Blu-ray players remain expensive in Europe

According to media research firm Screen Digest, Blu-ray players will remain expensive in Europe this holiday season despite American consumers being able to purchase them for as low as $129 USD.

"A shortage of cheaper Blu-ray players means that the sub-$300 machines that are already appearing on U.S. shelves are unlikely to materialize in Europe this Christmas," said Richard Cooper, Screen Digest analyst. "Combined with the recession, this means the feormat is unlikely to move much beyond the early adopter market this year."

Citing the global economic downturn, Sony noted last week that Blu-ray player sales would not hit expectations, and likely sell 10 percent less than expected.

Screen Digest does believe however, that the Blu-ray market will be worth 5.4 billion euros by 2012, with players priced under 100 euros.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 28 Nov 2008 15:42

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10 comments

Leningrad

dont worry people it will get cheaper. just wait till the economical problem gets fixed up.

28.11.2008 19:46 #1

domie

well the economic problem is rampant in the states but they get blu ray players for $ 129 !
the reason is even simpler than that - european distributors are used to screwing their customers over and those same customers gladly bend over to take a good shafting, same goes for all customer services over here particularly restaurants - americans wouldn't put up with their crap - welcome to rip off europe ( the UK in particular )

28.11.2008 20:17 #2

Thoatih12

Originally posted by domie: well the economic problem is rampant in the states but they get blu ray players for $ 129 !
the reason is even simpler than that - european distributors are used to screwing their customers over and those same customers gladly bend over to take a good shafting, same goes for all customer services over here particularly restaurants - americans wouldn't put up with their crap - welcome to rip off europe ( the UK in particular )
thats why i love america..:)

28.11.2008 21:45 #3

gcbackup

ah ah
that's nothing new

Here in Europe every single thing is way more expensive.

e.g. an iPod at, say, USD 99 will typically be EUR 150
That's 76 eur vs. 150, twice as much !

Let alone real estate prices which soared like 100% or 200% over the last 7 years, when salary grew only maybe 10%

And they call that 'crisis' ?? NO ! that's just getting back to where it should be in the first place.

But a crisis is so convenient, what a good excuse to lay thousands of people off... just to make sure the shares increase again, so those guys (you know the crisis culprits) don't lose their milions.

That's modern slavery

29.11.2008 06:32 #4

atomicxl

Originally posted by Leningrad: dont worry people it will get cheaper. just wait till the economical problem gets fixed up.I don't understand that logic.

Prices are low now because people are getting laid off and aren't spending money. In order to entice them, prices have dropped. Once the economy gets better, companies won't be doing all of these crazy price drops anymore.

29.11.2008 08:36 #5

susieqbbb

I am sorry to say this but we all knew that cheaper players where coming for the holiday season here in the u.s.a but when they realize that people in the u.k and other parts of europe wont pay E300.00 for a player then there idea to release the format in europe will fail.

29.11.2008 12:47 #6

lynchGOP

A soon-to-be dying technology that I would merely recommend a European buy from the U.S. and have it shipped there. Nothing more to say.

30.11.2008 13:46 #7

Leningrad

Quote:Originally posted by Leningrad: dont worry people it will get cheaper. just wait till the economical problem gets fixed up.I don't understand that logic.

Prices are low now because people are getting laid off and aren't spending money. In order to entice them, prices have dropped. Once the economy gets better, companies won't be doing all of these crazy price drops anymore.sorry i got mistaken in my mind.

30.11.2008 15:00 #8

domie

Originally posted by lynchGOP: A soon-to-be dying technology that I would merely recommend a European buy from the U.S. and have it shipped there. Nothing more to say.Nothing more to say except :-

1) Blu Ray region incompatibility ( 1 versus 2 )
2) Different electrical voltage ( 110 versus 220-240 )
3) Different Plugs sizes
4) No warranty cover in europe for US models
5) 17.5 % VAT and 2.5 % import tax added to cost ( including postage )
6) $ 50-80 to ship it to europe

30.11.2008 18:24 #9

lynchg0p

Quote:Originally posted by lynchGOP: A soon-to-be dying technology that I would merely recommend a European buy from the U.S. and have it shipped there. Nothing more to say.Nothing more to say except :-

1) Blu Ray region incompatibility ( 1 versus 2 )
2) Different electrical voltage ( 110 versus 220-240 )
3) Different Plugs sizes
4) No warranty cover in europe for US models
5) 17.5 % VAT and 2.5 % import tax added to cost ( including postage )
6) $ 50-80 to ship it to europe
Oooops......forgot that tiny but totally obvious detail. Thanks. How about US version, buying DVDs over Ebay, electrical/voltage adapter, screw the warranty, VAT isn't governed on shipments........this I know because I've bought many times and S/H is probably half what you stated. Still.........kinda pointless I see.

2.12.2008 11:11 #10

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