I think the price increase is quite a good idea. For ages we have moaned about how annoyed we get when we buy a steel and a couple of weeks later the price drops. I think it should be done on preorders - one per person and once they are released they can't be bought except on eBay or from the retailer for a high price. Maybe even add other bits like art cards, slip covers, etc. if you don't like it then don't buy it. Let's make steelbooks special again.
Sorry mate, but if they read comments like that they are likely to start believing their own sad delusions!
They're generally overpriced to start with, and generally only sell out because. A. lots of silly buggers on fleabay still persist in ordering twenty copies each, and B. zavvi hold back a quantity for various, often nefarious reasons.
This is why the majority of titles end up being reduced until the profit margins disappear these days.
Unfortunately Zavvi really don't appear to understand the nature of the game, and go for the age old pile 'em high routine; whereas Film Arena go for small quantities with good packaging at resonable prices - and they seem to walk out of the door.
Overall, the message to Zavvi is there are too many steelbooks coming out too quickly, the quality is often questionable, and the prices are very often ridiculously inflated - even without artificially jacking them up!
Fewer titles, better quality, better price control and limited availability per customer is all achievable, and has to be the way forward for a sustainable market.
edited for typos.
