Blind buying + not liking + selling = ....

[deltau922]

renting! TADAAAA!

I have to say it's kind of amusing when people rationalize blind buys by saying "If I don't like it, Ill just sell it or trade it in." Sounds like a protracted rental to me, only it ends up costing more.

[Morticia]

Just wondering on the off chance this should have been a reply to this topic:
Which "blind buy" do you regret the most?

Cause it sounds like it could be.

[deltau922]

I see how maybe you'd think it could be, but it is not.

[Marq]

Well, my thoughts on "blind buying", but moreso on blind buying threads can be found in the "Basic: Worth a Blind Buy?" thread. Perhaps I'll repost the thoughts here later if this thread is meant as a discussion of blind-buyong habits in general...

[C Roberts]

I actually look at all my blind buys as indefinite rentals. I pay an extra cost to keep it as long as I want (even permanently if I want). And since I usually end up returning rented movies late anyway the cost is basically the same or less (depending on how late I return them).

[Bunkaroo]

For my personal experience, my overall cost on the whole blind buy/resell is that I generally keep my cost around $2, which is substantially less than what Hollywood or Blockbuster charges for a rental. For example, I bought Jackass for $15, and actually sold it for $16. I just make sure I by them as cheap as possible on release day, and then I watch them right away so the demand still there in case I do need to sell it. But on the off chance Idon't get to watch it in the first 5 days, at least I don't have to return it.

[asphodel5]

Originally posted by deltau922
renting! TADAAAA!

I have to say it's kind of amusing when people rationalize blind buys by saying "If I don't like it, Ill just sell it or trade it in." Sounds like a protracted rental to me, only it ends up costing more.

What if the titles that you want to see are not available for rent? Yes, there is Netflix, but they don't stock everything. If you can let me know where I could have rented titles like "Ichi the Killer", "The Brothers Quay Collection", or "El Topo" on DVD , I'll really be indebted to you. By the way, I'm perfectly happy to have those titles in my collection. I'm just presenting examples of things that are not (easily) rented.

I have sold some of discs, but the vast majority of them were not "bad blind buys", but movies that I saw long ago and didn't end up being as enjoyable as I remembered them being. Others were things that I thought were alright in the theater, but didn't get anything out of on a second viewing. I usually find that a lot more thought goes into my "blind" buys than when I give in to temptation and buy the newest "IT DVD" (which rarely happens anymore).

[MurDiddlyUrdler]

First off, let me get this out of the way. Deltau922, I love the avatar. Classic!!

I do this sometimes myself. If I buy a DVD and realize after viewing that I don't want it, I'll sell it on eBay or Amazon. I don't usually make as much as I paid for it, but it's generally close enough to make it worth it. Like others have said, the convenience of being able to watch it when I want is worth it.

[moviezzz]

Originally posted by deltau922
renting! TADAAAA!

I have to say it's kind of amusing when people rationalize blind buys by saying "If I don't like it, Ill just sell it or trade it in." Sounds like a protracted rental to me, only it ends up costing more.

I don't know about costing more. Sometimes with Ebay, you can get more than you paid for it. That happened with me a couple times.

And with Half.com you can get close to what you paid.

[Version]

So what do you do when you see a bad movie in the theatre?

No way to recoup any expense there.

Blind buying DVDs is like going to see a movie with a back up plan to recoup at least some of your money if you didn't like it.

I don't see why anyone thinks blind buying is silly. Nobody goes around questioning why people go to see movies in the theatre without "seeing it first".

[Marq]

As I've mentioned in others threads, I'm not exactly anti-blind buying myself. I buy plenty of DVDs "blind", usually because I unfortunately missed them theatrically (or they did not play near me) or I am very confident they meet my personal tastes (usual based on director preferences, critical accolades, etc - especially appropriate for older titles) or I cannot find a store that rents it (Criterion DVDs especially) or I just recently happened upon the film/ read a great review.

I probably have more beef with blind buy threads than the actual practice (since, I do it plenty - maybe 30-35% of my pruchases are blind I'd guess). I fail to see how a few random and usually anonymous opinions will sway a person to spend anywhere from $15 - $100 (box-set), when there is such a plethora of resources out there to base ones purchasing decisions on... be it newspaper reviews of the film, DVD review sites, film magazines, and, most importantly, being able to figure out if the purchase in question would meet ones personal tastes for movies.
I like to be fairly confident in my purchases (especially after learning the hard way the sometime dangers of blind-buying - i.e. "Gladiator" for me), be they movies (DVDs), CDs (sample them or read reviews), books, etc. It's just my opinion, but I'm not sure I'd be fickle enough to base my buying decisions to a simple yes or no vote from others. Again, it's just my opinion.

