Blu-ray Disc theft becoming an issue, some retailers taking action

by Darren Murph posted Jan 22nd 2009 at 3:53PM

If the shrink -- that measure of lost sales that typically go unaccounted for -- gets to growing at a faster pace than sales, you just might have a problem on your hands. According to Mark Fisher, EMA VP of strategic initiatives, that's exactly what's happening in some retail locations, though he does point out that having to tackle a theft issue is, at least in some way, a sign of heightened demand. Undisclosed sources have indicated that some retailers are facing Blu-ray theft rates in the double-digits, compared to around 1.5% for standard DVDs. EMA is already evaluating one possible solution from Aequitas Innovation, which places an RFID lock within the package that can only be unlocked upon being scanned at the register. In theory, at least, the theft deterrent should only add around $0.20 per unit, but whether or not this is more convenient than one of those "keeper cases" is totally up for debate.

Filed under: Industry, Misc

Tags: Aequitas, bd, blu-ray, EMA, retail, steal, stealing, stolen, target, theft, thief

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

FreeRange @ Jan 22nd 2009 4:13PM

Suddenly a studio or two are thinking, "Maybe that protective coating that makes Blu-Ray movies scratch resistant wasn't such as a good idea." Meanwhile, across town, a young man is sliding a Blu-Ray movie down his pants, haphazardly, thinking, "Good thing it's got that protective coating!"

Not that I would ever steal anything (I rent/buy everything I watch or listen to, honest!), but the risk of scratching a disc to the point I can't view/listen to it was what always made stealing DVDs and CDs seem silly to me.

Highest Ranked

Chad @ Jan 22nd 2009 4:23PM

Now that the players have come down to Wal-Mart prices and everyday people can afford them maybe the studios should think about dropping the prices to near DVD levels. I grudgingly fork over ~$50 for a video game that I can get enjoyment from for weeks or months so I am certainly not paying ~$25+ for a movie I might watch a couple of times and shelve.

Besides, the majority of the "thefts" come from the unofficial employee discount program.

Neutral

HC @ Jan 23rd 2009 5:07AM

Yeah but I bet that game didn't cost over 150 million dollars to make... Thats the price of movies. With the overinflated salaries of movie stars to millions in promotions and commercials etc...

Another reason thefts of DVD's are down is because the low-life thief can probably just download a dvd-rip off the internet and burn his own copy which is something the majority cannot really do with blu-ray. Oh and a side-note, the majority of thieves are middle-class people who could afford it in the first place.

Neutral

DrXym @ Jan 22nd 2009 4:48PM

Magnetic strips and security cases are not some new invention. What's to stop them using them on BD cases just like they've always done on DVDs?

Neutral

Miguelito @ Jan 22nd 2009 5:51PM

It's not that those are lacking likely, but that people are stealing by removing them from the case at the store.

I've come across a few DVD cases over the years where the shrink-wrap was slit down the side and someone had pulled the disk out. Partly why there are a lot of case designs with a plastic flap, or multiple locking tabs on the side that opens. Trying to keep that from happening.

I've pointed out (or just handed over) several such cases to employees when I found them at stores.

Neutral

DrXym @ Jan 23rd 2009 7:03AM

You wouldn't be able to remove the disc from a security case without extreme effort. I'm talking about the locked perspex boxes which lots of stores already use to protect games, videos & cds. My local tesco sticks all the high worth items in security boxes.

Neutral

yincrash @ Jan 22nd 2009 4:58PM

Maybe it's a sign that the price is too high for the value compared to DVD?

Neutral

Loban @ Jan 22nd 2009 5:17PM

I have a solution. Make Blu-ray movies $12.99 like DVDs and maybe people will stop stealing them.

Neutral

The Fuzz 53 @ Jan 22nd 2009 5:22PM

I think this is an aggressive way of saying, "These fucking things cost too damn much."

Solution: lower prices.

Highly Ranked

THJ @ Jan 22nd 2009 7:51PM

No, it's a normal way of saying 'I can sell this quickly, for enough cash to make it worth my time.'

Highest Ranked

DEEZNUTZ @ Jan 22nd 2009 5:30PM

Yeah, cause they should have the right to steal just because the movies are too expensive...

