Why Are Some Apprehensive To Blind Buy?

[angrywolf]

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.

In my case, because, #1: Watching movies on my TV is nowhere near as exciting as watching them at the movie theater, and #2, if I blind-buy a movie and I don't like it, it will just collect dust and 3, if that's the case, I'd rather just rent it first for a fraction of how much it would cost me to buy it and if I don't like it, I don't have to worry about it taking space on my shelf.

[Spiderbri]

Originally Posted by jonsmith369

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).

I'm with you on the TV thing. I haven't had the cable hooked up to my TV in at least 3 years. I just buy boxsets of show I know I like or one I'm fairly sure I will on sale.

[pokefan]

I only blind buy sub $10 movies, with all of the great BD deals going on these days and the sales it's very easy to find cheap titles. If I can buy it at $10 or less I can almost ALWAYS recoup my money, whether that be here in the $10 thread or on eBay. That being said I'm willing to bet at least 40% of my collection is from a blind buy and I'm pretty happy with what I've got.

Big name movies on the other hand, I have no problem spending $20-25 on them but I'll be finding some means to preview it before I buy. I can't justify spending that much and it be a flop that I can't even give away.


Progers13 had me intrigued, here's my BB from '09:

28 Days Later
30 Days of Night
3:10 to Yuma
Australia
Beowulf & Grendel (one of the few I don't like)
Blood Diamond
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doomsday
Full Metal Jacket
G-FORCE
Hairspray
Hancock
Happy Feet
Hellboy II
In the Name of the King
Korn: Live on the Other Side (Music doesn't really count though)
Lakeview Terrace
Max Payne
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
Nim's Island
Open Season
Open Season 2
Push
Star Trek
Tears of the Sun
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Twilight
Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Zombieland

30%, I was close.

[thePhoenix]

If you see a movie in the theater that you don't like, you never have to see it again. If you blind buy a blu-ray you don't like, you have to look at it on your shelf and be reminded of the crap you bought.

[progers13]

Some of my 2009 Blind Buys:

Underworld
Underworld: Evolution
Kung Fu Panda
District 9
Star Trek
Cars
Hellboy
Hellboy II
I am Legend
Ironman
Quantum of Solace
Shooter
Terminator Salvation
Transformers ROTF
Watchmen
Wall-E

Now I recognize that not all of these movies were in theatres last year. But I think the argument can be made that all of the movies on that list are among the very best blu-ray has to offer, and most are excellent storylines to boot. Should I preclude myself from experiencing them simply because I didn't catch them in the theater (such as I missed my shot, so that's it?). Also, rentals are not a bad thing, but not always the best either. In many cases titles are not readily available and sit in the queue status. If you go to a Brick & Mortar store, it could cost $5+. $5 is not much money, granted, but if (after viewing the rental) I decide I like it and want to buy it, then that $15 ~ $20 blu just became a $20 ~ $25 blu.

I don't have a problem blind buying a movie. Some people do have a problem with it, and that's ok. We are all entitled to enjoy our movies in whatever method we choose.

[pokefan]

Originally Posted by thePhoenix

If you see a movie in the theater that you don't like, you never have to see it again. If you blind buy a blu-ray you don't like, you have to look at it on your shelf and be reminded of the crap you bought.

That's what the trade forum is for.

Seriously, someone is always going to like the movie that you think is crap.

[Yeha-Noha]

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.

Exactly. Well said.

I think people often take it for granted that we'll always have movies on Blu-ray. They think why go to the theater and spend those outrageous prices and perhaps sitting next to a stranger you'd rather not be sitting next to? The movie theater's are the studios cash cows. Without them, there wouldn't be very many BDs around. Sure there would be some but nothing compared to what we now have and will have as long as the movie theaters are around.

So going to the movie theater if even only once a month, will help support the industry and keep those BDs coming out with our favorite movies. That's the value of Blu-ray for me. It allows me to collect my favorite movies which are the ones that I enjoy seeing again and again.

So like you I don't see putting much thought into whether to blind buy or not to blind buy or just see it in the theater instead. However, unlike you, I think both are good values. Each has it's own unique experience. I can't experience the movie theater at home. I do enjoy HT. But for me, it's not the same experience. Watching the the Saints beat the crap out of the Colts from my seat in Miami stadium would not be the same experience as watching it on my 52 in LCD at home.

Blu-rays do have their place. That's in my collection so that whenever I get in the mood, I can go and grab one of my favorite movies and watch it whenever I want. Still even so, it'll never beat the movie theater experience.

[720pDude]

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 think different.

By me, a show is $8.

I also dont munch on snacks or drink during a movie.

Red Box or Netflix= $1 - 2
Microwave movie butter popcorn=.80

Soda = $1

Now with a min investment, I can add that movie to my blu ray list and wait to catch it used for HALF off its original price..IF I liked it

[MrFattBill]

Being married with a 2 month old makes blind buying and watching at home a much easier decision for me. We used to go to a LOT of free previews and even actually spend money on movies from time to time but recently it has been all blu all the time.

I have a friend that loves to give me crap for blind buying but he likes "Spice World" so his opinion matters not.

