Movie Minutiae - DVDs: Buy or Rent? New or Used?
By Johnny Betts, Moviegoer Advocate
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Do you buy DVDs? If you answered "yes" to that question, then let me ask you this: do you buy new or
used DVDs? If you're buying new DVDs, then what exactly is your reasoning? A new DVD is typically going
to cost you at least twice as much as one that's used, so why buy new?
I discussed the issue with a friend of mine recently. We'll call him Guy. Guy was adamant that he
would never buy used DVDs. When I asked him why, he said you don't know what you're getting and said
that he was scared they would be messed up. I suppose that's a legitimate concern, but Blockbuster has a
30-day warranty, and Hollywood Video offers a 1-year warranty. So watch the DVD within the warranty period,
and if anything is wrong with the DVD you can return it or exchange it. It's a no-lose situation. I have yet to
have any problems with a used DVD.
Knowing his argument was soundly defeated, Guy started hem-hawing around the issue trying to find
another argument. Failing in his quest, the best he could come back with was, "Well, you don't know
what the previous owner did with the DVDs. He could've used them as nipple shields."
Show of hands, who thinks that is a legitimate argument? All right Guy, you can put your hand down now.
The irony of it all is Guy is a member of Netflix, meaning he's always getting used DVDs sent to him.
When I challenged him to find a way to justify this, he merely stated that he tried to touch the DVDs
as little as possible. I decided it was time to run a few numbers by him to end the argument.
According to a recent USA Today article, the average DVD owner buys 17 DVDs per year. If you're an
average DVD owner, and you use the Guy Pay More Than Necessary Method, then you're going to pay approximately $340
per year for your DVDs. However, if you're wise beyond your years and choose the Johnny Betts Spend Your Money
Wisely Method, then you'll pay close to $120 per year. A nice little savings of $220 a year. Folks, by buying
used DVDs you're spending approximately 65% less than you would buying new DVDs! Plus, if you buy DVDs for the
next 40 years then, all things being constant, you'll save almost $9000. And that's if you're just an average
buyer.
Just to give you a little real world example, my 8 most recent DVD purchases cost me a total of about $52 (pre-tax).
If I had used the Guy Pay More Than Necessary Method and bought all new DVDs, then I would've paid about $160. Does
that add up to smart shopping? No, no it doesn't.
Blockbuster and Hollywood Video are always running really good deals: 3 for $20, 3 for $25, etc. And as I
mentioned earlier, you get a nice warranty. Ebay and Half.com are also good places to look for used DVDs. They
may be slightly riskier, but I've never had any problems. Just keep an eye out for sellers with strong positive
feedback and you should have no worries.
If you can live with not buying a DVD on its release date, then you'll come out way ahead by buying used.
Exercise a little patience; it's not really that hard. The DVD will wait. If you've never been called smart
before, then here's your chance. Otherwise, one day you'll be at the checkout paying full price for a DVD
complaining to the person behind you about how you can never seem to save money. The person behind you will
look at your DVD, chuckle slightly, shake his head, and remark, "Should've used the Johnny Betts Spend Your Money
Wisely Method when buying DVDs. You'd have less to complain about."
In the immortal words of Lon Chase, "Men lie, numbers don't." This is just my opinion, you could be wrong.
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