Weekly RoundUp 9/21/04 (FULL & COMPLETE) (1 Viewer)

[Mike Frezon]

I sense something. A presence I've not felt since...
–James Earl Jones as Darth Vader (Star Wars – 1977)



[c]The Weekly RoundUp[/c]
[C]
_____________TITLE___________ _ _Amazon _ BestBuy _ CrcCity _ Target_ _ Costco_
**Star Wars Trilogy 4-Disc_ _ $41.49 __ $42.99 __ $44.99 __ $44.99 __ $43.99 __
[/c]

Other Brick & Mortar stores:

Fry's: $36.99 (TUESDAY ONLY!)
CompUSA: $39.99
K-Mart: "Low Price"
Eckerd Drug Store: $49.99

On-Line Retailers:

Outpost.com:$36.99 ($4.83 Ground shipping) (1 per customer)
DVDImport.com:$39.86 (free S&H)
DeepDiscountDVD.com:$41.88 (free S&H)
Walmart.com:$41.88 (5.89 S&H)
Overstock.com:$40.99 ($1.40 S&H)
BestBuy.com: $42.99 ($1.25 S&H)
SamsClub.com:$44.88
Buy.com:$44.95 (free S&H)
DVDSoon.com:$44.96 (free S&H)
Circuitcity.com: $44.99 (free S&H)
DVDPlanet.com:$44.99 ($1.80 S&H)
The Laser’s Edge:$48.99 ($3.00 USPS S&H)
Coconuts.com: $49.99 (free S&H)(SEE REBATE INFO BELOW!)



Titles included in Collections listed in the above RoundUp:

Star Wars Trilogy: Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.

**BE CAREFUL! The Star Wars Trilogy is available in both OAR and MAR versions...get the correct one. Here’s a tip, Star Wars fans: Look for the black and silver box. Stay away from the black and gold box!

--Amazon offers free shipping on purchases over $25. If you participate in Amazon’s “Share the Love” Program, the price drops to about $37 (free S&H).

--Amazon.com is also offering a deal on the joint purchase of the Trilogy and THX-1138. Buy the Trilogy ($41.99) and THX-1138 ($18.89) for $57.88. $42 + $19 = $61. $61 - $58 = $3 savings.

--FYE is offering a price of $35 – after a $15 mail-in rebate – BUT THE REBATE IS AVAILABLE ONLY ON A PRE-ORDER. It is also reported that FYE is offering a free Star Wars poster with the purchase. Coconuts.com…another TransWorld operation…is offering an even better deal. AND WHAT MAY TURN OUT TO BE THE BEST DEAL AVAILABLE!!! HERE is a link to Coconuts.com for the Trilogy. HERE is a link to the $15 rebate form.
HERE is a link to a coupon for Coconuts.com which gives you 10%off your first purchase with them. If you’ve never made a purchase at Coconuts.com before…you can pay $50 up front…get 10% off bringing the price to $45…and then subtract the $15 mail-in rebate bringing the final price to $30. If you are willing to follow all the steps and dot the I’s and cross the t’s…you could do pretty well with this. For anyone with reservations about cutting up the packaging to send the UPC code to TransWorld for the rebate…that is NOT necessary. The price sticker on the cellophane wrap outside the packaging will suffice.

--Best Buy is offering a free copy of Star Wars Insider Magazine. Minimum 160 per store. No rainchecks. Offer varies on-line.

--bestbuy.com is offering a FREE copy of the mockumentary DVD R2-D2 with the PRE-ORDER purchase of the Trilogy.

--Blockbuster Video is offering a deal to buy the Trilogy and get seven rentals for $59.

--Toys ‘R Us is offering a FREE $10 gift card with the purchase of the Trilogy ($49.99)

--Ya gotta know that Wal-Mart (and probably other stores) will be price-adjusting constantly to make this title a huge loss leader for them.

--This post includes the actual in-store prices for the brick & mortar stores. They are posted in the abbreviated grid above.




[c]The “Rest of” The Weekly RoundUp[/c]
[C]
_____________TITLE___________ _ _Amazon _ BestBuy _ CrcCity _ Target_ _ Costco_
500 Nations_________________ _ $52.18 __ $69.99 __ $49.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Andromeda Season 4.2________ _ $32.78 __ $25.99 __ $34.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Asylum of the Damned________ _ $21.72 __ $22.99 __ $24.97 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Battle of Algiers (CC)______ _ $34.96 __ $44.99 __ $39.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Carandiru___________________ _ $26.06 __ $_N/A_ __ $24.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Coffee & Cigarettes_________ _ $20.99 __ $15.99 __ $22.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Conan/Adventurer: Comp. Ser. _ $43.49 __ $36.99 __ $39.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
The Country Girl____________ _ $13.04 __ $_9.99 __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Epidemic (1988)_____________ _ $26.06 __ $24.99 __ $24.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Felicity: Season 3__________ _ $41.99 __ $69.99 __ $44.99 __ $44.99 __ $_N/A_ __
How To Draw a Bunny_________ _ $20.99 __ $24.99 __ $24.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
John Cassavetes 5 Films(CC)_ _$108.71 __$119.99 __$124.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
King Solomon’s Mines (2004)_ _ $13.99 __ $14.99 __ $17.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
La Dolce Vita: 2-disc SE____ _ $24.49 __ $29.99 __ $29.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
MADtv: Season 1_____________ _ $27.99 __ $29.99 __ $29.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
**Mean Girls________________ _ $20.97 __ $15.99 __ $17.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __
Mr. Show: Season 4__________ _ $24.49 __ $27.99 __ $24.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Popular: Season 1___________ _ $41.99 __ $49.99 __ $44.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
The Rose Tattoo_____________ _ $13.04 __ $_9.99 __ $12.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Roseland (Merchant Ivory)___ _ $17.36 __ $14.99 __ $15.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Twentynine Palms____________ _ $26.08 __ $24.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
What Alice Found____________ _ $26.08 __ $24.99 __ $19.99 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
Zero Focus__________________ _ $17.36 __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __ $_N/A_ __
[/C]

