What is your Blu-ray buying philosophy? - Page 3 - Blu-ray Forum

Hucksta G · 06-13-2011, 04:13 AM

Replay value and anything that i would give a 10/10 or a 9/10 or that sticks in my mind.

If I'm blind buying, it has to be something i can not find in my own country and am importing from overseas, or really cheap or involved ina two for one deal.

I replace DVDs with Blus if they have exceptional reviews for PQ and AQ or if the original DVD is crappy, or if I see them for cheap.

iam1bearcat · 06-13-2011, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafeddie

Also, no tv on Blu-ray. EVER!!!

Todd_Gaines · 06-13-2011, 04:51 AM

I refuse to buy anything from Echo Bridge

I care about price for most BD's but for some I will pay what it takes (Battle Royale day 1 with super fast shipping because I wanted it ASAP)

I will Netflix or borrow from my bro-in-law who buys a lot of new releases. I hardly buy any domestic (Hollywood) new BD's unless I really really like them

Of course I go for replay value. Why own a BD if you can't watch it more than once.

I love to import BD's and I also enjoy Foreign films a lot. Will blind buy Foreign BD's if I think it will be good. (Have not been wrong yet). I think Steelbooks are cool but only own a few. Slips are nice but they are not a game changer.

I think Criterion's are cool, but will only buy the Criterion BD's I know I will enjoy.

I would love to buy Region B BD's, but I am holding out until I buy an OPPO.

Bottom line is that I want to continue to build my collection with the BD's that I know I will enjoy for many years to come.

Steve · 06-13-2011, 05:02 AM

I've caught up on most of the older titles I want that have been released, so now I'm mostly buying new releases. My two big requirements are:

1. It has to be a movie I will watch repeatedly. I don't collect just to own titles.

2. It has to be $25 or less. $20 or less is preferable.

iam1bearcat · 06-13-2011, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKORIS

I find it interesting that so many people here have some sort of phobia about having too many movies. "I only buy my favorites", "I only buy movies that have strong replay value", etc etc.
Fine. Please don't take potshots all the time to people that like to have "a collection". There's nothing wrong with doing that... I've said it before and I'll say it again-- buying movies as opposed to going to the theatre actually saves me money!!

perfectly stated!

my philosophy is "if i don't hate it, eventually i will own it, when the price is right" as simple as that. you never know when you're gonna get the urge to watch something and it's nice to have it on your shelf waiting when that times does arrive

Bk_Tan · 06-13-2011, 10:29 AM

I've bought a number of films I merely thought was good the first go around.

The secondhand value is basically zilch, so I've decided for everything that remains unbought and for all movies from this year onward, to only purchase if it has replay value or is thought to have that quality.

Everything I may have liked but is of dubious replay value, will be relegated to getting secondhand/sometime in the future when I actually think I want to see it again.

Sagacious Koreo · 06-13-2011, 03:31 PM

I'm just a lover of film in general. I buy what I know I'll enjoy. I'm pretty much open to most films. If a certain film happens to have a special/limited/collectors edition I try to go for it. I love the Criterion collection although I wish I had more.

I try to find good deals, but when it comes to finding a film that is probably going to be harder to get later I jump on it.

I just buy, man. I don't just get movies to make my collection bigger. I genuinely like every movie in my collection.

Puonti · 06-13-2011, 03:34 PM

I buy movies which I enjoy and that have good A/V. I mostly do a bit of research before purchase, reading reviews from reviewers and users, and looking up the best release to buy. I tend to avoid BDs which get bad scores in both audio and video (3 and lower is my acceptable minimum), since I don't see the point of owning a BD with bad A/V. Might aswell buy the DVD for alot cheaper.

joe77 · 06-13-2011, 03:49 PM

My philosophy is:1)I had started with about 400 dvd's and now i have about 200 left since i upgraded to blu but i ont pay no more then $10 for the movie and it has to have PQ/AQ upgrade and i dont upgrade comedy's.2)I tend to buy movies that i have seen already or heard good thing's about it but i usually wait for good deal's from BB or AMAZON because i like to pay $6-$12 on average for a movie.3)I don't buy new releases right away because i will not pay $25 for a movie so i just wait a few week's til it drop's in price then i make the purchase.4)I have NETFLIX with blu so i use that to watch movies that i did want to buy but wasn't to sure about and believe me it saved me alot of money that i would have wasted on blind buy's.5)I collect steelbook's and i have around 75 in my collection and i usually pay $20-$100 for them but to me it's worth it because some of the cover's artwork is beautiful and there a thrill about finding the one you wanted for the longest plus i display them on shelving.6)I like to have a large collection of blu's at my fingertip's as i tend to watch 3-5 movie's a week plus what's the point of having thousand's of dollor's of HT gear without having movie's to view it's like what i tell my wife at least im home with you enjoying my little hobby or i could be at the bar drinking my money up.

