Why Are Some Apprehensive To Blind Buy?

[molson1138]

I was thinking about blind buying a couple of movies a few weeks ago then it hit me. Why was I putting so much thought into it when I don't if I see a movie in the theater? Movie tickets are $10-$15 add a drink and/or food and it easily comes out to $20-$25 and I only get to watch the movie once! Dunno, just seems odd that we think twice about blind buying a movie but easily go to a movie which is not as good a value.

[UTVOL06]

I'll blind buy as long as the reviews show a good video transfer and rate the movie well enough.

[progers13]

Originally Posted by molson1138

I was thinking about blind buying a couple of movies a few weeks ago then it hit me. Why was I putting so much thought into it when I don't if I see a movie in the theater? Movie tickets are $10-$15 add a drink and/or food and it easily comes out to $20-$25 and I only get to watch the movie once! Dunno, just seems odd that we think twice about blind buying a movie but easily go to a movie which is not as good a value.

This is an argument I've been making for years. I blind buy much more regularly than I go to the theater. Occasionally it bites me, but even in those instances I still have a tangible item in hand that I can sell to recover some of my losses.

[Batman1980]

LOL because if the movie sucks that's money you could've spent on something else. I'm a bit less apprehensive about blind buying popular movies now because I can usually trade them here.

[Idioteque...]

The thing is I only watch good movies in theaters lol, just once in a while I'll end up seeing garbage in theaters. (Wolfman)

[bboisvert]

*shrug* The vast majority of movies have no rewatch value for me. Even going by things I like (genre, actor, whatever) and filtering by positive overall reviews usually results in probably an 80/20 dud/great ratio for me.

I'm apprehensive to blind buy because I'd be spending $15+ for something I can rent for $2.

[ArmyOfDarknessAW]

At least if you blind buy and hate it you can sell it. Once you spend the money at the movies thats it its gone forever.

[Mr. Cinema]

Well, you generally have these options to see a movie. You can rent it at Redbox for $1, via online subscription as low as $10, PPV for $5 or $6, movie theater around $10 (you don't need expensive snacks to watch), and $20-$25 for the BD release.

I usually don't pick the most expensive option if I haven't seen the movie. Yes, if you do blind buy and get burned, you can resell, but that's an extra hassle I'd prefer to avoid.

[tylerdurden10]

This argument is easily answered for me. Since I rarely ever go to movies anymore due to the ridiculous prices they are now, blind buying just doesn't make sense since as somebody had earlier stated, you can just rent it for $2

[hardtosayx]

The only times I ever blind buy a movie is when I really wanna see it. And don't feel like waiting to get it from Netflix or Blockbuster. Plus I'd like to watch it when I want to rather than get it and take forever to do so.
For the most part I've liked any of the ones I've watched.


Sometimes I consider blind buying movies, but really think about it for a while. Then I do watch it and realize I'm so happy I didn't buy it. Even if I did, I'd just sell it on eBay.

[SteelPen]

I'm in agreement with you, Molson! I only go to see the "big" movies...example: Iron Man 2!

[P@t_Mtl]

I do not blind buy, I could since it's usualy more or less obvious to me what I will like and what I proboably will just watch once and will have no wish to see it again but why take the chance.

I am patience and as such I can wait.

If I think a movie is interesting enough for me, I will see it in theaters. This roughly happen's about 10 times a year on average. Once I have seen it in theaters, I now know if I want to purchase it or not.

Then I could rent but I don't. I stop renting about 20 years ago. I have a movie channel. I see them roughly 4 months after they get release for purchase in stores or for rentals. On this movie channel I get 100 movies every month. I have with this their HD channel, HBO and also a classic movie channel. Since I am not in a hurry to see them as soon as they are release, that is not a huge trouble waiting for them to be on that movie channel. I can DVR them at whatever time they play and watch them quietly when I wish too.

Once I have seen a movie, I can now know if getting a BD will make sense and would I watch it often enough for me to make the pruchase worth it. For example, for months I kept hearing how funny and amazing Tropic Thunder was, that it was a must see....I finaly saw it months later on the HD channel and well it's funny but really not that great. So if I had follow what I was hearing about it, I would have bough a BD at $25 and be stuck with a movie I would have no wish to ever see again. For me does not make sense. I am very happy I waited to see it on the movie channel.

I personaly do not understand why anyone would want to blind buy but I don't truly care, it's their money and they can do what ever they wish with it. If blind buy work's for them that is great for them.

