I'm not familiar with Redbox, is that a rental store, or is it a kind of "DVD vending machine"? A grocery store in my area was supposed to get the latter, although it may have been a "buy-only" box instead of being set up for rentals. I'd be interested to know if anyone here has used any of those machines, or if the idea has been scrapped for some reason.

I use Redbox pretty often. It's basically a dvd vending machine. It's a rental for $1 a night. I work in a grocery store that has one so it's pretty damn convenient for me.

Back on topic, I tend to rent quite often. Usually if I buy I'll get them used at Hollywood.

Cool. I'll have to check back at that store and see if they ever got the machine, and if it's a Redbox or something else. Anyway, back to your on-topic discussion, everyone. Sorry for the detour, but I'm one of those weird people who likes to find out things instead of assuming I know it all.

Thanks for the info, Ed.

Especially with the savings online rentals such as BB and Netflix offer. I keep tabs on my rentals and it breaks down to about a cost of $1.78 per movie for me thanks to online renting programs. I buy, but rent much more.

I rent now for most new stuff as I usually just watch a movie once and most new dvds are practically worthless on ebay. case in point I received Terminator 3 ws as a gift for christmas, went to go see current prices on ebay for a sealed terminator 3, I can`t even get $3.00 for it and this is brand new.

Yeah, T3 is now in the 2 for $11 bin at WAL-MART. Somebody vastly over-estimated the sales numbers on that one.

I have never rented any type of media.

I buy only those movies that I have seen and would like to watch again.

and I agree with Mike Adams on all accounts.

I switched to BB from Netflix months ago and the new TOTAL ACCESS is a no brainer for me. And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, they now let you rent a free video game every week!! I'm wondering how long it will be until you can only have Total Access with certain membership/price levels.

I used to buy a whole ton and wasn't keeping track of what I was spending. If it was a Tuesday, it was new, and I wanted it, I would get it. Well, now I've finally quit buying movies and have limited myself to 1-2 tv sets per month. used, on amazon, of course.

being that it's only feasible for me to watch 20-30 movies a month and a couple of tv sets...I don't feel the need to add to my collection if it won't be rewatched for maybe years.

i'm also sort of waiting out the HD/Blu-ray thing...I *may* buy a few (hopefully) Blu-ray titles when it (hopefully) wins the format war.

Can't exactly say for sure what my buy vs. rent ratio is - but it's probably somewhere like 60% buy, 40% rent.

There was a time I used to just buy everything. But, after some blind buys where I only ended up watching the movie once or twice, I deceided to start renting things first. There just ended up being too much crap where I thought, "did I really need to own this?". When Netflix came along, I couldn't have been happier, and it's saved me a ton of money, which I've put to much better strategic use in my DVD purhcases.

Basically, there's lots of movies I'd like to at least see, if not neccessarily own. Many times, because of work and other issues, I can't make it to the theater to see movies when they're still playing there - or I don't really want to pay theater prices. In these cases, I'd rather just rent the movie first (cheaper than the theater), and then if I really like it, I'll usually wait for a good sale and pick it up later. And let me tell you, there are plenty of movies that only need to be veiwed once, if at all - so why pay more to own a copy that in the end you don't really want? Even if you sell it back used, with the amount of money you re-coup on it, it will still have cost you more than if you just rented it.


Other than that, as someone else already stated, these days I just buy what I know I'm going to watch. Or, other than that, I'll always pick up a decent (or cheesy) flick if it can be had for $5.00 or less - because that's cheap enough that I don't really care.

I used to rent all the latest releases every Tue when it was a good deal. My local Movie Gallery started raising prices so I quit renting and changed my style. Here lately unless it's a movie I really want on release day I"ll wait to buy until it's cheaper. I've found with a few exceptions most films end up under $10.00 fairly quickly.

So lately I've quit renting and just buy. But I don't buy the expensive stuff. I don't buy TV (unless it's a must have) unless it's under $20.00 and I usually don't buy movies unless they are under $10.00.

My major weakness has been all the 3.99/4.99 dvd sales the B&M's keep having. But for the price of a rental I own the film.

I've even had to step back from that as I find myself buying movies that I don't really care that much about or that are on satellite 24/7......

Which that's another issue or thread.

How many see the need the have satellite or cable with all these movies you have. I watch several shows throughout the week so I would miss those.

I'm am wondering if I need to have HDTV though?

I've never seen Buy, but I thought Rent was okay.