Deromax · 06-13-2011, 04:04 PM

I'm replacing my DVD collection and adding new titles but try to pay no more than 10$ per title. I have a buy only policy. Since I'm not that rich, I don't go to the cinema, I don't rent any titles and I'm not subscribed to any pay-TV movie channels.

I'm using amazon wish list to monitor prices. I also check my local WM, and video store for used BD. I check the Best Buy and Future Shop online stores from time to time.

I'm a tad over 600 titles now, BD and DVD, and would think my collection will eventually taper off at around a thousand titles.

HD Goofnut · 06-13-2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deromax

I'm replacing my DVD collection and adding new titles but try to pay no more than 10$ per title. I have a buy only policy. Since I'm not that rich, I don't go to the cinema, I don't rent any titles and I'm not subscribed to any pay-TV movie channels.

I'm using amazon wish list to monitor prices. I also check my local WM, and video store for used BD. I check the Best Buy and Future Shop online stores from time to time.

I'm a tad over 600 titles now, BD and DVD, and would think my collection will eventually taper off at around a thousand titles.

Wait a second. You're not rich, but yet you have a buy only policy? I rent about 8-12 BDs a month for $19 after tax. Is $19 a month too much for someone who's not rich? I think not.

Panther71 · 06-13-2011, 04:41 PM

When I first got a DVD player back in the late 1990s, I was an impulsive buyer. Like others have said, I would buy a new release and never watch it more than once. Of course, when I first started collecting DVDs there were some great deals on-line and not as many options to rent. I have around 500 DVDs and probably have 20% that I have not watched yet.

Now that I own a BD player, I am taking a more conservative approach on purchasing Blu-rays. For one thing, I am not making the money I was 4-5 years ago. My previous place of employment went out of business and I am one of those statistics of people who are under-employed. I now look for the deals on Blu-rays. I have also replaced 15-20 DVDs I owned, especially a few DVDs that were not anamorphic. I also got a gift membership to Netflix, thanks to my children, so that keeps me from purchasing new releases.

m_burlock · 06-13-2011, 05:02 PM

If a movie is a classic and my instincts tell me I'll like it I buy it. (My instincts have never failed me)

If I LOVE a movie I'll buy it. (Almost no matter what)

I try to only buy ones with excellent PQ. (I'm not always successful, but I try)

Packaging is not an issue. But if a movie has particularily attractive packaging I'll stop, consider it carefully, and then make a decision whether to buy it or not.

If a movie is universally critically acclaimed I'll research the movie and then use my instincts to decide as to whether to buy it or not.

If I don't like a movie I won't buy it, no matter what.

If a movie is visually stunning I'll consider buying it and then make a decision.

If a movie is old and I like it and I've read that the studio has done it justice in the PQ dept. I'll buy it.

If cut or uncut is an issue with a horror movie I'll only get it if it's fully uncut.

Depending on the movie I'll either get the theatrical version or the Director's Cut. Or both, again depending on the movie.

If I like a movie enough I'll buy everything I can get my hands on.

If I like a movie enough I might hold out for an edition with excellent PQ or I'll get an import version if it exists and if I've read that it has excellent PQ. And if it's Region A player friendly.

If a movie I LOVE has excellent PQ only via an expensive Region A friendly import, I'll buy it. I won't let money stand in my way.

I'm not addicted to either Steelbooks or Slipcovers. They're not the meat, they're the gravy. I can live without gravy. But it is a welcome touch.

If the box cover art is ugly in my opinion that'll reduce the chances of me buying it, but not eliminate my chances of buying it. It depends on which movie you're talking about.

Whether or not a movie has won Oscars won't influence my decision to buy or not.

I won't buy just anything. I'm not like "critic" Pete Hammond. I don't like every movie I see.

Adrock · 06-13-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafeddie

Also, no tv on Blu-ray. EVER!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by iam1bearcat

I used to purchase many more TV seasons than I do now. I sold off many of them that I had on DVD...but there are a few TV shows that are just too good to pass up on BD! Breaking Bad, Dexter, Fringe are among my favorites, and I will definitely support them on BD!

