Press Release SPHE Press Release: Gandhi (1982) (4k UHD Combo SteelBook) (1 Viewer)

[TheMovieDude]

They're matching the 4K/UHD pricing of Arrow and Criterion.

But Criterion and Arrow both have bi-annual 50% Off Sales. So technically their 4ks are $25.

 

[TheMovieDude]

A $49 MSRP is not an unfair price for 2 4k UHD discs, a 2k Blu and a features disc, all wrapped in a Steelbook.

What set the alarm bells and sirens off for me is that I think $49.95 MSRP is the highest Sony has ever gone before for a 4k steelbook. Does anyone remember what the Lawrence of Arabia or Taxi Driver 4k steelbooks were originally released at? I'm pretty sure it was $39.99?

 

[Robert Crawford]

But Criterion and Arrow both have bi-annual 50% Off Sales. So technically their 4ks are $25.

You're moving the goal posts with your argument.

 

[JoshZ]

I'm well aware that it's not charity so I don't need to find an alternative pass time but since it isn't a charity, that just raises the question of why drive the price higher by adding space taking booklets, mini-reproductions and larger cases? Unless that crap is so cheap that the $10 or $20 extra is basically a scam to make more money. Personally, I'd rather just get charged the extra money and chalk it up to licensing costs than pay extra for a box to take up more space.

I mean Sliver is not a good movie and adding a box and booklet isn't going to make it a good movie.

We've reached a point where physical media largely caters to collectors who value the physical presence an item makes in their room as much as the content on the disc. Boxes and booklets and trinkets appeal to that audience. And yes, most of those are cheap additions for the studio to throw in to make the package look like it justifies the higher price.

 

[Robert Crawford]

What set the alarm bells and sirens off for me is that I think $49.95 MSRP is the highest Sony has ever gone before for a 4k steelbook. Does anyone remember what the Lawrence of Arabia or Taxi Driver 4k steelbooks were originally released at? I'm pretty sure it was $39.99?

Prices are going up across the industry. That's what happens when a product becomes a niche product. LOA 4K/UHD steelbook was $45.99 back in 2022. The same with Taxi Driver 4K/UHD steelbook.

 

[TheMovieDude]

Prices are going up across the industry. That's what happens when a product becomes a niche product. LOA 4K/UHD steelbook was $45.99 back in 2022. The same with Taxi Driver 4K/UHD steelbook.

$5 in 3 years is actually pretty reasonable. Ok you've convinced me. I just ordered it.

 

[Robert Crawford]

$5 in 3 years is actually pretty reasonable. Ok you've convinced me. I just ordered it.

I wasn't trying to convince you on anything. I'm just stating what I think is happening with this hobby. For me, I won't be purchasing these 4K/UHD steelbooks because I'm happy with the original Columbia Classics Collection Volumes which already has the titles, though, not in DV.

 

[TheMovieDude]

I wasn't trying to convince you on anything. I'm just stating what I think is happening with this hobby. For me, I won't be purchasing these 4K/UHD steelbooks because I'm happy with the original Columbia Classics Collection Volumes which already has the titles, though, not in DV.

Unfortunately I missed those boxsets and can't afford them now. $50 is much more "affordable" to me and worth it, especially if there are no future plans to release any of these titles as standard 4k slipcase editions, which I don't believe there are at the moment.

 

[TravisR]

We've reached a point where physical media largely caters to collectors who value the physical presence an item makes in their room as much as the content on the disc. Boxes and booklets and trinkets appeal to that audience.

I'd argue that collectors might not be as interested in boxes & books as much as that they just want the movie as soon as possible and from the boutiques, that largely means having to buy the box. The test would be if both the box version and the standard version were made available at the same time and see which one sold better. Obviously, they won't do that because it means less money and I can only guess at the results but I'd think that the majority of people still buying discs would rather save some money over having a box that costs them an extra $10 or $20.

 

[JoshZ]

I'd argue that collectors might not be as interested in boxes & books as much as that they just want the movie as soon as possible and from the boutiques, that largely means having to buy the box. The test would be if both the box version and the standard version were made available at the same time and see which one sold better. Obviously, they won't do that because it means less money and I can only guess at the results but I'd think that the majority of people still buying discs would rather save some money over having a box that costs them an extra $10 or $20.

If you look at Vinegar Syndrome, they often sell a Limited Edition with slipcover or box concurrently with a standard keepcase edition, and the LEs always sell out very quickly.

 

[TravisR]

If you look at Vinegar Syndrome, they often sell a Limited Edition with slipcover or box concurrently with a standard keepcase edition, and the LEs always sell out very quickly.

Fair point but I don't think that many of their LEs sell out that quickly. Rad, The Keep and that Denise Richards dinosaur movie are the only ones that I remember selling out particularly fast. Others like Showgirls, Death Wish II and the Freeway movies sold out eventually but you didn't have to be there on the first weekend to get it. Fairly high profile movies like Congo or Invasion U.S.A. or Navy Seals or even a good movie like The Tenant are all still available in a box and they were all released months ago.

EDIT: I am only talking about the UHDs since it seems like the 'boxes for every movie' fad synced up with them moving up to 4K releases.

 

[TheMovieDude]

Anyone care to speculate on how fast this might sell out and if I should pre-order now? Considering there are still copies of Taxi Driver 4k that could indicate this will not sell out quickly. Word on the street is that there will be NO standard slipcover edition coming either. Thoughts?

 

[TravisR]

Anyone care to speculate on how fast this might sell out and if I should pre-order now? Considering there are still copies of Taxi Driver 4k that could indicate this will not sell out quickly. Word on the street is that there will be NO standard slipcover edition coming either. Thoughts?

Just a guess on my part but I'd imagine that Taxi Driver is traditionally a better seller than Gandhi so if Taxi Driver still isn't sold out yet, they could make less copies of Gandhi.

 

[TheMovieDude]

Just a guess on my part but I'd imagine that Taxi Driver is traditionally a better seller than Gandhi so if Taxi Driver still isn't sold out yet, they could make less copies of Gandhi.

LOA 4k Steelbook also got a second "Limited edition repress" which they could do for Gandhi if the demand warrants it. I feel like the ebay scalpers end up making more money than Sony does in the end on these titles.

 

[TheMovieDude]

This is now $65.99 on Amazon!!!

 

[Robert Crawford]

This is now $65.99 on Amazon!!!

Price gouging?

Edit: $65.99 is the MSRP.

 

[dpippel]

This is now $65.99 on Amazon!!!

This kind of thing happens ALL the time. Street date is 2 months out. By the time it rolls around the price will be significantly lower. Nothing to see here. Move along. Move along.

 

[TheMovieDude]

Price gouging?

This is unfortunately a new scary record. I just looked at past pricing history on Amazon. LOA, Taxi Driver and Social Network all maxed out at $45.99.

 

[dpippel]

Price gouging?

Just typical high pricing far ahead of the street date.

 

[dpippel]

This is unfortunately a new scary record. I just looked at past pricing history on Amazon. LOA, Taxi Driver and Social Network all maxed out at $45.99.

It may be a high price, but it WILL drop. Patience.