Lame, Disney!

[awanderingbard]

So apparently Disney has a new policy that none of their DVD releases are available for rent until 30 days after the release date. So The Avengers came out today, but you can't actually rent it until the 25th of October, you can only buy it. Luckily, I went with the intention of buying, and apparently that was a good choice since after the first day of release, the price goes up by $5 to buy it.

I want to know what sort of sense this is supposed to make? I mean, I suppose they're thinking people will get tired of waiting and just buy the DVD, but in the meantime, I would think you're losing a hell of a lot of revenue by not having it available to rent. This includes their direct-to-DVD releases as well, so, as the clerk told me today, she could have rented Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3 several times, but mothers aren't going to pay $36 for a movie they've never seen.

Considering how easy it is to get anything on the internet these days, it seems to silly to encourage piracy like this. And what about the people who have waited patiently and didn't bootleg movies, and now have to wait an extra 30 days to see the movie they've been waiting for?

Very lame, Disney.

Comments

[guardian-chaos.livejournal.com]

Huh. That is rather peculiar. I'd be interested in looking into why that is. I'm sure they think it'll raise their profits somehow, but in the long run...well, ticking off customers can't be a good thing.

Methinks Disney's superiority complex is showing a wee bit. :3

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

I can't see how this is providing any sort of profit, unless people aren't renting anymore because of places like Netflix and they feel that they can do better by encouraging people to buy but, either way you look at it's thirty days you aren't making money.

I dunno. I feel sorry for the video stores, though. The clerk seemed to be getting a lot of flack and was trying to explain that it wasn't the store's policy, it was Disney's. Disney could at least let people know, too. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere. The store had to put up a homemade sign on its door.

[guardian-chaos.livejournal.com]

I don't have Netflix anymore, but I wonder if their rental issues are the same for new Disney movies. Also, maybe pay-per-view rentals through Comcast get higher priority, etc... Maybe there's some sort of deal going on there.

Either way, most curious! I feel badly for all clerks. They get the brunt of every customer's anger for policies the clerks have absolutely no control over. Sheesh!

[rodlox.livejournal.com]

I was willing to be persuaded to say "I'm sure they have a good reason"...up until I read the part about the price going up after the first day.

and what of people like me, who can't always see films in the theater - we want to borrow a movie before we buy it, to see if we want to spend money on it. (worst case, I suppose, is to use a 20-50% off coupon at B&N, see it once, then donate it to the library)

[awanderingbard.livejournal.com]

That was pretty much my feeling, too. I often rent movies I know I'm going to ask for for Christmas to tide me over until I get them. So they'd actually be getting more money off me by letting me rent and buy, than just buy. I dunno.