Stances on Renting, Buying Used...etc

RyanAn · 07-21-2004, 04:27 PM

1. What do you feel about people renting a DVD instead of buying it?
2.
a. Or purchasing a used copy?
b. Will you buy it if it is a former rental?
c. Maybe only if it is in the original case?
d. Do your DVDs have to have original inserts, etc?

-

I am firmly against renting, especially from places like Blockbuster, who butchers an artist work. Not to mention the possibility of someone's dirty DVD player and my sick thinking that my other DVDs could catch "media-AIDs."

I am a huge used DVD buyer. I feel that if I can save a few dollars here and there, instead of buying one movie with twenty dollars, I could get two for that same price. I will never buy a former rental if the case is different or in bad shape, or if the inserts are not in it.

Ryan

Brad_See · 07-21-2004, 04:33 PM

I rent but I try and rent only brand new ones that haven't yet had a chance to get really scratched. I recently had to go through 3 copies of Shanghai Knights though before I got one that would play all the way through.

I DO NOT buy DVD's that were rental copies at Blockbuster or anywhere else, although I will buy used DVD's that came from personal collections and only after close inspection to make sure it isn't scratched. See my recent thread about my pawn shop payload the other day. I'm all about saving money though. I NEVER pay retail for anything ever except food. I will spend hours finding a better deal on just about anything. Websites like www.pricegrabber.com and www.dvdpricesearch.com are my best friends. I normally just browse used dvd places but if there's a specific DVD I want or need that can't be found used then I'll check www.dvdpricesearch.com. Like when we bought the Veggie Tales Jonah DVD for my nephew...found it incredibly cheap through aforementioned website at www.deepdiscountdvd.com. Had enough money left in our budget to buy him a second DVD because it was so cheap.

brad cook

Jesse Skeen · 07-21-2004, 04:41 PM

I refuse to buy used just for the sake of saving a few bucks- I've seen a lot of used DVDs for MORE than what I paid for them new! The only time I'll buy something used is if it's out of print, so far for me that's only applied to stuff like promotional-only stuff- I have some of the first instore DVD demo discs (most without the cases they originally came in) that I'd have an extremely slim chance of getting still sealed.
In general, I like to know who's handled it, who's played it, when and where!

Marty M · 07-21-2004, 04:46 PM

I don't rent because I am never sure when I will get around to watching a DVD. I don't like the time limit that is imposed on new releases.

I have been known to watch a DVD over several nights, espacially when it is one my wife is not interested in watching. I will sometimes start around 10:30 when my wife goes to bed and watch until I am about to fall asleep.

I will also take my time watching the extras on a DVD. In some cases I will watch the movie with the director's commentary after I have seen the movie. This is what I plan this weekend for In America, which is an excellent movie.

RyanAn · 07-21-2004, 04:51 PM

Marty - I too watch the movie regularly, then with commentary. I never thought of the time limit as a reason, but it makes sense - thanks! Could you imagine if every movie you bought had to be watched by a certain time? ehh.

Jesse - I only buy used if it lesser in price. I refuse to go to a retail store and spend $19.99 on a movie, when I could spend $11.99 on one time viewed DVD that would save me a lot of money.

Thanks to everyone who has responded so far...

Ryan

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Kristian · 07-21-2004, 05:16 PM

I don't really like to rent movies, mainly because of the fear of scratched or dirty DVDs. But there are just too many movies out there that I want to see and I'm not interested in buying all of them. So, I reluctantly rent. In the past year, however, my rentals have consisted only of free trials from Netflix and other online rental services.

I've never bought an used DVD nor do I ever plan on doing so. If I'm going to spend money on something that I'll keep as part of my collection, I'd like for it to be in pristine condition.

DougFND · 07-21-2004, 05:24 PM

I mix it up. If I want something really badly on release date, have to go new. Others can wait for used copies from eBay or the Software for Sale forum here.

As previously mentioned, in some cases, you can get new for less than used. Take Deep Discount DVD's recent 20% off sale. Among my purchases were Star Trek IV and V Special Editions and T2 Extreme for less than I could get used on eBay with shipping.

I probably have 150 laserdiscs, and all but about 10 were purchased used. I've only ever had problems with one.

JamesHromadka · 07-21-2004, 05:25 PM

Netflix is one of the best things to come out of the Internet.

danak · 07-21-2004, 05:35 PM

Netflix and other online rental services are the way to go if you don't want to have a time limit when you rent.

Dana

AnthonyC · 07-21-2004, 05:36 PM

I do rent if I haven't seen the movie and am not sure if I want to own it. I'm not worried about getting "media-AIDS." Personally, I was more worried about my sister's idiotic friend a few years ago, who almost broke my Pee-wee's Big Adventure DVD, not to mention the DVD player itself when she took decided to put her Charlie's Angels DVD ON TOP of my DVD, without taking it out. Needless to say, I was VERY angry.

I'd rather purchase new discs than used ones simply because I worry about the disc conditions. But if the price is a major improvement, I won't hesitate to pick it up used.