DVD Pac Man - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

RBB · 07-18-2001, 07:44 PM

In today's editorial, DVD Pac Man, the column states that many feel the decrease in the combined (VHS and DVD) rental market is becuase DVD users prefer buying.

I'm of the opinion that it's more becuase the rental chains were slow to stock DVD and are still playing catch up. Therefore, since it's hard for a DVD owner to rent what they want they have to buy it. It's not that they necessarily prefer it, but they don't have much choice.

[This message has been edited by RBB (edited 07-18-2001).]

saraswati · 07-18-2001, 08:02 PM

i'm not sure i agree. dvd's aren't as "rent-compatible" as VHS. the discs are very delicate, which means that if you rent something, and the previous renter didn't treat it like a piece of the True Cross, you might not be able to watch the movie without freezes and skips. also, different players are more sensitive when it comes to scratches. i might rent something, find it unwatchable due to the skipping, but it's fine on the store's player so they won't give me my refund.

so i can understand the lack of dvd rental appeal. however, i rent all the time and rarely have a problem. i'm just parroting back what i've been told by others who buy rather than rent.

------------------
deep in the heat of the bush...

Wilson · 07-18-2001, 09:58 PM

I think that the lack of rental availability has played a part but from what I can see that isn’t a real problem anymore. Even in the last year the DVD stock at my local rental outlet has quadrupled. As Saraswati pointed out, I’ve also heard about bad discs but have only ever had 1 not play so that’s not a big deterrent for me. I think the biggest reason I buy is because I know that the DVD if cared for properly will last a lifetime. That extra incentive of knowing I can start a collection that will continue to grow without having to weed out the ones that have gone bad is enough to make me spend the extra $15 for a film I like.

I wonder if sales will slowly decline? Most of my purchases are older movies I know I like. There is going to be a time when I have all the old stuff I want. Then there might be 2-5 movies a year than I think are worth buying, instead of my current pace of 7-8 movies a month.

I would be interested to know what the ratio is for new release DVD rentals/sales vs. VHS rentals/sales.

RBB · 07-19-2001, 03:57 PM

Well, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe current DVD owners do prefer buying. I pretty much stopped buying DVDs on a regular basis about two years ago, when I realized that I was paying at least 4 times the rental amount for a movie I might watch twice that year.

I like to watch a lot of stuff I have not seen, instead of the same thing over and over. I guess that's why Netflix is so good for me, becuase their selection of discs is so much bigger than most stores and for the price of one DVD a month I can watch 5 or more (depending on how aggressive I am).

I still think that as DVD players become a thing of the masses that the ratio of rent to buy has got to go up. I just don't see the average Joe shelling out $20+ everytime to watch a movie.

[This message has been edited by RBB (edited 07-19-2001).]

slade · 07-19-2001, 10:11 PM

I rented a lot when I first got my DVD player b/c it came with a bunch of free rentals. The scratches were so bad (maybe I just have a cheap player) that I finally bought a disc cleaner. NOw, whenever I rent (rare occasion) I just clean it before I even put it in.

I buy b/c I like the idea of having a movie library. It is more worthwhile on DVD b/c they look, sound, and are cooler than VHS. They are also have better packaging than most VHS. They are also smaller (so take up less space on teh shelf).

I don't feel bad if I buy a movie and just watch it on rare occasion. I buy a lot of books that I only read once. I just like to have them. I guess I'm just part of consumerist America.

------------------
slade

"It’s amazing that brain can generate enough power to keep those legs moving."

tomdkat · 07-19-2001, 10:45 PM

I buy DVDs because I'm a collector. If I'm not sure I want a title in my collection, I rent it first.....

Peace.....

------------------
My DVD Profiler List

Miggy · 07-20-2001, 06:01 PM

I thought upon first reading this thread topic that they had put the game Pac Man on a DVD, like Dragon's Lair. Can you imagine the layer switch pause each time you turn?!

Miggy, the Thief

Packman · 07-21-2001, 05:15 AM

I go for the buying aspect. I built a very large VHS collection at $29.99 a pop, my DVD's are running on average $10 to $17. As for the rental stores the majority of them don't carry half of the new DVD's, if they weren't in the theater yesterday chances are they won't be for rent tomarrow!!