Titles included in Collections listed in the above RoundUp:

John Cassavetes Five Films: Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Opening Night.


Standard disclaimer: All prices are taken from the websites of each chain, or from their printed advertisements, the Sunday of the week of release (so as to catch any week-of-release sale prices). All prices are subject to change by each chain. Prices and inventory in-store may or may not match the website price. If a price is marked "$_N/A_" in the grid, it means that this title is not shown as available on that chain's website or perhaps in their ads...but it COULD still be in-stores!

$_"LP" means the advertisement says "Low Price", and $_"HP" means the advertisement says "Hot Price". Use of either of these in the Roundup grid indicates that I could not locate a definite price for the item, and the ad is all I have to go on. Retailers use these phrases in advertisements so that they do not violate MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) agreements with the studios. Doing so can cost them thousands or even millions of dollars in co-op advertising funds.

I only include the titles I feel like including (or the ones Dave tells me he's looking for ;o)). In fact, the titles are pretty much the ones I'm personally interested in, with few exceptions. I don't get paid for this, and I don't have time to devote to doing every DVD. So, please don't complain. If there is a title not included in the Roundup that you want to see, just look it up yourself, and be nice enough to post and share the results with everyone...like Dave & I do!

Note that Circuit City does not guarantee their sale prices in Hawaii. Also note that I cannot include Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club prices in the standard Roundup: they set prices at individual stores based on nearby competition, so there is not a way I can say here what price you'll find at YOUR local Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club location. When it comes to Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club prices mentioned at all, just remember that "Your Mileage May Vary".


**BE CAREFUL! Mean Girls is available in both OAR and MAR versions...get the correct one.

--Amazon is still featuring free shipping on orders over $25. Restrictions apply.

--Interestingly, there are many discrepancies this week between the prices posted at bestbuy.com and in the weekly Best Buy flyer. This leads me to believe there are going to be more differences showing up between prices posted on-line and those found in an actual Best Buy B&M store.

--Best Buy is offering a FREE bonus “burn book” on-pack with the Mean Girls DVD. Minimum 60 per store. No rainchecks.

--Target is offering a FREE fifteen minute phone card on-pack with the purchase of the Mean Girls DVD. Quantity limited. No rain checks.

-------------------------

The latest markdowns according to DavisDVD:

EFFECTIVE: September 21, 2004 (Studio/Titles/New SRP)

None to report this week. Guess there was something else going on.

 

[Patrick Sun]

Circuit City on sale DVD items:

$8.99 each:
The Abyss
Blade
Blade Runner
Core
Dungeons and Dragons
Fugitive
Last Man Standing
Predator 2
Spaceballs
Terminator

$19.99 each:
Home on the Range
Man on Fire
Passion of the Christ
Scooby Doo 2

$44.99:
Indiana Jones Trilogy

------

Best Buy on sale DVD items:

$12.99 each:
Atlantis: Milo's Return
Lilo and Stitch
Pocahontas Gold Collection
Stitch the Movie

$19.99 each:
Home on the Range
Kill Bill Vol 2
Man on Fire
Passion of the Christ
THX 1138

$22.99
Episode 1: The Phantom Menace
Episode 2: Attack of the Clones

--------

Target on sale DVD items:

Other Target DVD Prices

2 for $15:
Ghostbusters
Mr. Deeds
My Best Friend's Wedding
One Hour Photo
Panic Room (Superbit coverart is on the ad)
Saving Silverman
So I Married An Axe Murder
Stand By Me
Wedding Planner

2 for $20:
Animal House (latest edition)
Cat in the Hat
Cheaper by the Dozen
LXG
Master and Commander (1 disc)
Old School
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
Runaway Jury
Stuck on You

Season sets

$17.99 each:
Chappelle Show Season 1
Reno 911 Season 1

$19.99:
In Living Color Season 1

$22.99:
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Volume 2

$29.99 each:
Family Guy Volume 1
Simpsons Season 4

$34.99 each:
Everybody Loves Raymond Season 1
Sex and the City Part 1 Season 6
South Park Season 4

 

[Joe-Frietze]

Wow Mike, as always, you are on top of your game.
Thanks for all the hard work.
Star Wars from Amazon for me it looks like w/ STL

-Joe

 

[Mike Frezon]

Thanks, Joe! We've had a lot of fun this week tracking down the best Star Wars deals...with some investigating still-to-do...