I do understand though, and with such resources as Netflix, Hulu, etc, it doesn't make a lot of sense to buy shows you would only really watch through a single time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sagacious Koreo

I'm just a lover of film in general. I buy what I know I'll enjoy. I'm pretty much open to most films. If a certain film happens to have a special/limited/collectors edition I try to go for it. I love the Criterion collection although I wish I had more.

I try to find good deals, but when it comes to finding a film that is probably going to be harder to get later I jump on it.

I just buy, man. I don't just get movies to make my collection bigger. I genuinely like every movie in my collection.

Absolutely well said, Sagacious. I am much the same way as you, and agree with you completely.

stobbart · 06-13-2011, 06:35 PM

I am a filmmaker and actually use the movies I purchase as references or even research in some cases. However, I enjoy all my movies as entertainment also and that is how I watch and enjoy them 90% of the time. For all the foreign blu-rays I buy I have to pay top dollar as when you import them there really are not many deals. For American released blus I will wait until I can get them for about $15.

However, this price rule can be broken if I absolutely love a movie and want to watch it immediately. Or I need it for something.

Torgon · 06-13-2011, 06:59 PM

I buy what I enjoy. I started off just buying action flicks (stuff with explosions and such) that would look good and sound good on my screen. Now I find myself buying cartoons and comedies. I love to get a good deal. $15 or so is a good price point for new releases. If I buy a box set, it might cost me a lot out of pocket at that time, but if the movies are cheaper than buying them individually, I'm in. As an example: I got Superman Anthology for $53.88 after 50% off code and Ebates. Divide it by the 7 moives in it and it's $7.70 a movie; not bad.
I'm looking at 300 and Con Air now for $7.99 on Amazon; somebody stop me

.

Puonti · 06-13-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgon

I'm looking at 300 and Con Air now for $7.99 on Amazon; somebody stop me

.

Give in to your inner urges! It's good for you.

Torgon · 06-13-2011, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puonti

Give in to your inner urges! It's good for you.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!! !!

AKORIS · 06-13-2011, 07:31 PM

already posted my thoughts on how I buy--

but I am changing my pricepoints on blus-- (due to the outrageous price drops that are recently happening with most all titles lately)

new releases that I can't wait to see or digibooks-- $19.99
most other new releases-- $14.99

catalog titles -- $10.00 or less (unless they are big event catalog titles like
Jaws, Jurassic Park, etc)

kurtlingle · 06-13-2011, 07:32 PM

Great thread - very interesting to see all these perspectives.

My philosophy is to only buy Blu-rays that I'll love and watch many times. The exception to this rule is Xmas and B-day presents for the kids (though they seem to watch most kids movies multiple times).

All other blu-ray's I'll watch from netflix (just need patience for new releases).

I think I own about 40 kids titles (Disney/Pixar, etc) and 40 movies for my wife and I. I will be buying Lord of the Rings EE at the end of the month. Can't wait for that one! And Star Wars in the fall!!!!

06-13-2011, 04:04 PM	#50
Deromax Active Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Jun 2009 Location:Shawinigan, Pq, Canada Home Theater Gallery:108 4K collection:6 Blu-ray collection:1800 DVD collection:76 Blu-ray reviews:1	I'm replacing my DVD collection and adding new titles but try to pay no more than 10$ per title. I have a buy only policy. Since I'm not that rich, I don't go to the cinema, I don't rent any titles and I'm not subscribed to any pay-TV movie channels. I'm using amazon wish list to monitor prices. I also check my local WM, and video store for used BD. I check the Best Buy and Future Shop online stores from time to time. I'm a tad over 600 titles now, BD and DVD, and would think my collection will eventually taper off at around a thousand titles. Last edited by Deromax; 06-13-2011 at 04:09 PM.

06-13-2011, 05:02 PM	#53
m_burlock Special Member Member since:May 2010 Location:Canada Blu-ray collection:755 DVD collection:250	If a movie is a classic and my instincts tell me I'll like it I buy it. (My instincts have never failed me) If I LOVE a movie I'll buy it. (Almost no matter what) I try to only buy ones with excellent PQ. (I'm not always successful, but I try) Packaging is not an issue. But if a movie has particularily attractive packaging I'll stop, consider it carefully, and then make a decision whether to buy it or not. If a movie is universally critically acclaimed I'll research the movie and then use my instincts to decide as to whether to buy it or not. If I don't like a movie I won't buy it, no matter what. If a movie is visually stunning I'll consider buying it and then make a decision. If a movie is old and I like it and I've read that the studio has done it justice in the PQ dept. I'll buy it. If cut or uncut is an issue with a horror movie I'll only get it if it's fully uncut. Depending on the movie I'll either get the theatrical version or the Director's Cut. Or both, again depending on the movie. If I like a movie enough I'll buy everything I can get my hands on. If I like a movie enough I might hold out for an edition with excellent PQ or I'll get an import version if it exists and if I've read that it has excellent PQ. And if it's Region A player friendly. If a movie I LOVE has excellent PQ only via an expensive Region A friendly import, I'll buy it. I won't let money stand in my way. I'm not addicted to either Steelbooks or Slipcovers. They're not the meat, they're the gravy. I can live without gravy. But it is a welcome touch. If the box cover art is ugly in my opinion that'll reduce the chances of me buying it, but not eliminate my chances of buying it. It depends on which movie you're talking about. Whether or not a movie has won Oscars won't influence my decision to buy or not. I won't buy just anything. I'm not like "critic" Pete Hammond. I don't like every movie I see. Last edited by m_burlock; 06-13-2011 at 05:18 PM.

