What's the deal with preorder?

[Chester Lime]

I've noticed that a lot of people preorder their movies. I've done this once and I see no real use for it. For one thing, there usually is no discount when I preorder. Another thing is that when I go to buy a newly released BD, there are hundreds of copies of it on the shelves, so there was no benefit to preordering. So, is there any reason for preordering?

[Blu-Benny]

If u have amazon prime and pre-order the movie, u’ll have it @ your door release day.

That’s why I pre-order movies, and I only pre-order from amazon.

[MikeZ.]

Amazon Prime...a gift from God.

[sixteenvolt420]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

If u have amazon prime and pre-order the movie, u’ll have it @ your door release day.

That’s why I pre-order movies, and I only pre-order from amazon.

Exactly. Plus, Amazon's prices for pre-orders are usually unbeatable.

[SquidPuppet]

Often (it used to be frequently) the price dips a few times in the weeks/months approaching release day. An Amazon pre-order locks you in on the lowest price regardless if the price goes back up before release day.

[Blu-Benny]

All great reasons to get the prime and pre-order blu’s!!

I used to think it was pointless, then I got it and it has paid for itself!!

Esp. after ordering the kids a new swing set last week!!! Was delivered by truck, not UPS/DHL/FedEX. Didn’t have to pay a dime for shipping. And oh yeah, it was 2 day shipping as well!!!

[BarkingGhost]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

If u have amazon prime and pre-order the movie, u’ll have it @ your door release day.

That’s why I pre-order movies, and I only pre-order from amazon.

A couple of movies I considered recently went down in price the day after the release day instead of on the release day. Of course I am talking about Amazon, and this really surprised me. This meant had I actually bit on those two titles (in the past 203 weeks), I would have paid more.

I guess no one is safe from bad economy, not even Amazon. Take a $3 difference on a BD and multiple it by, oh, say a health 100K units of Title X. Adds up, no?

[wilky61]

I don't know how you guys are getting your preorders on release day. With my free trial of Prime last month, I got Collateral two days after release day and Minority Report one day after. And I don't live in the middle of nowhere, I (at the time) lived in the center of Atlanta.

[Lincoln6Echo]

Originally Posted by wilky61

I don't know how you guys are getting your preorders on release day. With my free trial of Prime last month, I got Collateral two days after release day and Minority Report one day after. And I don't live in the middle of nowhere, I (at the time) lived in the center of Atlanta.

Amazon has a "thing" against Atlanta.

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by wilky61

I don't know how you guys are getting your preorders on release day. With my free trial of Prime last month, I got Collateral two days after release day and Minority Report one day after. And I don't live in the middle of nowhere, I (at the time) lived in the center of Atlanta.

Did u order it before Friday???

I only get titles on release day if my order is in before Friday.

Say I want a title @ my door that is released 2morrow. I’d have to have ordered it by last Thursday.

They ship it Friday and it shows up on Tuesday. I guess they don’t count weekends in the 2 day shipping time.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by MikeZ.

Amazon Prime...a gift from God.

A gift is usually free and AP costs $79 a year.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by BarkingGhost

A couple of movies I considered recently went down in price the day after the release day instead of on the release day. Of course I am talking about Amazon, and this really surprised me. This meant had I actually bit on those two titles (in the past 203 weeks), I would have paid more.

I guess no one is safe from bad economy, not even Amazon. Take a $3 difference on a BD and multiple it by, oh, say a health 100K units of Title X. Adds up, no?

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=AMZN

[sixteenvolt420]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

A gift is usually free and AP costs $79 a year.

That's why you split it 5 ways with 4 other "family members".

[krazeyeyez]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

A gift is usually free and AP costs $79 a year.

LMAO

I agree with the OP, pointless imo. Maybe when amazon also had the 30 day price guarantee sure, but it is not that great these days. Not to mention to my surprise amazon has had some pretty poor prices lately. For the first time since i started buying blu i find myself getting 90% of my blu's elsewhere for a far better price. I am also disappointed in how reactionary amazon has become on pricing as of late, they only match sales these days rather then matching and leading on their own sales.

Only way i see a benefit to pre order applies to amazon only, and that is when your prime is going to expire. You place a pre order and lock in your 2 day shipping even if the release is far later then your expiration date.

[Blu-Benny]

what does it cost for 2 day shipping if you pay for it?? $3.99??

i for one can't wait 10 days for a movie to show up, esp. when it's something i want day 1.

$80 a year, @ $4/movie, that's 20 movies all year long you have to buy to for it to be worth while.

yeah u can spend $25 or more and get free shipping, but again, that's 7-10 days.

plus the prime works for almost everything. i used it for x-mas gifts last year, that swing set, movies, halloween costumes, printer ink/paper, small business/office supplies.

and oh yeah, i didn't have to pay any taxes either!!

if u do enough buying on amazon, it's well worth it.

as far as prices being better locally, i haven't boughten a movie @ a local store in the last 6-9 months. best buy is always $22.99 or higher.

wal-mart....please!!!

[fatediesel]

I see no downside to pre-ordering, at least with Amazon. I lock in the lowest price Amazon offers for the product. If Best Buy or Target has it for cheaper I can cancel my pre-order, although usually Amazon will match the price.

[Beta Man]

Sometimes I pre-order because the price seems like the best it's going to get, other times it's so I don't "get behind" and end up needing to buy 15 titles at once (which the wife doesn't like)

I pre-order certain "must have" movies, like "Spartacus" (despite the terrible reviews ) as well as all the Criterion movies so I don't fall behind (like I did in the DVD days)

[Chester Lime]

Sometimes, new releases are discounted by 4 or 5 dollars for the first couple of weeks at Target or Walmart. So I have no need for Preorder.

[krazeyeyez]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

Sometimes I pre-order because the price seems like the best it's going to get, other times it's so I don't "get behind" and end up needing to buy 15 titles at once (which the wife doesn't like)

I pre-order certain "must have" movies, like "Spartacus" (despite the terrible reviews ) as well as all the Criterion movies so I don't fall behind (like I did in the DVD days)

This is actually the reason why i stopped pre ordering, well that and the 30 day guarantee. When i first signed up here and ordering through amazon it was very easy to keep up both financially and with time to watch movies etc...

At this point though so much is coming out, and quite often (far from always) you wait a week or two after the initial release and get a far better deal. Too often i was seeing these great deals while the movie was still in the shrink wrap on my shelf. Now that so much good stuff is coming out weekly, the pre order does not make sense to me. In fact the only thing i can think of where pre order becomes relevant is game consoles. Which if you really want one especially around those holiday related launches, pre order is a must or you will be doing some serious hunting and waiting.

BTW with Criterion i understand a little, i don't understand the appeal of getting all the movies they offer, but with limited runs, limited stock etc.. i could see why you would want to get them while the getting is good as they say.

[dcowboy7]

Whats the deal with "grape nuts cereal"....

You open the box, no grapes, no nuts