. . . do they know something about the future of standard DVDs that we don't?

There really have been a lot of pretty good sales lately.

I was worried that you'd be posting yet another sale, my wallet can't handle that right now-

I've been wondering the same thing myself. I wonder if their surplus in stock is so huge that with the coming of HDDVD, they've decided to try and get rid of as much as they can... I just don't know - but I have taken as much advantage as possible...

I say buy up. HDDVD's aren't going to be 5.99 for a looooooooong time.

I doubt it has anything to do with the new formats... There's been what? 30 or 40 titles announced for each? ..I think it's about on pace with the amount of sales they've done in the past...

There have been more DDD sales than in the past, but it has anything to do with HD-DVD. There haven't been any even released yet, though they've been pushed back for a year, and no one really knows what the consumer will do. Did anyone sell off CD's before DVD-A and SACD were released? Nope. A good thing too.

And if industry market research is anything to go by, they will do everything they can to dramatically alter the pricing models by playing with short release dates, HD pay per view, tiered release strategies (the current enhanced/bare bones followed by special editions are just to start the lobsters in cold water now so they get desensitized for the next phase) in rental and sale markets etc to push up prices as much as possible for the next generation formats.

Are you suggesting studios are going back to VHS rental-tiered pricing?

They'd be shooting themselves in the foot. With a 50-caliber rifle.

I doubt it does either.

I also thought this thread was going to mention another sale

No but they appear to want to explore day and date theatrical, HD pay per view and bare bone rental/sell-through releases with the home viewing options being extremely expensive ($40+) and then re-release the titles with extras 6 months down the road at a $30 level.

I'm concerned the double dips in the last year or so have been to soften the blow and train consumers for their future desires and price ranges if they can pull it off.

I think discounters have permanatley lowered prices. Most consumers arent going to pay $30 to $40 when they were used to paying $15 to $19. The quality difference is not worth that much.

I think the sales are more than likely driven by the increased competition and the studios racing sale prices down due to slow sales. I just read an article about slow dvd sales. Thats more than likely the driving factor.

doesn't bother me, i am always game for more dvd's on sale!