[tomdkat]

I tend to rent before I buy. There haven't been many titles I've wanted to get rid of in my collection. There were some "dupe" titles I got rid of and it was the "older" version that I dumped. I would give these to friends who didn't care about special editions, etc.

Most of the "blind buys" I've made I still have and I might not watch them a lot but I don't regret buying them.

Peace...

[MrTony]

Originally posted by Version
I don't see why anyone thinks blind buying is silly. Nobody goes around questioning why people go to see movies in the theatre without "seeing it first".

I agree. If someone thinks "buying blind" is stupid, that's fine. But what I don't understand is why some people make such a big deal about someone else buying blind. It's their money, why criticize how they spend it?

[limacharliewhiskey]

Originally posted by MrTony
I agree. If someone thinks "buying blind" is stupid, that's fine. But what I don't understand is why some people make such a big deal about someone else buying blind. It's their money, why criticize how they spend it?

My sentiments exactly. Why are people bothered by other peoples' buying habits? Are they jealous that someone else makes more money than they do and buys more DVDs?

I notice that the more a person has success in liking their blind buys, the more they will continue to do it for future purchases. If someone makes bad decisions with blind buys, they'll do it less.

Me, I mostly rent DVDs. But I also make the occasional blind buy when I think there is a movie by my favorite director or actor, or it's a film in my favorite genre.

If someone has the money to make 10 or more blind buys per month, more power to them. I don't have the money to do it, so I rent movies that I'm somewhat interested in, and I buy the ones that I'm really interested in. I will also rent movies that I think have a good likelihood of having a future SE version released, so that I don't have to double-dip on buying it twice.

One more reason why I prefer to rent is that it gives me an urgency to watch the DVD immediately. There have been times where I got lazy in watching a blind buy, and the next thing I noticed, 6 months have gone by without watching the DVD, and the studio has already done a price break on the movie and/or released a SE version.

I think people should rent or buy DVDs according to their viewing habits and what their monthly income will allow. If you're broke every month, you might wanna cut back on the blind buys. If you're rolling in cash, blind buy however many DVDs you want.

If you watch movies multiple times no matter how good/bad the film is, blind buy them. If you watch movies only once, rent them.

People, it's not that hard to figure out.

[Pop'n Taco]

Why blind buy? There is just so much crap out there to sift through. I cant be spending money and taking chances on something I think I might like. Ive got to know for sure. I do this for CDs too.

And as far as theatrical releases, arent there times where you say "Ill wait until it comes out on video"

I dont know, maybe Im just a frugal mutha fucka

[tomdkat]

Originally posted by Pop'n Taco
Ive got to know for sure. I do this for CDs too.

Do you go to music stores and listen to entire CDs before you buy them or do you buy CDs just to get the one or two tracks you like?

In some cases, buying blind would be "cheaper" than renting the movie or seeing it in the theater and they purchasing it, since you're paying twice to see it.

Put me down as someone else who doesn't get the negative vibes about the "blind buy" posts or behavior.

Peace...

[Bunkaroo]

Version brought up a great point. Some of the movies I've blind bought I had considered seeing at the theater, bt either didn't get a chance or wasn't sure if it was worth it. Theater viewing has gotten really lousy, and if one owns a good size TV and surround sound, to me it's just as good to see a movie at home. Obviously stuff like Matrix Reloaded and LOTR I want to see at least once on the big screen, but for the most part I do my theater viewing at home, and can get my ticket money back if I don't like it!

But I also agree that the endless "is such and such a good blind buy" probably aren't necessary. I just read the reviews for the films and the DVD's before I blind buy.

[Dehrian]

I can buy a DVD blind for about $15, sell it for at least $10 if I don't like it, and have it in the meantime for as long as I like for $5 max in the long run. Considering it costs me at least $6.50 at the local theater for a matinee, and that's just for me, please try to explain to me how spending $5 so me, my friends and family can all watch a movie together (and take our time to do so) is a bad thing.

[Marq]

Originally posted by Dehrian
Considering it costs me at least $6.50 at the local theater for a matinee, and that's just for me, please try to explain to me how spending $5 so me, my friends and family can all watch a movie together (and take our time to do so) is a bad thing.

This is probably directed at the original poster, and not me, but I'll just reaffirm that there is NOTHING WRONG WITH BUYING BLIND (I do it plenty, but have never sold anything away as I've been very careful with the purchases, except for 1 bad choice). Personally I'd rather rent a movie that I'm at all unconvinced is worth owning (perhaps I feel this way since I've never considered going through the process of buying and selling) - so that's just a personal standpoint. But I'll agree if you have method of buying then selling working out, it would appear to be useful.
However, I remain confused as to how asking a random group of people, some whose tastes you're familiar with, some you're not, to make a buying decision for oneself works when there is such an abundance of existing information about any given movie out there as well as using ones own judgement based on film tastes. Ah hell, I'm sounding like a broken record and not even really addressing the topic at hand, so just ignore me.

