IT-ServicesBlu-ray Player Prices Showing Signs Of Downward Trend.
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Market Scan - It has been about four months since Toshiba decided to shut down its HD DVD format and so far, consumers have seen Blu-ray player prices on the rise. However, June is the very first month in which we observed a decrease in average retail prices of Blu-ray player prices. As stores are clearing out their inventory for BonusView and BD-Live players, this may be the very first time we could describe Blu-ray as becoming affordable.
Amazon.com made headlines earlier today with a $300 Blu-ray player. The Samsung BD-P1400 is offered by the online store for $298, which represents a $101 discount over the suggested retail price of $399 and another $100 discount of the $499 price tag when the player entered U.S. retail in September of last year. According to Pricegrabber.com, the BD-P1400 is currently selling for an average retail price of about $335, with at least one store offering the player for less than $280.
A closer look at price trends of other Blu-ray players (without BonusView and BD-Live features), reveals that the BD-P1400 is not a fluke. Over the 20 days, most mainstream Blu-ray players have come down in average retail prices and left the $400 territory, which was pretty much the target area since the departure of HD DVD. We have compiled the price trends of four mainstream Blu-ray players below. At least according to current retail pricing, the Samsung player may be the best deal out there right now. If you are shopping for a Blu-ray player and watch how much you spend, then keep your eyes on this one, while we do expect especially Sonyò€™s and Sharpò€™s players to come down sharply as well.
According to average retail prices provided by Pricegrabber.com, Blu-ray players saw a sharp climb in prices when Toshiba pulled out of the market in mid-February. Prices somewhat stabilized and appear to finally come under pressure and begin playing with the $350 mark.
As a side note and just in case you are stuck with HD DVD movies, there is good news for LGò€™s BH200 combo Blu-ray/HD DVD player as well. Average retail prices for the device have come down dramatically and currently hover around the $450 mark, down from $1000 last December. According to Pricegrabber, there is still plenty of supply in the market left.