I'm looking forward to The Country Girl, too.

 

[Grant H]

The Best Buy price tag looks suspiciously like it's on the video game, not the Trilogy, but 42.99 is the same price it lists for on the website.

 

[Mike Frezon]

Grant: what you have noticed is a popular game that's played by many of the stores now in their flyer ads. They carefully list "Low Price" or "Special Value", but then place the item side-by-side an identically-priced item and make it look like the price for the second item really refers to both items--which it, in fact, does. This allows the stores flexibility in dealing with pricing structures from the studios AND makes it kinda hard to price-match at the same time.

Clever, huh? Target does the same thing this week with the Trilogy and Felicity. The Trilogy is listed as "Low Price", but Felicity: Season 3 (located in the ame graphical box) is listed at $44.99. A quick glance would make you think both items are $44.99--which they are--the store is just not coming directly out and telling you. It also gives them some wiggle-room if they want to competitively change their store price closer to the sale. Remember, these flyers are put to bed a long time in advance of publication.

 

[Dillon*G]

Mad TV:Season 1,Mean Girls,and Star Wars Trilogy for me.

Thanks a lot Mike

 

[Grant H]

Hmm..Actually tempted to drive all the way to BB to get the Insider magazine. Then again, I might be sick Tuesday.How could I make that drive if I was sick?

Disappointed Eckard's isn't having the super price like they did with Indy. Guess the stunt didn't earn them enough money. Managed to piss off a lot of other stores that had to price match though. I'll have to call Wally World in the morning and find out what they're selling it for. My K-Mart too. Every now and then they have a good price on something big or give you some free soda or something. Of course, my K-Mart didn't even know what THX-1138 was. They didn't have it. Even though I told the woman I wanted the 2 disc DVD edition, she asked me if it was a music CD. Picked it up at Wal-Mart for $19.99, as low as it was at any B & M.

If either store has a substantially better price it will mean I can star watching 1 to 2 hours earlier.

 

[Michael_Gu]

Star Wars, Coffee & Cigarettes and Mean Girls for me. What's with Circuit City's insane price of 24.99 for Mean Girls? At least try to stay somewhere in the same ballpark as Best Buy.

 

[Scott Weinberg]

Mike,

Thanks for the great tip on the Coconut's deal! Only problem is that the website its giving me a hard time. Whenever I try to check out, it asks me for a new address. I've entered my address several times, but it just keeps asking! Argh. I'll try again tomorrow. 30 bucks after rebate is worth the effort.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

Ho hum....nothing interesting this week. Maybe La Dolce Vita if life is sweet enough for me.

 

[Scott Shanks]

Star Wars
Nothing but Star Wars
If they should bar wars
Let this one stay

 

[Mark Richter]

Star Wars from GameStop

$49.99 - 20 = 29.99 + Uncle Sam

$20 off = 3 trade in DVD's

Got rid of Amelie and 2 IMAX clones

 

[Ted Kontos]

Hasn't Battle of Algiers been delayed to October 12? According to Digital Eyes, it has.

Ted

 

[Howard Glenn]

Mike,


As usual you go above and beyond the call of duty!!!!

Thanks for all your investigative skills and hardwork...it's appreciated by all!!!!!!!!!!!!


H

 

[george kaplan]

Thanks Mike.

Mean Girls and, of course, Star Wars for me. I made a mistake last time a big title came out, of getting to Wal-Mart early and getting them to price match CompUSA, which was lower than what they were selling it for. But later that day, that same Wal-Mart had dropped it's price to below what CompUSA had. I'll give Wal-Mart a chance to go low, and if they don't, then I'll get a price match.

 

[JackKay]

Mike, once again great job!!!

It was some time tracking down these prices. Sorry you don't have a Fry's near you for Tuesday, but there is still Wallyworld.

 

[Craig Beam]

Mark, I also did the Game Stop thing... however, I have a bad feeling they won't have the trilogy on the release date. I took Tuesday off from work, so any later than 9/21 just doesn't work for me! When I asked, the guy kinda went blank for a second, then said "Uh......yeah. Definitely. I'm sure we will."

Hmmmmmm. "I have a bad feeling about this," murmurs the voice of Han Solo in the back of my mind.

I guess I'll find out very soon. If nothing else, there's a Fry's Electronics just a couple miles away. If Game Stop doesn't come through, it'll only be 7 bucks more at Fry's... plus I'll have 20 bucks in store credit at Game Stop (my son will gladly use it, too!)

 

[willyh]

Being a new customer to Coconuts.com I decided to order Star Wars from them and everything went smoothly, except I did have to pay sales tax (inspite of the fact that there is no Coconuts store in Arizona.) Oh well, just under $34 delivered is still an excellent price.

 

[Tim_P_76]

Hmm...Today my Best Buy flyer has listed SW for 51.99!! No 42.99 for this NJ area= NO SALE. I'm gonna try Gamestop!