Intrada Soundtrack Forum

I think I understand where Doug is coming from. I, too, find it difficult to keep up with all the varying editions and exclusives. In fact, sometimes it's down-right brutal with so many versions being released. I buy a lot of Blu-rays myself, but I don't focus much of my attention, however, on the digital copies, slipcovers, differing artworks, bonus music CD, etc.. I own over 600 titles right now on the format (mostly catalog favorites in which I grew up with), and I always reassure myself of what's really important to me: my enjoyment for the film, its picture, and perhaps a wealth of special features explaining the making of the film, for which I always watch after seeing the movie.

I often read online about what a lot of collectors tend to obsess over when it comes to the Blu-ray format, and it's just not for me. What I like the most about Blu-ray, aside from the improved picture and sound, is how safe I feel with the discs--the lack of potential scratches and its possible longevity over DVD and VHS. I really feel this may indeed be the last physical format for films, and it's nice knowing they aren't too susceptible to scratches or loss of some kind, something that would drive me nuts. These things make me feel like it's worth collecting the titles, or investing my money into the technology. But all the huge Casablanca, Wizard of Oz, Ben Hur, Willy Wonka-styled box sets--I just cannot justify them. I'm not interested in shot glasses, pop-up books, character replicas, or the likings of such space-consuming things. And this is coming from someone who adores film. I just know how cumbersome collecting those kind of things can become, and I don't have the energy. Besides, I spend enough energy on trying to get older catalog titles I want in my collection before they go out of print--something movies are not invincible to anymore. Look at World Trade Center, Zodiac, Ladybugs, Fright Night, The Monster Squad; all are now out of print. Things slip away fast, and you cannot wait too long these days, especially since we cannot be certain they'll be released again. Paramount seems to be one of the quickest trigger-fingers in the industry. If you like a catalog Paramount title that has arrived on Blu-ray, do not hesitate. It may cost you dearly. I absolutely keep up with my Blu-ray news sites fairly well because of this.

And these big-box stores wonder why online retailers are clobbering them into the ground. I highly doubt my Target or Wal-Mart is going to have Little Shop of Horrors (which, last I checked, is still pretty popular), certainly not for the $23.99 Amazon's offering. So screw 'em, I'll give Amazon my money.

My local BEST BUY told me that the first person in the door on release day walked in and bought ALL the JAWS exclusive digibooks ... which amounted to something like 10 copies. (Now they're selling for $40-50 on eBay, of course.) I was offered a standard disc instead, but passed and went to the grocery store next door to buy it. The next time BEST BUY has a limited edition digi-doohicky set -- something that might actually have persuaded me to go out of my way to give them my money instead of closer and more convenient alternatives -- they can count on me to stay home.

I don't have Blu Ray and discovered that most of the extras on the Avengers release -- a short film, deleted scenes, outtakes, some documentaries -- are only available on the Blu Ray edition. It is a ploy by the studios to get you to upgrade to DVD and then rebuy your library. Since image quality has not been enough to force the issue of upgrading (at the higher price point), now it's extra features. Since the extra features are something you usually only watch once, for me that's not enough. I had to get a copy for my office (I won't bore you with the reasons) so I got the office the Blue Ray and watched the special features there, then got myself the DVD...

On the other hand, Target has over 1700 stores. So even just an initial 10 per store is SEVENTEEN THOUSAND copies. And no doubt they add tens of thousands more when they re-stock. Sounds like they were accepting orders, so what's wrong with ordering and waiting a few days for it to arrive? That's what we are all obliged to do for our soundtracks.

It's sobering to reflect that a soundtrack run of 3000 copies would not be enough to supply Target alone with even a mere two copies per store.

In the case of Best Buy and JAWS, I was more irked by the lack of a limitation policy than the low quantity. (Although the low quantity was admittedly annoying.) The idea that the first person in the gate was able to buy ALL of the store's copies to (presumably) scalp on eBay is very frustrating. More power to him, I suppose, but it does Best Buy no favors; the only lesson I learned was not to bother making the trip if I don't have a reserved copy waiting for me. (In this case, I had a coupon that wouldn't have applied to a pre-order; I was unaware of the extreme limitation, and assumed that being there within an hour after opening would be ample time.)

This may be related to a ploy used by several chain stores in the 90s which I became aware of because I worked at a Tower Records at the time.

A Wal-Mart or Target or similar such chain would get a desirable video release, such as the Beatles Anthology set. They would then advertise it at less than cost and only have each store stock one or two. By the time they would be restocked, the sale would be over, but in the meantime, the people that came in to the store to get the Beatles Anthology may not get what they wanted, but they might shop for other stuff "as long as they were there."

We became aware of it because people would come in to our store with the Target sale price and try to get us to price-match, which we could not do because we would be taking a significant loss on the item (price-matching was never part of Tower's policy anyway). However, one of the employees said to a particularly insistent customer that if he wanted the sale price listed, he should go to Target and if they actually had it in stock, he would buy it for him.

