I don't buy used.

/\ Thanks for contributing.


I buy tons of used, just recently scoring the Fantasia box set for $31. It's hitting 50 some on ebay.

I got the Two Towers EE for 18 a few months ago. If you check my DVDAF link below, I note which titles are purchased used.

Some of my better finds are Silence of the Lambs Criterion for $13, the OOP Swamp Thing for the same, sold at a nice profit later.

I just generally look for good condition and good price.

And as said above, don't get suckered by people buying the Wal Mart bargain bin dvds, selling them to you, then you selling them for twice what WM is charging. Who's going to pay for 12 bucks for Pump up the Volume?

I got mine for $8 used.

if it's a must-have, and it's out of print and I have no paitence for a re-release....maybe. otherwise...I dont buy used and dont really care about price anyway.

I'm sorry for replying again, but I like this topic. I've got a ton of stuff used. I am VERY picky, so everything that I have picked up used has been in just about perfect condition. Here are just a few deals that I have found.

The Two Towers: EE --- $8

Short Circuit: SE --- $9

Armaggedon: Criterion --- $8

The Rock: Criterion --- $8

Like I said, there are tons more that I have been lucky enough to find.

I no longer buy used DVDs. I bought a few used ones before, but the cases/boxes were too banged up for me.

When I double dip or if I have a movie I will no longer watch, I will sell them on Ebay.

I have a couple shops where I can pick up just about any title I want on the used shelf for $9.50. Needless to say, about 95% of my purchases are from there. I've given up on selling on eBay, easier just to trade them in for $6 credit towards another disc. I know I could get more, but the days of making huge profits on used are over, at least for me. Too much hassle and too many non-payers anymore.

Also, the stores near me have to put signs up saying they do not have a computerized inventory of the store, so you have to just look for what you want.

Since that would be too time consuming for such a small return, I would suggest hiring at least one "film geek", that can remember if they have something in stock and where it is on the shelf and maybe make recomendations for movies.

I am said film geek. I have run rental and retail video stores with 25,000+ piece inventories and could tell you whether we had something or not before my employees could look it up on the computer. I could walk the category aisles and tell you what we had recieved in new without having ever seen the invoices. (and yet when it comes to practical things my memory falters, go figure).

I appreciate everybody's help here, but a lot of the comments seem to be directed to a novice. Here are some more specifics that I am looking for thoughts on:

Locally, it seems there are just a handful of places taking used DVDs, paying little more than $3 for used DVDs. Is this feasable? It must be because they are constantly getting new stuff in. Seems a little low to me. Mind you, I am tending to ask a niche consumer base here (admit it, we tend to be very "prudent" when it comes to buying and selling movies) while I would primarily be dealing with a general consumer base. Would buying for $5 and selling for $10 be marketable to the general public? Again, I'm talking general terms here, not Criterions and not Walmart $5.50 bin product.

What other products or directions could be tied in? In other words, what else could a DVD store sell? (No, not MSN or extended service plans!)

The man asked for opinions. I am not going to give him worse data than he would already be getting by limiting his subjects. I am helping to give a full representation. Sorry if it was not the answer that you were looking for.

Indeed, it is part of the data I am looking for. It is probably assumed that people who don't would just avoid this thread. However, since you have elected to help out . . . why not? What could be done to change your mind?

I live in one of the biggest retail regions in the US, and I feel that for the average dvd shopper, there is no need to price most dvd's at rock bottom prices, as most people here seem to want.

I feel most of the advice you are getting here, on a bargain forum, might be leading you in a direction that is unfeasible for a small store owner -- I don't think you can realistically survive by charging $8 for Two Towers EE. Furthermore, if a store is selling that dvd at that price, that means it had to buy the DVD used from some poor sucker who sold it for only $3. That is not fair to the person selling dvd's to you! And it will not encourage them to ever return with more stuff once they realized how ripped-off they were.

To be a successful store, you must take care of both sides of the equation - the sellers or traders to you, and the buyers/customers. That way, all the best sellers will come to you.