[Tom Hiddleston]

I don't usually see movies in the theater. The last movie I saw was Harry Potter/Blood Prince. I think it's incredibly stupid to blow $20-$30 on a movie you have never seen. Yes, you can sell it on ebay if you don't like it, but odds are you will not get 100% of your money back. I may buy a blu ray if I have never seen the transfer, but I will research it first to see if it got good reviews. And I will ALWAYS have seen the movie beforehand.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

LOL because if the movie sucks that's money you could've spent on something else. I'm a bit less apprehensive about blind buying popular movies now because I can usually trade them here.

That's the thing about blind buying. We all do it, whether it's at the theater or on Blu-Ray.

If you blind buy on Blu-Ray and don't like the film, you can sell/trade it and recoup some cost. At the theater, you're out the money. Nobody wants to buy the ticket stub.

I only pay to watch a movie I'm interested in, whether it's on Blu or in the theater. It's rare when I blind buy and don't like it, because I'm more choosy about what I watch in the first place. If it doesn't look interesting to me, I don't bother.

[molson1138]

Some good discussion on this.

I think one of the reasons I'm more willing to blind buy is because I enjoy collecting movies almost as much as I like watching them. I also quit going to the movies as much. I still enjoy the experience but ticket prices are getting to high for me.

[Atreyu]

Why am I apprehensive to blind buy? Quite simple actually. What if I buy it and hate it? I've wasted my money on a blu that will never ever see the inside of my player again. I cannot trust reviews/critics because there have been many cases I totally disagree with them and I'm sure I am not alone. So I'd just as soon rent or get the movie on PPV first, then say wait a month or so when the price goes down a bit and then purchase it.

[blujacket]

I blind buy all the time. Why? Because I don't go to the movie theater. If a movie interests me, I buy it. It works out cheaper than two tickets, and snacks for two.

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by molson1138

I was thinking about blind buying a couple of movies a few weeks ago then it hit me. Why was I putting so much thought into it when I don't if I see a movie in the theater? Movie tickets are $10-$15 add a drink and/or food and it easily comes out to $20-$25 and I only get to watch the movie once! Dunno, just seems odd that we think twice about blind buying a movie but easily go to a movie which is not as good a value.

I can in here all ready to blast off on why I shy away from blind buying….but your question of going to the theater being considered a “blind” experience intrigued me.

I never really thought of it that way.

But in my area, a movie costs $8 w/another $5 for popcorn & pop when u figure in everyone in the group chipping in.

I also only go to 2-3 movies a year…..but I buy 30-40 movies a year so I’m more choosy when it comes to spending $20 30-40x a year than I am w/my $10-$15 a year @ the theater.

[jonsmith369]

Originally Posted by bboisvert

*shrug* The vast majority of movies have no rewatch value for me. Even going by things I like (genre, actor, whatever) and filtering by positive overall reviews usually results in probably an 80/20 dud/great ratio for me.

I'm apprehensive to blind buy because I'd be spending $15+ for something I can rent for $2.

I also don't like to rewatch movies that much unless I really love them, but oddly enough I love to collect movies. I have around 1000 DVDs and about 150 Blu-rays (some of which I have never even seen, yet I have watched the new Star Trek like 6 times since I bought it in Nov 2009). I blind buy all the time just because I only go to the movies about once a year and I have a pretty good idea of what I am going to like. I also don't have cable so it is kind of nice to have a huge collection of movies and tv shows on DVD and Blu, so I can watch whatever I want whenever I want (which also means that I have not had to watch ANY reality TV for the last 10 years).

[Spiderbri]

I have to admit the "going to theater as a blind buy" IS a good arguement.

however being single (unfortunatly. any hot girl nerds out there? ) I rarely pay more than $6 for a movie ticket. $6 vs $20 for a Blu is sort of a no brainer for me. especially since that $20 is only if it's on sale.

Plus I am becoming a fan of Redbox. $1 for a movie is great, even if it sucks it was only a dollar. That's how I normally do it. Big movies/ones I'm looking forward to; Iron Man 2, A Team, Last Airbender - I'll see in theaters. All others get the $1 rent, then I buy them if I like them.

Don't get me wrong i've blind bought a fair amount and been lucky with them, like live action Blood Last Vampire, Jennifer's Body, etc. (not amazing movies but I don't regret buying them)


although... a good arguement for the pro blind buyers.... if you only buy movies you see in theaters add those cost together! now it's $20 plus $20.

Blind buying or $1 renting and buying becomes much more cost efficent.