MSRPs - Why does Amazon list them? WTF? - Blu-ray Forum

solott55 · 11-13-2009, 03:58 PM

What is up with stores like Amazon sticking an MSRP of like $40 on a blu-ray and then saying it's 50% when they sell it for $20. Why not say the MSRP is $80 and sell it at 75% off? Or 99% off $2000? It seems pretty arbitrary considering even "rip-off" store like Blockbuster or Columbia House top out their prices at $30-35 (in Canada)...

Has anyone actually paid $40 for a regular (e.g. not steelbook, boxed-set, etc.) blu-ray in the past year or two?

fatediesel · 11-13-2009, 03:59 PM

Studios set MSRP, not stores, as MSRP means Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.

Ferris · 11-13-2009, 04:04 PM

MSRPs are not arbitraily set by a merchant or distributor. The Manufacturer's Suggested retail Price is set by the Manufacturer long before the merchant gets the product. Amazon is doing the right thing saying it's 50% off. It's up to the consumer to realize that MSRP is a price nobody pays for anything anymore.

jacklaughing · 11-13-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferris

It's up to the consumer to realize that MSRP is a price nobody pays for anything anymore.

Almost. If you've purchased a new car or bought anything from Apple, you've definitely paid MSRP, even if you think you got a deal.

repete66211 · 11-13-2009, 04:32 PM

I'd normally agree with you here. If no one sells at MSRP then the MSRP is not accurate. If it's not accurate then it is arbitrary, regardless of who sets the price. However, B&N and Borders seem to stick to the MSRP, so I guess MSRP isn't arbitrary after all.

banned user105 · 11-13-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by repete66211

If no one sells at MSRP then the MSRP is not accurate.

That doesn't make any sense. MSRP stands for manufacturer's suggested retail price. If the MSRP is $40, then that's an accurate assessment of the suggested retail price. It necessarily has to be accurate since it was...you know....set by the manufacturers themselves. Just because certain retailers sell at a discounted price doesn't make the MSRP any less valid.

flyfree432 · 11-13-2009, 04:47 PM

MRSP's exist more for the manufacture to caclulate wholesale prices than to determine what you will actually pay for the product from a retailer. Retailers are always what manufactures are concerned about because the vast majority of their business is selling to them at a whole sale price. The retailer will then determine what to sell the product for to you (somwhere between wholesale and retail unless the item is a loss leader, in which case they will sell below their cost to get you in the door hoping you will buy other products).

repete66211 · 11-13-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctorthodt

That doesn't make any sense. MSRP stands for manufacturer's suggested retail price. If the MSRP is $40, then that's an accurate assessment of the suggested retail price. It necessarily has to be accurate since it was...you know....set by the manufacturers themselves. Just because certain retailers sell at a discounted price doesn't make the MSRP any less valid.

My point (and I think the point of the OP) is that MSRP should be a realistic expectation of at what price a retailer should be able to sell the item. If 0% of consumers are willing to pay the MSRP then the MSRP is not a realistic price. The question comes down to "What the point of MSRP?"

Or I could have just said this:

Quote:

MRSP's exist more for the manufacture to caclulate wholesale prices than to determine what you will actually pay for the product from a retailer. Retailers are always what manufactures are concerned about because the vast majority of their business is selling to them at a whole sale price. The retailer will then determine what to sell the product for to you (somwhere between wholesale and retail unless the item is a loss leader, in which case they will sell below their cost to get you in the door hoping you will buy other products).

typical_guy · 11-13-2009, 04:53 PM

Ever been into an FYE? That store has horrible prices and almost always charges MSRP. Look at this price for instance...they're giving you a "discount" for opening week I think:
http://www.fye.com/Up--4-Discs---Inc...VVviewprod.htm

SpaceDog · 11-13-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by typical_guy

Ever been into an FYE? That store has horrible prices and almost always charges MSRP. Look at this price for instance...they're giving you a "discount" for opening week I think:
http://www.fye.com/Up--4-Discs---Inc...VVviewprod.htm

Pretty much any mall based retailer has awful pricing. I can't understand why anyone would buy a CD or a movie in a mall store.

DC_Street · 11-13-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacklaughing

Almost. If you've purchased a new car or bought anything from Apple, you've definitely paid MSRP, even if you think you got a deal.

I see what you did there

digitalbabe · 11-13-2009, 05:22 PM

Hi Everyone,

The MSRP is part of the "feed" that is imported from the distributors or database that a retailer uses. Occasionally the MSRP is incorrect from the feed. Studios also drop MSRP's and then the feed updates. The distributors that dropship Amazon's orders (I work for one), also need to feed this through, and have it in their systems, because percentages for discounts assessed based on contracts with retail chains are contingent upon it. Every studio sets their own MSRP's.

All the best!

typical_guy · 11-13-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitalbabe

Hi Everyone,

The MSRP is part of the "feed" that is imported from the distributors or database that a retailer uses. Occasionally the MSRP is incorrect from the feed. Studios also drop MSRP's and then the feed updates. The distributors that dropship Amazon's orders (I work for one), also need to feed this through, and have it in their systems, because percentages for discounts assessed based on contracts with retail chains are contingent upon it. Every studio sets their own MSRP's.

