Looks like all those specials are paying off for
Amazon and
Wal-mart, as surveys done
last fall and this spring indicate they're narrowing the gap with "leading Blu-ray shopping destination"
Best Buy. No nifty percentage numbers this time, but according to
VideoBusiness, Amazon's own findings indicate its share of the Blu-ray retail market is 3.5 times bigger than its DVD slice. That seems to jibe with
NPD's finding placing it number two, followed by Wal-mart (benefiting from enhanced Blu-ray displays and sales of its own), then Target and Blockbuster, respectively, having overtaken Circuit City in the period from fall to spring. Is there anything other than deep discounts and BOGOs that decides where you buy Blu?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric @ Jul 10th 2008 10:45AM
Not sure why, since Best Buy's prices are not nearly as good as Frys or Amazons. I keep checking every time I'm in a Best Buy, and they don't discount prices at all at the stores I visit. A couple lame movies tend to be discounted occasionally, but Amazon has them beat hands-down.
WallyB @ Jul 10th 2008 10:50AM
Anecdotal evidence - I was in a BB a few months ago looking at discs and saw I Am Legend for $34.95. Meanwhile, amazon was selling the same title for $18.95 with free super saver shipping over $25 and no sales tax.
Being an impulse shopper can be an expensive habit. I'll wait a few days for that smiling box to come in the mail, thank you very much.
Galley @ Jul 10th 2008 11:00AM
Seriously, who buys BDs at Best Buy?
JimC @ Jul 10th 2008 1:28PM
I just bought Batman Returns at BB for $19.95 and previously bought several other movies there...same reason as I buy most anything there, they were on sale....
borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Jul 10th 2008 11:18AM
"Sony sell the only Blu-ray player worth buying but it's cost them $3.3 Billion in debt/losses and even so they are reporting weekly sales of around $8 million - maybe up to $12 million on a good week."
So you take into account the loses for the PS3, but only accept the income from movies? Not to mention that for FY2007 Sony racked up $3.5 billion in profile and erased that initial investment debt. So going forward, that $3.3 billion is no longer a factor. In Feburary, in the US alone, the video game industry racked up $1.3 billion. $235 million of that Feb. windfall belongs to Sony.
Sure, Blu Ray can still fail, but try not to fabricate things in your haste to rip Sony to shreds. I think you hate them a wee bit more than is healthy.
BigSexy @ Jul 10th 2008 11:22AM
I yell at my brother all the time about getting them from Worstbuy. He doesnt like to wait and I think that is becoming their main market.
I dont know what happened to that company. I remember even 5 years ago walking in there and buying stuff because there prices were competitive.
Its like they had a meeting and decided to no longer be competitive on pricing. With Amazon, Newegg, and even WalMart/Target they have gotten hardly any business from me in the last 2 years.
Rob @ Jul 10th 2008 11:42AM
Well, retailers, like any other business, will be willing to sell the product at the highest price the market is willing to accept. Best Buy, unfortunately, has realized that even at MSRP they can still sell it to the misinformed. The same people who are willing to pay MSRP for movies, are more than likely the ones who fall for the $34+ HDMI cable. Anyone who shops around would realize that when it comes to Blu-ray content, Amazon has the best prices. But, that instant gratification can cost consumers dearly. I've bought Blu-ray's at Best Buy, but only when I knew I was getting the upper hand. Specially when I got them for about $5 each. Very sweet indeed. That was a best buy, for me at least.
Jake @ Jul 10th 2008 11:23AM
Go play with your HD-DVD player and leave us alone.
daaper @ Jul 10th 2008 11:45AM
This story helps explain why people complain about the price of Blu-ray so much. Sure, if I was paying full price for DVD or Blu-ray at BB I'd be complaining. Which is why I buy them online or just wait for the price-drop. I haven't spent more than $18 on any Blu-ray in my collection and it wasn't that difficult to do...
J.Goodwin @ Jul 10th 2008 11:55AM
I buy online and in person, but never from Best Buy.
Newbury Comics is my personal destination of choice.
ceilingfanboy @ Jul 10th 2008 12:07PM
I'll buy from Best Buy only when they are having deals going on. The 2 for $30 deal actually had some good movies and I picked up a couple, but other than that, they usually have terrible prices. I'm a sucker for movies that are priced abnormally low. That's what had me buy I Am Legend off of Amazon when it was $19 and everyone else had it for $25+ and why I bought Cloverfield for $17 the other day. Sometimes I think I even buy movies not intending on ever watching them. Hopefully, this holiday season we will see a return on some of those BOGO deals for Blu-Ray because BTGO just isn't a good enough of a deal.
Johnny Neat @ Jul 10th 2008 12:33PM
This just shows that the layman knows squat.
It's obvious to me that it's either impulse buying, lack of patience for mailings or a lack of knowledge on such things.
Either way, retarded.
