Survey: How much more will you pay?

Studios: Your Blu-ray pricing is making the discs unsaleable! I love home theater. And I own a Blu-ray player. So, when Pixar's Wall-E came out on disc, I headed down to Wal-Mart on launch day to pick up the movie on Blu-ray. But when I saw the ginormous price disparity between the DVD and the Blu-ray, I just couldn't pull the trigger. I am NOT going to spend $19.99 more for the Blu-ray experience. Not...gon....doit. So, how much more would YOU pay for a Blu-ray? I'm thinking a $5 premium over DVD is fair.--John Sciacca

Comments

[Erik Harris]

$5 extra is fine for now, but in the long run, it should be $0. This is a replacement format, just as DVD replaced storebought VHS tapes. Once DVD took hold, it no longer commanded a price premium over VHS simply because it offered higher quality. The same should be true of BluRay in the long run.

[Chris Llana]

You're shopping in the wrong place. Amazon has the 3-disc Blu-ray version of Wall-E for $25. I just bought the Iron Man BD for $15.49 and Master and Commander BD for $16. I bought a bunch of big titles earlier this year buy-one-get-one-free at Amazon. There are always sales. If you want to pay full price, more power to you! I just wish I had your bucks.

[John Sciacca]

Fair enough...Amazon has the Blu-ray for ONLY $10 more. Still too much. Plus, I got you beat on Iron Man BD----I got mine for $14.99 at Wally World. That's how I get my bucks! :-)

[FM]

I recently read that the price point for Blu-ray discs should be $10 and I agree. Especially after having seen some for sale at that price. A 3 discs edition for Wall E?? I'd prefer a single disc for every movie I buy, I don't know anyone that watches all the extra stuff. A high quality "Superbit" type edition would be great for all films, including a 7.1 audio mix.

[Kazaam]

A $5.00 premium for BD would be just about perfect. I believe that, at minimum, Blu-Ray will find a niche and have a long stay as a favorite format amongst home theater fans. But I do worry a little bit when I keep seeing such high prices for many titles at brick-and-mortar stores. John, I suspect you're not alone in your hesitation to pony up the difference in cost. It gets frustrating to often have to rely on the Internet just to get a fair price. Oh, well... At least the player prices are finally on their way down to the point where a whole lot of consumers might be willing to give it a try. As well they should: The picture and sound are fantastic! I just hope the price disparity of the movies, themselves, doesn't turn this Hollywood dream into a nightmare.

--Matt

[Dsvid Brimer]

Nice to see some rational comments.
Just want to point out that the shrills over at AVS forum would roast a common sense post like this.
Home Theater Mag is also leading the "Blu-ray" bandwagon (their own words) and hates DVDs.
Even worse the moderators would lock the thread as they are so biased.\
They all want the consumer to foolishly waste their money.

[Archangel]

I still buy standard DVD's and only buy Blu-Ray movies if they cost as much as the standard DVD. I refuse to buy and sort of DVD's over $20 unless it is a box set.