...which really makes me want to finally break down and buy a PS2 (can't afford a PS3 right now).

Actually, I walked out halfway through Rent (the actual show, not the movie) -- luckily the tickets were free, although for some stupid reason I had to claim their value as income.

I only just buy, never rented before; and I wait for the price to drop, unless it's a DVD that I desperately need to have. I do extensive research to see if it's worth in price and content before buying.

Also, to avoid DVDs I won't watch again and space problems, I never buy shows and movies made for TV, sports movies, horror movies, documentaries, animated movies, and anything I feel was geared towards teenagers.

Netflix and Blockbuster have saved me tons of dollars, because my provincial little rental stores here offer nothing outside the top 20 or so rentals, forcing me to blind buy titles I was intrigued by or interested in. In turn, I've put the saved money into purchasing favorites, classics and beloved tv shows. Everyone wins!

Yeah the wal had t3 for like 1.98 for fathers day in 06 (I am pretty sure) thats where I picked it up and was thinking about picking up a few more just to give out as gifts later (looks like I was not the only one with that idea)

i rent from redbox for a dollar. if i like it enough i'll buy it that same week to get the new release price or i'll wait till its on sale again.

I buy the majority of the movies that I see in my home theatre, but rent from Netflix as well. I gauge my interest in the movie and/or TV series (interest + potential replay value) and decide on a purchase or a rental. I don't have a ratio, but it's based on interest.

I buy all my DVDs. I used to have NF, but it took me too long to watch it and return it. I have a big unwatched pile, and I don't want to have to think it has to be back somewhere, especially when it holds up your queue. Besides, say you spend $5 to rent..after you decide you like it and want it, you still have to purchase it. $7 to purchase it, and if you don't like it, sell it.

I buy most of the time. The last time I rented was when the Movie Gallery closest to me opened, and had movies for $1 a rental for a few months (then they went up ).

Personally, the closest rental place (Movie Gallery) is a 15 minute drive. The closest movie theater is an hour away from me, so I don't see movies very often. If there is a movie that I want to see, I usually just wait until it comes out on DVD and purchase it either release week when the price is low, when there is a sale, or when the price drops. By the time you factor in the rental fee (or cost of the ticket at the theater), and the cost of gas to get there and back (and making a special trip to return the rental on time), it's not much more expensive to just buy the movie and then I don't have to worry about the disc being messed up and scratched.

I also purchase a large number of my dvds at pawnshops/flea markets. My "local" pawnshop sells DVDs for $4 each, and the flea markets I go to a couple times a year usually have new releases for around $10-12.

In the past I only bought movies. Now with the HD revolution in the near future for me, I see no point in buying standard dvds. Hence, I am using blockbuster total access. I will still pick up a must own movie every so often when they are released. Once the HD battle is decided and prices drop a little more I will begin picking up the HD movies I want.

I now rent mostly new releases (after about 4-5 years of buying the ones I wanted!) thru Netflix, along with some sporadic other movies I haven't seen. I still buy some DVDs, mostly tv box sets if there's a really good deal. (Recent buys include Married w/Children season 5, Dead Like Me seasons 1&2, and the Dark Shadows Revival series.) I have enough to keep me watching for a while, if I ever get more spare time. I rarely go to the theater (saw 2 movies last year!) Why? Because the 65" crt rp at home with kicking sound system is a satisfactory movie experience, plus we like to be comfortable, maybe eat or have some drinks (or both!) and stretch out while watching movies. Beats the packed-in-the-theater-in-a-less-than-optimal-seat routine. Plus the $20+ it costs for 2 tickets to a single movie will pay for a month of rentals or a good box set. ANd movies are coming out even quicker on DVD. (Casino Royale in mid-March! Wow.)

So color me a renter for new releases and a buyer for good deals on stuff like box sets.

I perfer to buy since i wait until a movie is less then $10 (good sales lately of $5) and tv sets $20 or less. The only time i go over the movie limit is for getting a special edition like Naria. I see a fair amount in theatres since i work at one. I just perfer the ability to watch when i want. Plus i have a fair unwatched pile to keep me busy at the moment.

I am probably renting more then buying now. I generally only buy used since movies are expensive here in Canada. For the price of buying one movie here I cant rent up to 11 online, plus im trying to save more money for traveling.

I prefer to buy. Unless it's some special edition store exclusive, I'll wait until I see the DVD in the 2 for 20 or 2 for 15 deals at BB and CC. Why pay 5 dollars to have something for a few days when you can spend a little more and keep it.