The best way to do that: pay them more for the newest and best stuff. My favorite local store will pay a couple bucks extra for the newest stuff, and may charge a couple bucks extra when they sell it. I.E. Matrix Revolutions would be bought at $7 or more in trade credit (and a buck or two less for cash, more on that later) and sold at $12.99. Most normal, reasonable customers would jump at the chance to buy Matrix Revolutions for $12.99, so don't listen to the people trying to convince you to throw it out there at $6! That's ridiculous. Most people pay a little extra for the convenience of walking out the door with it, rather than waiting 6 months to get it at Columbia House. At the same store, you can find the first two Matrix's for 8.99 used, since they are older. They also have $2 off coupons or sales sometimes, for people who need that extra cheap price. I feel if you are selling quality dvds that are in great condition, with complete packaging, you can get away with price points such as $12.99/ 10.99/ 8.99/ 6.99 depending on newness and MSRP.

Two things I hate in used DVD shops: Finding a great criterion used, and then seeing it is priced outrageously. I just found Contempt Criterion at Wherehouse, and then was dismayed and extremely disappointed to see they had priced it at $26.99. What the hell are they thinking? That is the NEW price on most online stores! Stuff like that may make them a few bucks extra from the sucker who buys it eventually, but they loose because people like me go there less and less due to the price gouging.

Hate #2: I hate places that give you the same amount when you sell your used stuff to them, whether you want trade or cash. PAY MORE WHEN THEY WANT TRADE!! It is cheaper for you, the store, and more worthwhile for everyone. You don't have to mess with sales tax on trades, and it encourages the customer to bring in way more and better stuff. They will be encouraged to sell you new stuff and take away your old inventory, but if they want cash they will still have that option.

The ratio for most stores here: Pay 1/2 of the price you will mark it at, for cash. Pay 60% for trade. You won't be able to survive if you reduce your profit margin any less!

forgot to mention, if you have any other questions, feel free to email me off forum. I have over 1,700 dvds and about 5,000 or more cd's, almost exclusively purchased used.

I can't stress enough how important it is to encourage the best sellers to come to you. I only frequent shops that somehow get the newest movies -- I regularly find last week's new releases used at the stores I go to. The prices they pay encourage sellers, and the frequent and rapid turnover of inventory encourages customers like me to come in to the store as much as 3 or 4 times a week!

Oh, to your other question - what other stuff to sell? You could sell cds if you want to get into that biz. Or you could just limit it to cd soundtracks - that'd be cool. In fact, you could include all movie-related media, movie books, movie posters, movie soundtrack cds, movie collectibles (i.e. disney stuff, nighmare b4 christmas figures) etc. That way, the inventory wouldn't get too out of hand and complicated, but you'd still have a lot of variety and other such nonsense.

While it may be easier to buy and price items that way, it doesn't seem like a good way to run a business. At most Used CD stores I've been to, they have a database with their "buy" prices. If the title is not in their database, they generally will refuse to buy it.

How hard would it be to keep a frequently updated database of current MSRPs and then just offer a certain percentage of that MSRP as your buying price. I.e. MSRP = $19.95. You buy back at say 25-30% and then sell it at a 100% markup. In this case, you'd buy back for roughly $5 and sell for $10. But if the MSRP was $30, you'd buy for $7.50 and sell for $15. Most places also offer the customer more if they get store credit instead of cash.


Depends on the clientelle, I guess. You could sell movie-related items like: posters, action figures, book-tie ins, even stuff like scripts. In addition you could sell some DVD display cases, etc.

If I'm on a tight budget (which is usually always) I will get a used DVD. For example, I just purchased Star Trek TNG Season 7 off of eBay for $59.99. It's only been viewed twice and is in almost perfect condition. Now, if I went to a B&M and bought the same thing I would be spending probably $120. In this case, going 2nd hand is the way to go, especially with the more expensive boxsets.

There is little that can change my mind. Every time that I have bought a used DVD, it never works. Maybe if they were screened before they go on sale, to assure that they work, I might consider.