Buying Used DVDs

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moogsmoogs
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
OK, so now that I recently joined the modern world and got a Blockbuster account, I notice that occasionally run special displays where they offer used DVD's with a Buy 2 get one Free deal.



In this case, the movies are all recent releases, and my suspicion is that once the initial rental frenzy is over, each store only needs so many copies of all but the most popular movies, so they sell a bunch of them (in order to avoid having them sit around unrented for time immemorial).



So my question is, have any of you guys purchased used DVDs from Blockbuster, and if so what is your experience as far as the quality of the discs (scratched, warped, or pretty much flawless condition most times)? At $7.99 per movie, I was considering it - LOTR, Beautiful Mind, Royal Tenenbaums (kinda weak but it was the best 3rd choice IMO).

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    bellebelle Posts: 1,574member
    I've bought quite a few and don't have any complaints. I did buy one that had a flaw and made my DVD player spew it out, but Blockbuster took it back and refunded my money.



    The only issue with them is that the booklets tend to be wrinkly and dog-eared, but having said that I've yet to buy a DVD that has an interesting booklet.



    [Edit: The Royal Tenenbaums is a good movie! Not great, but deserves repeated viewing and therefore the DVD purchase. It's a Criterion, isn't it? They usually have interesting extras.]



    [ 09-20-2002: Message edited by: Belle ]</p>
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  • Reply 2 of 12
    moogsmoogs Posts: 4,296member
    Yes, definitely worth more than one look since it is a very subtle movie in certain ways. Not bad - just not as good as I had hoped when I first saw it. But then, I have high expecations of such unconventional movies.



    Maybe when I return these two I just rented I'll take the 3 for 2 deal. Hard to beat 3 good DVDs for $16+ tax.



    What about those Amazon 3rd party markets - have you bought used books or DVDs from them? I'm always skeptical the products are "brand new", even though some of those re-sellers get lots of good ratings. Paranoid I guess.
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  • Reply 3 of 12
    bellebelle Posts: 1,574member
    [quote]Originally posted by Moogs:

    <strong>Yes, definitely worth more than one look since it is a very subtle movie in certain ways. Not bad - just not as good as I had hoped when I first saw it. But then, I have high expecations of such unconventional movies.</strong><hr></blockquote>

    Yeah, that's true. I think a lot of people were disappointed having seen Rushmore.

    [quote]<strong>What about those Amazon 3rd party markets - have you bought used books or DVDs from them? I'm always skeptical the products are "brand new", even though some of those re-sellers get lots of good ratings. Paranoid I guess.</strong><hr></blockquote>

    I've never used the Amazon marketplace. I don't really trust it, but couldn't give you a reason why. I usually buy stuff in stores because I'm really impatient and when I get an urge for a CD or book or DVD, I want it then and there.



    I've bought a bunch of ex-rental DVDs from Blockbuster since going into the Virgin store and seeing the price of the Tron DVD. :eek:



    Other than Amazon, and a couple of online computer stores, I'm a bit wary of the internet shopping revolution. I do trust <a href="http://www.gemm.com"; target="_blank">GEMM</a>. They also have sites for <a href="http://www.gemmbooks"; target="_blank">books</a> and <a href="http://www.gemmvideos.com"; target="_blank">videos</a>, but I've not used them. And <a href="http://www.abebooks.com"; target="_blank">ABE Books</a> is great for, well, books. And <a href="http://www.biblion.com"; target="_blank">Biblion</a> is fantastic if you like rare books.



    I really don't trust anyone else. I find it very frustrating when the only way to buy software is via Kagi or an online store.
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  • Reply 4 of 12
    alcimedesalcimedes Posts: 5,486member
    i bought some DVD's way back when from a movie rental place and ended up returning it. it has stupid movie previews at the beginning that you couldn't fast forward. the last thing i want is to have to watch some lame ass movie previews 5 years down the road.
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  • Reply 5 of 12
    mikey offendermikey offender Posts: 412member
    [quote]Originally posted by Moogs:

    <strong>Yes, definitely worth more than one look since it is a very subtle movie in certain ways. Not bad - just not as good as I had hoped when I first saw it. But then, I have high expecations of such unconventional movies.



