Play to close down their retail business...what does this mean for UK steelbooks?

[jonpeat]

Sorry if this is the wrong place but as it directly affects steelbooks (especially exclusives) in the UK I thought it would be a good heads up.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-20953357

The news saddens me as Play were one of the best steelbook retailers. Their packaging and exclusives were second to none. I just hope someone picks up the baton........amazon I'm looking at you!

 

[CaptainCoffee]

I love the fact that the media coverage section on Play.com makes absolutely no reference (that I can see) to this

http://www.play.com/campaigns/latest-news

Indeed.

No proper mention of it on their facebook or twitter either!

They could clear up a lot of confusion by releasing an offical statement.

 

[jayce20]

I was waiting quietly to get for preorder a new astonishing release for "The Hobbit" movies ... my hope is gone now ...

pleaaaase "fired" people from play : do your own shop ; ninjas from all over the world will be there to help or @ least support you !!!

 

[Doctor Canus]

First of all my thoughts for the workers.

Have beeing a customer from July 2002. More that 400 items bought. For me was one of the best on-line shops.

And yes, in the last year they did the best steels.

 

[Fork]

so what is going to happen with all of the steelbooks currently on sale on play.com?

 

[jayce20]

don't worry until "I dont know what day" in march

 

[leelee17]

check out the prices of some of the shops that are part of the rakuten group, who bought out play.com.
£40 for prometheus amaray??
£30 for avengers amaray??
£37 for the dark knight rises amaray??
they claim to offer items at the best prices they can..........REALLY????????
if this is a sign of things to come, then forget it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[apsmith21]

so what is going to happen with all of the steelbooks currently on sale on play.com?

sell as many as they can until march.

then the rest, I would imagine will got to any retailers if there is stock left.

 

[CaptainCoffee]

so what is going to happen with all of the steelbooks currently on sale on play.com?

They will probably sell them on to their marketplace venders....whatever stock is left anyway.

What they can't return to suppliers or sell off to venders will go on sale to the general public I'd imagine.

 

[SteelbookedUp]

sell as many as they can until march.

then the rest, I would imagine will got to any retailers if there is stock left.

So guessing that the Universal ones that have appeared on Sainsburys and then HMV were in preparation of today's announcement and not loss of exclusivity as we all thought?

As for Man On Fire for example, which Wreck said yesterday isn't sold out, won't come back in stock and Fox will give them to another retailer?

 

[surfury]

check out the prices of some of the shops that are part of the rakuten group, who bought out play.com.
£40 for prometheus amaray??
£30 for avengers amaray??
£37 for the dark knight rises amaray??
they claim to offer items at the best prices they can..........REALLY????????
if this is a sign of things to come, then forget it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Akira £49.99

Looks like it will be an online Department Store. Haven't seen anything about the effect this will have on their run-of-the-mill playtraders (like me).

Obviously have stacks of the recent Warner "White's" some as low as £11.29.

 

[apsmith21]

So guessing that the Universal ones that have appeared on Sainsburys and then HMV were in preparation of today's announcement and not loss of exclusivity as we all thought?

As for Man On Fire for example, which Wreck said yesterday isn't sold out, won't come back in stock and Fox will give them to another retailer?

No, that's the same - loss of exclusivity with the Universal ones.

Play may be able to maintain exclusivity with the Fox ones, and other licenses but that's TBD.

Stock levels for Saving Private Ryan are below 300 copies, if anyone still is interested in that one.

 

[Bobthesub]

I didnt see that coming! but it at least explains the lack of upcoming exclusive announcements. Sad for the folks losing their jobs, and wondering what the long term future of Play will be now, it seems to me the playtrade/marketplace setup was/is mainly a way for scalpers to sell previous play exclusives at inflated prices while Play sit back, take the money for the initial sale and then a cut of the playtraders resold price, its win win for them, If play is now going to be a glorified ebay, what makes its products any different from the ones I can already get on ebay?

Part of me is gutted as they have produced some great exclusive products over the last few years, but my wallet is giving a huge sigh of relief!


..nothing lasts forever

 

[CyberAthlete]

Wow. I was really looking forward to 2013 releases from Play.com given how many HIGH profile movies are coming out this year. I was already dreading a $#!7 load of expenses.

Sad sad day. Hopefully those who lost their jobs are back on their feet in no time!

BTW does any one have this in large, unworn, willing to sell at cost + shipping

Not sure why I waited so long to get it...and now it's gone in my size

Iron Man T-shirt

 

[123kid]

Stock levels for Saving Private Ryan are below 300 copies, if anyone still is interested in that one.

Just curious as to how you guy's know the stock levels?

 

[wolfmansgotnards]

Look at the facts recently,
Drive sold out at per order
Warhorse sold out shortly after release.
Spider-Man, batman tdk, both already sold out.Amongst others.
No-one told me that.
The facts can be had by checking their listings

At no point has war horse been oop. Hell at one point they were trying to get rid of them for £5 each and still not oop.

 

[digitalbabe]

Threads merged.

 

[funkydamo]

the more this weighs on my mind the worse i feel.
im genuinely saddened by play.com going.
no matter what pops up in its place, it wont be the same.
at no point in the future will we see such high quality steels, with inside art, embossing, all for £10.99 or £9.99, including shipping in good quality boxes.
probably never again will we have a year with so many great steels.
ok some were re-issues of some sort, but plenty were, and still are, uk exclusives.
well, they went out with a bang.
nobody will ever rival play.com 2012 for the best year in steelbooks - ever.

and as pointed out, at a time when amazon and hmv both slipped hugely with delivery times, play.com got thier titles to you on or before release day.
i will surely miss my daily visit to play to search thier steelbooks.
amazon are cr*p to search for steels (to be generous) most of the hits are either not steelbooks or not blu rays.
and hmvs site is poor too (and waaay too expensive)
the wrong one got wasted, its like the last episode of boardwalk empire season 2 all over again.

 

[Wreck]

Just curious as to how you guy's know the stock levels?

friends in high places. Tho they may not feel that way today ... but hopefully they are only knocked down for so long! This whole mess saddens me ... but I know some people there are going to fight for making the marketplace better then you would expect .... There could still be exclusive steels sold there if they are sold directly by a movie studio ... so , you never know...

 

[Scary Hair]

More jobs gone . This is getting insane now :shots:. I hope this gives people enough time to TRY and find other employment.

 

[Soprano]

Genuinely gutted about about this. I've been with PLAY for as long as I have had the internet.