Elephant in the Blu-ray room: The Economy

[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

[dadkins]

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

$35?
I buy my BDs at Best Buy, and rarely meet or exceed $29.95.
You may be surprised at the dollars to be spent this Holiday Season - just because of the fact of the possibly impending recession.

[matthewrounds]

I think you will find most people on this forum do not spend more than $25 on new releases and many won't even spend $20. It all comes down to where you shop. Most prefer ebay, tower, amazon, etc.

[hardcorefrokid]

I get my movies at Fry's and Best Buy, most I have every payed for a single Blu-ray is $25. I won't buy a movie if it's over $25, I feel like I'm getting ripped off if I buy a movie over $25.

It would be nice if the limit price for Blu-ray's is $20, that would be heavenly... But, it will happen, remember DVD's when they first came out? They where the same price as Blu's now.

[CptGreedle]

A.. new members that think they have the answer...

Well besides the fact that we already know where to get them cheaper, the prices have been dropping and will continue to drop. Also, the economy has had little effect on the entertainment industry in the past. In fact, Blu-ray has been booming despite the recent fall. The entertainment industry is one of those that are resistant to economic turmoil.

Yes, we all want cheaper prices, but just wait till black friday next month. Prices will drop a lot to promote the format, for both movies and players.
The concern I have is with HDTVs. They are being effected by the market, which means fewer are being sold for now. I feel it will not stop sales, just slow them down. The TVs will have to go down in price drastically which will in turn promote Blu-ray. But when, I don't know.

[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.

[Septimus Prime]

Don't worry. If you can find them, you can still buy HD DVDs for cheap.

[Beta Man]

Not only do I not see blu-rays for $35...... I don't have a clue what an "Elphant" is

[simcal]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Not only do I not see blu-rays for $35...... I don't have a clue what an "Elphant" is

Think he is trying to bring politics into the forum by saying he is a republican. Which is not allowed as for religion also.

[Anthony P]

Elphant in the Blu Ray room: The Economy

until you show us this elephant the rest of the post is just idiotic. The facts are that during bad economic times entertainement spending goes up. Just look at history or even the present theatre, DVD and BD spending have all gone up over the last few months and year.

[Marquoz]

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

Didn't I just see the new Bond movies released at Target for $19.99 each? That meets the price point you are asking for. It's already happening with sales and coupons. It requires a little legwork and clicking on a couple links in our hot deals forum, but almost ANY new release can be had for $20-25 on Blu-ray.

[turbodslbeetle]

Um.. not sure where you're buying but I haven't spent over 20 for a single movie yet. Paid 35 for my Die Hard box set. The only people your prices affect are the "gotta have it now crowd". I only have 57 Blu's, modest by some standards here, but before I sold off all of my never watch again dvd's I had 2137. Sold almost 300 of them... some really bad blind buy crap....

[JimShaw]

I remember when movies started coming out on tape for $75-$85 each. $25.00 for a Blu is fantastic. But I usually can get them for less.

Just ordered TBK from VideoFamily for $21.98 which includes shipping and a $5.00 coupon.

[Bobby Henderson]

Oh yeah, those were the days. "Rental pricing" on movies (mainly VHS tapes) is something a lot of younger folks have no memory of experiencing. MSRP on a VHS HiFi release of something like Aliens carried a MSRP of $89.98 or even $99.98. It was crazy. That factor also made Laserdisc a relative bargain -but the downside with LD is very few stores rented them. You basically had to buy every movie outright. Sell through pricing on VHS didn't become very common until the early 1990s.

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.

DEMCAD, you need to study some history regarding the movie industry before making statements like that.

It is a fact the movie industry tends to do well during economic downturns. The public still needs entertainment and that need arguably increases during tough times. During a recession, Americans are less likely to spend thousands of dollars on vacation trips and more likely to just visit a movie theater or rent videos and stay at home.

Here's a few cases in point.

During the early 1970s the United States was in a bad recession. Regardless of that, movies like The Godfather, The Exorcist and Jaws set box office records. During the early 1980s the nation was in another sharp recession, and hits like Raiders of the Lost Ark and E.T. were released during that time.

How about a more recent example? Our last recession and economic downturn started at the end of 1999 and lasted through 2003. It was during this time the DVD format rose to become the most successful consumer electronics format in history. Hits like Gladiator and the Lord of the Rings trilogy propelled the format into mainstream popularity despite the effects the dot-com bust, 9-11-01 attacks and subsequent recession had on the economy.

The summer of 2008 saw the release of some major hits, with The Dark Knight being the biggest of those hits. At the beginning of 2008 more than 30 million American homes already had at least one HDTV set. The installed base of HDTV sets will be sharply above that by February of 2009 when analog TV broadcasts are discontinued. Despite the credit crunch and market troubles, I am very bullish on Blu-ray.

Originally Posted by DEMCAD

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

Then don't buy them there. Shop around. If more people shopped smartly instead of acting on impulse at the retail store BD movie prices would decrease.

Most of the Blu-ray movies I own were ordered from Amazon.com. I didn't pay $30-$40 prices for the regular single movie releases either. I bought the Kill Bill movies for $20 each. I almost never pay more than $25 per disc, which is why I usually order 2 at a time to get the free Super Saver shipping.

Retail stores sometimes offer attractive deals. I bought Crimson Tide and The Departed on sale for only $15 at Best Buy. Some Blu-ray movies offer $10 rebates if you already own the DVD. I see lots of Blu-ray movies for under $20 at places like Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

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

Let me guess........ fellow Canadian, right?

Canadian prices on Blu-ray in-store at any major retailer are always $30-$35. If we are lucky, the price will drop by $3-$5 after 40 weeks of being available.

That is why Amazon.com was such an awesome resource before they went and decided to not lube up before bending us over their kitchen sink with the new "import fee" nonsense!

[Elandyll]

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

Unless you are Canadian (prices are weirdly much higher there), check out the latest link for the B2G1 on Amazon.
147 to chose from, and the vast majority of those are ... around $17-$20.
Not only that, but if you buy two (thus paying $40 or less), you get one free.
One thing though, retail stores do need to bring the prices down (talking Target / BB there). Systematic MSRP at $25-$35 won't cut it now.

[saprano]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Not only do I not see blu-rays for $35...... I don't have a clue what an "Elphant" is

Originally Posted by Anthony P

until you show us this elephant the rest of the post is just idiotic. The facts are that during bad economic times entertainement spending goes up. Just look at history or even the present theatre, DVD and BD spending have all gone up over the last few months and year.

He means its a problem nobody wants to adress

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

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

Canadian prices on Blu-ray in-store at any major retailer are always $30-$35. If we are lucky, the price will drop by $3-$5 after 40 weeks of being available.

That is why Amazon.com was such an awesome resource before they went and decided to not lube up before bending us over their kitchen sink with the new "import fee" nonsense!

Don't forget the Rodney Dangerfield the Canuck Buck has gotten in the last two weeks.

[MAPdead]

Recently I have seen new releases of blu rays on sale cheap during their first week out maybe you should pick them up then. I never pay of 25 bucks for a blu ray unless its a box set.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Don't forget the Rodney Dangerfield the Canuck Buck has gotten in the last two weeks.

Even at $0.84 CAD to the U.S. $1, Amazon.com + shipping always provided me with a $5-$10 per title savings. Now, that import fee makes it about the same price from Amazon.com when taxes come into play.