PhantomStranger

This is anecdotal evidence but I see much less traffic in the media section now that Barnes blocked coupons during the Criterion sale. The place would always be very busy during the Criterion sale but once they started heavily enforcing no coupons, the section remains dead as it now usually does outside of the Christmas shopping season.

Jfunk1

I was denied the $5 off $50 coupon at the last BN in my area that has taken coupons in the last year. The clerk said that Criterion notified BN not to accept coupons on top of Membership and Sale discounts--which is a blatant lie since Criterion sells their titles to BN at the same wholesale price regardless of how much BN marks them up for retail. I didn't argue. End of an era.

Jfunk1

Correct. The clerk would not even look at the coupon, let alone try to scan it. I was confident the coupon would and still will scan. But, she wasn't having any of it. She said that the store got a memo not to accept any coupons on top of Membership discounts and 50% sale price, period. I didn't want to argue. Her body language suggested that despite her smile, she had zero patience for another coupon-holder trying to get an extra deal on top of the existing deal.

There are 3 BN stores in my area that sell movies. Two of them stopped accepting coupons during the Criterion sale one or two sales ago. This was the last holdout that still accepted coupons. Based on my interaction with the clerk, it sounds like that store is done with coupons moving forward. I explained that there is no exclusion for Criterion titles in the coupon language. She wouldn't even look at it or consider what I was saying. Her word was final.

Trevor

I'll definitely try to use the mailed out and one-time use coupons, but decided a couple years ago that those new membershïp coupons broke my moral code. If I get a new membership and get those coupons, I'd use them once; but using multiple ones, or even one on an old membership, is skirting the clear implication of the coupons.

hdnmickey

I've reported stores refusing to scan any coupons for Criterions during this sale many times before this current run. They act like I'm taking money personally out of their pocket by trying to use a coupon. And no, I don't have another B&N that sells movies (many around here don't) close enough to be considered a viable alternative. And even then, I drive all they way there only to be possibly be refused by them as well? No thanks.

Living Deadpan

I'll add some anecdotal evidence of my local B&N's media section. I don't know exactly when, but a few months ago they stopped having cashiers permanently stationed in the media section. In past Criterion sales when I placed a Store Pick-up, the DVD/BD was held behind the Media counter. When I went to pick up BEING THERE the other night I was told apologetically by a long-time media employee that they were holding my Blu-ray up front & I'd have to purchase it there. She didn't seem like she was enjoying her job nearly as much as she did the previous 5 years I stopped in for Criterion sales.

The local media clerks almost always found a way to make coupons work in the past, but these film-savvy employees are no longer the ones handling the cash register.

My 20% Member coupons didn't work on Criterions, so I only bought that one film for $17.99. No blind or impulse buys.

I miss those film-savvy media clerks! There was so much down time between customers that they were grateful to chat with us lone browsers, and grateful when us lone browsers ended up purchasing something! Coupon or no coupon!

I can only presume this is part of B&N's downsizing. Nowadays there's rarely a Media clerk present unless they're flitting in & out to restock shelves.

I've always avoided the "B&M stores will be closing" intuition, but the vibe was so totally different this time around. I don't think they even bother trying to sell memberships anymore. I mean, the current "perks" are a damned hard sell for $25.

Corporate's blowing it for some of the cooler people who work there.

sb5

...or it's just a part of the decline of physical media sales happening everywhere.

laidbacklarkin

Thanks for saving me a trip. Was planning to head out tonight to get 'The Lodger' and 'Heart of a Dog' with my member 20% off coupons. And yes, the store near me no longer has a clerk to check out in the Media dept.

Brooklyn

This is now the exact situation at my local store as well.

jjcool

This accompanied by their need to charge full retail for all their media is why that department is usually devoid of customers at my local store.

clappj

When is the last day of the sale estimated to be?

EinCB

August 7th.

DthRdrX

Well, I went in yesterday and they had just put out 5 or 6 copies of Stalker. I took one up to the front to check out and realized I left my wallet at home! Went home and had a message on the machine from the same store. My reserved copy of Mullhulland Dr. was finally in! Went right back up and got both.

I picked three more up today so I'm around 40 total for this sale so far. I'm pretty upset with one thing though. Since they closed the media registers in the back they had to put the larger sets out on the shelf instead of behind the counter. What did they do. Spider security wraps, which destroyed the packaging on every single title.

DthRdrX

The media section at my local store was never successful because of their pricing. Now my local Best Buy sells out of almost everything every Tuesday it seems.

The Antipodean

All right I've done my dash for this year

Before Trilogy
Speedy (Harold Lloyd)
Night of the Hunter
Kiss Me Deadly
The Red Shoes
Dazed and Confused
Slacker
Ghost World
The Lodger
Scanners

Been meaning to pick some of these up for ages....

sleepyhead55

I went to return a couple of things the other day and was shocked at how much they downsized the BD/DVD sections.

DVD's are now mixed in with the BD's and generally a mess to get through.

sb5

And, I'm finished...probably:

Eraserhead
Straw Dogs
Ghost World
Life Aquatic
Being There
Blow Up
Time Bandits

asianxcore

Went in for Round 2 today:

In Cold Blood (1967)
Dekalog (1989)
Blow Out (1981)

Still looking for a few films but I'll probably order them online unless I happen to be by another B&N store.

The Antipodean

Got my order today.

Completely the wrong blu-rays.



Fucking idiots.

JoeySeven

Agree,Criterion may put out some nice product.But no way are they worth $40 to most media buyers.They are over priced if B@N and Criterion.com both have A half off sale twice A year.And it kind of sucks not having A B@N close to my house.

I do own quiet A few Criterion's,but I hardly buy any more these days.
Limit funds.I have A bunch I still need to watch.I had three disc go bad.Sure they replaced them,but A gc to cover the shipping would have been nice.

Bought from Amazon
Woman of the Year and Two Lane Blacktop for $18 each.
Nothing from B@N this time.Plan to buy Ghost World down the road.

EinCB

When was the first 50% off sale? Back in 2008 or 2009, I bought my first few Criterions at the Virgin Megastore.

Probably at MSRP price, or maybe like at $30.

laidbacklarkin

You probably got someone else's order

cinemaman

Since I got a region free player, I am now buying Master of Cinemas instead of Criterion (where possible). Same (or better) PQ and extras, and regularly go for $10-13 USD. The money I have saved from stop buying so many Criterions have more than paid for the player...I only now get Criterions where there is no MOC equivalent (nor one planned)

laidbacklarkin

Another studio that releases great classic stuff on the Queen's side of the pond is BFI. And over the last year, I found that those UK product listings are available on Amazon.com as well, fulfilled by sellers in the UK but being charged the standard $3.99 US rate S/H. If you are ordering individual titles, it helps this way. I recently ordered 'The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands' for only $4.45 + $3.99 S/H fulfilled by a seller called Momox. Something to be aware of if you're ordering RegionB stuff from the USA (added advantage being you can use your points/credits as well)

laidbacklarkin

Forgot about these two 20% off member coupons completely. If anyone can find use for them, that'd be great. Both expire tonight

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