What's with all the "charging more for the 2-disk version" crap lately? (merged)
 

While most new 2-disk DVDs are the only version available and go for the sale price (usually around $15), movies like Constantine, Batman Begins, and now Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (just a few off the top of my head) have a single disk movie only version that goes for the sale price, while the 2-disk version is around $23.

I'm sure its just the studio's way of making more money, but I don't think its fair. Also, are these all from the same studio?

all three of those titles are warner brothers releases. Several companies are doing this....Disney with Life Aquatic, Fox with I <3 huckabees, and kinsey...paramount with Lemony Snickett.

home media retailing had a good article on it a few months back. When a store like best buy chareges 15.99 for a new release they stand to lose 2-3 dollars on every copy they sell. This is called a loss leader. They do it to get people in the door, and then charge them more on printer paper, washing machines, tvs....they figure that when you are ready to make a large purchase you will be most comfortable in their store since you come and pick your dvd's up there.

They assume this will get in the average customers, and they will buy the disc. It also makes fans of the movie, and dvd format pay a price that nets them a profit of 2-5 dollars on the disc.

they are in the business of making money. For you the dvd/film fanatic, it sucks. For them it makes sense.

Yes - they are all Warner Brothers movies.

Some of the reasons they might be doing it this way...
- believe it or not, the "average" person (which DOESN'T include most of the folks who post here) doesn't give a crap about special features, and only wants to see the movie. So the studio is aiming that single disc, with limted features version at them.
- Since they do know there are people (like us) who do want all the bonus features we can get, they offer up a 2 disc set. And since 's it's an "extra" disc, they naturally will charge more to cover the cost of it.
- Also, if you've noticed, all these "Special Editon" sets, have included an extra book (comic, or other), so you're getting even more - which also adds to the cost.
But basically it boils down to the theory of - if they're giving you more, they're going to charge more - if you want less, you'll pay less.

While we may not like it, unfortunately, it is completely fair - as it's the studios product, and they can set the prices at whatever they like. Just be glad they aren't even more expensive.

Is that the article where the Best Buy representative said that those of us that just come in and buy the loss leader stuff and not the over-priced material are "the enemy" and they'd rather not have our business?

I remember some article being posted here at DVD Talk with that quote, and it floored me. Not that they think of us as undesirable, we know that already. But that they'd have the balls to actually say it.

Warner Brothers didn't used to think this way when they released 2-disc only versions of Terminator 3, Matrix Reloaded, and Matrix Revolutions which all were priced at $15 during their release week.

What pisses me off is stores like Best Buy and Circuit City will usually price the single disc version to around $15, but they don't discount the 2-disc at all, even though the retail price difference between the 2 is usually $2.00

EXAMPLE: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 1-disc Retail: $28.98, Circuit City in-store price on release week: $14.99

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 2-disc Retail: $30.98, Circuit City in-store price on release week: $22.99

Is that 2nd disc really worth $8?

Futureshop here in Canada had a one day sale for Batman Begins DE at a great price. For me as long as there's warnings like these, I'm not too upset.

Oh I remember how everyone moans and cries when a company releases a one-disc version and then announces a 2-disc SE for 3 months later. I, for one, prefer that they give me the option right up front. Some movies I do for the 2-disc (Batman Begins) -- some movies I don't (probably Charlie and the Chocolate factory).

I say its a matter consumer choice and this way we have all the information in front of us.

Yeah it's crap, all right. The 2-disc version with all the extra material should cost the same as the 1-disc version! What do they think they're doing charging us extra for extra content?

Would it be fair if they just charge around $23 for ALL 2 disc sets from now on on release week?
If they wanna charge more for the two disc sets and sell the one disc DVDs on sale for $15-$16, I can understand that. For $15 I'm happy to get the movie, with or without commentaries. I bought Batman Begins last week for $15, the price of going to the movies to see it once with popcorn and a coke, and now it's mine to watch as many times as I'd like for years to come. I'd LIKE to see every movie released for $10, box sets for $20, but I don't think they're being unfair by charging what they choose to charge; people don't have to buy it if they don't like the price.

A second disc with extras such as shorts, interviews, promotional materials and they aren't giving it to us for free? MADNESS!!!

