Re: WHV Press Release: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)
Of course, for those of us who spent the late 80s thru the mid 90s collecting laserdiscs, paying ~$60 for a high definition copy of this film loaded with tons of extra a/v content, is still a bargain.
Compared to 10 years of DVD buying, though, the value is severely neutered.
I get the small pool of buyers = higher cost paradigm.
I think what Warner doesn't get is that they could modify that and come out farther ahead.
Instead of $85 for the deluxe edition, why not make it outrageously deluxe, hand signed by the last surviving munchkins grandson, and outrageously priced, at something like $125 or $150? There are a certain segment of hardcore title-centric collectors for whom desirability is stimulated by the price tag. The more exclusive something is priced, the more desirable is becomes.
If they have to sell 50,000 units at $30 msrp, 17,500 units at $85 msrp, then they would only have to move 9,000 at $150.
The thing is though, that would open up the ability to release a stripped down version at a still premium priced $50 or $60 and still foster the perception that it is 'a bargain' purchase.
If that is in fact an interior case that can be removed and put on the shelf so that I can toss the rest of it in the closet- then I may yet bite on this. I sold off my 2 disc set way back in 2006 in anticipation of this release and I'm getting really anxious to be able to see it again.
Not only that, but it looks like the flood of great catalog that was anticipated (Alien, Ben Hur, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, and others) in Q4 isn't coming after all. Looks like there will be more room in the budget, for a big box o' junk.