Wal-Mart to expand Blu-ray sections

[Batman1980]

Wal-Mart to Expand Blu-ray Players and Movies
Posted May 18, 2009 05:28 AM by Juan Calonge
According to the Wall Street Journal, Wal-Mart is going to broaden its offer of Blu-ray disc players and movies this week, as part of a general revamping of the electronics departments in its more than 3,500 U.S. stores, within a new strategy which involves selling top brands at lower prices than rivals offer.

The world's largest retailer by revenue is in a fierce battle with Best Buy and Amazon to attract former Circuit City customers, which were expected to gravitate towards Best Buy, but are proving to be evenly split among the three retailers.

As we reported ten days ago, Wal-Mart recently overtook Amazon for second place in the top Blu-ray retailer rankings, with a 20%-30% market share.

Source: Wall Street Journal | Permalink | Relevant for:

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2713
I'll believe it when I see it.

[KingBing]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2713
I'll believe it when I see it.

Thats excatly what went through my mind when i read this, I have a friend who is a manager in wal mart and he tells me they have no extra BLU's coming in just the same amount and titles as always and he works at a super store one

[Beast]

They already expanded once before. It's now a whole aisle in most stores.

Just depends how the DVD/BLU section is laid out. If they have the short aisles or long ones.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Beast

They already expanded once before. It's now a whole aisle in most stores.

Just depends how the DVD/BLU section is laid out. If they have the short aisles or long ones.

yea its a full aisle in the 3 walmarts around me. only problem is they're all behind glass

[jw]

Originally Posted by xtop

yea its a full aisle in the 3 walmarts around me. only problem is they're all behind glass

ours was 3 8 foot sections, 2 WM's have glass another has those plastic keepers like BB has for games

[Beast]

Originally Posted by xtop

yea its a full aisle in the 3 walmarts around me. only problem is they're all behind glass

The ones that still use glass have had high theft rates of Blu-Rays.

Some of them have transitioned to those thick plastic keepers to keep them from being stolen.

[neos_peace]

I don't even go to wal-mart anymore to buy my Blu's. I just use them as a refernce point to do a price match to BB. I do all my Blu shopping at BB. That and my local WM has crap of a selection of Blu's. It's almost always the same stuff over and over again. No change. Now my local BB, seems to be geting biger wiht it's selection. SO I couldn't care less aboutt he news. Good for Blu but other then . no thanks.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by Beast

The ones that still use glass have had high theft rates of Blu-Rays.

Some of them have transitioned to those thick plastic keepers to keep them from being stolen.

i find that hard to believe at 2 of them, but i assume thats the reasoning anyways. beyond annoying tho. i can make off with 50 dollar pc games, but 10 dollar blurays need locked up

[andyman1970]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2713
I'll believe it when I see it.

You and me both!!!

Originally Posted by Beast

They already expanded once before. It's now a whole aisle in most stores.

Just depends how the DVD/BLU section is laid out. If they have the short aisles or long ones.

Well, the Wal-Mart I reluctantly go to has short aisle's and it's still just 1/2 for movies and 1/2 for 3 different players including the PS3.

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

There are 3 super wal-marts around me and none of them deserve to have the moniker "super". Their Blu-ray selections are nothing short of pathetic. They don't hardly carry any older catalogue releases and once they sell out of stuff you rarely ever see it again. None of them ever got transformers in on blu, now thats crazy! I went to all 3 the other day looking for the Terminator movies and they have none of them.
I'm very surprised they overtook amazon. I have recently quit ordering titles from amazon that are supposed to have slipcovers as amazon never sends the slip covers. I usually buy at Best Buy now but price match.

You should come to my Wal-Mart because that's all they seem to carry is catalog titles, but you are right; once they sell out; good luck seeing it again.

[GORT]

Originally Posted by xtop

yea its a full aisle in the 3 walmarts around me. only problem is they're all behind glass

I live in Canton also and I know what you mean it's a pain in the a**.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Beast

They already expanded once before. It's now a whole aisle in most stores.

Just depends how the DVD/BLU section is laid out. If they have the short aisles or long ones.

It's a full aisle at the ones around me too. The problem is, though, that the aisle is devoted to blu-ray, not just blu-ray discs. The middle third of the aisle is blu-ray players on display. Only the end sections have blu-ray movies, and even those sections are over half empty. At least they're not behind glass at the stores around me though.

[Scooby Blu]

If this is true this is GREAT news. I shop walmart early Saturday or Sunday morning around 6:30am. It is nice that the freaks are not there at that time(for the most part) So, I always "see" what they have. So it is not my go to place but I have picked up a few impulse buys there and that has been a great experience for me !

[bhampton]

I can't wait to dig in the $5.50 Blu Ray bins at Wal-Mart.

=Brian

[jw]

They actually cut 8 foot at one of the Wal-Mart's here to add more room for players I think the WSJ must be getting news from the maintenance crew

[Blu-Benny]

we'll see, i can't wait for the revamp to be done, everytime i go in there th aisles are smaller b/c they are moving stuff around....i do hope they get more titles in though, esp. @ that $14.96 price!!!

[darkpoet25]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

we'll see, i can't wait for the revamp to be done, everytime i go in there th aisles are smaller b/c they are moving stuff around....i do hope they get more titles in though, esp. @ that $14.96 price!!!

Lol, tell me about it. The store I work at is undergoing a remodel right now, and it sucks. As far as the Blu Ray section expanding, we may see that happen as they are expanding our electronics department. But I think it will vary by area/region in which you live.

[Hale-Bopp]

Two of our Wal-Marts here only have about 15 blu-ray movies on sale at any given time and in a tiny little section not even near any of the DVDs they have. It's pretty sad. They basically have no stock.

[Blu Titan]

The WSJ is a very credible source, much better than anectodal evidence.

[nick1091]

The one near me is in process of revamping their whole store and increasing the electronics section, and currently it seems like they actually have even less Blus in stock than before.

[Blaze98]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=2713
I'll believe it when I see it.

Same here... I work for Wal-Mart in their Informations System Division, and i see the Sales reports from all the stores in the US. While they are getting more and more popular, Sales are still slipping at most stores, 2 of the 6 stores in our area have just reduced their Blu Ray section by ALOT!! some of the bigger city stores may expand the Blu section but most wont....
just my .02