All the best!

I no understand big words and jargon.

MrJoeKalel · 11-13-2009, 05:36 PM

I just think that it's a way to compare prices. We all know that most of the times when something has XX% off, it's off the MSRP. Now, we hope all stores have the same MSRP, and if Target has it for 30% off and BB for 35% off, we know which one is better.

I just think its a good way to measure what price we can expect to pay, a standard for which we can think how much we'll get it discounted for.

solott55 · 11-13-2009, 05:54 PM

Thanks for everyone's thoughtful replies. I do understand the concept of an MSRP, but like someone else said (getting more to my point) - why set such an unrealistic MSRP?

One of the latest replies about it sort of sets a benchmark does make a bit of sense at least.

11-13-2009, 03:58 PM	#1
solott55 Banned Member since:Sep 2009 Blu-ray collection:301 Timezone GMT: -4	MSRPs - Why does Amazon list them? WTF? What is up with stores like Amazon sticking an MSRP of like $40 on a blu-ray and then saying it's 50% when they sell it for $20. Why not say the MSRP is $80 and sell it at 75% off? Or 99% off $2000? It seems pretty arbitrary considering even "rip-off" store like Blockbuster or Columbia House top out their prices at $30-35 (in Canada)... Has anyone actually paid $40 for a regular (e.g. not steelbook, boxed-set, etc.) blu-ray in the past year or two?

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11-13-2009, 03:59 PM	#2
fatediesel Blu-ray Count Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Iowa Blu-ray collection:410 Trading Score:47 Timezone GMT: 0	Studios set MSRP, not stores, as MSRP means Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price.

11-13-2009, 04:04 PM	#3
Ferris Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Tampa Bay Area Blu-ray collection:79 Trading Score:1 Timezone GMT: -5	MSRPs are not arbitraily set by a merchant or distributor. The Manufacturer's Suggested retail Price is set by the Manufacturer long before the merchant gets the product. Amazon is doing the right thing saying it's 50% off. It's up to the consumer to realize that MSRP is a price nobody pays for anything anymore.

11-13-2009, 04:32 PM	#5
repete66211 Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Kansas City area Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray collection:196 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:3 Timezone GMT: -6	I'd normally agree with you here. If no one sells at MSRP then the MSRP is not accurate. If it's not accurate then it is arbitrary, regardless of who sets the price. However, B&N and Borders seem to stick to the MSRP, so I guess MSRP isn't arbitrary after all.

11-13-2009, 04:47 PM	#7
flyfree432 Special Member Member since:Oct 2007 Location:The state of confusion Blu-ray collection:50 Blu-ray reviews:17 Trading Score:478 Timezone GMT: -5	MRSP's exist more for the manufacture to caclulate wholesale prices than to determine what you will actually pay for the product from a retailer. Retailers are always what manufactures are concerned about because the vast majority of their business is selling to them at a whole sale price. The retailer will then determine what to sell the product for to you (somwhere between wholesale and retail unless the item is a loss leader, in which case they will sell below their cost to get you in the door hoping you will buy other products).

11-13-2009, 04:53 PM	#9
typical_guy Active Member Member since:Nov 2009 Timezone GMT: 0	Ever been into an FYE? That store has horrible prices and almost always charges MSRP. Look at this price for instance...they're giving you a "discount" for opening week I think: http://www.fye.com/Up--4-Discs---Inc...VVviewprod.htm

11-13-2009, 05:22 PM	#12
digitalbabe Senior Member Member since:May 2008 Location:USA BD Steels:74+ Home Theater Gallery:3 Blu-ray collection:424 Timezone GMT: -5	Hi Everyone, The MSRP is part of the "feed" that is imported from the distributors or database that a retailer uses. Occasionally the MSRP is incorrect from the feed. Studios also drop MSRP's and then the feed updates. The distributors that dropship Amazon's orders (I work for one), also need to feed this through, and have it in their systems, because percentages for discounts assessed based on contracts with retail chains are contingent upon it. Every studio sets their own MSRP's. All the best!

11-13-2009, 05:36 PM	#14
MrJoeKalel Special Member Member since:May 2009 Location:Rio Grande Valley, Texas Home Theater Gallery:8 4K collection:35 Blu-ray collection:646 DVD collection:47 Blu-ray reviews:1 Timezone GMT: -6	I just think that it's a way to compare prices. We all know that most of the times when something has XX% off, it's off the MSRP. Now, we hope all stores have the same MSRP, and if Target has it for 30% off and BB for 35% off, we know which one is better. I just think its a good way to measure what price we can expect to pay, a standard for which we can think how much we'll get it discounted for.

11-13-2009, 05:54 PM	#15
solott55 Banned Member since:Sep 2009 Blu-ray collection:301 Timezone GMT: -4	Thanks for everyone's thoughtful replies. I do understand the concept of an MSRP, but like someone else said (getting more to my point) - why set such an unrealistic MSRP? One of the latest replies about it sort of sets a benchmark does make a bit of sense at least.

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