Dixons signals death of the video recorder

Quakester2000

November 23, 2004

Now for my 100th story for Cdfreaks! GristyMcFisty used our news submit to tell us that Dixon 's one of the UK 's biggest electrical retailers is getting rid the VCR because of falling sales. Dixons has been selling video recorders and video cassettes for some 26 years but due to the popularity of dvd the VCR's life has come to and end at their shops. At this current moment of time sales of DVD players at Dixons are outselling VCR's by 40:1 with customers preferring to buy portable dvd players as well as recordable DVD and hard disk based machines.

Dixons marketing manager said that Dixons was removing VCR's from it stores so that it could concentrate on the next generation of video technology. He went on to say that the VCR was one of the most important pieces of technology in consumer history even if consumers had to put up with the irritations of tape based recording. Dixons hopes to be rid of its VCR inventory stock by Christmas.

Here is a bit of trivia for you! = Dixons sold its first VCR in 1978 it was the HR-3300EK it had a piano key operated top-loader with a red LED digital clock/timer. It also weighed a hefty 13lbs and cost Â£798.75 (At currant exchange rates that would be $1485.87) in today's money that would equal around Â£3000 ($5580.15)

High Street electrical retailer Dixons is ditching the VCR because of falling sales and the increased popularity of newer technology. After 26 years of flogging video cassette recorders (VCRs), Dixons said the machines will be out of its shops before Christmas. Sales of DVD players at Dixons are currently outstripping sales of VCRs by 40 to 1. With punters preferring gear like portable and recordable DVD and hard disk drive machines,

Dixons has decided to pull the plug on VCRs and focus instead on the "next generation of home entertainment systems".Said John Mewett, marketing director at Dixons: "We"re saying goodbye today to one of the most important products in the history of consumer technology."The video recorder has been with us for a generation - and many of us have grown up with the joys - and occasional frustrations - of tape-based recording. We are now entering the digital age and the new DVD technology available represents a step change in picture quality and convenience."The first VCR flogged by Dixons was the HR-3300EK, a piano key operated top-loader with a red LED digital clock/timer. It hit the shelves in 1978, weighed more than 13 lbs and cost a staggering Â£798.75 - that"s Â£2,021 in today"s money.

Well i guess it wont be long before other retailers follow so by next Christmas it may be very hard to get a VCR at all in the UK.

Source: The Register