DVDizzy Forum

Anders M Olsson wrote:If it is true, then some really major disaster must have struck. (Like the entire stock having burned up or something...)

I don't think the other explanations that have been posted here are the least bit plausible. They simply don't push release dates by five months (and with only three weeks notice) because of changed market strategies, or to avoid competition with other products.

They might reschedule one of the sets because of legal problems, but all four?

i don't buy the competition theory either. i mean someone in the company has to be able to figure out what other companies are planning on doing and releasing around the same time. they had to have known about the alien set, the looney tunes set. they had even been promoting it for all this time against their own PotC.

the demand issue makes the most sense to me. if the tin numbers we had before were accurate, perhaps demand did in fact exceed supply before supply was even available so they are trying to fix that..

oh well.. at least it does save us some money for the christmas season.
i guess it doesn't matter anyway, since it's going on the credit card in the first place

According to DV-Depot, the reason they have given their suppliers are:

"This action is being taken to free up production capacity for Nemo replenishment and for incremental production of Pirates of the Caribbean."

http://pub128.ezboard.com/fdvdepotcusto ... 2945.topic

Whatever the reason, I want an explanation, so I have already asked for it to disneyinfo@disneyhelp.com. This news are disturbing, specially 2 weeks before the scheduled release.
It doesn't make any sense and it makes me very upset.
As soon as I get a response, I'll let you know.

Boy, I really, really hope we get a good explanation for this. If not an actual official statement, then at least something in email replies from Consumer Relations. Or maybe the CR operators will have an answer when people call in.

In any case, it's a bittersweet situation for me. I'm pissed that they would pull these so close to release, but I also don't relish the idea of spending $100+ in one day for the Treasures and PotC.

But like I just said, I really hope we get a viable explanation for this, 'cause this is gonna piss more than just collectors off. There'll be a good handful of Joe Publics annoyed at this, as well. And we all know that Disney caters to Joe Public, so I'm hoping that'll get 'em to talk.

reybr wrote:"This action is being taken to free up production capacity for Nemo replenishment and for incremental production of Pirates of the Caribbean."

Still doesn't sound like the real reason to me. All the tins should have been manufactured by now, so they wouldn't tie up capacity for future replenishment of the other titles.

You may now officially refer to Buena Vista Home Entertainment as "Erratics of the Caribbean".

Well, according to my friend of a friend who knows somebody at BVHE (who it must be said also said Frank and Ollie wasn't supposed to get a general release - something that Loomis seems to have shot down in flames while cooly chewing of a cigar and muttering "I love it when a plan comes together" - so do not accept this as fact)

Any how, according to him the reason is the orders from retailers for the Mickey and Donald sets are well above the limited edition numbers. We're not just talking a few thousand - we're talking double the print-run. Which results in stock allocation issues (each retailer would only get a percentage of their order) and, more importantly lost money for Disney. Why limit guarenteed sales?

I don't know if this is true or not, but it does seem likely. Many people, even people on this forum have stated their intent to buy 2 or more copies of certain sets, and EBAY is already doing brisk business on the so-far unreleased sets.

But if this is the reason, it sucks big time. Disney have had 2 years to sort out their production estimates, plus 2 years to monitor EBAY prices, which when it comes down to it is the real indication of demand (you know, the whole supply and demand argument). A seven year old could tell them they were producing to few sets (and indeed a seven year old did tell me this - my own daughter).

Disney need to spend the time before May to do a full, unlimited release of the previous treasures to lower demand and prices for them, and hopfully send the speculators a message for wave 3: We will be releasing these unlimited in the future.

I can state 100% it's not competition with other release issues, not even other Disney films. The retailers, not Disney will take the risk on such a limited print-run release.

I'll just add, it's odd that the numbers for the sets recently went up, which would support this news. Perhaps.

Just called BVHE, and spoke with a rep. She was VERY extremely snippy, sour and RUDE!!!! Geeze, what a diva!

She confirmed Treasures delayed until May 2004. I can't believe this. Absolutely outraged. One thing if January or even Feb, but MAY??

So from what I can understand about this, Disney is moving the release date, less than three weeks before they are due, because of NUMBERED TINS?!?!? What th'...?!?

Have they gone so far off the deep end? Who the hell cares about numbered anything? We want a quality product! It doesn't matter that they're numbered, limited, collector's edition anything! If they don't have enough to meet orders now, then go ahead with the initial plan and come back with more in the future!

Sheesh! Disney Stores are for sale, Disneyland's rides are shuttered and closed (when they're not killing people), the animation is selling off drawing desks, and Michael Eisner continues to reap MILLIONS in bonuses when the stock price is DOWN. Stop the madness!

Well, if (and again I stress if) this is the reason, the tins were probably manufactured and stamped months again. In the meantime, the final orders come in and Disney sees - over a 100% profit being ignored (because the orders are double the 'limit' Disney imposed). No company, especially Disney wants to miss out on a 100%+ increase in profits. They don't care about the numbered tins for our sake, only their own.

Perhaps they tried to get new tins made and stamped (see the numbers apparently going up not so long ago) but just couldn't do it in time.

The whole tin collection is a debacle of epic proportions. I think the previous poster was correct. Dsiney severly underestimated the profit potential of this collection. I think they are doing a complete re-evaluation.

The Costco collection is just a precursor....test if you will. You will see every disk in unlimited release eventually. Does Disney want to sell 100,000's of more DVD's, and piss off a few collectors (who would buy stuff even if Disney took their 1st born child)

Hel* Yeah they do! Just watch...

