Wal-Mart: We’ve Got Blu-ray On Lockdown
Posted by Tyler Pruitt
closeAuthor: Tyler Pruitt
Name: Tyler Pruitt
Email: tyler@formatwarcentral.com
Site: http://www.tylerpruitt.com
About: As a life long Geek, Tyler is pretty much addicted to anything that has to do with technology. He became hooked on HDTV in early '04, and hasn't looked back since. Tyler is a HD video content addict, and has been since the days of recording HD movies onto D-VHS tapes.
At his day job in the aerospace industry, he is never too far away from the latest FWC related news thanks to Google Reader on the iPhone.See Authors Posts (352) on May 23, 2008
Filed Under: Blu-ray, Format War, Retailers
On during a trip to our local Wal-Mart we noticed that they had tripled the size of their Blu-ray movie section. The weird thing is that most of the titles were locked up behind a glass case. This even applied to cheap Blu-ray titles priced at $14.99. Meanwhile they had $40+ TV shows on DVD that were not locked in a case (one must assume BDs have a big theft problem?)
Have you seen any other retailers implementing similar security methods on their Blu-ray movies?
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On during a trip to our local Wal-Mart we noticed that they had tripled the size of their Blu-ray movie section. The weird thing is that most of the titles were locked up behind a glass case. This even applied to cheap Blu-ray titles priced at $14.99. Meanwhile they had $40+ TV shows on DVD that were not locked in a case (one must assume BDs have a big theft problem?)
Our walmart just tripled it’s BD offering as well as setting up a blu-ray demo display. None of the movies were under lockdown. Maybe it is up to the store manager based on risk of theft…
Probably just seperating them to keep people from buying them as regular dvds and then screaming at them when they have to return them.
The LOCK-DOWN depends on the store/location. In my town in Texas, there are 3-4 different Wal marts I may go – depending on where I am. In the crap areas of town, lock down on ALL. In the best area of town, none.
My local Best Buy had all their blu-rays in the individual hard plastic cases that were really annoying. They’ve since taken them out…
Okay now that just plain pisses me off. I hate having to go ask someone in electronics to get a game out from behind the glass for me to check what HD resolutions it runs to decide on my purchase but I could only imagine how much of a pain in the ass this is going to be to see what bonus materials are included, what sound format used, etc. on the title you’re interested in purchasing. I guess it’s just going to make people do more research on sites like mine through Reviews to see what they should consider purchasing (asking to get out from behind the glass).
- Justin of HighDefDiscNews
Justin: Don’t shop at Walmart, if they can’t secure their stock properly give them the finger.
I personally go to Best Buy and Futureshop (and occasionally Blockbuster) for all my electronic’s needs.
Mehar: I’ve actually got into a verbal fight with one of the Wal-Mart electronics employees before. I verbally gave the guy the finger for being a jerk about getting a game out from behind the glass for me. Then he started to get all smart ass with me and acted like he was going to refuse to sell me the game. I’d loved to have made a big deal over him refusing to sale a game that was rated Teen to a 27-year-old. Best Buy is alright but their prices tend to suck just as bad as Wal-Mart’s from time to time on Blu-ray.
I stopped shopping at Walmart after I got screwed numerous times. Ive bought a ton of missing/broken merchandise from them and it really is pathetic.
My friend bought his Xbox 360 from them, half the parts were missing and it was filled with socks!
@Mehar
“I went to Walmart for a 360 and all got were these stupid socks!”
That although tragic is seriously funny.
BTW the movies here in Vernon, BC are locked down too so I just told the employee that stocking them that way will prevent me from purchacing them.