Hitman, I Robot, 30 Days of Night, Shoot Em Up, and No Country For Old Men. 5 of those were had at surprisingly good prices on Ebay. I paid for it by doing something that I hadn't done in 3+ years. I spent all day Sunday ironing my work clothes, instead of using the cleaners . I didn't have to do that but at least I felt responsible spending that much on blu-rays.

Everyone has more important issues to worry about in this economy. I believe that this is just the beginning of worsening conditions. That being said, I think that it also represents an excellent opportunity for the format to grow and win over the masses. Even in downturns, people like to treat themselves. I think price cuts right now in hardware and software can do wornders for the format companies. Currently, they seem content to sit around and wait for mass adoption to come to them. I think that the BDA would not have accomplished this much to this point without the presence of HD-DVD to force their hand. This is no time to be complacent. The death-blow may have been dealt to HD-DVD but DVD is the current champion, not Blu-ray.

[Kuraudo]

Originally Posted by HRC

People aren't buying houses, houses aren't being ......BUY AMERICAN!!!!!


PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easier said than done, lol all of your electronics in your sig , ALL JAPANESE and KOREAN

no.1 reason for not going blu: "What that means i have to fork over a few grand to buy an HDTV?
I don't have one "
SO basically no teens or early college students can afford an HDTV therefore not buying blu ray players or blu ray discs.
Then the target stores are practically giving way dvds like 300 for $10.00 the dvd racks may look like a great savings to me, but actually its just a devaluing of DVD. Its not good enough anymore. However in this economic hardship times, most are buying those $10 dvds.
This kind of puts rentals out of business too.

[wallendo]

The vast majority of Americans have not lost their jobs, and probably will not do so in the near future. The lay-offs in the auto industry have been cyclical events for decades. Recessions happen about every 5 years, and depressions about every 80-100 years. The people who are primarily losing their houses are people who put nothing down to begin with and are not really losing much. Most people still have their jobs.

The current economic downturn does have an emotional effect. People are hesitant to spend a lot of money due to fear that their incomes may suffer. Discretionary spending will likely be cut back. However, buying Blu-Ray discs can be much cheaper than attending a movie theatre. So, some people will put off the hi-def move for a year or so, but others will shift their spending from theatres to Blu-ray.

Many people expect the "mortgage crisis" to bottom out this summer. If this happens, people will be more liberal with their spending come the holiday season. It could still be a very good year to go blu.

[JAGUAR1977]

Jees's, in the rest of the world the economies slowing, it's time to tighten your belts, but nothing major.

In the US it's a depression, doom and gloom................you really know how to create a mountain out of a molehill!

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Marquoz

Most of the market prices on houses are hyper inflated unrealistic prices. Most of the values actually came from near fradulent values used when people were refinancing to lower rates. They wanted to hit 80% or less so they could get A paper loans, and so the appraisers would basicly manufacture appraisals that gave that value on paper. Then the rest of the neighborhood would go up in value based on these "comparable" values. It had a snowball effect, and values just kept going up as more people refinanced into the lower rates.

I agree with the majority of the paragraph above and to an extent that is precisely the point I wanted to make. Yes, lending institutions and certain individuals are to be blamed for the financial crisis we are in but the bigger picture is more telling.

The market is unrealistic. Why? As I mentioned earlier regardless of how many granite countertops and fancy baths you provide for a 2BR asking nearly 400 000$ for it in an average suburb is ludicrous. You could argue that no one is forcing you to consider/buy it but the fact of the matter is: this is where the market, or those who play on it, wants to settle. Given America's economic picture: do you really believe that average Americans making 45-50 000$ per year could afford such a home?

And that is one of the major reasons why the market needs a correction. There are people who went into it expecting to make a fortune in 12 months and retire. The prices need to come down to a level where it is reasonable for people to buy and "own" a property. In addition, of course to having a stable economy to support the market.

Ciao,
Pro-B

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by JAGUAR1977

Jees's, in the rest of the world the economies slowing, it's time to tighten your belts, but nothing major.

In the US it's a depression, doom and gloom................you really know how to creat a mountain out of a molehill!

That's because in the US there is a recession. If the Fed don't act quickly (which they just did, 75 basis point cut in rates) it can quickly turn into a depression with high rates of unemployment and poor levels of housing.

The problem faced by the US now is to make the USD worth something, as more people take their money out of the US economy the dollar will tumble against the Euro, Sterling and other major currencies, this will only serve to exacerbate the situation.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by wallendo

The vast majority of Americans have not lost their jobs, and probably will not do so in the near future. The lay-offs in the auto industry have been cyclical events for decades. Recessions happen about every 5 years, and depressions about every 80-100 years. The people who are primarily losing their houses are people who put nothing down to begin with and are not really losing much. Most people still have their jobs.