06-13-2011, 04:13 AM	#41
Hucksta G Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 Location:New Zealand 4K collection:119 Blu-ray collection:1000 DVD collection:378 iTunes collection:1 Trading Score:5	Replay value and anything that i would give a 10/10 or a 9/10 or that sticks in my mind. If I'm blind buying, it has to be something i can not find in my own country and am importing from overseas, or really cheap or involved ina two for one deal. I replace DVDs with Blus if they have exceptional reviews for PQ and AQ or if the original DVD is crappy, or if I see them for cheap.

06-13-2011, 04:51 AM	#43
Todd_Gaines Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Jan 2011 Location:Letterboxd Home Theater Gallery:4 Blu-ray collection:863 DVD collection:96 Blu-ray reviews: 1 Trading Score:133	I refuse to buy anything from Echo Bridge I care about price for most BD's but for some I will pay what it takes (Battle Royale day 1 with super fast shipping because I wanted it ASAP) I will Netflix or borrow from my bro-in-law who buys a lot of new releases. I hardly buy any domestic (Hollywood) new BD's unless I really really like them Of course I go for replay value. Why own a BD if you can't watch it more than once. I love to import BD's and I also enjoy Foreign films a lot. Will blind buy Foreign BD's if I think it will be good. (Have not been wrong yet). I think Steelbooks are cool but only own a few. Slips are nice but they are not a game changer. I think Criterion's are cool, but will only buy the Criterion BD's I know I will enjoy. I would love to buy Region B BD's, but I am holding out until I buy an OPPO. Bottom line is that I want to continue to build my collection with the BD's that I know I will enjoy for many years to come.

06-13-2011, 05:02 AM	#44
Steve Blu-ray Knight Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:Anna, TX 4K collection:128 Blu-ray collection:416 Trading Score:41	I've caught up on most of the older titles I want that have been released, so now I'm mostly buying new releases. My two big requirements are: 1. It has to be a movie I will watch repeatedly. I don't collect just to own titles. 2. It has to be $25 or less. $20 or less is preferable.

06-13-2011, 10:29 AM	#46
Bk_Tan Power Member Top contributor Member since:Nov 2009 Location:N/A Blu-ray collection:213 DVD collection:199 Trading Score:12	I've bought a number of films I merely thought was good the first go around. The secondhand value is basically zilch, so I've decided for everything that remains unbought and for all movies from this year onward, to only purchase if it has replay value or is thought to have that quality. Everything I may have liked but is of dubious replay value, will be relegated to getting secondhand/sometime in the future when I actually think I want to see it again.

06-13-2011, 03:31 PM	#47
Sagacious Koreo Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:May 2009 Blu-ray collection:685 Trading Score:3	I'm just a lover of film in general. I buy what I know I'll enjoy. I'm pretty much open to most films. If a certain film happens to have a special/limited/collectors edition I try to go for it. I love the Criterion collection although I wish I had more. I try to find good deals, but when it comes to finding a film that is probably going to be harder to get later I jump on it. I just buy, man. I don't just get movies to make my collection bigger. I genuinely like every movie in my collection.

06-13-2011, 03:34 PM	#48
Puonti Active Member Top contributor Member since:Mar 2011	I buy movies which I enjoy and that have good A/V. I mostly do a bit of research before purchase, reading reviews from reviewers and users, and looking up the best release to buy. I tend to avoid BDs which get bad scores in both audio and video (3 and lower is my acceptable minimum), since I don't see the point of owning a BD with bad A/V. Might aswell buy the DVD for alot cheaper.