Exactly, because at long last, the retailers and studios are finally hip to the substantial submarket of megafans like you and I, and they're sticking it to us, improving their bottom line substantially, because they know we will pay it. It's smart marketing; I don't have to like it to appreciate that it's an intelligent business move.

i concur.
considering in most cases, we would buy the single release for $15 on release day, have the studio announce a speical edition released a month later, and then we would buy the special edition for $15. So...

$15+$15 = $30 + we have 2 of the same movie

-or-

$23 = $23 (i think i like this one better)

Like mentioned (although, not in full detail), Future Shop and Best Buy in Canada have had one day sales on Constantine, Batman Begins and on tuesday Charlie & The Chocolate factory... and on the sale, the 1disc and the 2 disc are the same price! (approx $22 CDN).

I think it's smart of WB to offer two options. Video stores don't give a damn about extras, so they buy the 1 disc (cheaper) and lots of people also don't care about extras, so they pick it up too. Now, it does cost them MONEY to make the supplements, so having to pay for them shouldn't come as a surprise... I would still buy the 2 discs no matter what, but the fact that here they are the exact same price on release day makes it a no brainer.

So, you're saying you like to pay for something now that used to be a given?

I'm more angry at the pricing.

If the 1-disc has a list price of $28.99, and sells for $14.99 in store, then the 2-disc that has a list price of $30.99, should sell for $16.99 in store, not $22.99

If they studios are telling us that the 2nd disc is such a bonus to us, then why are the retail prices only a difference of a couple of dollars? They're saying the bonus disc is only worth $2.

Not many things in life is fair. Just ways for companies to make more $$$

Do you like paying for anything? Life would be great if everything was free, wouldn't it? To suggest that it's unfair for the studios to charge extra for extra content is, frankly, absurd.

Now, if you want to argue that it's unfair for the studios to put forced trailers and annoying anti-piracy spots on the discs we paid for, then I would wholeheartedly agree with you.

What I have also noticed is that these more expensive films don't seem to drop in price as much. (Exception: Back to the Future Trilogy). These super multi-disc versions of films used to be a much higher price.

Look at, for example, the collector's edition of Master and Commander. Amazon has it for $36. :whofart: The single disc? $11.

And Magnolia, which is not anamorphic and does not really have a full 2nd disc of extras, is still above $20. (Often up to $25).

Seven is also still above $20 eventhough it's been out for over four years. The single disc, meanwhile, has dropped to $11.

Basically: They've figured out we want the loaded versions and are willing to pay for them.

The good news is that new re-releases (Big Lebowski, Tommy Boy, The Fly), all come in at already low prices (sub $15).

I also remember Best Buy saying they consider bargain-hunters to be undesirable customers. Funny that they're the ones running a game - lure you in with a low price on one thing in order to sell you something else - and they cry foul when the consumer gets wise to it.

While releasing both one and two disc editions at once can help avoid a double-dip, I also do not like this new trend. I'm usually more interested in the movie than any extra features, but I like having them available, because to me it makes buying the DVD more worthwhile. But I don't like paying more for something I may watch infrequently, if not only once. So I'm in a real pickle.

I made out lucky with Batman Begins DE, however. I got Best Buy to pricematch WalMart's $15 online price, so I got the two disc for the one disc price. Don't know how often that will work, or be available.

In the past, when studios (FOX) does the one-disc release and then the two-disc six months down the road, they usually release the two-disc version overseas (UK, Asia) at the same time we're getting the one disc. Therefore, you can usually just order the R2/R3 release for about $15-16 and get the bonus features with the first purchase.

I don't like this new pricing structure that WB and other studios has, and I've voiced that opinion in other threads. If I can find a better price buying from another region, I will, because that's one less R1 sale of the two-disc, and maybe they'll realize they should just add that second disc back into the standard release.

I don't love the studios and their too high prices any more than anybody else, but they're obviously targeting the DVD market that is buying for more than just the movie itself, and they know that market is out there just by seeing websites such as this one. It's something of a J6P extention.....the average buyer wants the movie and that's it, so why not save money by bringing out a single disc edition to market cheap to them rather than just a two disc set where everybody gets the disc whether they want/appreciate it or not? Does it suck? Well, sure it does. They're striking while the iron is hot.

By the same token, anyone who is willing to wait for those single disc versions for 6 months or so can usually pick them up for a new MSRP of $10 or so, and the old flagship titles are in many case practically being given away these days- I can walk into Walmart and by the T2 Extreme Edition and Aliens for frickin' $7.50 these days! Why? Because most everyone who wants these titles have already picked them up for more than twice that price.

