Top Ten Ways To Find Good Deals On Dvds And Blu Ray Discs

Top Ten Ways to find Good Deals on DVDs & Blu-ray Discs

By Mike Frezon

October 2009

An advertising slogan for a popular chain of stores, the Christmas Tree Shops, goes “Don’t you just love a bargain?” There aren’t too many people I know who want to overpay for an item. And, given the recent economic downturn, smart shopping is essential. Well, we as hobbyists are not to be deterred! No, we shouldn’t ignore the electric bill in order to satisfy our craving for the latest Megan Fox release in brilliant high-definition. But if you want to own the occasional disc or two or three—and spend the least amount possible—rejoice! There are many good deals to be had. So let’s not pay too much for those shiny round discs that serve as a cheap form of entertainment in these tough financial times. 

Here are my top ten ways to find good deals on DVDs and Blu-ray discs:

#10  Garage sales:  This is an unscientific and time-consuming approach to bargain hunting, but the right garage sale can yield big payoffs.  While it is extremely common now to find VHS decks and tapes aplenty (not to mention the occasional laserdisc player), many people use garage sales as a way to “turn over” their DVD impulse buys and recoup some money.  My story: I recently walked up a driveway to find a lone DVD set for sale. It just happened to be  Criterion’s pricey 3-disc edition of Terry Gilliam’s Brazil. It was not marked with a price. When I asked the woman how much, she responded, “That’s my husband’s. How about $3?” This is a true story.

#9     Internet search:  Many people don’t know that there is an internet search engine specifically designed for us HT enthusiasts looking for good buys on software.  If you know how to use Google to search the internet, you can take advantage of DVDPriceSearch.com.  This site’s home page features daily updates highlighting specials and bargains. It also has a search engine in which you can type a title and it will give you an easy-to-read breakdown of the cheapest places to get that title (even factoring in shipping/handling and taxes) from more than a dozen different on-line retailers. 

#8     Amazon.com/DVD:  This one’s too easy. Regularly check the main DVD page at amazon.com for sales. It’s not the world’s #1 on-line retailer for nothing.  It always has discounts on popular discs…but also often runs themed-specials (on horror films before Halloween, for example) and, many times, will price-match their competitors’ sale prices, making their bargains even better.

#7     Retailer’s “Clubs”:  Take advantage of the various membership programs offered by retailers. Two examples are Best Buy’s RewardZone and FYE’s Backstage Pass. Best Buy’s Reward Zone is a no-fee point-based program which allows the member to swipe a card at every purchase (in-store or online) and accumulate points for dollars-off certificates good on upcoming purchases. FYE’s Backstage Pass is more direct in that it charges a yearly fee which entitles the member to 10% off every purchase, plus other e-mailed discounts and coupons (and 20% off any purchase on one’s birthday!). Some of these programs also offer credit cards as an add-on, which can increase your savings.

#6     Warehouse Clubs:  And while we’re on the subject of clubs, you might consider a membership to a warehouse club such as Sam’s Club, Costco or BJ’s Wholesale Club. These retailers often offer terrific prices to their members (who, traditionally, pay an annual fee) on DVDs and Blu-rays—especially big box sets (things like complete series of TV shows or film collections). If you are fortunate enough to have more than one warehouse club in your area, pay each a visit and see if you like what they’re selling! 

#5     Deep Discount’s Semiannual Sale:  DeepDiscount.com is an extremely popular internet retailer which specializes in DVDs, Blu-rays and CDs. If you have patience and good organizational skills, Deep Discount holds a twice-a-year sale (June & November) in which they discount their entire stock of discs 20% to 25%. There are always many good bargains to be had. Many HT enthusiasts have been known to bank their discretionary cash months ahead in anticipation of this noteworthy event. 

#4     Big Box Store specials:  This is probably the mostly widely-known trick of the trade. Check your weekly flyers (in newspapers or online) to find sales on software titles. Some of the deals can’t be beat because retailers know the public is looking to be able to watch their favorite summer movie in the comfort of their home. So the stores often use those new-release DVD titles as a “loss-leader,” offering bargain basement prices to attract customers into their stores in the hope they’ll spend even more money.  

#3     Buy USED!  Since you are reading this list on the HTF, take advantage of our own Software for Sale/Trade forum. Here you will find HTF members selling off pieces of their own collections as they look to downsize or upgrade to the latest technology. [There is also a corresponding Hardware for Sale/Trade forum for those looking for good deals on a new TV or DVD Player or subwoofer.] You should also seek out shops that deal in used media software—such as FYE. Rental stores such as Blockbuster and Hollywood Video are also popular places to pick up titles for much less than you would pay if new. And these places usually offer good guarantees on the product. I am a firm believer in the savings of buying used discs as they are fairly reliable media that hold up well to re-use. 

#2     The HTF Bargains & Deals forum: This is a terrific resource for anyone interested in, well, bargains and deals on ANY HT-related materials. Recent months have seen numerous threads about terrific deals on DVDs and Blu-rays at places such as woot.com, J&R.com, buy.com, Big Lots stores and the bargain bins at Wal-Mart! There are also threads alerting members to coupons at places like Borders and Barnes & Noble…and even great coupons for high-profile new release titles useable at any retailer. 

#1  The Weekly RoundUp!:  Each week the HTF features a listing of that week’s high-profile new releases, along with a comparison price chart of major retailers. There is also a description of the various retailer exclusives available on some titles and other special sales. Extremely valuable information is then posted by HTF members, supplementing the original material with news of other deals and coupons. This results in the creation of a comprehensive clearinghouse of information on that week’s new releases and where shoppers can get the best deals around. 

With a little research, you can get the best prices on DVDs and entertainment media available. Happy shopping, everyone!