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!

 

[karl01]

Feel bad for the people losing there jobs bad times for them.
Not really bothered about steelbook this will be good news for the collector we might not get hundreds of releases now.

 

[Wreck]

Somewhere FutureShop is smiling ..... nah just kidding. Play was the king 2012 ... sad news.

We can still see new steels on play.com just we wont see play exclusives .... (since it's going to be a marketplace)

 

[darczap]

This is bad news for sure. I feel bad for the people whose employment will be impacted. I hope amazon.uk starts getting more exclusives because of this as opposed to HMV, since their packaging and customer service is better.

 

[CaptainCoffee]

I'm pretty gutted, I must admit. I have zero interest in the marketplace if it remains the same as it is now.

Such a shame! Play.com really upped their game in 2012 & was looking forward to some great releases in 2013.

 

[cheaney]

This is good news for my bank account but bad news for me, I brought 27 steelbooks from them last year, we're never going to have a mint steelbook again seeing as HMV send theirs in bags.

 

[lgans316]

My thoughts entirely ...

Obsorne is our big brother mate and he is watching you.

 

[The Jericho]

I feel sorry for the employees but I think there will be new steelbooks in UK as always because the publishers want to distribute their steelbooks, no matter if play or hmv or amazon does it. So I guess we will see (hopefully) steelbooks like battle royale or oldboy or other exclusives at hmv or amazon.

 

[thefly]

It's a real shame. It seemed that by the end of 2012 Play were learning to be more discerning in their choice of SteelBook releases (since they struggled to beat HMV in regard to exclusive new releases), this was good for the collectors and I was really looking forward to what 2013 might bring.

Oh well, that's that then.

 

[ferrari100]

Well, apart from the job losses, great news!!

REGARDING STEELBOOKS:

I'm fed up with play having multiple reprints of exclusive titles.
IMO, I would rather pay a few £ more for something which collectors appreciate. Truly limited items.
probably 20% of exclusive steelbook releases were truly limited, and this was just designed to lure the collectors in.

I know HMV aren't the greatest at packaging, but when they release exclusive items they are mostly limited.
And, as a collector, that's what I want most.

Play totally f**cked up the original Iron Man steel by getting them mixed up with IM 2. So, must have lost money on that one.
They sell items at a low price considering the high cost of the packaging.
Then they reprint by the bucket load only to then sell at a loss. (see some titles now at bargain prices).

If they just left all exclusives at 4000 print run, charged £15-£18 per steel, I would be upset right now.

THE REST OF THE BUSINESS:

Most items are available cheaper elsewhere, so why bother?

 

[hayemaker]

Who told you HMV's steel are limited?

Play sold out the Iron Man steelbook in less than a week, and could have printed 20k more had they wished and sold the lot, but they didn't. That tells you all you need to know about them.

 

[CaptainCoffee]

Wow. Ferrari, how clueless are you?

 

[jayce20]

what does this means exactly ? DVD / Blu-Ray services from Play.com will be close that's it ? or just move else where ?

Thanks to explain what this really means ...

So sad the 1st consequence would be that we lose the steelbooks exclusive releases from them, I couldn't wait for new releases this new year ... now I am broke !!!

And HMV ? ouais bof so so ++

 

[Jango]

shocking news

hope we don't see massive reprints of former play.com exclusives @ other retailers now...

 

[ALK]

Damn, you see this happening to High Street names quite often these days, but I never thought the same could happen to someone like Play!

Really hope this gets resolved in the most positive way...

 

[Hatross]

Sad news about Play, my thoughts are with those who will be made redundant

 

[lgans316]

What irks me is I have to spend twice or thrice the money to buy these exclusives elsewhere (e.g, Fox steels). All these were 9.99 and the same Steelbook with the half slips were double or triple the price.

 

[Twizted328i]

This explains I guess why sainsburys and other stores are now listing play.com exclusives ... it truly is a shame that they are going in this direction

 

[ocielz]

We all know why this is happening....... We asked for better packaging and look what happened

 

[blu-steel]

Hoping that Amazon picks up the exclusives.

 

[ferrari100]

Wow. Ferrari, how clueless are you?

Not as clueless as you, obviously. Read the bit that says 'only 20% of play exclusives are limited'. Yes that 20% includes I'm 1.
And where is hmv Spider-Man and batman already? Oh oop.
Don't let your mouth run away with you unless you are able to analyse what has been written first. I forgive your lack of concentration.