JohnSlider

Whenever I see a thread asking if a certain film or series would be a good blind buy for the author, I like to check it out and offer up my suggestions. However, I usually find myself upset and no longer willing to give my input when I read the actual meat of the thread.

Here's the deal, if you want us to tell you whether or not something is a good blind buy for YOU tell us what YOUR tastes are. So many times it's just "Is [title] a good blind buy?" We don't know what you like, tell us so that we can properly evaluate your situation. It would also be nice to know what you think of the actors, writer(s), director, etc.


Just a thought!

Trevor

Richard Malloy

Why in the world does anyone "blind buy" anything that's readily available to rent? With the measly monthly charge for a Netflix subscription, folks can just drop it in their queue, watch it at their leisure, and decide for themselves.

Trevor

A lot of people don't like renting. Renting does not at all work for me. When I decide I want to watch something, I want to watch it right then. Waiting even just 2 days for it results in it arriving at a time when I have no time to watch it, or am no longer in the mood for that particular title.

Besides, smart shopping leads to a per movie average price of about $4 to buy. Why rent for close to that price, when I can own it forever for $4?

Also, I like having a large library, both for my family and friend's use, and for my "collector-ness".

souvenir

In addition to what Trevor mentioned, another problem is simple availability on Netflix. Semi-popular titles are frequently mired in long waits and Netflix rarely gets improved editions of films (and when they do you never know which one they'll send).

MEJHarrison

It's like gambling. Sometimes it's a thrill to just throw the dice and see what you come up with. I love blind buying things and sitting down to watch without having any idea what the next two hours will bring me. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. But with enough careful research ahead of time, most of the time they're wins.

I also find that I enjoy the movies I buy more than those I rent or watch off TV. I can't really say why. I'd guess it's some part of my brain telling me I already spent $x on it, so I damn well better enjoy it. Or maybe I'm just good at weeding out the trash from my "buy" list. Probably a little of each.

Richard Malloy

What more "careful research" could there be than simply renting and watching it?

If I'm so on-the-fence about a particular title that I'd come in here and start a new thread and review people's comments and try to determine whether their interests intersect with mine and whether their impressions are otherwise correct, it seems I'd be willing to add that title to my Netflix queue and view it at my leisure. You know, unless I'd been given only a week to live and simply HAD TO OWN IT before I died.

But to each his own!