Daniel McAbee of The Tangled Web in Spartanburg, South Carolina saw the comment from Mike Pascuzzi of Media Blasters (see 'Mike Pascuzzi of Media Blasters on Anime Competition') and issued this sharp rejoinder:

Mike Pascuzzi of Media Blasters recently made the following comment: 'Sharp specialty retailers will realize that they can compete against the big boys by being creative.'  I take this challenge rather personally as I DO currently compete against a Best Buy, Sun Coast, Sam Goody, EB, Game Stop and Wal-Mart, who are all within three blocks of my location.  I have used selection, product knowledge, and exceptional customer service extensively in this battle to stay in the anime business.  In all of my experiences, I have found that these are good weapons but they are not related at ALL to pricing.

This is not a Media Blasters example but it still pertains to this argument.  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.

I realize that neither Media Blasters nor any other vendor can tell a retailer what to sell things for, but they CAN keep things equal in terms of cost.  I sincerely doubt that Best Buy and other large retailers are selling their anime at a loss AND expanding their floor plans, so they must be getting a net cost that allows them to profit at the reduced prices. 

Give me a level playing field when it comes to item cost and price and I will take on anyone.  Until then, I can do without the ''encouragement' to be creative' comments from my manufacturers and/or vendors.