Waaahh @ Jul 10th 2008 12:40PM
Its quite simple why they are leading the market, people who don't feel like shopping the internet or waiting for the disc just buy from whoever has them. Besides the week these movies come out, Blu Ray prices are a rip off at any big box retailer even...gasp*...wal mart...which I was at yesterday. Congrats to you all who have saved 10-12 dollars on Blu Ray...you are the best america has to offer. It will take a little while until big boxes start to drop prices on these movies, just like it took a while on DVD.
Mr. E @ Jul 10th 2008 12:44PM
I'm glad to hear Amazon is doing so well, relatively, in their Blu-ray business. I place almost all of my orders through them since the 30%+ off across the board is something I want to support.
I take this piece of information as yet another indication that everyone has different ideas of what value means to them. Some will seek out an expensive player, just because of the name or perceived quality, and others will pay near MSRP for software, just because they can take it home that day rather than waiting. Who are we to judge?
h0mi @ Jul 10th 2008 12:46PM
I haven't seen Walmart offer any good deals on blu-ray discs at all, assuming I can find a walmart that sells them. Best buy, however, did have that 2 for $30 promotion for about a month or so, and has had a few deals here and there. The typical blu-ray may be $25-35 but they've had some deals on newer releases that were cheaper and do offer discs for $15-20. Batman Begins is $20 at best buy this week.
Amazon of course is my favorite but they haven't done a bogo in forever, and it's been a while since their last b2g1.
JimC @ Jul 10th 2008 1:30PM
Which Walmart do you shop at and when was the last time you went? Walmart just completed a nation-wide push of Blu-ray adding dedicated rackspace for both players and movies. Just this past Father's day sale, saw $15 blu-ray's at Walmart....
Jake @ Jul 10th 2008 1:40PM
I pick up quite a few BDs at Fry's. They frequently have good deals in the store that strike a good balance between price and instant gratification. They only downside is that Frys often does not put the disk out on release day, so its not instant-instant gratification. That one reservation aside, the best part about shopping at Frys is that you can shop in relative peace. Having a dozen guys in blue shirts dry-humping my leg while I'm try to shop makes Best Buy such a hassle.
mitchelljd @ Jul 10th 2008 1:56PM
omg, this guy is ridiculous. Go somewhere else with your crazed fanboy illusions.
you are so off topic its fraking stupid.
mitchelljd @ Jul 10th 2008 2:08PM
I love Amazon, I am a member of Prime, so i can pre-order most everything and it shows up the day of release, day after, and occasionally a day early.
Also, Best buy prices just aren't good. sure on release week they may occasionally offer a good price on a blu-ray title, but after that week is up, 98% probability that the price will end up being list price.
Amazon's pricing and service is just terrific! they are no-nonsense. can order titles early and just enjoy them when they show up. Also, if they drop price on a title before release, you automatically get the new lower price. how great is that.
Alareth @ Jul 10th 2008 2:22PM
Thank you for the disjointed and non sequitur essay on your poor understanding of economics.
twisted4 @ Jul 10th 2008 2:51PM
The problem with amazon's Super Saver Shipping is that it takes forever to ship! so if you want something quick then you end up paying more for fast shipping. I feel at the end you are not saving all that much. Give me fast free shipping and I won't go back to BB
Orion @ Jul 10th 2008 3:24PM
My typical buying locations are:
Amazon.com (regular, discounts, BOGOs, etc)
Fry's (typically sales)
BestBuy (mostly 110% price matching with other stores)
CircuitCity (mostly 110% price matching with other stores)
In general buying blu at BB, CC doesn't make much sense at their regular prices.... the good part about those prices is that you can get good 110% pricematches with other stores like Fry's, Target, etc
DrXym @ Jul 10th 2008 5:40PM
"Can anyone see what's wrong with this picture?"
Yes, you've been sniffing glue again.
Fred @ Jul 10th 2008 7:53PM
See i am on the other side. I want Amazon to do poorly so that they keep dropping prices, you people stop buying from amazon so that i can reap in the benefits. LOL
But this article shows me one thing, god how stupid people are that they buy most of their stuff at Best Buy at outragous prices. I always go look in Best Buy and buy on Amazon. I don't think I have seen Best Buy have anything new cheaper than Amazon, the only great deal I got from them was buying the 360 game Stranglehold there for 10 bucks and Amazon had it for 19 I think two weeks ago.
Truth Teller @ Jul 11th 2008 8:37AM
@ Jake
Dry your eyes, stop whinging and wake up, it's a comments board about CE products, that's all.
@ mitchelljd
Yeah, the weekly sales numbers (in a thread about sales) along with Sony's own admissions about loss are "illusions" & "off-topic"
(in your own mind, clearly).
LMAO
@ Alareth
"non sequitur"
Did your teacher at school criticise you with that term recently?
It might sound impressive to you & the rest of the Blu-ray.com kiddies but maybe s/he ought to have explained it's correct use to you whilst they were at it.
LMAO
@ Dr Pathetic
Given up looking a complete tool with your weak little jibe, eh?
Hilarious.
Your precious format isn't going anywhere and has also lost
(and you got the shaft on the prices you paid).
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/07/03/sony-talks-future-of-oled-blu-rays-chances-against-dvd/#readercomments
Still LMAO heartily.