Inane & Downright Confounding Used Blu-Ray Prices

[Trekkie313]

Have you ever went to a second hand shop or a place that sells used movies in general only to scoff in dismay at asking prices for Blu's?
It's pretty well known that FYE ask really dubious or near full retail prices on nearly everything, but I've never heard anyone other than myself complain about Half Price Books or BuyBacks.

Any experiences?

[Villiam Hayes]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Batman-Begin.../dp/B0019FLTH8 and http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Batman-Beg...ht_1217wt_1165
I enjoyed this film but am I missing something?

[Trekkie313]

According to another thread, most of the Batman films are now OOP...so 2nd hand sellers are milking it for all its worth.

I can understand price gouging for long-OOP or limited edition titles, but it seems the brick n' mortar stores are just doing it because they think consumers are gullible or have no clue what "used" movies are actually worth.

Stuff like Hot Rod and the original release of MI3 aren't all that hard to find and some sellers are asking way to much for copies. Especially with places like Blockbuster and Family Video selling off old-stock.

[nmycon]

Some used stores in Canada ask over $10 for Alliance titles (Blade, Sin City, Fanboys, Lost in Space, etc.)

It's funny because most of them are going for $4.99 at FS/BB now, they're regularly priced at $9.99

Not to mention the fact that almost all have been re-released with the superior US transfers.

It's funny you started this thread because I saw some poor schmuck walking out of Swap Shop on Saturday buying the Blade trilogy and the other 3 titles I mentioned for $12 each

He was saying how happy he was to get them for under $15 apiece

I suppose if the store can get away with it (people keep buying them at those prices), they'll continue to do it

[Trekkie313]

Originally Posted by nmycon

Some used stores in Canada ask over $10 for Alliance titles (Blade, Sin City, Fanboys, Lost in Space, etc.)

It's funny because most of them are going for $4.99 at FS/BB now, they're regularly priced at $9.99

I too have seen Blade and Sin City with ridiculous prices at a nearby BuyBacks.

The independent or locally owned shops I frequent tend to be very good at asking reasonable or below Amazon prices for used movies.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Used prices at places that sell used movies may have to do with the reality of doing that kind of business.

Places that sell things new usually get a discount on the per unit price. This explains why Best Buy and Fry's can sell Blu-rays from the major studios for $4.99 or $5. They can also "sell back" inventory to the movie studios.

Meanwhile, stores that buy and sell used movies don't get wholesale discounts and can't "sell back" inventory. They're stuck with whatever they buy from customers until the product sells.

[wormraper]

we have a used place near us called "bookmans". used to have good prices but their prices on blu-rays are LAUGHABLE. I've caught them selling 3D titles for over $30 apiece recently USED

star trek 2009 single disc for $17
Over $22 for newer releases

and $20 for the echo bridge 4 packs (jackie chan's, prophecy etc).. I nearly choked looking at those

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

Used prices at places that sell used movies may have to do with the reality of doing that kind of business.

Places that sell things new usually get a discount on the per unit price. This explains why Best Buy and Fry's can sell Blu-rays from the major studios for $4.99 or $5. They can also "sell back" inventory to the movie studios.

Meanwhile, stores that buy and sell used movies don't get wholesale discounts and can't "sell back" inventory. They're stuck with whatever they buy from customers until the product sells.

shouldn't matter, they just offer lower prices to people who trade in and price lower.. simple as that. when you see amazon selling a movie for $10 a week after release and they want $22.. right. offer $5 for the trade in and sell at $10... simple

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by wormraper

shouldn't matter, they just offer lower prices to people who trade in and price lower.. simple as that. when you see amazon selling a movie for $10 a week after release and they want $22.. right. offer $5 for the trade in and sell at $10... simple

Hey, I'm only offering a possible explanation. If I see prices that I don't like, for new or used stuff, I just don't buy.

[OrlandoEastwood]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Have you ever went to a second hand shop or a place that sells used movies in general only to scoff in dismay at asking prices for Blu's?
It's pretty well known that FYE ask really dubious or near full retail prices on nearly everything, but I've never heard anyone other than myself complain about Half Price Books or BuyBacks.

Any experiences?

I've never been to a HPB, but a buddy I know works at one. There's a Buybacks by my house. I go there often to see what they have. I've tried to sell DVDs to them in the past and they would only offer up only a nickle, yes five cents, and go right around and sell the DVDs for $4. However, when looking at Blu-ray prices, depending on what you're looking for, you could find it at a steal or feel downright disgusted. Most times, it feels like a steal. About a week after it came out on Blu-ray, I managed to snag the combo pack for Final Destination 5 for only $8.99 + Tax. Managed to score Battle:LA, Priest, and Season of the Witch for $7.99 + tax each and also got Fright Night (2011) for $12.99 + tax. My biggest score was the Jurassic Park Trilogy Blu for $12.99 + Tax.

The problem though with Buybacks is that prices will change constantly. With Priest and SOTW, those prices I got it at doubled the next week I went in. My head was also spinning at the prices at video games. I had been searching for Silent Hill 3 for the PS2 before I got the meh HD Collection. And copies were going for $60!!! I know it's out-of-print and hard to find, but $60? Honestly? How much did you give the poor sucker who sold it to you? $2? I honestly feel that they should at least give two-thirds, if not half of their selling prices in store. If something is going for $60, at least give $30 to $40 for it.

Also, Buybacks has a ton of Amazon accounts in the Marketplace and they charge a lot less than what they do in store. I called one day to see if I could buy it off Amazon and just pick it up in store since it's right down the block from my house and the guy was just like; "Well, we have to ship it. You can't just do that". With a real snooty attitude. But, hey, whatever.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Since we're on the subject of goofy pricing...

Right now, at Walmart, The Town and Clash of the Titans (remake) are both $15. Clash of the Titans with $5 movie money for The Dark Knight Rises is $9.96. Both The Town and Clash of the Titans bundled with a DVD and a $4 coupon for VUDU are $9.96 each, and the Blu-rays are already combo packs that include DVDs.

[MoulinBlu]

As crazy as OOP titles can be, it's just as crazy to me seeing all these used dvds on half.com for 75 cent (like-new, some brand new). Why even sell it at that price? You have 3-4 times more at risk in shipping the item than the literal pocket change you stand to gain. You get more trading to BB or WB toward a BD. I'd give something away before selling that low.

As for crazy OOP titles, it's just the market, and peoples ignorance of the industry, like paying 30-35 dollars for Twilight Time BDs. Everything comes back around, eventually. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when and how bad you want it.

There are also complete-ists: people who want every version of a film ever made, among other trinkets like posters, toys, collector cards, calenders, anything related to the film. I've sold a number of OOP dvds for 3 to 4 times what they should have been worth, just because they were OOP, even though a new BD had already been announced, that was far cheaper. Either they couldn't wait, they were that level of collector, or had no knowledge of the newer version that was coming, as most new BD announcements include a corresponding dvd re-release. With dvd the original non-anamorphic bare boned edition will often sell for more than a newer, anamorphic special edition, just because the first edition is OOP too.

Of course some buying habits just don't make any sense to me. Just yesterday I read on amazon about some person saying he liked a videogame so much, he bought four copies of the same game, for the same system, because he didn't ever want to be without it.

[Lemmy Lugosi]

There's a Buyback store in Toledo that has used copies of the new Ghost Rider 3D blu set for $12.99 used, and the regular set (also used, and without the 3D disc) is $20.99 . . . . .I know it's not condition-related, because they have several of each for sale.

As a 3D hater, I gotta say...Wow, look...ya can't even GIVE AWAY 3D !!!!