The current economic downturn does have an emotional effect. People are hesitant to spend a lot of money due to fear that their incomes may suffer. Discretionary spending will likely be cut back. However, buying Blu-Ray discs can be much cheaper than attending a movie theatre. So, some people will put off the hi-def move for a year or so, but others will shift their spending from theatres to Blu-ray.

Many people expect the "mortgage crisis" to bottom out this summer. If this happens, people will be more liberal with their spending come the holiday season. It could still be a very good year to go blu.

There is a difference between economic downturns and recessions. This economy is indeed "headed" for a recession. As for jobs, Citigroup had to turn to the gulf for cash. The Bear-Sterns issue was a wakeup call. Who knows how many of these stalwarts are running on fumes? The Government keeps pumping money into the sytems which devalues the dollar. There are many cause and effect, and we have barely begun to feel the effects.

Substituting blu-rays for a trip to the movies require a HDTV and blu-ray hardware. The price of the hardware needs to come down to attract the masses.

The mortgage crisis will NOT bottom out this summer. This is just more fluff and spin from Financial News Medias that have become more Hollywood than substance. This is their job.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by JAGUAR1977

Jees's, in the rest of the world the economies slowing, it's time to tighten your belts, but nothing major.

In the US it's a depression, doom and gloom................you really know how to creat a mountain out of a molehill!

Easy for you to say with your strong Euro . Taking a trip this summer to shop for bargains here?

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I agree with the majority of the paragraph above and to an extent that is precisely the point I wanted to make. Yes, lending institutions and certain individuals are to be blamed for the financial crisis we are in but the bigger picture is more telling.

The market is unrealistic. Why? As I mentioned earlier regardless of how many granite countertops and fancy baths you provide for a 2BR asking nearly 400 000$ for it in an average suburb is ludicrous. You could argue that no one is forcing you to consider/buy it but the fact of the matter is: this is where the market, or those who play on it, wants to settle. Given America's economic picture: do you really believe that average Americans making 45-50 000$ per year could afford such a home?

And that is one of the major reasons why the market needs a correction. There are people who went into it expecting to make a fortune in 12 months and retire. The prices need to come down to a level where it is reasonable for people to buy and "own" a property. In addition, of course to having a stable economy to support the market.

Ciao,
Pro-B

Don't forget to add that the majority of these mortgages were bundled and rebundled into securities that no one can trace today, hence the hefty losses being suffered by everyone including us.

[raginranger]

Originally Posted by HRC

People aren't buying houses, houses aren't being built, auto's are not being bought, auto workers laid off...and not spending ect ect ect .... eventually no blu's being bought!

All American's need to start buying more american products instread of foreign products. It's ridiculous and if this country continues to buy foreign products over our own....our children and grandchildren will live a poverty lifestyle...even with their years of schooling and diploma's. It won't matter! The middle class is dying right now. Please...if you live in the United States.......BUY AMERICAN!!!!!


PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what if the american product isn't what you want though? I just bought a Nissan Sentra after some extensive research and test driving and felt like it was the best car for me. I tried some american cars, notably the Ford Fusion, but they just weren't what I wanted. I worked my ass off to get my new car and I love it. If that makes me wrong for buying a Japanese product, then I don't want to be right.

[hardcore_canadian]

Move to Canada!

And if you want people to Buy American Autos, america should make some cars that aren't the worst pieces of crap I've ever seen. I'm gonna buy Japanese cars until american cars can match their qualitly and efficiency

[haushausman]

It's going to get worse before it gets better. The first set of Stimulus Packages ($600 per person) are scheduled for May already. People ARE losing their jobs left and right. The USD is a joke of a currency right now. Gas is set to hit $4 per gallon this summer. Building materials are at an all time high.

If you are comfortably living right now, then no need to worry. If you're in debt and money's tight, start counting your pennies. We haven't seen the worst of it yet by far... all thanks to the worst president in U.S. history.

[Zaphod]

I must admit, I have been purchasing the same amount that I had been, but have spent more time perusing ebay and Amazon for deals and sales.

[mdm1699]

Originally Posted by haushausman

It's going to get worse before it gets better. The first set of Stimulus Packages ($600 per person) are scheduled for May already. People ARE losing their jobs left and right. The USD is a joke of a currency right now. Gas is set to hit $4 per gallon this summer. Building materials are at an all time high.

If you are comfortably living right now, then no need to worry. If you're in debt and money's tight, start counting your pennies. We haven't seen the worst of it yet by far... all thanks to the worst president in U.S. history.

Shock and Awe . LMAO. Who is in shock and awe right now?