talkmagic.co.uk

... does it seem strange that downloads of magic DVDs cost the same as the physical DVDs?

Part of the cost of a DVD is the production, manufacture and distribution of the physical DVD. With a download, none of these costs apply. This is why MP3s are significantly cheaper than CDs.

I'd be really tempted to pick up some magic downloads if this fact was reflected in the price, but it's not. So, given that they cost the same and a digital file has no resale value, while a DVD obviously does - why would anyone go for the download? Is there something I'm missing?

Genuine question, not trying to start a fight. Peace and love, peace and love.

I don't see anything controversial with your question

In fact I quite agree.

Could you provide some examples?

Have you purchased any Ebooks on any subject? I have an ipad and I read a lot and I've switched to almost all Electronic books. I use kindle mostly but I have all the other ebook apps as well. In many cases the books are the same price's as a paperback. And even more shocking some are even more expensive. Lucky for me there is a vast number of books that I've yet to read. Some even before I was born if you can believe it. Those books are usually cheaper. And there are a few websites that do offer cheaper books, some even free. Such as the first book and possibly the third in a series to sucker you into paying for the rest of the series.

It is a crafty bit of business and just wrong because the vast majority of the cost of the book is in the publishing, the printing. Has that savings gone on to the consumer. Nope, and it is not right.

In the case of books, e-books are subject to VAT where physical books are not. The may explain why an e-book is dearer than the paper book. But I can't see that applying to DVDs.

But there's also the whole thing about ownership - IIRC the download is the exclusive property of the downloader and cannot be passed on, even on death. A physical DVD or book can be sold on, given away or lent out legally. So I would expect to pay significantly less for a more restricted product, especially since there's no physical product. I've never bought a digital product unless it was significantly cheaper than the physical equivalent.

Ian

As far as I am aware, the reason e-books are subject to VAT (where physical books are not) is because e-books are classed as a luxury item.
I imagine DVDs and digital video downloads are also classed as luxury items.

I agree that the download should cost less. A couple of benefits though:
• Backups - a lot of places these days offer unlimited downloads, I have magic DVDs which are unplayable due to damage, it would be nice to be able to replace them for free.
• Instant - You don't have to wait several days for the parcel to arrive in the post, this is also a major con - I still enjoy the anticipation of waiting for a parcel!


I've noticed that some movies are now published on DVD with a digital copy included. I think this is a great idea, I have bought magic DVDs which aren't available as downloads, I would love to be able to watch them on my tablet.

Le Petit Bateleur wrote:Could you provide some examples?

Here are a couple:

Matt Mello's Modern Mentalism DVDs (2 DVD set): $59.95 on Penguin http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/2352" target="_blank
Matt Mello's Modern Mentalism Downloads: $29.95 per disc = $59.90 http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/2607" target="_blank

Colin McLeod Opening Minds DVD £39.99: http://www.dudethatscoolmagic.co.uk/aca ... cleod.html" target="_blank
Colin McLeod Opening Minds Download £39.95: http://www.alakazam.co.uk/product-openi ... minds.html" target="_blank
Colin McLeod Opening Minds Download: £41.60: tmtv/product_info.php/opening-minds-colin-mcleod-and-alakazam-video-download-p-196" target="_blank

Rick Maue Mental Deceptions DVD signed by Rick Maue and shipped from the US to the UK: £46.26 ($70): http://www.deceptionsunlimited.com/products.html" target="_blank
Rick Maue Mental Deceptions Download £46.90: tmtv/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=rick+maue&search_in_description=1" target="_blank



Regards backups - it is perfectly legal to rip and backup your own DVD collection to a hard drive, provided you don't share or distribute the backups. That way you can watch them on whatever device you like. It's only the same as ripping your CD collection and sticking it all on your iPod. If you ever sell the physical DVD, you should obviously delete any digital copies as you no longer have the right to view them.

Instant - yep, can't argue with that. But what a trade off! Wait two weeks and get your physical DVD signed by the creator (see Rick Maue, above) or pay the same amount for an intangible digital file that you can access right away? I know which I'd choose, unless the price makes the second one more appealing.

DVD pressing and packaging are actually dirt cheap. Most of the cost is the content. If the cost of a download is significantly cheaper than a DVD, it implies that the content isn't worth much.

Hey Matt!

Firstly, thank you for the posting... peace and love right back at you I can tell you that I agree 100% with you - if production is cheaper, why isn't the product cheaper for the consumer!

The answer, from our point of view at TMTV, is simply that we are not allowed to choose the prices! The owner of the download has the option to set a retail price (in dollars) and also the option to force the retailers to stick to that price.

In the case of Colin McLeod Opening Minds Download, Alakazam have designated that we MUST charge 62.00 US Dollars which is the exact price that we have been charging on TMTV.
However, now you have pointed out that Alakazam are themselves offering a lower price than the minimum, we believe this negates that rule, so we have updated the website to take this into account, so now we also are charging £39.95.

why would anyone go for the download?

Well, in my view, there are many benefits!
1) You can view it instantly (sorry to repeat your own quote in answer to your own question!)
2) You don't have to carry round the DVD with you, you can view it anywhere at anytime (provided you have a media device naturally)
3) You can't damage it - if you scratch your DVD it can be finished... can't happen with a virtual purchase.
4) You don't have to wait for the disk to load... adverts etc..

Now the downsides
1) You don't have a physical disk - well, you can burn a physical disk if you wish
2) Price... yes I agree they should be a little cheaper but not much as the value really is in the content

So, can we do anything about price? No! But, as it happens, whilst we cannot charge you a lower price, we have recently introduced a great loyalty scheme! Currently we are offering a 20% cashback deal at TMTV, so (for example) where you spend 50.00 on DVDs you will receive 10.00 cashback which you can use to purchase or put towards the purchase of any other downloads.

I hope this helps and if you have any more questions, please do ask!!

Best
Laurence

20% cashback is very reasonable indeed!


Cashback!

It may sound old fashioned, but I much prefer having a physical copy of the DVD in its case - nothing looks better (and nicer to me as a magician) than a shelf full of books and DVD's.
Plus, certain tricks (which include a gimmick for example) would need to be shipped anyway, so what is the point of a download.

On a side note, perhaps an option to have a downloaded copy AS WELL (like a cloud based backup?) could be an option. If DVD's are to be viewed in the same way that films are, that seems to be the way that a lot of DVD sets are going; you can get a HD / Blu Ray, a standard version and a download too all in 1 box.

I also very much hate the idea of playing a magic DVD on my computer screen whilst sat at a desk. Yes I could burn the download onto a disc to put it on the TV, but why not just have the physical copy anyways?

Last note, 20% is a VERY good deal, shame I'm on a saving spree for a house ... saying that, 20% is a reason to treat myself

Dan

I watch DVDs on the telly, so I prefer a disk.
I don't want to be making snap purchasing decisions, so buying disks means I have to tell myself "Is this worth waiting up to 28 days for"
Our broadband is awful so downloading is a nightmare.
I can still make a backup to the hard-drive when it gets here.

This is why I prefer disks!