cost per copy

[phoenixvid]

A few weeks ago I joined Amazon Prime when I was able to buy as many copies as I needed of some dvds such as Jackass 3, Tangled, and another which I can't remember offhand. By joining Prime I qualified for free shipping and got my product on the morning of street date. Since my store doesn't open until noon and the cost per copy was at was a lot cheaper than my usual distributor I thought I had come upon a good method to supply the store with less expensive product and thereby allow me to ween myself off of rentrak and maybe even sell some new dvds for retail since the cost was so low.

Just after I joined Prime I found that I could no longer buy quantities any greater than three per movie. What a blow to my plan. I don't know for sure why Amazon throttled back on the quantity but someone in another discussion group said that VPD supplies Amazon with their dvds. I have a feeling VPD put pressure on Amazon to limit the number of available copies because it  cut into their wholesale business.

The grocery store down the street sells NR dvds for less than I pay for a lot of titles I get through my "wholesale distributor". I go there when I under buy on some titles. As indies it seems like we should be able to get our dvds as cheaply as the grocery stores get theirs. Any ideas on how or who to pressure for a better deal?

Count   

[Bogart]

What are you paying with Amazon Prime?  I average around $16 at Best Buy and Walmart.

[phoenixvid]

It has been as low as $14 for Jackass 3 but is usually $17 per copy. They do have a dvd-blu combo for $25. The trouble for me and box stores like Walmart is they are 75 miles from me. In the past I've driven there for a big title but in general it doesn't pay to  make the trip.

[mcmarc]

Is Walmart still limiting number of copies?

[lanna5]

I've often wondered where some of the grocery stores/convenience stores get their inventory, because I've noticed they can sell movies cheaper than I can get them for through VPD? What is up with that? It's not like a grocery store buys in volume like Walmart or Amazon does? Anyone know?

[phoenixvid]

I am curious how that works as well. When I questioned VPD a number of years ago they couldn't tell me. I don't think it is a loss-leader thing as has been suggested. There isn't that kind of competition here. Only one grocery store in town and they consistently sell dvds at $19.99. I think somebody is getting a better deal than Indies.

[Hamlin]

I know that I was using VPD and I was paying (for big studio titles) 20.99.  I have since switched to WAX WORKS and now for the same title I pay about 19.49 and some even $1 less.  I save about $60 per week.  I also save $11.50 on COD charges

[JJR]

I've often wondered where some of the grocery stores/convenience stores get their inventory, because I've noticed they can sell movies cheaper than I can get them for through VPD? What is up with that? It's not like a grocery store buys in volume like Walmart or Amazon does? Anyone know?

I dunno about other companies but Sony sells directly on a consignment basis and set the prices of that said product to some larger grocery stores. Always makes me scratch my head as for why they give such a better deal to places that do much less volume... but then again I think they know that we "have" to buy their product and they can do whatever they want with us...