Some thoughts about buying the DVDs only from Amazon...
POSTED BY: 11thHour
UPDATED: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 17:51
VIEWED: 9348
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I realize that everyone is working hard to consolidate the ideas for the June 23rd Serenity DVD buying day, but I got to thinking how buying only from Amazon could hurt us... P.R. wise...
The Browncoats are going to being throwing A LOT of money at the Serenity DVD, and Amazon will reap the profits. How do you think all the other DVD vendors are going to feel? All that money getting spent, and a big retailer like Amazon got it ALL?!
It could very well be that all those other retailers are going to resent the Browncoats for organizing such a big purchase and shutting out the little guys.
That's right. We're going to give all our money to the BIG guy, and all the small companies and independents won't get nuthin'.
Does that sound like the way Browncoats do things?
We could quite possibly get complaints from retailers and BAD press because we only purchased from ONE outlet.
We want as many retailers as possible to feel positive about the Serenity DVD and keep it in stock. We could get a backlash of retailers who limit (or stop) ordering the DVD because they figure we're gonna give all our business to Amazon... might turn into a retaliation thing. Been known to happen, and it's not pretty.
When the Firefly DVD was first released, it wasn't stocked in a lot of stores... which made it an uphill battle to get folks to discover it. Even when Serenity was released, it wasn't always well stocked in stores. We want retailers to order BIG quantities of the DVDs so they'll always be a supply when folks go to find it. So we need to stay on good terms with a wide range of retailers so they'll want to benefit from our promotion of the DVDs.
Now I'm not saying don't buy from Amazon, just that we need to spread the sales around more. It will also be more impressive to the studio that a lot of us actually got up from our computer and maybe bought some DVDs from stores, and *ahem* the Universal website. (Universal probably makes more money when the DVDs are purchased directly from their home entertainment division.) Think how Universal will feel if they see all that money spent at Amazon, and they coulda made more if we bought the Serenity DVD directly from them?! Uh oh...
PLEASE give the idea of spreading the sales around some consideration... we don't want to inadvertently create a whole lotta resentment from retailers, and Universal... we NEED all these folks on our side.
11th Hour
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O_o
Gorramnit, I think you're right.
So, purchase it any way possible?
One day.
One plan.
One army of Browncoats.
On June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.
www.straightfromthehorsesmouth.co.uk/firefly
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I agree.
Whenever I can I buy from local independent video stores. Its not enough for just Amazon to get the pitch. We should use this as a demonstration that we have buying power in our own neighborhoods as well.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Agatsu:
Gorramnit, I think you're right.
So, purchase it any way possible?
Well, off the top of my head I would say that buying the DVDs in store and from several different online DVD vendors would be a very good thing.
Since we're looking for publicity on this, think how shiny so many retailers will feel about Browncoats when they are included in the big Serenity/Firefly DVD buying day!
Some folks are actually planning on buying multiple copies, so for them I'd suggest (as time allows) buy some in-store AND puchase them online... maybe throw some business to the little guys... they'll LOVE the Browncoats. We'll create a lot of loyalty and good feelings that way. Also, don't forget Universal Home Entertainment... they will think mightly kindly of the Browncoats if we throw lots of coin directly to them.
For those who will be buying from Amazon (and I think crashing their website would be fun... heh... heh...), then by all means use the link on FFF.net to do it. That way you'll also be supporting this shiny forum.
Spread the Serenity/Firefly DVD love folks!
11th Hour
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"Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!" - Hoban Washburne
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Quote:
Originally posted by SameErtia:
I agree.
Whenever I can I buy from local independent video stores. Its not enough for just Amazon to get the pitch. We should use this as a demonstration that we have buying power in our own neighborhoods as well.
I also try to support independent businesses, many types, whenever possible. Guess Firefly/Serenity fans have fondness for independents, huh?
11th Hour
________________________________________________
"Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!" - Hoban Washburne
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"Not to be negative, but..."
