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Author Topic: Movie Pricing  (Read 402 times)

Offline Sandman

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Movie Pricing
« on: January 29, 2002, 09:41:48 AM »
I don't get it. Why is there such a big difference between some VHS prices and DVD prices?

For example:
American Pie 2 - VHS=$79.99, DVD=$20.24
Kiss of the Dragon - VHS=$110.99, DVD=$20.24

While others are comparable:
Moulin Rouge - VHS=$13.99, DVD=$22.48
Shrek - VHS=$20.99, DVD=$20.24

What's the logic?
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Offline Dago

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« Reply #1 on: January 29, 2002, 09:57:38 AM »
I was told once the first week a movie is released on VHS, the price is way up because that is when the rental outfits are buying it.  After a week or two the movie price goes down.  I dont know if that is what you are experiencing, but maybe.

dago
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Offline Kratzer

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« Reply #2 on: January 29, 2002, 10:04:31 AM »
Yeah, VHS are release initially at a higher price that rental places have to pay, after a couple weeks/months, it goes down. Now, there are exceptions, such as when a film like Shrek comes out on video before christmas, when they want to sell a ton of them as christmas presents.

DVDs are cheaper because they are trying to get people to buy DVDs and DVD players, and being able to own the movie sooner (than if they bought VHS) makes it more tempting for the consumer to buy a DVD player, and buy the DVD.  This is especially true since most places don't have much of a DVD rental section, so they need to make sure people can watch the movies they want to watch so they don't get fed up with the inaccessibility of DVD and go back to videocassette.

Don't worry, DVDs will be expensive as hell on release in a few years. :)

EDIT: Me grammar gut.
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Offline AKDejaVu

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« Reply #3 on: January 29, 2002, 11:10:21 AM »
Its not really a "rule" or anything like that.  Its much simpler.

If the production company releasing the movie has not released it for retail sale, you must pay the same price the rental company is paying.

Those movies have been released on DVD for retail sale, but not on VHS.  This can be because they want that initial burst... but most likely it is because they may/maynot be supporting VHS or VHS simply is taking longer to generate and distribute.

The rental company will ALWAYS have to pay the higher fee for the movie.  Its just a matter of wether it is officially released to the public at a retail price.

I'm still waiting for 3 O'Clock High to be released... the only way to get it is from Universal with an $80 price tag.  Basically... it was only released for rental.

AKDejaVu
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Offline GRUNHERZ

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« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2002, 12:07:10 PM »
This is called "rental pricing", it was something that dates back to where there was no DVD and VHS was the only widespread video format, laserdisc being an exclusive high end source for enthusiasts-I miss LD in a way :(.  Anyway this is just a scheme to help Blockbuster get rentals. Now with DVD there is no more rental pricing even though Blockbuster is trying like hell to get it in effect, the studios realized that DVD is very collectible and durable unlike the pathetic VHS garbage, so it made more sense for them to sell it outright and cut out BB. BB is very mad and thats why they were initaly reluctant with DVD. But now they see its here to stay and BB now says they are "the place to DVD" what a load of crap......  The biggest threat to DVD now is rental pricing and expansion of pan and scan titles which is when they cut off the sides of the widescreen Original Aspect Ratio picture  so it fits on square TVs. They do this because retards complain about "the black bars" when the picture is shown in its widescreen OAR just as it is in theaters.
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Offline Kratzer

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« Reply #5 on: January 29, 2002, 12:13:27 PM »
Blockbuster is the worst company I've ever come across.  They charged late fees regardless of when the film was returned, counting on people not being able to remember if they returned their videos on time and just paying them.  That, and crap selection.
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Offline rosco

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« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2002, 10:48:35 PM »
Where the hell are you guys buying them?  New DVD releases around here are around 30 bucks each, VHS around 20. It varies some but not much.

 80 bucks for a vhs tape? Never heard tell of it.  The starwars trilogy was close to that  around christmas, but that was for 3 tapes in fancy packaging. Could buy the individual tapes for probably half of that.
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Offline GRUNHERZ

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« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2002, 11:03:23 PM »
But you would only get those VHS tapes for $20 6 months after the rental price release date. Now you get a DVD at retail and sometimes its VHS at rental pricing on the same day.
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Offline Tumor

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« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2002, 04:31:08 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by rosco
Where the hell are you guys buying them?  New DVD releases around here are around 30 bucks each, VHS around 20. It varies some but not much.

 80 bucks for a vhs tape? Never heard tell of it.  The starwars trilogy was close to that  around christmas, but that was for 3 tapes in fancy packaging. Could buy the individual tapes for probably half of that.


I haven't found a DVD over 19.95 yet at the BX   (PX for you Army freakazoids :D)
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Offline rosco

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« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2002, 08:50:10 AM »
Ok I understand now.

 And I am talking Canadain dollars tumor.  That would cost you about a nickel
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Offline bowser

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« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2002, 06:51:13 PM »
"....I'm still waiting for 3 O'Clock High to be released... the only way to get it is from Universal with an $80 price tag. Basically... it was only released for rental....".

Thought that name sounded familiar.  It's on in Canada tonight on the Family Channel at 9pm.  "...1987 comedy....a foul-mouthed bully challenges a meek student to a fight...".  Is that the one?

bowser
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Offline AKDejaVu

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« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2002, 07:37:03 PM »
I don't believe the bully was necessarily "foul mouthed"... but that sounds like the basic plot.

Its a pretty funny movie... give it a watch;)

AKDejaVu
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Offline Sandman

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« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2002, 07:52:45 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by rosco
80 bucks for a vhs tape? Never heard tell of it.  The starwars trilogy was close to that  around christmas, but that was for 3 tapes in fancy packaging. Could buy the individual tapes for probably half of that.


The prices listed above we're straight outta Amazon.Com.

It's nothing new that Amazon is charging this way. I've seen it before and have always been curious about the rationalization for the pricing.
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sand

Offline Cobra

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« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2002, 10:52:30 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by AKDejaVu

I'm still waiting for 3 O'Clock High to be released... the only way to get it is from Universal with an $80 price tag.  Basically... it was only released for rental.

AKDejaVu


An excellent movie!

Cobra
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