Having a garage sale - can’t get rid of my blu-rays

[maverick22]

This is our second weekend of having a garage sale, and I am having a hard time selling my blu-rays. I had about 15 for sale and have sold only 2! I’m even selling A Quiet Place DVD for $2 and the BD for $4 (movie only). No one is showing interest. Years ago when we had one I sold the majority of my movies.

I know there are many factors involved, but I think this is just another sign physical media doesn’t sell as well as it used to. I was talking with one lady, and she said her college-age daughter just streams movies.

Just wanted to get it off my chest while it’s not busy haha.

[sk33tr]

had pretty much the same luck when we had a yard sale last year (or maybe 2016). i sold a few dvds (NOT blus, but dvds), but nothing to even make a dent. i wound up taking the rest to a pawn shop and dumping them there for $.50/ea. definitely not a lot of money, but it was more than i had. and that same pawn shop won't even take ps3 games anymore. they stopped doing that sometime last year, i think.

with the advent of digital media, more and more people are leaving physical media behind.

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by sk33tr

had pretty much the same luck when we had a yard sale last year (or maybe 2016). i sold a few dvds (NOT blus, but dvds), but nothing to even make a dent. i wound up taking the rest to a pawn shop and dumping them there for $.50/ea. definitely not a lot of money, but it was more than i had. and that same pawn shop won't even take ps3 games anymore. they stopped doing that sometime last year, i think.

with the advent of digital media, more and more people are leaving physical media behind.

I can’t even sell the 3 DVDs I have. I know my little garage sale is just one teeny, tiny sample, but it’s a little sad to see no interest at all.

Wow, even your pawn shop isn’t taking PS3 games? I sold my fat PS3 and few games within the first hour of our sale ($60). I probably should have kept it for another room, but it helped justify my daughter’s Switch purchase a little better.

I’ll have to take my remaining blu-rays to Half Price Books. They usually give about $1.50-$3 depending on the title. Then again, no one buys anything from them, and they have multiple copies of almost every movie. I don’t know why they don’t sell their movies cheaper. They buy for $1.50 and sell that same movie for $12! It’s more expensive than buying from Amazon! They need to have a fire sale and get rid of their stock.

[Batman1980]

Heh listing stuff on eBay, I can already tell this isn't a game for people who lack patience.

[maverick22]

And with Ebay it’s almost not worth it for non-exclusives. After shipping and fees, only can probably make $3-4 also. Then you run into the risk of a buyer complaining and wanting a refund.

[Mike16]

With yard/garage sales its all about getting the right buyer. Trust me there are plenty of people who still collect physical media, otherwise forums like this one wouldn't exist. Thing is,atleast for me, I rely on yard sales and "pawn" shops because there are very few stores (none local to me) that sell catalog titles and I'm not really interested in most new releases-thing is I haven't been to a yard sale in the past year that sold blurays period, plenty of dvds but no BDs.

[RustinCohle]

I’ve had excellent luck selling old blu-rays on eBay. Usually get $4-$6 per title and charge $3 for shipping. I also offer combined shipping so every item after the first will only charge an additional $.25. According to my ‘60 Day Total’ I’ve sold $428 worth of blu-rays.

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by Mike16

With yard/garage sales its all about getting the right buyer. Trust me there are plenty of people who still collect physical media, otherwise forums like this one wouldn't exist. Thing is,atleast for me, I rely on yard sales and "pawn" shops because there are very few stores (none local to me) that sell catalog titles and I'm not really interested in most new releases-thing is I haven't been to a yard sale in the past year that sold blurays period, plenty of dvds but no BDs.

You’re right about having to have the right buyer!

Also I have these titles on Craigslist. I live in south Dallas and am surprised not more people are interested. I did sell a few to one guy two different weeks. He wanted me to let him know when I had new stuff. All of a sudden he stopped replying so don’t know what the deal was.

I agree there are still people that collect. I just don’t think it’s what it used to be though.

[Scarriere]

My wife was out garage sailing today and sent me a message if I wanted The Dark Knight trilogy on Blu-ray. I said no, but thanks, I have those in Steelbook.
Maybe that is part of the issue? That because you're selling, they are old and people have them already? I dunno, I'm guessing.

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by RustinCohle

I’ve had excellent luck selling old blu-rays on eBay. Usually get $4-$6 per title and charge $3 for shipping. I also offer combined shipping so every item after the first will only charge an additional $.25. According to my ‘60 Day Total’ I’ve sold $428 worth of blu-rays.

Might have to try it then.

Have you had any complaints and had to refund money to anyone?

All of my stuff is in great shape but just have that fear of people lying saying it was lost in shipping, scratched discs even though I shipped to them in perfect shape, etc.

[RustinCohle]

Originally Posted by maverick22

Might have to try it then.

Have you had any complaints and had to refund money to anyone?

All of my stuff is in great shape but just have that fear of people lying saying it was lost in shipping, scratched discs even though I shipped to them in perfect shape, etc.

Keep in mind, almost every single one I’ve been selling has a slipcover and people typically are willing to pay more just for that. Hell, some of my buyers might have been buying it JUST for the slip.

I’ve never had one complaint or had to issue a refund. I wrap every movie (that has a slip) in packaging paper, and then put it in a bubble mailer. If I ship three or more together, I use a box.

It’s also easier to create one listing for every movie rather than a separate listing. It can’t be done from the app because it’s an advanced feature, but it can be done from the website. I just have one listing with every movie in that listing to be selected from a drop-down.

