Wal-Mart pulling DVD displays from aisles
Next time you're frantically searching for the latest hot DVD release, you may have a harder time finding it at your local Wal-Mart. As part of the company's "Project Impact" initiative to streamline its stores and offer a more localized shopping experience, Wal-Mart is scaling back on its DVD selection and eliminating displays for blockbuster movie releases in its stores. The Wall Street Journal reports that the move is not only aimed at cleaning up the aisles, but also toward attracting higher-end shoppers.
Stores used to use hot movie titles and other home entertainment products to drive traffic. But these days there are so many ways to get content -- Netflix, On Demand, online -- that "box office gold" isn't much of a draw anymore.
Wal-Mart's plan to take DVD merchandising displays out of the aisles may create a less cluttered, more pleasant shopping experience for customers, but for the film studios the move is anything but agreeable. According to The Wall Street Journal, Wal-Mart accounts for nearly a third of all DVD sales in the U.S. Any reduction in inventory or shelf space is a pretty significant blow to the studios, who in turn, make more money on sales and rentals of their films on disc than at the box office.
Wal-Mart isn't the only store to realize that DVDs aren't the cash cow they once were. Blockbuster Video is going through some well-publicized changes, including the possible closure of 960 stores, as new content delivery methods threaten to usurp the market for DVDs. For DVD retailers the battle is pretty much all uphill. After all, who wants to wait for a DVD to be delivered in the mail or to pick one up at the local rental store when they could stream it directly to their computer or television whenever they want?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
10-05-2009 @ 2:09PM
Shellee said...
Why buy a DVD when u can rent from redbox $1 a night!!
Reply
10-05-2009 @ 2:12PM
Lynn said...
It's about time they clean up the crap cluttering the aisles!
10-05-2009 @ 2:17PM
Kimberly said...
I love redbox too but if you're gonna be renting often it may be better to do netflix or blockbuster online. Blockbuster online is great for the fact you can return a few movies in the store in case you don't wanna wait then you still get the next movie in your list.
10-05-2009 @ 2:36PM
Bob said...
You buy a dvd instead of renting it for a dollar a night on the off chance that you're going to want to watch it more than once. If you only want to watch it the once, then by all means, rent. But if you're like me, and you enjoy watching the same movie more than once, you're better off to buy. Either from the Wal*Mart bargain bin, Amazon, or Half.com.
10-05-2009 @ 3:32PM
LaDonna said...
Attract upscale shoppers???? LMAO Upscale shoppers wouldn't step foot in a nasty walmart. The fabric in their clothing alone will make you break out into hives. I just hate when people rub against me with their generic clothes. I also hear that everything in the store is made in China.
10-05-2009 @ 3:43PM
Armywife said...
Hurray for redbox!!! i agree
10-05-2009 @ 6:18PM
Tiffany said...
Not everyone wants to rent DVDs. Personally, i'd rather buy them so I can watch them whenever i want to and not be on a time limit to have to return them. Plus- redbox only takes credit cards for rentals. Not everyone has credit cards. Suppose you want to buy for a friend as a gift? What then? Keep the DVDs in the stores. Especially the blockbuster releases. A lot of times, i go into wal-mart and end up with DVDs. If you get rid of any of the DVD displays, get rid of the ones in the baskets for $5. Its not like you can really see all the titles without digging through.
10-05-2009 @ 6:12PM
Tiffany said...
where did you find the average wage being that high? Around here, and most places I know of, the average Wal-Mart employee might make $7.50 or just above federal minimum wage.
10-05-2009 @ 2:17PM
davf625 said...
A DVD Library is a great way to go just make sure it's a DVD you want to watch often. Putting in a DVD is a lot faster then selecting a movie (one after another) for kids.
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10-05-2009 @ 2:17PM
malaluken said...
Wally World will hopefully begin paying its employees a true living wage once it completes its move to being 'more upscale' to attract shoppers with more money. Keep watchin 'em, that is exactly what they are doing, "Upscaling".
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10-05-2009 @ 2:29PM
GB said...
Actually Walmart's average wage is over $11.50 per hour which is above the national retail average--please do some research before posting.
10-05-2009 @ 3:14PM
jesca said...
I agree totally!!!!!
10-05-2009 @ 3:44PM
roseybaby63 said...
GB...........Even if Walmart is paying that much, they don't have any kind of affordable health insurance to offer their employees. I work at a grocery store and make about $12 an hour and was offered an affordable, very good health insurance family plan. After 5 years of employment, I no longer have to pay for it. My employer pays for my health insurance. That's worth a lot to me. I'm glad to work at a unionized place. Our union makes sure we're taken care of and protected from unfair firings. Too bad Walmart can't say as much.
10-05-2009 @ 5:19PM
shawn said...
Nope Walmart will never pay their employees better. In fact they are in the process of doing all they can do to get rid of full time employees except for management. They are trying to go to all part time employees. My guess is to keep from paying much needed benefits. Just another fine example of a large company that doesn't care about their employees and the people that have over the years made them what they are today. I'm sure Sam Walton is turning over in his grave. I know several people that work for Walmart and the treatment they have received in the last year is just shamefull. Personally I try not to shop Walmart unless I absoultely have to.
10-05-2009 @ 6:12PM
rsmiles said...
wal-mart will never pay employees a realistic wage. surely not $11.50 an hour. not in georgia anyway. a girl that got hired the same day as me only makes $8.00 an hour and i was not making much more that is why i quit when i found a better job.
10-05-2009 @ 6:34PM
Van said...
rosiebaby63... Wal-Mart offers all employees Health Care starting at $10/month.
You are in a Union. Unions want to Unionize Wal-Mart, so they mislead people with false information. It sounds like that is what has happened in your workplace.
I hear that in Unions, you have to strike when the Union tells you to strike... and if you strike, your salary is not guaranteed.
10-05-2009 @ 8:28PM
Tom said...
GB, you don't know what you are talking about. Walmart is notorious for paying low wages and no health insurance. Even they say this is how they are able to offer their low prices. That and the fact that most of their merchandise comes from China. They definately are not an American made retailer. Maybe11.50 is the average they pay their managers, but certainly not the majority of their workers.
10-05-2009 @ 2:59PM
tom said...
well i would rather buy a dvd then waste a dollar in a stupid red box!i collect movie's and i can buy them 2 for 11 dollars at walmart i have over 100 dvd's most bought at walmart that's why i dont like thing's like red box and netflicks!
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10-05-2009 @ 3:06PM
cindi said...
Wal-Mart was some where people who could not afford to shop at Sears, Penney's, or places like Macys. I can not believe they are doing away with DVDs. I don't like to rent them. If it is a movie we want then we buy it. We watch it when there is nothing else on TV or when we lose satellite due to weather. Not everyone can afford to go out to the movies. The closest one to us is an hour away. I am getting to the point I can find somewhere else to shop. Wal-Mart was different when Sam Walton was still alive. He cared about his customers as much as making a buck.
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10-05-2009 @ 4:54PM
Mary said...
I think they meant they are just moving the out of the aisles. Not getting rid of them. I could have read it wrong, though.