    </strong><hr></blockquote>



    Meh. Bottlrocket ownz you more than you've ever been owned before. Rushmore and Tennenbaums don't hold a candle to that movie.



    Futureman:Â* What the hell you wearing?

    Clay:Â* Yeah

    Dignan:Â* It's a jumpsuit.

    Futureman:Â* Clay, look at this guy.

    Clay:Â* He looks like a rodeo clown.

    Futureman:Â* He looks like a little banana.Â* Where you from, anyway, man?

    Dignan:Â* I'm from around here.

    Futureman:Â* This guy used to mow our lawn.Â*Â*

    Clay:Â* No shit.

    Futureman:Â* Yeah, he was great, clipping the hedges, sweeping up, mowing the lawn.Â*Â* What was the name of your little lawn mowing company?

    Dignan:Â* The Lawn Wranglers.

    Futureman:Â* Let's go.Â* Keep up the mowing, kemosabee.

    Dignan:Â* It was, it was, it's landscaping not just mowing.

    Anthony:Â* Ah man, don't listen to that guy.Â*Â*

    Dignan:Â* I don't know.Â* Sometimes I'm not always as confident as I look.Â*

    Anthony:Â* Did you see what he had on?



    You just can't beat dialogue like that.

    You will purchase Bottlerocket, and you will bow before it.



    [ 09-20-2002: Message edited by: Shanny ]</p>
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  • Reply 6 of 12
    not unlike myselfnot unlike myself Posts: 2,037member
    Forget buying them used. Buying the 'hot ones' off of ebay and half.com is much more fun. (and cheaper too!) Because we all know that monsters inc can't cost $10 (including shipping) still sealed up. Life just doesn't work that way. But I don't ask questions and I always get my purchases as described....
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  • Reply 7 of 12
    finboyfinboy Posts: 383member
    [quote]Originally posted by alcimedes:

    <strong>i bought some DVD's way back when from a movie rental place and ended up returning it. it has stupid movie previews at the beginning that you couldn't fast forward. the last thing i want is to have to watch some lame ass movie previews 5 years down the road.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    You gotta watch out for this, but most of what Blockbuster sells doesn't have trailers anymore, IME.



    Most of my DVDs were bought used, from a local record store. The key is to watch them right away and take them back if they have bad spots or won't play correctly. I'd hesitate to buy used DVDs unless I could take them back if they didn't work. So -- the internet is out for that.
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  • Reply 8 of 12
    matsumatsu Posts: 6,558member
    You usually can FF the previews. Just hit menu as soon as you load the disc to skip them all completely.
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  • Reply 9 of 12
    g4dudeg4dude Posts: 1,016member
    I've never even seen a DVD that had previews on it!!!! Oh ya, I bought Super Troopers and Fast and the Furious used from Hollywood Video and have had no problems.



    [ 09-22-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]</p>
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  • Reply 10 of 12
    moogsmoogs Posts: 4,296member
    That's very true - hadn't thought of the previews. Also, I looked at the prices again. I must've been high the other day or the units were mismarked. LOTR is $16 used, Blackhawk $14...that almost makes it not worth it IMO. I thought they were like $10.



    Blockbuster did say they will replace it if you play it and there's a playback problem of some sort....
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  • Reply 11 of 12
    seanmseanm Posts: 69member
    Jello,



    I've only purchased one used DVD through Blockbuster and I did not had any problems with it. (Although I did only watch it once..hmmm) <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> The DVD itself pretty much didn't have any viewable scratches on it, so I'm assuming they attempt to clean up the discs before selling them?



    Anyway, the cashiere said that if I had any problems, just bring it back with the receipt and they'll exchange it.



    For the curious, the DVD was AntiTrust.



    -sean
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  • Reply 12 of 12
    burningwheelburningwheel Posts: 1,827member
    ahhh..blockbuster another evil empire, i hate them. i've rented more dvds that fvck up in the middle of the movie. what a way to ruin a night. yes, they credit your account but who cares, they ruined the whole mood of the night



    who rents these things and abuses them so bad, unbelievable!



    i'd never buy used one's from them, i like to support evil empires as little as possible, besides here in Michigan, many of them sell for the almost the cost of buying new ones! <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
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