There's been an interesting set of articles over on ICv2.com about anime being sold at large chain stores.
The first post about it was last month with an article about anime at Best Buy. The author felt that this signaled the end of the specialty retailer. This prompted a number of posts from people discussing the issue. In the end what it is really showing is the power of some of these large chain stores.
When a vendor sells a Sailor Moon box set (take your pick) to Best Buy and they RETAIL the $149.99 box set at $98.99 (my local price), I cannot compete with them with a net cost of $93.00. If I have to offer to sell it the item at a loss (yes, a loss after all carrying costs are attached) then why on earth would I WANT to sell their product. Pricing a $150.00 SRP item at 98.99 turns the perceived value of that item to $98.99 and makes us look like criminals when we try to charge SRP. We have to carry most of these type items to maintain an edge in overall selection, but if Mike and/or Media Blasters honestly believes that they could compete in their market under similar circumstances, then they should wake up. [ICv2 Talk Back - Daniel McAbee]
For me this is something that is about more than anime. It's about supporting smaller local businesses.When I buy my anime from Tokyo Kid in Harvard Square. Yes, they pretty much sell everything at list price, but they also have a selection that blows away just about every chain place. They also have more anime related stuff, an extensive collection of soundtracks, rentals, toys, etc. And they know me when I go in and will suggest things to me based on stuff they know I watch (and they offer me water if I'm coughing a lot that day). In the end they're usually the first choice for me if I can get in there easily. Here's hoping they stay in business a long time.
And one last note about places like Best Buy. Their selection is mediocre. I have browsed through their selection a few times and it always seems really spotty to me, like they don't pay attention when they don't have all the DVDs for a series. Blah.
