OAR ACTION SQUAD: Your mission, if you choose to accept it...

As an ammendment to this, I think it would also be a great idea if we all made a point, for all DVDs where there are dual OAR and non-OAR releases, of buying them at places like this. Of course, we'd be buying the widescreen.

Even if this means taking a hit of an extra buck or two on the purchase, I think we have a chance of getting something accomplished in the long run.

 

A little creative rearranging might not hurt either...

 

Well, I'll be sliding a few widescreens in front anyway. Nothing massive. I already do it anyway.

 

Sorry, some rearranging MAY have to be applied.

I have been surveying Best Buys, BJ's Warehouse and WalMart's in my area and have found that most have had WS but no longer. WHen reviewing the racks, they may have some WS but since there are only 5 or 6 copies, they are behind FS versions.

However, on the good note. Each place was not because FS was the predominate purchase - I was told by the store manager/clerk that the WS always outsells the FS version - especially the week it is released.

IN all the Best Buys, Spy Games WS was all but gone. The FS version was in plenty - but no one was purchasing. I told the manager that he should return some of the FS versions and replace with WS - but he said that coporate policy dictates to keep the FS - and just re-order more WS eventually. I told him doing that gives a false reading to the studios - since they think that FS is being purchased in numbers - but in reality - are just sitting on the shelves.

As far as Princess Diaries - I asked - he told me that like Willy Wonka and Cats and Dogs, the FS sold better because they didn't get the WS until much later (nearly two weeks later). In the case of WW and Cats&Dogs - it was more like 2-3 months later.

Now - where are the studios getting there information from?

 

I'm in as much as I can. When I get my camera back from the Repair Shop, I'll be snapping a few pics.

 

Be careful about snapping photos in these stores. Sometimes they get rather nasty about people taking photos or writing down price information.

 

I can understand a "no picture taking" policy, but if any store gets upset with you writing down prices, you shouldn't shop at that store anymore.

 

Be sure to show how Super-35 works for both of these titles.

 

Well let me tell give you some heads up.
If your taking pictures in these stores I will guarantee you will be asked to leave. In my store I would personally ask you to leave or get security to do it for me. What would you do if someone showed up at your house and started taking pictures of your cars?
As far as writing down prices that will get you tossed as well if it appears you are comp shopping, we all do it in retail we just do it covertly.
In my store you will never or very rarely find cardboard displays with new releases. I hate these things and tear them down and place all of my product in a new release section, if it is a dual release such as Spy Game widescreen goes on the right, P&S on the left or WS on top and P&S on the bottom.
As far as asking for sales you probably won’t get much accomplished with that either but I will tell you what is happening in my store.
Spy game in WS sold twice as much as the PS version; A.I. sold about 20% more. Movies such as Princess Diaries, Jurassic Park III and American Pie tend to favor PS by a small margin. Don’t know why but I think it’s the dreaded J6P spending that welfare cash. When Remember the Titans was released it sold twice the amount of WS as PS and the widescreen copy is now the only one we sell. On dual releases we ALWAYS get copies of both movies. That should hold true for the other stores as well, if you can’t find it just dig a little. Generally the folks who do the stocking (my store the exception) could care less or don’t know the difference.
As far as buying the widescreen copy on your covert mission to WM, Target, KM, CC, BB ec. don’t worry about having to spend more, just take an ad and have them price match it. Heck if you shop my store you could walk out the door this week with Ali and NATM for less than $15.50 and JM for less than $16.50. (David Lambert sure does make my job easy)
Here are some tips from someone at store level who is trying to fight the good fight.
Ask to post a copy of the Widescreen Advocate’s flyers.
Spend some time talking to the department head, tell him your concerns, educate him, go to his or hers store on a weekly basis. Don’t berate him or try to make him feel small by your incredible knowledge of something he or she knows little of and more that likely could care less about. Follow the above, develop a positive customer relationship with them and you will be surprised at what will happen. I have always loved movies but never really had an interest in home theater until a friend took me for a ride on his. I was hooked. A suggestion would be to offer to demo your theater. Show the difference in WS and PS and you might just create a rabid monster thatt will join our crusade.

Even more important, If you REALLY want to have your concerns heard do not do it a store level. Hit the phones, the email or snail mail. Talk to the buyers who purchase the product for the stores. This is where change will take place. This is what J6P does. We should as well.
Scott,
Somewhere in New Mexico.
PS, it might not hurt to give the department head the address to this forum as well.

 

I don't think studio's really care wheter the WS/PS versions are being given a fair chance. The only thing that will work, is for the demand of WS to go up! The only way for us to do that, is for us to create demend. Here is what I think we should do.

Pick a dual release, pick a retailer, and us all go out and buy as many copies as we can on that day/week. Totally boycott all other retailer/DVD's that week.

Then the next time a dual release comes out, pick a different retailer.

 

Here's my (shady and sleazy) idea:

Go to a store that seems to be leaning towards full-screen releases (Wal Mart, etc.) Get a huge armload or cart full of full-screen DVD's (preferably ones that aren't stocked at that location in widescreen). Go to the cashier and allow them to be rung up and get your credit card out like you are going to pay. Then, right before you hand the cashier your card or slide it or whatever say "These are all in widescreen, right?" When you find out that none of them are, act shocked and upset, firmly state you ONLY purchase widescreen DVD's and walk out of the store. The cashier will have to void out a multi-hundred dollar order and stores HATE doing credits like that. The manager will find out, everything will have to be explained, etc. That will definitely get the message across (especially if you do that several times a week!).

 

Matt, even though that would piss off some people especially in line to purchase something it is a hell of an idea !
bodymov'n