Next time I may think twice about buying DVDs from Time/Life (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

For the longest time I have been thinking about buying the
11-disc documentary, The World At War, narrated by
Sir Laurence Olivier.

So, the other day I am sitting watching TV and I see the Time/Life
commercial touting the sale of the DVD set. I go to their website to
find that the 11-disc collection costs $119.

What horrified me next was a trip over to Amazon and a few other
etailers who were selling the same set between $45-$53.

I actually took the time to write Time/Life to tell them that their
pricing on this set was absolutely ridiculous when considering that
other etailers are selling it for well over 50% less their advertised
price. In a reply from the company, they basically said that they
do not price match and that people are welcome to buy this set
from whomever they choose to.

For years I have bought a multitude of CD collections from the
folks at Time/Life. Last year I bought the "Get Smart" boxed
set on DVD, only because it was an exclusive that nobody else had.

However, it's plain to me that Time/Life is not a company to
purchase DVD product from unless you want to spend twice as
much as any other retailer.

 

[Jay E]

The retail price for this set is $99.98 so I have no idea why Time Life is selling it above that price.

The set is on Sale at Deep discount right now fpr $30.38. I was thinking of picking it up.

 

[BethHarrison]

Picked mine up for A$27.00 including postage.

Best DVD bargain I have picked up.

 

[Corey3rd]

It's Time/Life. naturally they're going to charge more when you order for them. You might as well complain about the price of a can of soda at the airport. If they can find people willing to pay that price, they'll keep charging. It does cost them money to run all those late night ads for World at War. They got overhead.

 

[rich_d]

They can charge whatever they want. Corey, they would love your attitude. Covering their overhead has little do do with this. They could sell more units at a more reasonable price and do it that way. Obviously they have decided on a strategy of selling fewer units at a really high price.

But public opinion can change things. Tell everyone you know that the definition of someone with a drug problem is someone that thinks the Time/Life DVDs are a good value.

Or tell someone that the new way the government is going to decide who gets a sub-prime home mortgage in the future is based on whether you haven't ever purchased a Time/Life DVD.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Listen, I understand the can of soda in the airport scenario very
clearly. This is why I don't buy soda at the airport.

As far as Time/Life is concerned, you are right -- they can charge
whatever they want.

Their pricing just took me by surprise. I mean, I have about a
dozen different Time/Life CD collections in my library. They have
been a staple of high quality products over the years.

It just shocks me that a company like this is duping people who
don't know any better into buying this 11-disc documentary at $20
above list price and up to $90 above the best sale price.

It has just totally changed my outlook on Time/Life to the point
where I don't want to buy anything from them anymore unless they
have something exclusive I can't get anywhere else.

Additionally, if I can save just one person in this forum from being
duped into buying The World At War from Time/Life just because
he or she read this post, then I think I have accomplished much here.

Really, shame on Time/Life for ripping people off like this.

 

[Jon Martin]

Well, it IS Time Life. Have you subscribed to any of their magazines?

I used to subscribe to Sports Illustrated until this year. I had been paying $40 a year and then got an automatic renewal from them, thanking me for renewing and billing me for $80. Look anywhere online, and you can get a subscription for $40.

Same with Money Magazine. I used to pay $20 and I just got a bill for $30.

Loyalty is meaningless to them. They want to get as much money as possible.

 

[Pete York]

Thanks, Ron. I have seen a commercial advertising The World at War for $39.99, and thought, "wow, I may pick that up". Just looked at the Time Life site and it is some weird truncated version of the series, 4 dvds, volumes 3, 5, 6, 8 only.