[Sid]

I havent rented a movie in almost 6 years without returning it late. But I dont do that much blind buying. I usually see what I want in the theatre

[Darthnick37]

In my experience, blind buying is ok when doe in moderation. I usually blind buy only when I think there is a good chance I will like it. For example, I picked up tears of the sun b/c I really like Willis and Fuqua's other films wear pretty good. I this case I was disappointed. I'd say about half of my blind buys have been returned, and I am planning on doing it less and less, but I still see it as a viable alternative to rental.

[deanandmaria]

Originally posted by Bunkaroo
Version brought up a great point. Some of the movies I've blind bought I had considered seeing at the theater, bt either didn't get a chance or wasn't sure if it was worth it. Theater viewing has gotten really lousy, and if one owns a good size TV and surround sound, to me it's just as good to see a movie at home.

Excellent point right here.

I've got down so much on my theater trips over the past two years. Today, I went to see Terminator 3, and I was reminded again as to why. Parents with 3 kids, two of them sat in the front of the theater, the other kid had to be under 3 months. The baby cried about six times during the movie. And for some reason, the other kids had to communicate vocally with their father from the front row all the way to the back row during quiet times of the movie. This is extremely, but the public has gotten so annoying and selfish in their habits, that I'd prefer to sit at home and watch at my leisure.

[Sid]

I got that one beat. I went to go see X2 in the theatre on opening night. I was pumped. But a group of about 5 black kids sat behind us, and their one friend decided to sit right next to me. During the trailers they talked, and talked and talked. During the movie they talked, hollered, and talked about penetrating Halle Berry.their cell phones rang, they made calls on their cell phones. They made calls to people and told them to call back in a few Me and my girlfriend asked them about 10 times to please be quiet. They refused. We asked again for the to stop TALKING for the love of god. And they did stop talking. Then they decided to start making animal noises and fart noises (bear in mind these guys were all at least 17).
WE HAD TO LEAVE THE THEATRE
I got my refund, but seeing as I was waiting for the first X-men film 10 years before it came out. I was extremely pissed. do you have any idea what its like to see a kickass movie like that , and have to stop right after Magneto saves them!?!?!? I swore to myself that the next time it happens, I will risk being put in jail so I can kick some ass and let people like this know.SHUT THE FUCK UP THE THE THEATRE

[El Lancito]

Sid,

Go to the theater in Martinez. It usually plays the big movies, but there's hardly anybody there. Everybody's busy going to the bigger theaters in Pleasant Hill.

Not to turn this into a race thing, but would you have been any less annoyed if they were white kids?

I know that one of my most annoying experiences at the movie theater was two old white people who wouldn't shut the hell up (and it was during the first X-Men, oddly enough.) I've found that idiocy in the theater knows no gender/race/age boundaries.

[Marq]

Originally posted by Sid
But a group of about 5 black kids sat behind us, and their one friend decided to sit right next to me.

Why does it matter that they were black?

[Sid]

Jesus. It doesn't matter that they were black. I'm not even white. If your gonna jump on me for providing details to the 2nd worst movie-going experience of my life, go ahead. I went to a high school of 90 percent minorities. I only have ONLY one white friend. So dont be too fast to call me a Kluxer. I'm not a biggot for providing the facts.
Hell my grandfather was 100 percent Mexican, and he worked as a gardener. My father worked as a gardener. Is that a stereotype? Yes, but it also happens to be true (for my family anyway). Am I racist for saying it?No, just stating the facts. And I suggest if you wanna turn this into a racial debate, feel free to clog me e-mail with your thoughts.

Am I hateful? I hate anybody with an armed cell phone and a loudmouth in the theatre. Reguardless of their color.

[MurDiddlyUrdler]

Originally posted by Sid
I'm not a biggot for providing the facts.

I don't think Marq was calling you a bigot. He was asking why you had to say they were black.

Originally posted by Sid
I hate anybody with an armed cell phone and a loudmouth in the theatre. Reguardless of their color.

If the color doesn't matter, why did you mention it?

[Sid]

"If the color doesn't matter, why did you mention it?"
I was telling a story. Go ask any screenwriter or english teacher why providing details is essential to good writing.

[MurDiddlyUrdler]

Originally posted by Sid
"If the color doesn't matter, why did you mention it?"
I was telling a story. Go ask any screenwriter or english teacher why providing details is essential to good writing.

I am a screenwriter and I agree that SOME details are essential to good writing. The fact that the kids in your story were black was NOT an essential detail. Yes, details are important, but details that do not further the story are extraneous.