They didn't.

Just got back from my local Target and it had at least 30 Avengers exclusive copies left, six days into the premiere. It's possible that some stores received more copies than others. Chain store distribution seems to work independently from movie studios in determining the amount and placement. What seems even more typical is how the Target and Walmart exclusives can only be had on the Blu-ray 2D set. If you want 3D AND the exclusive, you'd better have a long talk with your wallet.

As for this new limited-variable age we live in... don't get me started on Star Wars collecting. Blu-ray ain't got on that.

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HOLY GRAILS
Twice Upon a Time
Rock & Rule
Sunbow/Marvel cartoon scores (Johnny Douglas)
The Big Picture
Blame It on Rio
An American Werewolf in London/Thriller
The Last Boy Scout
My Science Project
A Brief History of Time
Troy (Yared)
The Withces

Sorry but this issue with Target's edition of the AVENGERS needs cleared up I grazed over the posts and I think everyone is missing a HUGE piece of information.

Right before the Avengers release there was an issue of some sort regarding the supposed TARGET edition coming with the bonus Disc or was it the digital copy for 19.99 anyhow something was messed up and all they had was the BLU + DVD copy and not one with the digital copy. (Something along these lines) No keep in mind the 3D + BLU + DVD + Digital Copy retails for $49.99. It was originally advertised I believe around $24.99.

Ok so when the mess up was kind of acknowledged which was I think before the Sunday ad for that week was posted TARGET and I am Sure Disney started scrambling. What to do? Well they posted notices in the store etc that because of the said issue they would be selling the 3D + BLU + DVD + Digital Copy Version with the Bonus Target Exclusive disc for $19.99 ! Ok lets just say Target kind of whipped Best Buys ass and slightly Amazon's because Best Buys price on that edition in store for release was $29.99! So everyone scrambled to Target. I think it was by the end of the day Tuesday Amazon had dropped their price on that same set to $19.99 and the regular blu + DVD was at $19.96! It was crazy to say the least.

Needless to say I grabbed a copy for a friends B-Day and I honestly didn't know how sold out it was until Wednesday. I stopped at a Target after work and I live in the MN Twin Cities where there is a Target location every 2 miles. I happened to go into a Target that shelves were filled up front and in the electronics dept with the title. I was surprised. I had the guy in the dept open the anti theft case on a copy because I was checking to see if the slip cover was in good shape. As I paid for it he said you are really lucky to get this. We were out yesterday and we got in about 180 copies today and that is all we are getting with the bonus disc included for the Target edition.

I was running errands with a friend same even and we stopped at 2 more Target's for something and neither Target had any of those editions on the shelf. I was really lucky at that one location and didn't know it.

Needless to say this Avengers Target issue a lot of things occurred over it. Wasn't poor ordering so much as a whole issue between Target and Disney over that edition that ok'd for the ad. Since Disney has to sign of on the ads etc. it was a massive issue. I mean Target did amazing sales on the title for sure but it was NOT supposed to be that price.

For the Jaws Digibook whenever a store does a exclusive Digibook release or Steelbook usually you need to be there when the doors open that Tuesday. E.T. is the 9th at Best Buy for their Digibook and Target has a Steelbook version. My local Best Buy got in 4 Digis of Jaws the first day. Locations got more copies restocked but you had to always check.

Lots of cool feedback. One thing I harped on that some readers appear to have missed was my frustration with so many versions of a given title. I guess I can't complain if I miss out on a random limited title announced in advance but I am frustrated at pre-ordering the title someplace only to find a version with different features at some other place and yet still another different version up for sale somewhere else. Sorry but that's NOT like what's been happening in soundtracks, Basil. I think you skipped over that point in my comments.

This isn't just about staying on top of pre-orders, it's about making the marketplace really messy. Like everyone else, I have friends who try to keep up with video. But they definitely hate what's happening out there.

Oh, and in the case of JAWS, ordering on line didn't appear to be an option out here in Oakland.

As I also said, would soundtrack fans like it if every label issued the same soundtrack to any given title but each label had different extra tracks? Of course not. You'd be screaming about having to buy four different albums! But that very thing is happening in video. I'm not excited about that.
--Doug

I went to Target today, and there was an abundance of the Exclusive 'Avengers' available. I was actually dropping in to pick up Lana Del Rey's Born to Die CD, for which I admired. Target had yet another exclusive going on with that particular record--two bonus tracks. I wasn't aware of this; I was simply just looking for her 12-track release, so it was a nice surprise. However, upon looking over the Avengers' Blu-rays--for which I ended up buying since I was there and hadn't picked up the film yet--I couldn't help notice, for the millionth time, a practice I wish Target would abandon. When it comes to slipcovers and their anti-theft containers, it would seem to be a marriage made in Hell. I took a picture on my phone of what I'm referring to; it's something I have little patience for and cringe upon seeing.