If it's a statement we're trying to make, will the visibility/effectiveness of that statement be compromised if we spread our eye-popping number of purchases over a ton of different retailers? I agree with the principle of supporting smaller businesses, but not concentrating the movement in one spot may make it, well... entirely overlookable.
What's more eye-catching? 1,000,000 sales, or 100,000 sales spread over 10 places, 8 of which are much less likely to be seen?
I don't claim to know how all this works, I'm just trying to throw out constructive thoughts.
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Quote:
Originally posted by RolandReynolds:
"Not to be negative, but..."
If it's a statement we're trying to make, will the visibility/effectiveness of that statement be compromised if we spread our eye-popping number of purchases over a ton of different retailers? I agree with the principle of supporting smaller businesses, but not concentrating the movement in one spot may make it, well... entirely overlookable.
"Entirely overlookable" may be an overstatement. Mass purchases WILL be noticed.
Quote:
What's more eye-catching? 1,000,000 sales, or 100,000 sales spread over 10 places, 8 of which are much less likely to be seen?
Depends on which retailers. They're are all different sizes of businesses. "Reports from all over" about Firefly and Serenity DVDs getting swept up has a certain excitement to it.
Again, part of my concern is the P.R. backlash that could happen when retailers see that they didn't get to share in all the money to be made.
Quote:
I don't claim to know how all this works, I'm just trying to throw out constructive thoughts.
We all want what will work best for the endeavor. People offering their constructive thoughts helps the plan to take shape. I realize there's always the "too many cooks" risk, but if a certain aspect of the plan needs some more consideration, then it's worth it to discuss the pros and cons a bit more.
Sometimes the most well intentioned ideas can have unintended negative consequences. It's best to try and avoid those pitfalls ahead of time, rather than have to dig ourselves out afterward!
11th Hour
________________________________________________
"Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!" - Hoban Washburne
Firefly/Serenity Guerilla Marketing Posters ~ http://the11thhour.home.att.net
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Quote:
Originally posted by RolandReynolds:
What's more eye-catching? 1,000,000 sales, or 100,000 sales spread over 10 places, 8 of which are much less likely to be seen?
I understand your point, RolandReynolds. I'm a great lover of databases and the power of numbers. But my independent side sees the democratic argument for spreading the joy (and revenue).
Also, I have a nightmare vision of myself driving around town to buy a hands-on DVD, only to find everyone sold out or unstocked and the 23rd drawing to a close. Yipes!
At that point I would run home quick like a bunny and do the online thang. As Mal would say, it's a good idea to have a Plan B.
"Wanna?" – Mal to Kaylee, Out of Gas
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Quote:
Originally posted by Hera:
Also, I have a nightmare vision of myself driving around town to buy a hands-on DVD, only to find everyone sold out or unstocked and the 23rd drawing to a close. Yipes!
At that point I would run home quick like a bunny and do the online thang. As Mal would say, it's a good idea to have a Plan B.
I have a theory... it could be bunnies...
Well, one thing we do know is that the Amazon route will always be there in case other options fall through.
I'm wondering how Amazon does its sales ranking thing? I mean, are DVD sales ranked each day separately? Meaning, a wildly high amount of Firefly and Serenity DVD sales on June 23rd won't carry at all into the next days? That is, Serenity would be Number 1 on June 23rd whether it sold 2,000 or 20,000 units... and then the count starts all over again from zero on June 24th?
We wouldn't need every purchase to send the DVDs to #1 on Amazon for June 23rd, and if we spread the sales around we could get Serenity and Firefly at #1 on several other sites. That would be great!
11th Hour
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"Because teenage pranks are fun when you're about to die!" - Hoban Washburne
Firefly/Serenity Guerilla Marketing Posters ~ http://the11thhour.home.att.net
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I agree, we should spread out the sales a bit. For more reasons then one, get multiple places to sell out on the same day. The sales will get back to the “big players” in this game. I am sure this has been addressed, but is someone going to send a letter/email to Universal & Fox letting them know about our plan. That way it won’t matter at all where we buy, because they will be looking for it.
That’s my 2 cents….
http://www.petitiononline.com/bbffly/petition.html
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