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These $5 Blu-rays are a killin' me, I tell 'ya! (1 Viewer)

Ronald Epstein

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Probably like the rest of you, I vowed when I upgraded from DVDto Blu-ray that I would not repurchase all the titles I already owned
in my library. My goal was to only purchase new releases.

Of course, the studios (for the most part) have done a pretty good
job of making those classic titles (including those from the 70s and 80s)
look even better than their DVD counterparts. So, certainly, it was hard
to keep the original promise I made to myself.

...but now...$5 Blu-rays?It seems everyday there are Blu-ray titles that were $14-$19 months
to a year ago now selling for $4.99 - $8.00 apiece.

I am picking up stuff that I already own -- really don't need to upgrade --
but yet am tempted to purchase for their price.

I recently purchased Wargames and Hang 'Em High for $5 each. I had
perfectly decent copies on DVD of those titles and didn't need to repurchase.
Today I see the classic Cape Fear and comedy Fletch for under $7 apiece.

I feel as if I am having the Home Shopping Network piped into my browser
with deals so incredible that I can't refuse buying crap I don't need.

...and really, crap is the wrong word to use for really good films. Thing is,
most of this stuff is just going to sit on my shelf in shrinkwrap while I concentrate
on the stuff I really want to watch.

Just sort of wild to see Blu-ray prices come down to the level of what we used
to refer as DVD Bargain bins. I know this probably isn't a good thing for the
industry. However, it greatly benefits we, the collectors -and- certainly helps
persuade more consumers to upgrade to Blu-ray and get some great deals in
the process.
 

Walter Kittel

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It isn't a bad problem to have as a collector, but I definitely purchase titles that I shouldn't when the price drops into the sub $10.00 range. I'm a little more selective these days but the inexpensive titles test my willpower.

- Walter.
 

cineMANIAC

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Too bad it's mostly crap that's hitting rock-bottom prices and not Criterion or titles from other quality labels. I'm never tempted to grab bargain bin Blu's if it's Adam Sandler movies, lol
 

FoxyMulder

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I have about 60 titles on blu ray which i have yet to watch, some date all the way back to when i bought them shortly after the format war ended and i bought into HD, i get tempted by looking at Amazon and seeing some titles selling real cheap but so far i have resisted, well almost resisted, i did buy several, they are sitting collecting dust, i'll watch them in 2018/2019ish.
 

David_B_K

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cineMANIAC said:
Too bad it's mostly crap that's hitting rock-bottom prices and not Criterion or titles from other quality labels. I'm never tempted to grab bargain bin Blu's if it's Adam Sandler movies, lol
The day Criterion discs hit the $5 bargain bin is the day Criterion will stop producing discs.
 

Vic Pardo

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I needed to get a copy of THE BARBARIAN AND THE GEISHA (1958) on any disc format. I was in Best Buy and saw the John Wayne Film Collection on sale for $29.99, which includes it. There were other films on that set I wouldn't mind getting but I decided to hold off until I checked the Amazon price. It was $22.99. BUT they had a Blu-ray of BARBARIAN/GEISHA for $16.98. Hmmm...maybe I should get that. I waited. Last Wednesday I was in a different Best Buy with a very narrow selection of movies. There on a special Father's Day sale shelf was the Blu-ray (+DVD) of BARBARIAN for $7.99. I snatched it up.

Glad I waited. :)
 

jcroy

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Definitely.

These days what really tests my willpower are tv season sets that are $15-$20 a pop (or less), whether bluray or dvd. Tv shows are a massive time sink, compared to movies.

What I do now to greatly restrict my tv show purchases:

- bluray-only for current incumbent tv shows
- only pull the trigger when the bluray dips below $20
- avoid buying any long running tv series
- avoid buying any tv series that is "stalled"
- avoid buying "complete series" sets
- "complete" only tv shows where I already have several previous seasons
- no MOD releases

(I'm not always successful at following these self-imposed edicts).
 

jcroy

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On a huge tangent.

What has brought me to this point recently, is that I recently made a huge purchase that I've been having second thoughts on.

I recently picked up (almost) all the season sets of the original Dallas, except for the season 1+2 set. (ie. Thirteen season sets).

(I've been "binge watching" through these season sets. It's a very addictive tv show).
 

jcroy

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(This may sound crazy and self-defeating).

There's one other big self-imposed edict that I have on my tv-on-bluray purchases.

- If I have seen most or all of the episodes of a particular tv season already, then I won't bother pulling the trigger until the bluray hits the $10 to $15 range.


This is the main reason why I have not (yet) purchased the blurays of tv shows like:

- Game of Thrones
- Continuum
- Orphan Black
- Defiance
- The Blacklist
- Bones
- the revived Hawaii Five-0
- Under The Dome
- Helix
- Doctor Who
- Falling Skies
- The Following
- Homeland
- The Americans
- Agents of SHIELD
- Star Trek Enterprise

I know for quite a few of these shows, I'll be waiting a very long time for them to hit the $10 to $15 range. (Basically I'm using this fact as a "mind trick" on myself to avoid compulsively buying more bluray tv season sets).
 