07-18-2001, 07:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
RBB Actor Join Date: Jun 2001	DVD Pac Man In today's editorial, DVD Pac Man, the column states that many feel the decrease in the combined (VHS and DVD) rental market is becuase DVD users prefer buying. I'm of the opinion that it's more becuase the rental chains were slow to stock DVD and are still playing catch up. Therefore, since it's hard for a DVD owner to rent what they want they have to buy it. It's not that they necessarily prefer it, but they don't have much choice. [This message has been edited by RBB (edited 07-18-2001).]

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

07-18-2001, 08:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
saraswati Actress Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: New York City?!	i'm not sure i agree. dvd's aren't as "rent-compatible" as VHS. the discs are very delicate, which means that if you rent something, and the previous renter didn't treat it like a piece of the True Cross, you might not be able to watch the movie without freezes and skips. also, different players are more sensitive when it comes to scratches. i might rent something, find it unwatchable due to the skipping, but it's fine on the store's player so they won't give me my refund. so i can understand the lack of dvd rental appeal. however, i rent all the time and rarely have a problem. i'm just parroting back what i've been told by others who buy rather than rent. ------------------ deep in the heat of the bush...

07-18-2001, 09:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Wilson DVDFile HT Award Winner Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Edmonton, Alberta	I think that the lack of rental availability has played a part but from what I can see that isn’t a real problem anymore. Even in the last year the DVD stock at my local rental outlet has quadrupled. As Saraswati pointed out, I’ve also heard about bad discs but have only ever had 1 not play so that’s not a big deterrent for me. I think the biggest reason I buy is because I know that the DVD if cared for properly will last a lifetime. That extra incentive of knowing I can start a collection that will continue to grow without having to weed out the ones that have gone bad is enough to make me spend the extra $15 for a film I like. I wonder if sales will slowly decline? Most of my purchases are older movies I know I like. There is going to be a time when I have all the old stuff I want. Then there might be 2-5 movies a year than I think are worth buying, instead of my current pace of 7-8 movies a month. I would be interested to know what the ratio is for new release DVD rentals/sales vs. VHS rentals/sales.

07-19-2001, 03:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
RBB Actor Join Date: Jun 2001	Well, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe current DVD owners do prefer buying. I pretty much stopped buying DVDs on a regular basis about two years ago, when I realized that I was paying at least 4 times the rental amount for a movie I might watch twice that year. I like to watch a lot of stuff I have not seen, instead of the same thing over and over. I guess that's why Netflix is so good for me, becuase their selection of discs is so much bigger than most stores and for the price of one DVD a month I can watch 5 or more (depending on how aggressive I am). I still think that as DVD players become a thing of the masses that the ratio of rent to buy has got to go up. I just don't see the average Joe shelling out $20+ everytime to watch a movie. [This message has been edited by RBB (edited 07-19-2001).]

07-19-2001, 10:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
slade Film Class God Join Date: May 2001 Location: Oregon City, OR	I rented a lot when I first got my DVD player b/c it came with a bunch of free rentals. The scratches were so bad (maybe I just have a cheap player) that I finally bought a disc cleaner. NOw, whenever I rent (rare occasion) I just clean it before I even put it in. I buy b/c I like the idea of having a movie library. It is more worthwhile on DVD b/c they look, sound, and are cooler than VHS. They are also have better packaging than most VHS. They are also smaller (so take up less space on teh shelf). I don't feel bad if I buy a movie and just watch it on rare occasion. I buy a lot of books that I only read once. I just like to have them. I guess I'm just part of consumerist America. ------------------ slade "It’s amazing that brain can generate enough power to keep those legs moving."

07-19-2001, 10:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
tomdkat Official Forum Warmonger "Dial Tone" Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Hayward, CA, USA	I buy DVDs because I'm a collector. If I'm not sure I want a title in my collection, I rent it first..... Peace..... ------------------ My DVD Profiler List

07-20-2001, 06:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Miggy The Thief Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Matthews, NC, USA	I thought upon first reading this thread topic that they had put the game Pac Man on a DVD, like Dragon's Lair. Can you imagine the layer switch pause each time you turn?! Miggy, the Thief

07-21-2001, 05:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
Packman Actor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Card board box #3	I go for the buying aspect. I built a very large VHS collection at $29.99 a pop, my DVD's are running on average $10 to $17. As for the rental stores the majority of them don't carry half of the new DVD's, if they weren't in the theater yesterday chances are they won't be for rent tomarrow!!