This is the ass-backwards thinking that has this country in the crisis it's currently in.
If you cannot afford it, BUY THE DVD INSTEAD!!! I want low BD prices but I'm not going to steal just to be able to have the BD version of the movie.

Solution? Aggressively prosecute the thieves when they are caught.

Neutral

Kimbo Slice @ Jan 22nd 2009 6:45PM

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This one

Highly Ranked

Mike @ Jan 22nd 2009 6:58PM

You hit the mark...can't believe how some use it as an exscuse to steal.

Neutral

Aaron Smith @ Jan 22nd 2009 5:36PM

I rented Transformers on blu-ray last week and it didn't have Dolby TrueHD as an audio track. I thought something was up so I pulled out the disc from the player and noticed it was a DVD. I called Hollywood Video and they couldn't locate a blu-ray disc. I believe (and they do as well) that someone rented the BR disc but returned a DVD on purpose. Pretty smart but it's still stealing.

Highest Ranked

squiggleslash @ Jan 22nd 2009 7:22PM

You didn't notice it was a DVD until you listened to it?

Neutral

THJ @ Jan 22nd 2009 7:53PM

This is exactly why it's taking so long to get traction in the market - most people can't tell the difference between a upscaled DVD and a BD unless they are looking at the two side-by-side.

Neutral

David Susilo @ Jan 22nd 2009 7:55PM

you don't notice the disc being lighter?
you don't notice the logo says DVD instead of Blu-ray Disc?
you don't notice the picture looks like cr@p when you first pressed play?

No wonder Blu-ray is not taking off. The world is filled with people who can't tell the difference between BD and DVD unless it's tatooed on their foreheads.

Neutral

Spiza @ Jan 22nd 2009 9:27PM

He could just be plagued with an LCD TV.

Neutral

Nig B @ Jan 22nd 2009 9:26PM

RFID is not a good solution. A person could steal a DISC and then buy the some movie to get a valid receipt, then take the stolen DISC with the valid receipt and get the RFID protection removed... Then they could return the purchased DISC with the vaild receipt. Thus getting a around the RFID protection...

The only way RFID would work is if the DISC had a serial number and this serial number would be printed on the sales reciepts to verify that particular disc was in fact paid for... This method would cost too much to implement, and would not be worth it to retailers nor movie studios.

Neutral

LB @ Jan 22nd 2009 10:23PM

Some of the thieves are hi-tech pros. They have special bags they use for boosting stuff and walk out the door without being detected.

It would be nice if the movie companies would lower the prices, because it would curb theft. However, they couldn't care less. They just want to move product and the thieves are helping them do just that.

Neutral

3dpenguin @ Jan 22nd 2009 11:28PM

Well there are many solutions to theft:

1) Buy some decent security cameras, and use them.
2) Go the rental route and put them in re-usable sleeve cases which have to be unlocked using special devices.
3) Go low income neighborhood/game area Wal-Mart and lock them up in a security case.
or the most simplistic way
4) Don't carry Blu-ray.

Since the Studios aren't going to drop their prices, as pointed out by LB, its going to have to come from the store's end to reduce the theft.

Some more progressive alternative forms of deterrents.
1) Catch a thief and go archaic on their butt and stick the head on a pike out in front of the Blu-ray section as a deterrent.
2) Arm your greeters and cashiers, just in case they actually see someone try to steal something.
3) Cover the disc in a special sent and have trained dogs sniff them out and force the customer to prove they bought the disc when they try to leave.
4) Place the movies in a special room that is easily monitored by one or two people, remember when they use to sell porn in general movie rental stores... that idea.

Neutral

Cad @ Jan 23rd 2009 1:20PM

Or maybe they could actually start stopping people at the door when the alarm goes off instead of lazily looking over at them and saying "It's ok, go ahead."

Neutral

Joel @ Jan 24th 2009 10:39AM

Maybe they should just start lowering prices on blu-ray movies. I've bought over 50 blu-ray disc movies but have scaled back recently. 30+ dollars for a movie is still way too much, not that i condone stealing. There is not enough on these discs to justify the outrageous costs of movies. Most people i talk to are uninterested in blu-ray solely because the movies are so expensive.

Neutral

owne @ Jan 24th 2009 11:30PM

Earth to Studios "LOWER YOUR PRICES!!!"

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