Question for DVD collectors like myself.

[Bigmonty69]

I, like so many others that read these forums, buy/collect DVDs.

Near every new release of a DVD I have watched, sometime between the late 70's to present date, I buy. I have literally spent a fortune on DVD's in the past year and a half (honarable metion goes to the excellent Bargain forum which has limited the money spent somewhat).

My question is how many people do what I do and buy the DVD and maybe only watch it once or not at all in some cases. Lately I have been thinking what is the point of buying these DVDs if I don't plan on watching them again immediately.

My conclusion is I think I buy them for the 'display' aspect I have going on in my living room. I find it pleasing that people who come to visit stand in awe at my extensive DVD collection.

I am begining to think it might be cheaper if I just buy a couple hundred DVD cases and print of DVD covers for all the films I don't have from some CDCovers website.

Anyone else feel like this?

[Cinemasia.net]

Yes. I don't seem to have time to watch all the movies that I own. So why do I own them??:oh-hum:

[Splatt]

Originally posted by Cinemasia.net
Yes. I don't seem to have time to watch all the movies that I own. So why do I own them??:oh-hum:

Probably because you find buying and collecting more enjoyable than watching some of them :)

Nothing wrong with this, there are plenty of people who collect things with no real use (apart from looking good) e.g. coins and stamps.

[CrackD0wn]

If I enjoy a film enough, it's nice to know it's at arms reach if I ever want to watch it, or even a bit of it.

[rogeralpine]

Defo a collector sort of thing. They have wide appeal and in many cases, their value doesn't drop much at all - and in some cases their value increases!:thumbs:

Having them at my disposal means that I have the opportunity to watch them if I so desire - the fact I prolly won't is sort of irrelevant.

Also, most on here are canny buyers and as such can reconcile the cost of the purchase against it's second hand value. My calculations indicate that in most instances you ain't going to lose the same amount that you would if you rented it - take the DVDSoon pre-orders for instance - a tenner for Master & Commander SE - even within 6 months I reckon you'd still get £8 for it. Even if you got only £6 for it, that's £4 for 6 months rental.:) (Which is nearly the cost of a Blockbuster rental for 2 nights - and that'd be the single disk version)

[Bigmonty69]

Thast actually a pretty good way of thinking about it. ;)

[Harsin]

Worst thing is I don't even watch the extras nowadays, but given a choice between buying a bare-bones disc or the super expensive version with extras guess which one I go for? :help:

[Twistingginger]

Originally posted by Harsin
Worst thing is I don't even watch the extras nowadays, but given a choice between buying a bare-bones disc or the super expensive version with extras guess which one I go for? :help:

Amen to that brother rabbit! I have to audit my DVD collection on a monthly basis just to make sure there in alphabetical order, otherwise I don't stand a chance!

[mackemansj1]

I find a big part of the thrill is the ordering and the wiating to arrive part. Im like a big kid on christmas sometimes waiting for the postie to knock or push a brown envelope threw my door.


All so i like to display them its like look at mine its bigger than yours thing.hehehe;)

[TheoGB]

Originally posted by Harsin
Worst thing is I don't even watch the extras nowadays, but given a choice between buying a bare-bones disc or the super expensive version with extras guess which one I go for? :help:

Agreed. I now leave commentaries to running the film on my computer while I clean my room or do something equally boring...

[Herbal]

i do the same.

Yeah i find it more of a buzz somthimes ordering them, and waiting for them to turn up rather than watching them.

But it's always a good feeling when you pick up a dvd you havent watched it ages. (i.e Tom Crown affair - havent seen this for about 2/3 years) and what a gem it is.:thumbs:

But i've seen some of the collections on here, and Wow they are excellent. I have about 500 Dvd's but not that many huge boxsets.

[clarkyboy100]

I always watch my DVD within a day or two of receiving it, then watch it again about 1 week later to take it all in again. Then I will leave it around 6months to a year and watch it again. I don't have any DVD's I haven't watched at least 2 times.

[Bigmonty69]

I find I just dont have time to do that.

I think you might be in the minority mate.

[clarkyboy100]

Originally posted by Bigmonty69
I find I just dont have time to do that.

I think you might be in the minority mate.

I'm struggling to find the time but I just about manage it. Maybe I'm a geek.:dork:

[ryonhilluk]

I do have a few that i haven't watched but i do plan to in the next few weeks.

