CH.com---Is it any better?
 

Hey all.

I was wondering if CH is better than Columbia house. I never even saw CH site b4 coming here. I have 2 memberships with columbia and just fulfilled 1 and I always keep the other open. Any advantages to one or the other.

BTW code 807712 is B1G1 for unfulfilled accts. Just got it in todays mailing.

Thanks to all.

"Better" is a matter of opinion. A CH.com account will allow you to order DVDs, always with free shipping, at 40% (or more) off the CH list prices. But buying DVDs at those prices is nearly always more expensive than buying them as a package through a regular Columbia House membership.

CH.com is more convenient (no Director's Selections, for example). Regular Columbia House memberships are much cheaper, when used correctly.

It's up to you.

lizard, I had always thought it was cheaper if you where buying box sets to get them at ch.com. Is there a secret to getting sets cheaper thru the regular club?

Yes, indeed. Using a set as a fulfillment in the regular club is usually MUCH cheaper than ordering it at 40% off (or whatever) from CH.com. I buy all my sets that are unavailable as enrollments from the TV Edition club as fulfillments on either regular club accounts or TV Edition accounts.

Why is this so? Take a look at this:
The current Columbia House fulfillment credit schedule:
Selections purchased at $19.95 to $39.94 count for one
Selections purchased at $39.95 to $59.94 count for two
Selections purchased at $59.95 to $79.94 count for three
Selections purchased at $79.95 to $99.94 count for four
Selections purchased at $99.95 and higher count for five
A typical set "special priced" at $40 to $45 or so will count for two fulfillment credits. Each fulfillment credit is "worth" about $14 at current pricing levels (because you have to purchase minimum $19.95 DVDs for each one and the average DVD is "worth" $5.86).

For example, on my unfulfilled account, Battlestar Galactica: Season 1 is priced at $41.97. Subtracting $28 from that price would give me a "relative cost" of ~$14 for the set. Can you beat that price at CH.com (or anywhere else)? No, you can't.

That's the abbreviated version; if you like I can show you the rigorous numbers to see how "relative cost" calculations are done.

The downside of purchasing sets as fulfillments is that you must buy them as part of a package. This means that you must want the other seven or so DVDs that you use for enrollment. For those us who already have most of the DVDs we want, it means waiting for newer releases to become available so that it is worthwhile to enroll again. In addition, the recent change in enrollment selections in the TV Edition club gave me an opportunity to get some sets there AND will allow me to fulfill with a set I want that is not available for enrollment.

Edit: One of the objections to purchasing sets as fulfillments in the regular club is the cost of shipping, usually $7.99 per set. But this simply isn't significant. Even if you were to add $8 to the $14 cost of the set in my example above, it would still have a "relative cost" of $22. Can you really find it for less elsewhere? And now, during the periodic "free shipping for three" promotion, you can get the set with free shipping by purchasing two additional low priced DVDs to qualify. Most of us usually use $14.95 DVDs on sale for $7.48 or $8.95 as "thirds" to qualfy for free shipping. But the difference in cost really isn't very large. Even better deals can be had if one qualifies for a "Buy One Get One Free" (BOGOF) promotion. But one has to be lucky to get that offer on one's account.

It seems strange to say it, but fulfillment credits are "valuable" when used to purchase sets and I try not to "waste" them on buying regular DVDs that will become available for enrollment in a few months. They are more useful for buying sets.

is that code for the regular club or CH ?

^regular club. But it only works on an account if one has the offer assigned to iy by Columbia House.

thats a shame

Lizard would you please explain the whole relative cost thing again I am a bit confused. Why is it different to buy 1 set worth 2 credits for 40 bucks than buying 2 dvds worth 40 bucks and 2 credits??

Oh and the B1G1 is for unfulfilled columbia house accounts

piaeus, because if you buy 2 DVDs for $40, eventually those 2 DVDs you just bought will be avalible for enrollment (your first 8 for $12), where box sets will never be avalible. So if you buy the sets you want, you can get those 2 DVDs in an enrollment in the future for free.

^Exactly right. A Columbia House membership usually requires the purchase of two DVDs at $19.95 or more each. But most of those DVDs can be had for $5.86, so that's what they are "worth". This means that the value of a fulfillment credit is about $14, the difference between what one has to pay to fulfill and the value of the DVD purchased. Using fulfillment credit to purchase sets can greatly lower the relative cost of a set.

Here are some typical numbers using the purchase of Battlestar Galactica: Season 1, special priced at $41.97, as an example. I will assume no free shipping; be aware that free shipping lowers the numbers a bit.

Regular membership:
Enrollment: $12.89 (7 DVDs)
Fulfillment: $19.95 + $19.95 + $4.98 (shipping) - $5 (web discount) = $39.88 (2 DVDs)
Total: $12.89 + $39.88 = $52.77 (9 DVDs)
Average DVD cost: $52.77/9 = $5.863333

Membership using a box set as a fulfillment:
Enrollment: $12.89 (7 DVDs)
Fulfillment: $41.97 + $7.99 (shipping) - $5 (web discount) = $44.96 (1 box set)
Total: $12.89 + $39.88 = $57.85 (7 DVDs + 1 box set)
Relative cost of the box set: $57.85 - ($5.86 x 7) = $16.03

Only if you happen to have it assigned to your account. I do not have B1G1 on my unfulfilled account, at present.

I currently have it on a fulfilled account.

DUH! that made sense. Thanks guys. I have been with columbia house for over a year and THOUGHT I knew alot about it but I have to say NOT! You guys have saved me a bunch of money for sure. And with the newest tricks thanks to you all, I will save a bunch more. Thanks to the poster who put up the A-List # I got credit going back for 6 months for each order I put in because I should have been in the program!!!!

Actually I just fulfilled a subscription with the B1G1 and free shipping.
7 movies 12.89
4 movies 47.57
11 movies @ $5.49!!!
Although my next one will be (with your advice) with a box set

:up: Well done!

Thanks to you guys I just now fulfilled yet another subscription. This was a deal and a half!!
7 movies @ 13.97

and for my first and final order:
Using web discount and 65% code combined

Product Title Selection # Status Price

Memphis Belle 09835 Pending $5.23
Nip/Tuck: The Complete First Season 31667 Pending $36.97
The Mechanic 34018 Pending $5.23
Subtotal $47.43
Shipping & Processing $0.00
Tax $3.98
Total $51.41

Relative cost(in NY we pay tax!!):
13.97+51.41=65.38
65.38-57.21=8.17 cost of box set!!!

my actual per dvd cost is $6.36 because of taxes!!