[maverick22]

Originally Posted by RustinCohle

Keep in mind, almost every single one I’ve been selling has a slipcover and people typically are willing to pay more just for that. Hell, some of my buyers might have been buying it JUST for the slip.

I’ve never had one complaint or had to issue a refund. I wrap every movie (that has a slip) in packaging paper, and then put it in a bubble mailer. If I ship three or more together, I use a box.

It’s also easier to create one listing for every movie rather than a separate listing. It can’t be done from the app because it’s an advanced feature, but it can be done from the website. I just have one listing with every movie in that listing to be selected from a drop-down.

Good stuff! Appreciate the tips. Only about half of what I’m selling has a slip.

Good to know about the site has that feature. I wouldn’t have know as I just use the app.

Thanks again!

[Dustin44]

When I had a garage sale (late 2016), I had about 15-20 or so DVD's for sale. I only sold 1 of them. (I was selling each movie for 50 cents or $1 each)

I know I always look for Blu-Rays and DVD's at Garage Sales. Though I don't usually see a whole lot of movies at garage sales. But when I do, it is usually stuff I already own or it's stuff I am not interested in.

So I agree, you need to find the right buyer. But less people are interested in physical media and the people like us who are interested may already have these movies. So that makes it hard.

Originally Posted by maverick22

I’ll have to take my remaining blu-rays to Half Price Books. They usually give about $1.50-$3 depending on the title. Then again, no one buys anything from them, and they have multiple copies of almost every movie. I don’t know why they don’t sell their movies cheaper. They buy for $1.50 and sell that same movie for $12! It’s more expensive than buying from Amazon! They need to have a fire sale and get rid of their stock.

I know my Half-Price Books doesn't seem to give much of anything anymore. Last time I tried to sell any Blu-Ray's there they were only offering me like 60 cents to $1 for each movie.

But like you said, no one seems to be buying much from them anyway. I went of Half-Price books earlier this week, and it seemed to be pretty much the same old stuff that was there 2 months ago. So I can understand them not paying much for DVD's/Blu-Ray's if no customers are buying.

[maverick22]

Good points, Dustin.

Wow, Half Price only gives 60 cents and slightly more? Really making me re-think what I buy from now on. I have been doing better lately for sure. Will have to be even more selective and smart!

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

To the OP, I'm not at all surprised that you couldn't sell the Blu's you had - even for great prices.

Physical media has definitely become more "niche" these days. Other than myself, I don't know of many other people (other than those on this board & others like this) who are actually even interested in watching Blu's/DVD's or are actually listening to CD's anymore.

I have a couple of co-workers in their early-mid 20's & we sometimes talk movies/TV shows & music. They don't even OWN a DVD/Blu/CD player, and just stream everything.

And, not only is streaming a lot more convenient - but, you don't have the costs associated with buying physical media. Plus, obviously streaming takes up 0 room - unlike DVD's/Blu's/CD's, which take up space & can definitely cause clutter if you accumulate too much.

And, the OP's experience is exactly why I don't even try to bother selling unwanted DVD's/CD's (I keep all of my few Blu's I have, and haven't accumulated that much of a collection of these anyway). I'll just give these away - either to friends/family, Goodwill, or the local library.

If you have a Half Price Books in your area (or an equivalent store), they will probably give you pennies on the dollar re: these. I would get so little if I tried to sell these that I would be spending more $ in the gas it takes to drive over there than the money I would get for the items. Screw that.

[sk33tr]

Originally Posted by AnamorphicWidescreen

And, not only is streaming a lot more convenient - but, you don't have the costs associated with buying physical media. Plus, obviously streaming takes up 0 room - unlike DVD's/Blu's/CD's, which take up space & can definitely cause clutter if you accumulate too much.

i used to be against digital media, but the convenience factor is a big thing.

however...

i do still like physical media, though. and until digital catches up with physical in terms of picture and sound quality, i'll always prefer physical over digital.

[MazeRunner]

The only people I know who go to garage/rummage sales aren't fans of movies in general. But if they are, they want DVDs.

You'd have better luck on local FB sell groups.

[Mike16]

Sad but true physical media is being phased out quickly. I was at a recently remodeled Walmart store a couple weeks ago where I noticed they not only shrunk their movie section to one shitty $3.74 DvD bin but they also have taken what used to be 2aisles of movies and filled it with racks of Vudu cards, mostly new releases but there were some popular catalog titles as well. It wouldn't surprise me if this change is influenced by the movie studios themselves instead of the distributors.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Yeah, it's too bad. My local Wal-mart's never carried that many Blu's to begin with, and I've noticed less there in the past 6 months also. They do have plenty of DVD's, though.

I definitely prefer BD's & even some DVD's to streaming - but, the lower cost & convenience factor of streaming can't be emphasized enough.

On a related note, I read (on this board, I think) that Best Buy has - or will - phase out all CD's this summer. Interesting, and just solidifies the fact that physical media is - overall - becoming less popular.

That all being said, I definitely think that physical media will be around for years to come. It will just be harder - if not impossible - to find @ most brick & mortar stores.

[Member-222782]

I wish I could have a garage sale and unload my unwanted titles. I just gave away a Japanese Back to the Future BD steelbook to a co-worker. I paid about $40 for each one (BTTF 1-III) on Amazon about 4 years ago. The only stuff that sells are those premium Asian/Czech limited edition steelbooks from group buys. I remember selling individual Blu's on Amazon for an average of $7 used. Sad times.