Best Buy leads the way in Blu-ray sales

[Batman1980]

Best Buy Retains Blu-ray Retail Throne
Posted May 8, 2009 03:58 PM by Juan Calonge
According to research sources, Best Buy is currently the top Blu-ray retailer in the USA, with a market share of 40% to 50%, a percentage even larger than what Wal-Mart holds in standard DVD. Wal-Mart comes second, with 20% to 30%, followed by Amazon, with about 15% to 20%, and Target, with approximately 10%.

If we compare the Blu-ray rankings with those reported in October 2007, the most significant change (apart from the disappearance of Circuit City) is that Wal-Mart has now overtaken Amazon for second place. Indeed, analysts say that Wal-Mart is likely to further expand its market share.

The DVD retail rankings are very different: Wal-Mart continues to dominate with a 40% share, followed by Target and Best Buy (neck-and-neck with 12% and 11%, respectively), and Amazon in fourth place, with 6% to 7%.

Research analysts believe that Best Buy's dominance with Blu-ray makes sense because its core electronics customer base matches perfectly with early adopters. Also, Best Buy promotes Blu-ray more aggressively than Target or Wal-Mart, by placing titles in heavily trafficked areas and emphasizing Blu-ray titles in advertising.

Amazon has also heavily promoted Blu-ray, and thus has attained a much larger share in the format than what it has on DVD.

However, research analysts predict Blu-ray retail shares will move closer to standard DVD shares in the near future, as the high-definition format becomes more mainstream.
Can't say I'm that surprised, excellent selection and their prices have been better of late.