Philips: MSRP $349 Blu-ray Player Going to $399

[mikemorel]

Philips: $349 Blu-ray Player Going to $399

Washington, D.C. (March 13, 2008) -- In January, Philips issued a press release saying its BDP7200 Blu-ray player would be released in April with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $349.

Scores of print and online publications reported on the Philips announcement, noting that it would be the lowest-priced Blu-ray player on the market -- $50 less than Sony's BDP-S300.

However, late last month, Toshiba announced that it was exiting the HD DVD business, ceding victory to its high-def disc rival, Blu-ray. Since then, no longer concerned about low-cost HD DVD players, Blu-ray makers have increased the price of their players, albeit slightly.

And Philips joined the crowd today, telling TVPredictions.com that its BDP7200 will be $399 next month -- not $349 as stated last January.

However, Philips spokeswoman Katie Bromley said the new price "was not related" to HD DVD's exit.

"(Philips) thought ($349) would be the cost at the time (in January)," she said.

However, when TVPredictions.com first asked about the new price tag, Bromley said the $349 price in the January press release was a "typo."

Bromley was then reminded that scores of publications had written about the $349 price last January -- and that Philips had never issued a correction saying the price should be $399.

After that conversation, she called TVPredictions.com back and said the $349 price was not a typo after all. Actually, she said, the price had changed sometime after it was originally set at $349.

Bromley said she did not know why Philips decided the price had to be raised to $399, but she said it definitely had nothing to do with HD DVD departing.

Don't you just love price fixing cartels? Memo from BDA to all member companies: "Prices on all BD Players shall be raised to $400".

I'm struggling to remember the last time I saw a consumer electronics device go up in MSRP. Anybody have examples?

BLU-RAY - The consumer has chosen!

[Chief]

This is just what happens when competition goes away. The bluboys will love it though because BD is sooooo worth the extra money. Can you say bend over...................

[Woody]

I was TOTALLY gonna buy it at $349! At $399 NO WAY!!

No wait, I forgot. I will NOT pay more than $200 for a player. Anything over $200 is overpriced junk.

[Raydeen]

I think this may have more to do with the falling value of the American Dollar on the international currency boards than a price fixing scheme.

[Fettastic]

Originally Posted by mikemorel

Philips: $349 Blu-ray Player Going to $399

Don't you just love price fixing cartels? Memo from BDA to all member companies: "Prices on all BD Players shall be raised to $400".

I'm struggling to remember the last time I saw a consumer electronics device go up in MSRP. Anybody have examples?

BLU-RAY - The consumer has chosen!

And prior to the 3rd gen players, the buy-in cost for HD DVD was $499. The first 1080p HD DVD player retailed for $999. How can you look at those prices and not think $399 is a bargain?

[Pro-bassoonist]

Last week President Bush noted on CNN that he has not heard any talks of gas possibly reaching 4.00$. Yesterday he concluded that as demand is growing the price of gas is likely to increase.

Hmm!

Pro-B

[Chief]

Originally Posted by BRDNOW

Bend over..You bought into a dead HD DVD format and soon will be SUCing lol

Really, by the time I am ready to buy a blu ray player they will hopefully come down in price like the HD dvd players. In the meantime enjoy your position and don't forget to grab your ankles...........

[Arkadin]

like SHOCKER!!
bd players still cost too much?

[Badger3920]

Originally Posted by Chief

Really, by the time I am ready to buy a blu ray player they will hopefully come down in price like the HD dvd players. In the meantime enjoy your position and don't forget to grab your ankles...........

Actually, I'm most often in the quite comfortable sitting position - enjoying new releases. You see, I don't get backaches from having to keep my head up my *** constantly so as to continue thinking blu-ray is the devil.

I'm also spared that huge neckache and shoulderache of yours, because I'm not always looking around such a hugely obvious answer to the future of hdm, nor do I have to reach for crappy alternative straws to satisfy hdm needs.

Nope, nothing but comfortable 1080p movie watching going on here.

[BRDNOW]

Originally Posted by Chief

Really, by the time I am ready to buy a blu ray player they will hopefully come down in price like the HD dvd players.

No blu-ray player fire sales sorry
Toshiba HD DVD Junk cost less

Originally Posted by Chief

In the meantime enjoy your position and don't forget to grab your ankles...........

No need for ankle grabbing in blu-ray land but in HD DVD land...your home ,Toshiba and Micro gave
you the "Deliverance" squeal like a pig treatment.

[MyopicRaiderfan]

Originally Posted by Raydeen

I think this may have more to do with the falling value of the American Dollar on the international currency boards than a price fixing scheme.

Bingo. Hopefully no one is sitting a high % of cash assets.

[Deathstalker2]

Originally Posted by Pro-bassoonist

Last week President Bush noted on CNN that he has not heard any talks of gas possibly reaching 4.00$. Yesterday he concluded that as demand is growing the price of gas is likely to increase.

Hmm!

Pro-B

Yeah..that's the same thing.

[bowl-o-rama]

you should go buy 4 HD-DVD players for every room of your house for the same price as one blu-ray player. you won't have any new movies on them but who cares, they'r cheap.

[Xyz123]

Prices will eventually go down due to economies of scale, competition between manufacturers within the blu-ray format, and because the larger mainstream market will demand lower prices before jumping in to HDM.

At the same time, blu-ray manufacturers are in business to make money and will charge what the market will bear. Don't expect $99 blu-ray hardware overnight (or even $199).

[hidefimports]

Oh well. So much for $299 player by the end of the year.