Bay Area retailer believing FUD, reducing Blu-ray InStock

[chinabeach]

[FONT="Trebuchet MS"][SIZE="3"][SIZE="4"]Just had a confirmation from the DVD buyer at Amoeba Records (Berkeley and SF) that, going forward, they will "...only stock key Blu-Ray titles as they are not selling and the cost of inventory is too high. Our buyers will be focusing on HD for now."

I queried them after I was told by their DVD counterman in SF (Haight-Ashbury store) that "...we are not going to stock Blu-Ray because our distributor will no longer be carrying them due to several major Hollywood studios withdrawing their support of the format in favor of HD-DVD". When I queried further as to which "major Hollywood studios" he was referring to, he said "all of them - as a matter of fact, I read that Blu-Ray was no longer going to be manufactured..."

Oy! The birth of a new urban legend! I've heard this now from three separate retailers (Best Buy and Borders being the other two). It seems that the article regarding Paramount's decision to stop releasing in Blu-Ray has made its rounds on the internet, and, as is usual, has been thoroughly misinterpreted.

I believe it's critical that the major studios and the Blu-Ray folks get their acts together and stop this stupidity from spreading. No one is going to buy into Blu-Ray hardware if they're told by ignorant retailers that the format is dying!!

Thanks for reading,
CB

[gvortex7]

Ignorance is not always a bliss. In this case, it could be a huge hindrance for Blu-ray.

[cartier]

I would suggest you talk to the mangers of those respective stores, especially the one where the employee told you that blu-ray was not being manufactured and had lost backing of all the studios. Inform the managers of the truth and use their computers on display to take them to news and studio websites that show blu support. Also complain to the national chains customer service, call them on the phone and tell them of your bad experience and what you expect. Just do it in a pleasant manner. Nielson numbers are good too.

[GasCat]

It's the distributor you need to talk to.

[jw]

I dont understand alot of this, most mass merchants such as best buy, Wal-Mart, cc etc are allowed to return excess stock to vendor for credit. Its not like getting HD and having it sit, Blu-Ray moves , If it was me, I wouldnt be shy and order lots of all titles and let it be known that I have the best selection in town on hard to find titles!!!

[Blus Brother]

sorry, I dont buy any of this - do people really believe that major chains like Best Buy actually believe blu ray is no longer being manufactured? I smell S!!T

[Teazle]

Hmmm ... the OP a new member, first post ... great piece of swampland in Florida ...

[calcajun]

Umm, right. They are going to listen to one vender and change policy on that. How ignorant they are. How have they stayed in buisiness this long?
I should go in and tell them how the industry is going back to 78 shelack records.

[WickyWoo]

This person is likely their ONLY video vendor

Small shops do not have the buying power to have seperate accounts at the biggies (WEA etc). So they go through a local distro instead who does a small markup.

[kaliraver]

I just got off the phone with them and they said they aren't carrying "new" Blu-Ray movies nor HD-DVD. They told me they did have used Blu-Rays but not new ones. They told me for now they are just sticking to DVD. So I think this might be a troll post. BTW I called the Berkeley Amoeba.

[WickyWoo]

Now that sounds far more logical, that they aren't moving enough to make it worth their time right now

[Blus Brother]

Originally Posted by kaliraver69

I just got off the phone with them and they said they aren't carrying "new" Blu-Ray movies nor HD-DVD. They told me they did have used Blu-Rays but not new ones. They told me for now they are just sticking to DVD. So I think this might be a troll post. BTW I called the Berkeley Amoeba.

thats what I was implying in my earlier post (troll post possibility)
sorry if I am wrong

[BluFox]

A new member troll post!

[WickyWoo]

I wouldn't call him a troll from that post.

He called, he may have gotten a clueless person. Who knows.

If he's a troll, he'll show his true colors soon enough, but until then,benefit of the doubt?

[Blu-Ray Buckeye]

Amoeba is a record store and not a volume player in DVD or video in any way. Also it's a small chain w/ a small number if Bay Area spots and that's it. Whether I buy this guy's story or not doesn't matter.

[lazersby]

Amoeba has an enormous used album and 45 inventory (at least they did the last time I was there), so the character of much of their store is certain not condusive to carrying new and unproven formats. A very retro look there, but I haven't been in there for a few years so maybe things are different.

[techyted]

Sounds like ignorant bunch of people.

[lch]

maybe ms have also paid the distro to spread lies and stop distributing bd.

[WickyWoo]

maybe ms have also paid the distro to spread lies and stop distributing bd.

More likely there's an HD fanboy in the pipeline

[theknub]

ill be in berkeley tomorrow for the game. between the drinking and (hopefully) co-eds ill see if i can stop at amoeba when im leaving raleighs and see what's up