Blu-ray player prices continue to slide

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

Had to go to Walmart tonight to buy several new humidifiers (Utah is super dry) and stopped by the BD player section. Transformers 2 BD was sold out on the new release endcap (plenty of DVD's) and they had about 10 stocked on the shelf behind the glass case. Surprisingly, the BD players were just about cleaned out. As you can tell from the picture the cheaper players were all but gone except for a few Phillips players. The Magnavox and Vizio players were sold out. They had one Sony S360, and a couple of Samsung players. The Panasonic BD60 was sold out as well (it was $158). A few weeks ago they had an endcap full of Magnavox players for $148, and the endcap was sold out as well. My guess is that Transformers 2 must have helped move some players.

I cannot imagine how well these players will sell as we get closer to the holidays and the prices drop even more.

Here is the picture:

I noticed this at my Wal-Mart and asked - they only stock 1 of each player out on the shelves at a time and 'reload' when they get sold. That may of course only be my store (someone in line was asking to buy one since they were all 'sold out' but they said they had plenty in back when I asked my question).

And damn, that Vizio player is fugly.

[luclin999]

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

I noticed this at my Wal-Mart and asked - they only stock 1 of each player out on the shelves at a time and 'reload' when they get sold. That may of course only be my store (someone in line was asking to buy one since they were all 'sold out' but they said they had plenty in back when I asked my question).

My WM had a similar stocking system. Almost empty shelves with several more of the units in question hiding in the overstock areas. This wasn't just on BD players though, several other items in the department were also stocked that way.

Sometimes it seems like they just don't want people to buy electronics from them.

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by luclin999

My WM had a similar stocking system. Almost empty shelves with several more of the units in question hiding in the overstock areas. This wasn't just on BD players though, several other items in the department were also stocked that way.

Sometimes it seems like they just don't want people to buy electronics from them.

It's more of a theft thing (at least in my area....its pure scum). As BD players get smaller and lighter they become easier to steal. I just always ask now when I want to buy something rather then assume a empty shelf = sold out. With less employees now because of layoffs there is just not enough time to keep everything stocked 100%. Those 5 BD players the stocking crew puts out could be gone an hour after opening and that 1 Wal-mart electronics employee won't go in the back room to restock leaving everything else vulnerable.

[Favelle]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

Had to go to Walmart tonight to buy several new humidifiers (Utah is super dry) and stopped by the BD player section. Transformers 2 BD was sold out on the new release endcap (plenty of DVD's) and they had about 10 stocked on the shelf behind the glass case. Surprisingly, the BD players were just about cleaned out. As you can tell from the picture the cheaper players were all but gone except for a few Phillips players. The Magnavox and Vizio players were sold out. They had one Sony S360, and a couple of Samsung players. The Panasonic BD60 was sold out as well (it was $158). A few weeks ago they had an endcap full of Magnavox players for $148, and the endcap was sold out as well. My guess is that Transformers 2 must have helped move some players.

I cannot imagine how well these players will sell as we get closer to the holidays and the prices drop even more.

Here is the picture:

Actually, that's kind of what I'm seeing now too. The summer was absolutely dead for Blu-ray around here. But as this big releases start coming out (TF2, Up, Star Trek, T:S, GI Joe), people are gobbling up Blu-ray. It seems to be hitting a stride right now. It should be a decent holiday for the format.

[Taffy]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

Had to go to Walmart tonight to buy several new humidifiers (Utah is super dry) and stopped by the BD player section. Transformers 2 BD was sold out on the new release endcap (plenty of DVD's) and they had about 10 stocked on the shelf behind the glass case. Surprisingly, the BD players were just about cleaned out. As you can tell from the picture the cheaper players were all but gone except for a few Phillips players. The Magnavox and Vizio players were sold out. They had one Sony S360, and a couple of Samsung players. The Panasonic BD60 was sold out as well (it was $158). A few weeks ago they had an endcap full of Magnavox players for $148, and the endcap was sold out as well. My guess is that Transformers 2 must have helped move some players.

I cannot imagine how well these players will sell as we get closer to the holidays and the prices drop even more.

Originally Posted by Kosty

Just came back from my local 24 hour Wal-Mart Supercenter. They have had an isle devoted to Blu-ray models for many months now and have had over two dozen units on the shelves below the display available for consumer purchase.

As ack_back saw, its the same at my local store as well, they just sold through Blu-ray player inventory they had that had been steady but still available. They were in the process of reloading the shelves as the mid week reorders had just arrived as sales for Blu-ray hardware surged this week. They said there was a very noticeable increase in Blu-ray player sales this week and their inventory system confirmed a large surge.

Its the time of year for that to start happening but its probably no just a coincidence for the Snow White and Transformers 2 releases just occurred either.