Vegas 1

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In regards to Criterion BRs at discounted prices, our local Costco has maybe a dozen Criterion BRs for $19.95ea and these are recent releases also.
 

Dave B Ferris

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Vic Pardo said:
I needed to get a copy of THE BARBARIAN AND THE GEISHA (1958) on any disc format. I was in Best Buy and saw the John Wayne Film Collection on sale for $29.99, which includes it. There were other films on that set I wouldn't mind getting but I decided to hold off until I checked the Amazon price. It was $22.99. BUT they had a Blu-ray of BARBARIAN/GEISHA for $16.98. Hmmm...maybe I should get that. I waited. Last Wednesday I was in a different Best Buy with a very narrow selection of movies. There on a special Father's Day sale shelf was the Blu-ray (+DVD) of BARBARIAN for $7.99. I snatched it up.

Glad I waited. :)
I saw the same display at my local Best Buy - I snatched up Von Ryan's Express and A Bridge Too Far for $4.99 apiece.

More expensive, understandably (4 discs + a CD), was the West Side Story box set, but still (just) $14.99.
 

cineMANIAC

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David_B_K said:
The day Criterion discs hit the $5 bargain bin is the day Criterion will stop producing discs.
Well, you'll never find a Criterion title for sale for $5, not even in a porn, er, I mean, pawn shop, but I'd consider it a bargain bin find (and a minor miracle) if I happen to pick up a Criterion release for $10-15 somewhere (even used). The lowest I've come across a Criterion title was a used copy of Rushmore on DVD for $17 at a dying mom & pop. It's like a sign that the world is ending if a Criterion title is to be had for less than $20 :(
 

Josh Steinberg

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I've upgraded a bunch of titles for $5… at first, it was just the ones through the Warner DVD2Blu website, but now I keep the rest of the titles I own on DVD on a list on Amazon, and when the Blus drop to $5, I'll pick them up. Got "A Few Good Men" a couple weeks ago at that price. Part of me feels like it's crazy, but I do it anyway.
 

phillyrobt

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Picked up some good $1 titles at Dollar Tree. Nitro Circus, Upside Down, Blitz and Rampart.
 

Jason_V

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This is why I've pretty much stopped going into stores and just "looking". I always find something I "want" and then it sits on the shelf for years waiting to be watched. I'm closing in on 900 titles in the library...at some point, enough is enough.
 

Craig S

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Timely thread, Ron. I went a little nuts on the bargain Blus this weekend - they were everywhere! I expect that being a week away from Father's Day triggered the sales. Picked up 5 titles as Fry's for $4.99-$5.99, 6 more for $4.75 (!!) at Target. Was going to hit up Best Buy, but I decided enough was enough!

Seems that about all I buy anymore is either sub-$10 sale titles, or expensive rarely-discounted stuff like Criterions and Twilight Time. Of course, with very rare exceptions I only buy Criterions 4 times a year - the 2 B&N half-off sales and the Criterion Flash sales. Speaking of which, it's only a month until the next B&N sale, and I have a HUGE list built up. My credit card is whimpering already... :)
 

LouA

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Ronald Epstein said:
Probably like the rest of you, I vowed when I upgraded from DVDto Blu-ray that I would not repurchase all the titles I already owned
in my library. My goal was to only purchase new releases.

Of course, the studios (for the most part) have done a pretty good
job of making those classic titles (including those from the 70s and 80s)
look even better than their DVD counterparts. So, certainly, it was hard
to keep the original promise I made to myself.

...but now...$5 Blu-rays?It seems everyday there are Blu-ray titles that were $14-$19 months
to a year ago now selling for $4.99 - $8.00 apiece.

I am picking up stuff that I already own -- really don't need to upgrade --
but yet am tempted to purchase for their price.

I recently purchased Wargames and Hang 'Em High for $5 each. I had
perfectly decent copies on DVD of those titles and didn't need to repurchase.
Today I see the classic Cape Fear and comedy Fletch for under $7 apiece.

I feel as if I am having the Home Shopping Network piped into my browser
with deals so incredible that I can't refuse buying crap I don't need.

...and really, crap is the wrong word to use for really good films. Thing is,
most of this stuff is just going to sit on my shelf in shrinkwrap while I concentrate
on the stuff I really want to watch.

Just sort of wild to see Blu-ray prices come down to the level of what we used
to refer as DVD Bargain bins. I know this probably isn't a good thing for the
industry. However, it greatly benefits we, the collectors -and- certainly helps
persuade more consumers to upgrade to Blu-ray and get some great deals in
the process.
Ronald , I'm going through the same thing you are! How's this for crazy - over the weekend I bought Sunset Boulevard on Bluray at Barnes and Noble 's 40% off sale even though I already have a DVD copy that's never been out of the shrink wrap. But it makes me feel good to know other people are also crazy over this stuff!
 

Ronald Epstein

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The lowest I've come across a Criterion title was a used copy of Rushmore on DVD for $17 at a dying mom & pop. It's like a sign that the world is ending if a Criterion title is to be had for less than $20
Godzilla was on sale yesterday (and perhaps still today) for under $17.
 

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