Bad example--the best bargain price I could find for my THE BIG LEBOWSKI: Achiever's Edition was $35... ;)

No, what I'm saying is that its unfair that the 2nd disk used to be free, and now all of a sudden they decide to charge us for it. They had us spoiled. And now they have realized just how many people prefer extra content and have decided to capitalize on it.

Luckily none of these titles have been anything I've wanted to purchase yet.

Huh?

Well, if Batman Begins had been $14.99 for the 2-disk version, I may have been more compelled to buy it.

I was just curious and figured this would be a good topic for discussion.

Yup, makes it obvious that the studios are doing their homework and looking to see what their buying market consists of. If the buyer leaves those 2 disc higher titles on the shelves? I dunno. They'll either just go with one disc releases or they'll go back to not simultaneously releasing one and two disc editions. They HAVE been testing the waters for the last year or so by marketing 3 disc editions of some movies like Master And Commander- I guess they found a market there so they're trying to further squeeze that section of buyers?

Which is why I buy my two disc sets online. You can usually find a better deal, and another plus is that a lot of these two disc sets now are just coming with card board slip covers and not shrinkwrapped, so store stickers can actually damage the case if I peel them off wrong, or leave residue behind even if I don't tear the card board. Ordering online assures me I get a two disc set with the card board case sticker free. And I usually save more than I ever would at a brick and mortar store.

Which is really puzzling that the brick and mortars are doing this, because the people interested in these expanded editions are probably more likely to know about sites such as this and have already spent time researching the best prices online. Get Joe Six Pack to pay the extra bucks, not the collector who knows better!

Uh.

Magnolia is anamorphic.

And the second disc has a 90 minute documentary as it's "main" extra. I don't know about you, but most DVDs usually don't contain a 90 minute production diary.

It's not a bonus feature if you don't watch it! -wink-

It's a bit like french fries: nobody complains about paying to have them "supersized".
-wink-

I think everyone understands the idea behind charging more for more... but it's hard to take because of A) the disparity between the prices on the retailer's part, and B) it didn't used to be that way.

I agree this is indeed stupid. From what I've heard they might be charging more for the 2 disc Devil's Rejects which will piss me off if true. And then of course the recent Wizard of Oz the 3 disc was twice as much as the 2 disc...pissed me off!

Don't buy them!

Exactly! When I got Escape From New York as a big beautiful special edition for ten bucks I didn't grump because I got alot for cheap! I think this is their way of trying to get back some of the ridiculous amount of profit they were getting selling titles for more money and having more classic movies to release......then again now they have TV seasons that rake in enormous cash.....eh, who am I kidding, they just found a new angle and they're taking advantage of it!

It definitely sucks. They should just keep making only 2 disc versions as in the past. Now you have the 1 disc and 2 disc version that are generally with in 2 or 3 bucks of each other in MSRP (see the Corpse Bride thread here for examples). Then the retailers use the crappy barebones single disc as the loss leader and sell it for $15 bucks release week, and keep the price on the 2 disc one up more and sell it for $22-30. A gap wider than the gap in MSRP.

Annoying as hell and causes me to pass on something like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that I was on the fence about.

Not to mention you still have some studies putting out kick ass 2 disc dvds that get sold for $15. i.e. Star Wars Episode 3.

Which makes it that much harder to swallow paying more for similar product from other studios.

Same here. You lose WB!

When I find Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for five bucks in a pawn shop I'll pick it up then. So they lose the sale....I'm not paying more for 2 disc editions, I can live just fine with their movie only loss leader (such as Batman Begins) myself.

I'm not!

Huh? When was it ever a "given" that the studio would release a 2-disc and a 1-disc at the same price?

Never was. Used to be there would be the 2 disc edition or a 1 disc and that would be all she wrote. Ya bought what was on the rack, and there were no other choices.

As was mentioned earlier, it IS nice that studios are releasing 1,2 and 3 disc sets at the same time, at their first release, rather than waiting 3 months and slapping the sucker on the street again for double-dippage, ala' Sin City, Electra, Hellboy and the likes. IF releasing a deluxe 2 disc set would curtail the practice of doing so, a 2-3 disc uber edition for a little more money at first release would be an improvement.