Is BluRay a bit of a rip-off

[3db]

Can anyone explain why a used Blu-Ray costs $8.00 more than a used standard DVD for the same title? My gut feeling is that the production costs between the two formats are roughl;y the same and its just marketing hype/greed that makes the Blu-Ray that more expensive.

 

[bandphan]

http://wesleytech.com/blu-ray-vs-hd-dvd-replication-costs-revealed/

An older article but outlines production costs in replication runs



What I find a rip off is the costs to purchase single layer BRDR.

 

[GlocksRock]

What I find a rip off is the costs to purchase single layer BRDR.

I've purchased single layer BD-R for as low as $1.67 per disc when I found it on sale at newegg.

 

[bandphan]

I've purchased single layer BD-R for as low as $1.67 per disc when I found it on sale at newegg.

I agree, but in a bind most local retail outlets are a joke

 

[GlocksRock]

Very true, that's why I keep them in stock at home and buy them online when I find good deals. Ebay is the best place for dual layer blank bd-r dl, I've found some from japan for as low as $7 per disc for a 10 pack.

 

[mpompey]

... its just marketing hype/greed that makes the Blu-Ray that more expensive.

That and public demand and willingness to pay the sticker price. If you don't need to have the disc on the day the movie is released on video, try online retailers. You will be able to save a few bucks online. Bundle the new release with some older titles and you can save significantly. Also, don't forget about getting used discs off Ebay. Just find a decent seller and you can find some deals there too. As always, buyer beware though.

 

[GlocksRock]

blu-ray forum is a great place to buy or trade used blu rays, my friend has done that several times with great success.

 

[darien87]

not agree with that! the quality is stil a big different

Quality isn't the issue. No matter how great the content is, it still should cost roughly the same amount for a producer to actually burn and package the disc.

This isn't the greatest analogy, but it's kind of like buying a car. All the various car companies can build a car for roughly the same amount of money. But the luxury brands can charge more because the customers' perceived value is higher. We tend to be locked into the "more expensive it is the better it is" mindset.

 

[3db]

not agree with that! the quality is stil a big different

the point is, cost of manufacturing is rougly the same. A quality upconverting dvd player can closely approach the video quality of blu-ray, there's not much diffrence in quality between the lossy and lossless codes as far as sound goes, and yet the prices are almost doubled. Its a bit of a rip-off because market demands make it so.

 

[gmichael]

demand / supply = cost

 

[j_garcia]

I don't know where you are shopping, but I rarely pay more than $20 for a movie, and my current average is a lot lower. It just seems like they cost a lot more because DVDs are so damn cheap now. Back in the day, new release DVDs cost $25 too, and VHS cost even more. As it goes more mainstream, prices will come down, but there are already a ton of titles out there as well as sales, that I can't see anyone complaining about pricing (except for some brand new titles).

I just picked up 5 movies for $28 at the Hollywood Video used BD sale. Amazon has a couple dozen under $10 right now. Walmart has a selection of catalog titles for $9.99 EVERY MONTH. Target had a coupon during the holidays for $5 off all BDs, even sale prices.

The manufacturing costs are the same, but there aren't as many sites doing it yet, so the production levels are still lower than DVD, which means higher cost per unit to produce. When they switch over to higher BD production than DVD, then the prices will come down to "normal" DVD prices. These companies are in business to make money, not to make you happy.

 

[3db]

These companies are in business to make money, not to make you happy.

Really? Well that changes everything

 

[j_garcia]

I've found that if something new comes out and the price is high, if you wait about 2 weeks, it will typically drop at least $5 and sometimes even more. This has been pretty consistent over the last year.

 

[Jack Hammer]

I recall when DVD first came out movies were going for ~$20, then after it got more popular the prices went up to $25. After DVD "won" over DIVX the prices went down briefly then up to ~$30. After a bit the msrp on movies was consistently between $30-40, but people weren't buying and they started selling for ~$15. Then after a bit big sales started happening with many movies going for well under $10.

BD's are so expensive because the studio's are finding out what they can get away with and how much they can overcharge consumers and still sell movies instead of having them get dusty on a store shelf. BD seems to me to be stabilizing much quicker. Amazon has been having consistent and huge price drops quite frequently for several months. I've picked up several good BD's new for under $10 and many newer releases can be found in the neighborhood of $15-20.

 

[jostenmeat]

Can anyone explain why a used Blu-Ray costs $8.00 more than a used standard DVD for the same title? My gut feeling is that the production costs between the two formats are roughl;y the same and its just marketing hype/greed that makes the Blu-Ray that more expensive.

No, it's not a ripoff. Buying a DVD that is available on bluray is a ripoff! I don't care that you can find me a VHS for 1/4 the price of a DVD, I'd still take the DVD if those were my only choices.

Bluray >>>>> DVD, are you freaking kidding me . . .

 

[radridd]

Stay out of the video stores and buy online. I buy most of mine on Amazon. May have to wait a few extra days but "Time Is Money".

 

[3db]

I've found that if something new comes out and the price is high, if you wait about 2 weeks, it will typically drop at least $5 and sometimes even more. This has been pretty consistent over the last year.

I'm speaking of previously viewed copies J . And since the manufactuiing costs are the same, I conclude that its simply greed and market demand that keeps the cost higher for Blu Ray

 

[3db]

No, it's not a ripoff. Buying a DVD that is available on bluray is a ripoff! I don't care that you can find me a VHS for 1/4 the price of a DVD, I'd still take the DVD if those were my only choices.

Bluray >>>>> DVD, are you freaking kidding me . . .

Why is it not a rip-off? The audio quality of the lossless over the lossy codecs is minimal at best. One the best sounding DVDs out there is Master & Commander on a lossy DTS sountrack.

One does gain more noticeably in picture quality but a good up converting DVD player does bring std def DVD comes fairly close.

 

[zhimbo]

I'm speaking of previously viewed copies J . And since the manufactuiing costs are the same, I conclude that its simply greed and market demand that keeps the cost higher for Blu Ray

Well, manufacturing costs are completely irrelevant to the used market.

The used market is pretty purely about supply/demand. There's a much larger supply of used DVDs on the market than used BR discs (in part because people replacing their DVDs). I don't see any great mystery.

 

[Jack Hammer]

I'm speaking of previously viewed copies J . And since the manufactuiing costs are the same, I conclude that its simply greed and market demand that keeps the cost higher for Blu Ray

Manufacturers of discs don't dictate the cost of used movies. That is a function of supply and demand entirely controlled by consumers. There are plenty of used BD movies listed for under $5 at Amazon, I've even seen them list for under $3. Trouble is most of them are movies that aren't very popular and that no one seems to want. Why should someone list a used movie for $5 when people are willing to pay $15?