2099net wrote:Well, according to my friend of a friend who knows somebody at BVHE (who it must be said also said Frank and Ollie wasn't supposed to get a general release - something that Loomis seems to have shot down in flames while cooly chewing of a cigar and muttering "I love it when a plan comes together"

You DO have a camera in my room, don't you 'Net?

It would seem that it is a numbers issue, but it really could be anything. As 'Net pointed out, we did have a recent number hike, so I guess the two are related. Still - you'd think they could plan something out a bit better. I mean, I know Disney is just a little independent company struggling to make ends meets...

Nedakh wrote:Just called BVHE, and spoke with a rep. She was VERY extremely snippy, sour and RUDE!!!! Geeze, what a diva!

She confirmed Treasures delayed until May 2004. I can't believe this. Absolutely outraged. One thing if January or even Feb, but MAY??

Well, my cigar is worn down to a nub. I ain't disputing this one. It seems solid. Unless it is actually shipped of course. Then I will be chuckling with my cigar and rolling in my piles of money. May does seem like a hell of a delay. But I guess better late than never, eh?

You know what? This does suck and I don't for a minute blame anyone for being upset. Hell, I am too.

But don't think for a minute that BVHE wants this to happen. These Treasures are CASH COWS and the fact that they had to pull the Deecember release is undoubtedly causing some major headaches there. Think about these numbers:

If the print runs were 165,000 of each and the net cost to distributors is $17 (a somewhat close estimate):

165,000 X 4 = 660,000 units
660,000 X $17 = $11,200,000

That's a guaranteed $11,000,000+ that was ALREADY written in to the year's margins that suddenly is gone. I have no doubt that this is something major and do not fault BVHE/Disney for a second if they felt the need to delay the Tins. Because for them to take this drastic step means they had a damn good reason to do so.

Think of the poor Best Buy National Account Manager for BVHE...he/she just had a $2 or $3 million-dollar Purchase Order taken completely off of the 2003 books and his/her commission/bonus is probably gone for the year-end. So as mad as we are as consumers we need to understand that nobody wanted this to happen. Sure I'd like an explanation but we'll have to be patient in the meantime.

From a famous Laughing Place Boards' poster (Arstogas):

They ARE being delayed til May. A shame, but it's a calculated decision. I should note that the Masters are DONE and the delay does NOT have anything to do with altering any material to make it politically correct. This is about the DVD release schedule and other issues relevant to that industry.

Just confirming what we already know... still, pretty sad.

I hope it's a rumor by a internet jerk.

I just can't wait till May come on December is close why move the date.
Why does Disney do this?

O' well

indianajdp wrote: But don't think for a minute that BVHE wants this to happen. These Treasures are CASH COWS and the fact that they had to pull the Deecember release is undoubtedly causing some major headaches there. Think about these numbers:

If the print runs were 165,000 of each and the net cost to distributors is $17 (a somewhat close estimate):

165,000 X 4 = 660,000 units
660,000 X $17 = $11,200,000

That's a guaranteed $11,000,000+ that was ALREADY written in to the year's margins that suddenly is gone. I have no doubt that this is something major and do not fault BVHE/Disney for a second if they felt the need to delay the Tins. Because for them to take this drastic step means they had a damn good reason to do so.

Damn Good Reason and CASH COW is right. Maybe someone took a glance at the 1 DAY Finding Nemo sales of 8 Million Copies of VHS/DVD. Take a look at these rough numbers!

8,000,000 X $15 = $120,000,000

And then glanced at the 1st shipment of 25 million units shipped that was running low.

25,000,000 x $15 = $375,000,000 in the 1st Month alone!!!

Then some Disney doofus looked at the tin prices on eGay put two and two together had the "amazing" revelation that they could be making a lot more money with these tins. That $375 Million makes your $11 million look like chump change, and Disney knows it

Granted the Tins will never sell anywhere near the units of Finding Nemo, especially the non animated ones, but it would be a hell of a lot more than $11 million.

$imple Dollar$ and $ense

Disney has to start making back all the money they are going to lose when (and if) they sign the new distribution deal with Pixar

Buy your Pixar shares now. We might have to change the name of the forum to UltimatePixar.com sometime in the future. Especially if Eisner sticks around

But what I don't understand is this: Disney can still ship what they've already put together "months ago" and still come out with the same discs later without the tins. My point is that I, as a Disney enthusiast, don't care how "collectable" it is....I just want the product to view which is really why this stuff is put out, right?

And after pouring over the numbers in the previous posts, this is even more of an insane move on Disney's part. They can benefit more by providing some now and some later and NOT piss everyone off at the same time!

Now if it comes down to a matter of making the entire print run "collectable" with those damned tins...then I'll really be over a barrel. Wow. What ineptitude.

Walt! Where are you?!?!?

Well, if they release some now, they run out, people profit on eBay - then they release more copies in May, they piss a bunch of people off. Plus like 50% of a title's sales occur in the first two weeks of release. The majority of people wouldn't know "more are coming in May", plus it would confuse the "ignorant masses" that Disney often caters to. There isn't really any easy way out of the situation if they want to maximize profits.

Christ. i posted this information on another disney site to spread the news to disney fans (i even told them to reference ultimatedisney.com for further information) and i was met with skepticism and disbelief even after directing them to the now updated Disneystore website. talk about being in denial.

Lady wrote:Christ. i posted this information on another disney site to spread the news to disney fans (i even told them to reference ultimatedisney.com for further information) and i was met with skepticism and disbelief even after directing them to the now updated Disneystore website. talk about being in denial.

Non-believers!

That's what you get for posting on another Disney website!