Obviously our observations are anecdotal but that seems to be a good sign.

Well now. Guess what??? I just came back from my Superdooper, 24 hr, 3 year old Walmart store and................the relatively small BD area is dead...dead...dead, as usual. No one...absolutely no one perused the BD area while I was there...'bout 10 minutes watching Oz on the BD display. Plenty of TF2, Snow White BDs and players on the shelves. The usual amount of shoppers (3 to 7) were eying DVDs on the center and the $5 isle displays.
I saw nothing like what you two saw. Not surprising though. No Walmart shoppers, worth their salt, would be buying BD players this far in advance of Black Friday.

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by Taffy

Well now. Guess what??? I just came back from my Superdooper, 24 hr, 3 year old Walmart store and................the relatively small BD area is dead...dead...dead, as usual. No one...absolutely no one perused the BD area while I was there...'bout 10 minutes watching Oz on the BD display. Plenty of TF2, Snow White BDs and players on the shelves. The usual amount of shoppers (3 to 7) were eying DVDs on the center and the $5 isle displays.
I saw nothing like what you two saw. Not surprising though. No Walmart shoppers, worth their salt, would be buying BD players this far in advance of Black Friday.

Which is why I posted a picture of empty Walmart shelves. At least by me people are clearly snapping up Blu-Ray players and movies.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

[Taffy]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

Which is why I posted a picture of empty Walmart shelves. At least by me people are clearly snapping up Blu-Ray players and movies.

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Not in your case Ack. I'd say your picture isn't worth any words at all. Hell...that shelf could have been empty for months.
How do we know you and Kosty didn't empty that shelf before taking that picture.

Now if you could take a picture (no...a movie) of Walmart shoppers "snapping up Blu-ray players and movies" ... now THAT would be worth 10,000 words.

[Sbert]

Originally Posted by Taffy

Not in your case Ack. I'd say your picture isn't worth any words at all. Hell...that shelf could have been empty for months.
How do we know you and Kosty didn't empty that shelf before taking that picture.

Now if you could take a picture (no...a movie) of Walmart shoppers "snapping up Blu-ray players and movies" ... now THAT would be worth 10,000 words.

On a serious note, both of your evidence is anecdotal. Let's look at charts and sales numbers instead.

[Taffy]

Originally Posted by Sbert

On a serious note, both of your evidence is anecdotal. Let's look at charts and sales numbers instead.

Okay....how 'bout some pie graphs. BD looks kinda puny in both charts...huh. Wow...look at DVD rental growth.

[ack_bak]

Originally Posted by Taffy

Okay....how 'bout some pie graphs. BD looks kinda puny in both charts...huh. Wow...look at DVD rental growth.

Yeah and look at DVD sales decline

[Sbert]

Originally Posted by Taffy

Okay....how 'bout some pie graphs. BD looks kinda puny in both charts...huh. Wow...look at DVD rental growth.

you trying to smack yourself down? I don't understand. Can you try extrapolating that information and apply some basic reasoning and logic to your deductions?

Or are you nothing but an observer unable to interpret said data beyond the raw numbers?

[Mr. Cinema]

Thanks for posting both pie charts. BD sales and rentals continue to increase. Excellent news!

[Taffy]

Originally Posted by ack_bak

Yeah and look at DVD sales decline

Lordy Lord Ack. Looking at both graphs, the DVD sales decline is negligible. What IS impressive is the acreage occupied by DVD sales and rentals. When combined...they occupy over three quarters of the graph. Impressive.

[zerosaiyaman]

Originally Posted by Taffy

Lordy Lord Ack. Looking at both graphs, the DVD sales decline is negligible. What IS impressive is the acreage occupied by DVD sales and rentals. When combined...they occupy over three quarters of the graph. Impressive.

You're right, it is impressive ;3. 83% growth is epic.

Also it's nice to see how the pie chart in total increased substantially. Still down nearly 4% over the year, but at least the economy isn't getting worst in this area, whew.

Also remember, the digital is including cable/satellite video on demand, which has been around for nearly two decades or more. Blu-ray is making impressive gains in a very short time.

I think downloading/streaming will be used by people in place of "rentals" in the end. But there's a general view which I think will always persist that it isn't ownership. An analogue to what I mean can be seen in the "cloud computing" woes as of late.

[Taffy]

Originally Posted by Sbert

you trying to smack yourself down? I don't understand. Can you try extrapolating that information and apply some basic reasoning and logic to your deductions? Or are you nothing but an observer unable to interpret said data beyond the raw numbers?

Just an observer, Sbert. I let the pie graphs do all the talking. But...if you think I should provide some sort of analysis...I'd say that DVD's demise as prophesied by some members of this forum has been greatly exaggerated.

Man, I miss my baseball.