Amazon picks a new fight: Disney DVDs

[crazy4wdw]

Amazon picks a new fight: Disney DVDs

By Brian Stelter @brianstelter August 11, 2014: 1:46 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney)

Amazon's newest squabble with a supplier is affecting films such as "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and "Muppets Most Wanted."
The films are from The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) , which is apparently in a feud with Amazon, the operator of the world's biggest online store.

Neither company has commented on the feud. But preorder buttons for several of Disney's forthcoming DVDs disappeared from Amazon's site last week, a development first noticed by Home Media Magazine.

Retailers almost never discourage sales. But most retailers are not Amazon. The company is ensnared in a months-long dispute with the publishing house Hachette, resulting in long shipping delays for some Hachette titles and the stripping of preorder buttons for others.

Over the weekend, Amazon and Hachette made their cases directly to readers.

Disney now seems to be in a similar situation. Home Media Magazine reported that "disc options for 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' and 'Million Dollar Arm' aren't listed at all, while Amazon Instant Video preorder options remain."
Amazon's page for the forthcoming DVD of "Maleficent" simply says "Want us to e-mail you when this item becomes available? Sign up."

In June, there was a similar fight between Amazon and another movie maker, Warner Bros., which is owned by Time Warner (TWX), the parent company of CNNMoney. That kerfuffle was resolved within weeks.

 

[OKW Lover]

Hmmm. Interesting tactic. What if Amazon didn't take pre-orders and nobody noticed? Would they actually not carry the DVD's when they get released? Otherwise, what leverage would they have?

If Amazon doesn't take pre-orders people can either pre-order from other sources or just wait for the official release. If they pre-order for other sources, how is Disney hurt? If they wait for the official release, how is Disney hurt?

 

[skier_pete]

Hmmm. Interesting tactic. What if Amazon didn't take pre-orders and nobody noticed? Would they actually not carry the DVD's when they get released? Otherwise, what leverage would they have?

If Amazon doesn't take pre-orders people can either pre-order from other sources or just wait for the official release. If they pre-order for other sources, how is Disney hurt? If they wait for the official release, how is Disney hurt?

Unless Amazon thinks its customers will think "Well, I can't pre-order/order it from Amazon, I guess I'll just buy something else?" That thinking would be pretty egotistical, though, and in my estimations wrong as well.

 

[shafke]

I think the biggest change is that if you cannot pre order then you don't get the pre order price guarantee. Hence, the dvd will cost the customer a bit more.

 

[jamarmiller]

I was wondering what was happening with Captain America, every other place has it up for pre-order except Amazon

 

[Jorgie20]

I was wondering what was happening with Captain America, every other place has it up for pre-order except Amazon

I noticed that too. I went Amazon the other day to double check the release date, since Amazon is my go to for that sort of thing. I thought it was very odd that they had almost no info on Captain America.

 

[Superchikk]

I noticed that too. I went Amazon the other day to double check the release date, since Amazon is my go to for that sort of thing. I thought it was very odd that they had almost no info on Captain America.

I too have wondered about Captain America. I prefer to pre-order for a few reasons - 1) I can do so well in advance and not have to think about it again. 2) I know that with Amazon, I will get the "best price guarantee" and not have to worry about shopping around, and 3) With Prime, it arrives on my doorstep on release date, and I don't have to go get it. That sounds like something small, but with two young kids, it's not always easy to get in into a store, especially for just one thing that's not a necessity.

I really hope Amazon and Disney get this figured out. I have tried to pre-order two items (Captain America and Sleeping Beauty), and neither are available.

 

[crazy4wdw]

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The Walt Disney Co. and Amazon are said to be close to resolving a two-month long dispute, during which time Amazon stopped offering pre-order options for Disney DVDs, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The two companies were arguing over pricing, promotions on Amazon's website, and who would make up the difference when Amazon lost money in order to match the prices of its competitors, the Journal added.

The two companies are said to be in negotiations over these issues, but details of how far along the talks are were not disclosed. Soon to be released Disney DVDs such as "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Million Dollar Arm," and "Maleficent," returned to Amazon last week, sources told the Journal.

Shares of Disney are down by 0.76% to $88.35 and Amazon stock is lower by 1.06% to $319.02 at the start of trading on Wednesday.