Blind Buys? What's wrong with them

[2099net]

I often see people on these forums (and others) metaphorically wringing their hands over blind buys. Should I buy or not? And I cannot see what the problem is.

Take 2 people to the cinema to see a film and it is most likely to come to as much as the cost of a DVD. Especially if you have children and need a sitter. Or in our case, need to use public transport to and from the cinema too. But even if its just you and a mate going, the total is likely to be around $15-$20.

And of that money, you still have the choice to sell-off the disc if you don't like the film and get half of the money back. So in effect getting a viewing for the same price as a movie ticket.

It costs so much to go to the cinemas that virtually all of my DVDs are blind buys (Excluding most, but not all TV shows). Is it really such a problem buying something blind?

[orestes.]

I don't see anything wrong with blind buys either. Much of my collection is in fact blind buys and I find I never hate a blind buy. I'm pretty good at judging if I'll like it or not and if I'm not sure I rent first.

[Mushu2083]

There ain't nothing wrong with blind buys! I've done lots of blind buys and I usually end up liking the film. Once in a while I will rent first then decide to buy. Depends if I have enough money for the rental and the purchase later on.

[MickeyMousePal]

I usually don't do blind buys because I rent the movie before I by it.

[Disneykid]

Because I don't have my own car, yet, going to the theater is difficult for me, so when a movie I've been interested in seeing comes to DVD, I usually blind buy it. I have yet to dislike a film I've bought blind because I always can tell if the movie in question is something I'd enjoy.

[Mehe]

The only thing I blindbought recently was Shaun of the Dead, and I wasn't dissappointed there!

[Key]

One of the only reasons I don't like blind buys is because I hardly ever sell my DVDs (if ever) even if I don't like the movie. The cost really begins to add up because of that... especially on DVDs I don't even enjoy watching.

And then there's the fact that I prefer buying movies I'm at least somewhat familiar with.

[Mushu2083]

I guess people think that there's something wrong with blind buys because they think "What if I don't like the movie, then I can't sell or return the DVD back to the store".

[Disney Guru]

I have done a lot of blind buys, and I have never regretted them. Just like when I bought a bunch of those 60's Beach Movies on dvd, I hadn't seen most of them, but I bought them ,and I ended up loving them.

[RJKD23]

I DOOOO "BLIND BUYS."

I usually buy DVDs because...
1.) We've seen the movie in theatres
2.) The reviews of the movie are great/good.<--the reason for the "Blind buy"

But I've never regretted them!
and I don't rent either.

[ichabod]

Most of my films are blind buys too!

Almost every Disney film I own was a blind buy, except for the handful I had on VHS as a child, and I am happy with them all! There are some that I tend not to watch too often, but I still want them in my collection, and virtually all of the live action ones I got in sales for next to nothing anyway, so the ones i'm not too fond of it doesn't matter.

[Wonderlicious]

I can see why people dislike blind-buys. Although going to the cinema is equally a gamble, you don't have the film that you hated clogging up the house, where as a DVD you do, which could appear a waste of money as you are constantly reminded that you bought it.

Needless to say, I have blind bought before, and some of them such as Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood and Brother Bear have become some of my favourite films.

[dvdjunkie]

At one time I had over 1800 DVD titles and I would say that on the average when I went shopping each week for the new releases there was always that chance that I would pick up two or three 'blind buys' at the same time I got those that I saw in the cinema.

Three of the more recent blind buys that I have been totally blown away by, because they were actually good, were "Vanity Fare", "The Notebook", and "Shaun of the Dead". All three were blatant blind buys and they are in a regular rotation of watching. "The Notebook" just absolutely made me cry. And I am a guy.

My instincts are usually pretty good if I am making a blind buy. I probably haven't been disappointed more than a couple of times by my purchases.

[my chicken is infected]

I've loved just about every blind buy I've bought, like The Stepford Wives, Roman Holiday, and Love Actually.

[Prince Eric]

I only blind buy on used titles, or titles I so wanted to see in theaters, but didn't get around to. To answer your question, there's nothing wrong with blind buys! I take pride in mine! I would recommend doing extensive research on a particular title and read as many reviews as you can. If it's a negatively reviewed title, and if it stars actors/directors/production crew that you absolutely adore, I say go for it. I have been 100% satisfied with all my blind buys. Also, buying stuff used increases the demand for LOWER prices on NEW DVDs, so unless it's a Disney Special Edition or 14.99-15.99 first week price, all mine are used.

[Jack]

Great point about the equivalent costs, Netty. When I eventually start a family of my own, I'll probably be doing the same general thing you're doing.

As of right now, I tend to steer clear of blind buys, though. For one, I only have to pay for myself at the theater, and I'll usually only go to the theater if its a movie I'm really interested in anyway. Also, I don't want movies I dislike in my collection. Right now, my collection is really special to me, because its composed almost entirely of my favorite films. To add titles that I consider to be bad or mediocre would kind of ruin that, and thats the possibility with doing blind buys.

[Narfle the Garthok]

2099net -"Take 2 people to the cinema to see a film and it is most likely to come to as much as the cost of a DVD. "

True.


As for me, I can say that the better part of my DVD collection were blind purchases. I don't think much of it, if I've heard good things about it, read the book or the synopsis on the back sounds interesting, heck, sometimes I even buy it if the box art is appealing. I think of DVD purchasing as "paying the bills." Since I don't pay rent, and car insurance is a mere $90 or so a month.

[TM2-Megatron]

I often haven't actually seen the movie on DVDs that I buy. However, I always read 1 or 2 reviews from dvdtalk or digitalbits or something before I buy anything. I also sometimes check the actual manufacterer's website to see what they say, and check the bonus features and stuff.

[danamichelle]

I am a major blind buyer. I don't usually go to the movie theater unless I have to see something (like when The Incredibles came out). I have never regretted any of my blind buys and I have never sold any of them. I will probably always be a blind buyer because it is definitely a better deal than going to the movie theater.

[Satoshi]

I used to blind buy all the time and I loved it, but lately I've become more strict about what I want in my collection (in other words I only want to own films that I really, really like) and so I think that I'm going to start limiting my blind buying to films that I'm 100% sure I'll like. I suppose it's time that I get into the habit of renting.