[new forms]

i have found the same thing to a degree and due to this my rentals ratio has gone up a bit (if there's a film i'm not sure will be on the rewatch list i'll give it a rent rather than buy to help me decide),

although that does'nt tend to happen with the international films i buy so i'm still buying quite a lot blind or on reccomendation

[mr starface]

I always tend to watch the extras first and then never get round to watching the film as in most cases you've seen the film but no the extras:thumbs:

[Andrew WK]

I think the thrill of finding a big bargain, buying something you perhaps wouldn't have and then laughing at the price stickers on the DVDs in HMV is part of the fun!

[Chief Wiggum]

Originally posted by Harsin
Worst thing is I don't even watch the extras nowadays, but given a choice between buying a bare-bones disc or the super expensive version with extras guess which one I go for? :help:

Me too!

Saying that there are only so many featurettes about CGI that you can watch.

I used to watch all the extras when I first started collecting DVDs, but so many are repetitive that I just don't really bother nowadays.

There are some exceptions, eg the LotR EEs which show just how much time, effort and thought went into the whole process. Also, films based on actual events that have a documentary about it tend to get watched.

[EgonSpengler]

Originally posted by clarkyboy100
I'm struggling to find the time but I just about manage it. Maybe I'm a geek.:dork:

surely watching something you buy and enjoying it is less geeky than having it cos it looks pretty on your shelf?

[clarkyboy100]

Originally posted by EgonSpengler
surely watching something you buy and enjoying it is less geeky than having it cos it looks pretty on your shelf?

Good point!:thumbs:

[cm-9]

I quite often buy films on the basis that I saw and liked them at the cinema (or on TV 10 years ago) but when I eventually get round to watching them, as a more mature person and with a bit more film knowledge, I realise they're in fact not good films :(

Thank goodness for the second hand market!

Films that I do still like, I definitely keep the DVDs as I'll enjoy watching them again next year, probably my kids will watch them one day, and in the meantime it gives me pleasure to own a permanent record of a film that I like.

Also, you never know when a DVD is going to go OOP - obviously 95% don't seem to go out of print but of course the ones that do are the ones you'll miss the most ...

[Fozzybear]

Originally posted by Andrew WK
I think the thrill of finding a big bargain, buying something you perhaps wouldn't have and then laughing at the price stickers on the DVDs in HMV is part of the fun!

Definitely! That's exactly what I do. Nothing better than going into a shop and poo-pooing their prices while thinking "I just bought that for half that!" :D

[dez]

I've always collected things books, cd's, lp's, laserdisc's.I think once you see your collection growing you have to make it bigger and better, that's my theory!!! Anyway what else would you spend your money on:D

[bruce-leroy]

Originally posted by rogeralpine

Also, most on here are canny buyers and as such can reconcile the cost of the purchase against it's second hand value. My calculations indicate that in most instances you ain't going to lose the same amount that you would if you rented it - take the DVDSoon pre-orders for instance - a tenner for Master & Commander SE - even within 6 months I reckon you'd still get £8 for it. Even if you got only £6 for it, that's £4 for 6 months rental.:) (Which is nearly the cost of a Blockbuster rental for 2 nights - and that'd be the single disk version)


Yep, more cost effective this way, than to rent, and then decide you want to buy to keep. Obviously, there are some films which you'll have a good idea of whether or not they are keepers.

[HugoMorse]

Nah! I only ever keep DVD's that I really love or have an impact on me. I just buy a DVD that I really want to watch and sell it on the Forums if doesn't have the impact on me.

My collection is at 30 DVD's only and most of these I consider to be among the best films I have ever seen.

[new]

At one point I had 400+, of them.

Out of these 30% I never watched.

50% I would never watched again.

I also found that I was never having the time to watch the film & all the special features that went with them.

So I put the above 80% on ebay or sold them.

With that money I got a SKY+ box with all the movie channels etc & just watch the films I want to watch there.

Its a lot cheaper per month than what I was spending a month on dvds.

I still buy dvds, but Im now very pickie (even when there are some on offer for less than £5, if I don't think Ill watch it or watch it only once then I don't buy it)

Im also quite pleased of my select dvd collection as well.

[Splatt]

I think buying a mail order rental subscription is a good way to save money on dvds. Buy the ones you really love and rent to see if films are worth buying. I feel less compulsion to buy dvds as I know I can always rent it.

[Niceguygeoff]

I look at my collection (650+) and I'm starting to feel that I really don't need to own some of them. I mean, I genuinely like each and every film/tv show that I own on DVD or laserdisc, but some more than others. And with storage space at a premium (I'm just stacking them on the floor now!!) I think it's time to let a few go. I hear ebay calling...