Bill

[wormraper]

Blind buy at retail price. F@ck no. Blind buy at my local pawn shops for $6-$8...sure why not, do it all the time.

[s2mikey]

I dont see why people blind buy at all? There are just WAY too many letdowns out there to lose money like that. Maybe with $10 dollar titles you can be a little more loose with your own rules, but overall, you will lose money selling used or trading in titles.

Netflix makes it so easy to rent with both discs and streaming that I cant imagine any valid reason to blind-buy other than you have money to burn. And I know that streaming quality cant touch blu-ray but you can use streaming tjust to see if you like the movie and then buy the blu-ray if you do.

[ccarbot]

I totally agree with the initial poster. When my wife and I go to the movies, it's a minimum of $24: $10 per ticket + $4 to park. Any food/drink naturally increases that cost. I'm not a compulsive blu buyer (at least not yet lol), and I missed a bunch of quality film releases in theaters during law school (2006-2009), so being a little more selective makes blind-buying a smart way to go.

Basically my criteria is a high combined RT/MC score for the movie itself, combined with a high overall disc review from this site and a price I can't refuse on Amazon. So far this combined criteria has served me well: I've blind bought five bd's so far:

There Will Be Blood @ $17.99
No Country for Old Men @ 18.50
Up @ $19.99
Benjamin Button @ $14.99
Fargo @ $9.99

Of the five, all but Fargo have been great decisions, and even that one was passable and a great deal at $10. While blind buying may not be a great idea on a more obscure title, in my situation where I don't watch movies alone and have missed out on some great ones in the last few years, spending $10-$20 for a critically acclaimed film on a quality bd release that remains permanently in my collection just makes sense on multiple levels.

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

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.

That's pretty much exactly how I blind buy my movies. I don't buy most every movies that gets released every week. If it is a movie I am interested in and I'm pretty sure I'll really enjoy it and watch it over and over again, then I buy it. It's worked pretty well for me, as I've only sold three of my blind buys so far.

[Rinzler]

Blind buys have almost all the time been good with me, with Snow White, the movie didn't work for me, but I enjoy the supplements, with Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, I hated the latter parts of the movie, Sam Sparks killed me with that other look of hers, she was gorgeuos before, and I usually get a stomach ache with the food at the end, the earlier parts are pure magic. But, for the most part I am satisfied with that purchase. I usually only end up blind buying animation, I have blind bought almost every DC Animated feature, save for The New Frontier, I loved Doomsday(Superman), I HATED gotham knight, blind bought every one since, (wonder woman and on to Supes Bat Public enemies and will buy crisis next week.) I only have Doomsday on BD, the rest are single disc DVD's (now my confidence is at an all time high with them so it will be BD from now on), when Superman Batman Public Enemies came out, the single disc DVD was a placeholder for a double dip I will do eventually, I had no BD at the time, GL First Flight was the target exclusive two disc, anywho they are DTV, so I have two options, rent, or buy. I have no blockbuster, I am under 18 so my parents have to use a card at Redbox, on demand isn't worth it (even HD) so usually I buy, with the DC films I want a complete collection anyways....... There is my rant. Looking forward to Justice League Crisis on Two Earths, and Sonic and SEGA All-Stars Racing next tues. !!!!!!

[Alpha]

Originally Posted by molson1138

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!

The hell?

I pay $6.50 anytime after 5pm...and unless it's some awesome movie and I have a day off, I always go at night. The food/drinks are insane there, but if I must, the most I spend is $3. Less than $10...hardly the cost of new releases.

I blind buy on occasion, but asking why some are apprehensive? That comes with anything where "blind" is included.

[XXXsdesdeXXX]

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 read reviews before going to the theater to see a movie. It doesn't always work, but it filters out a majority of the movies I wouldn't want to see. Thankfully, the wife gets discounted movie tickets through her union. If I have never seen a movie, and it's out on blu-ray, I would prefer to rent it first.

[stobbart]

First of all, going to a theatre is not only paying to see the movie, but paying for the theatre experience. No one (spielburg and lucas aside) has a full theatre in their house, and even then they are not seeing it with 200 other people. The theatre experience is something you cannot get in any home theatre.

Second, you could use netflix and rent 30 movies a month for $20, or buy 30 movies at $20 for $600 then waste more time trying to sell all your blind buys that you did not like.

So what is the reason to blind buy....unless its Criterion

[MrHT]

Originally Posted by 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.

Exactly. Which is why I never go to theaters anymore and just blind buy whatever interests me. Think about it! $10-15 for a ticket plus those rip-off prices for soda/snack. And then you have to pay for your date's ticket as well. Then she's hungry and would like some snack too. Not to mention the money you pay for commute, such as train fare or gas. That'll easily cost you $40+ just to *see* ONE friggin movie!

[42041]

To me at least, rationalizing blind buys because you let the theater rip you off for popcorn and drinks is not much of a rationalization at all. I pay less than $10 to see a movie at a theater. I will not pay $20-30 for ~2 hours of entertainment.

[MrHT]

I've never been to a theater that charges less than $10 per ticket....at least, none here in NYC.