06-13-2011, 03:49 PM	#49
joe77 Senior Member Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Oct 2009 Location:s.i. n.y. Home Theater Gallery:33 4K collection:27 Blu-ray collection:1132 DVD collection:10	My philosophy is:1)I had started with about 400 dvd's and now i have about 200 left since i upgraded to blu but i ont pay no more then $10 for the movie and it has to have PQ/AQ upgrade and i dont upgrade comedy's.2)I tend to buy movies that i have seen already or heard good thing's about it but i usually wait for good deal's from BB or AMAZON because i like to pay $6-$12 on average for a movie.3)I don't buy new releases right away because i will not pay $25 for a movie so i just wait a few week's til it drop's in price then i make the purchase.4)I have NETFLIX with blu so i use that to watch movies that i did want to buy but wasn't to sure about and believe me it saved me alot of money that i would have wasted on blind buy's.5)I collect steelbook's and i have around 75 in my collection and i usually pay $20-$100 for them but to me it's worth it because some of the cover's artwork is beautiful and there a thrill about finding the one you wanted for the longest plus i display them on shelving.6)I like to have a large collection of blu's at my fingertip's as i tend to watch 3-5 movie's a week plus what's the point of having thousand's of dollor's of HT gear without having movie's to view it's like what i tell my wife at least im home with you enjoying my little hobby or i could be at the bar drinking my money up.

06-13-2011, 04:41 PM	#52
Panther71 New Member Member since:Jun 2011	When I first got a DVD player back in the late 1990s, I was an impulsive buyer. Like others have said, I would buy a new release and never watch it more than once. Of course, when I first started collecting DVDs there were some great deals on-line and not as many options to rent. I have around 500 DVDs and probably have 20% that I have not watched yet. Now that I own a BD player, I am taking a more conservative approach on purchasing Blu-rays. For one thing, I am not making the money I was 4-5 years ago. My previous place of employment went out of business and I am one of those statistics of people who are under-employed. I now look for the deals on Blu-rays. I have also replaced 15-20 DVDs I owned, especially a few DVDs that were not anamorphic. I also got a gift membership to Netflix, thanks to my children, so that keeps me from purchasing new releases.

06-13-2011, 06:35 PM	#55
stobbart Power Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2009 4K collection:143 Blu-ray collection:1200 Trading Score:6	I am a filmmaker and actually use the movies I purchase as references or even research in some cases. However, I enjoy all my movies as entertainment also and that is how I watch and enjoy them 90% of the time. For all the foreign blu-rays I buy I have to pay top dollar as when you import them there really are not many deals. For American released blus I will wait until I can get them for about $15. However, this price rule can be broken if I absolutely love a movie and want to watch it immediately. Or I need it for something.

06-13-2011, 06:59 PM	#56
Torgon Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Sep 2009 Location:Virginia Home Theater Gallery:1 4K collection:875 Blu-ray collection:2523 DVD collection:522 Blu-ray reviews: 7 Trading Score:2	I buy what I enjoy. I started off just buying action flicks (stuff with explosions and such) that would look good and sound good on my screen. Now I find myself buying cartoons and comedies. I love to get a good deal. $15 or so is a good price point for new releases. If I buy a box set, it might cost me a lot out of pocket at that time, but if the movies are cheaper than buying them individually, I'm in. As an example: I got Superman Anthology for $53.88 after 50% off code and Ebates. Divide it by the 7 moives in it and it's $7.70 a movie; not bad. I'm looking at 300 and Con Air now for $7.99 on Amazon; somebody stop me .

06-13-2011, 07:31 PM	#59
AKORIS Blu-ray Prince Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Beautiful Pacific Northwest 4K collection:661 Blu-ray collection:3646 Blu-ray reviews:19	already posted my thoughts on how I buy-- but I am changing my pricepoints on blus-- (due to the outrageous price drops that are recently happening with most all titles lately) new releases that I can't wait to see or digibooks-- $19.99 most other new releases-- $14.99 catalog titles -- $10.00 or less (unless they are big event catalog titles like Jaws, Jurassic Park, etc)

06-13-2011, 07:32 PM	#60
kurtlingle Expert Member Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:82	Great thread - very interesting to see all these perspectives. My philosophy is to only buy Blu-rays that I'll love and watch many times. The exception to this rule is Xmas and B-day presents for the kids (though they seem to watch most kids movies multiple times). All other blu-ray's I'll watch from netflix (just need patience for new releases). I think I own about 40 kids titles (Disney/Pixar, etc) and 40 movies for my wife and I. I will be buying Lord of the Rings EE at the end of the month. Can't wait for that one! And Star Wars in the fall!!!!

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