DVD Addiction
 

Anyone here feel that they are addicted to purchasing DVDs?

I started collecting DVDs about three years ago and was up to about 900 DVDs at one point. This year I made the decision to really cut down my DVD puchasing and I think I've done very well. I look back at these three years and think to myself... what else could I have done with the money I used to buy these movies?

I probably would've blown it on alcohol and drugs. Curse you, DVD!

All that could go into a retirement fund, or only part of it... Hey dont' scowl at me, I'm buyign DVDs too.

I think I do have a bit of a thing. But I'm pretty adept at defusing it. I see something, say... the last Batman Animated set... and I say to myself "Oh, get it! It's cool and you'll have them all!" Then a little voice says "You have to save money for a bigger place and the missus is depending on you." So I sigh and turn away, go home, and cry into my Batman pillow.

It's not pretty, but life isn't always pretty.

I'm not Frank Sinatra in "The Golden Arm" yet, so I count my blessings.

I think most of us have an "addiction" to some degree. It only becomes problematic when your buying starts to interfere with your abilities to pay your bills.

My collection tends to stay around 250 or so. After that point, I usually go through a divestiture phase and sell movies that don't get alot of play. To me, you should really only own movies that you plan on watching again several more times. That's why I love Netflix. It's really cut down on my buying, and if I wanted a title for some reason, three days later, I can watch it.

I think I do to some degree. Sometimes, I think that the pursuit of the DVD is more fun than watching it. It's finding that "big deal" or an OOP DVD in a used DVD store. I paid $111 for the big MASH Martinis and Medicine box set that is now going for around $300 on ebay because it is OOP. That's kind of a rush to know that I can make that profit if I wanted to sell it. Sometimes, its just the enjoyment of great movies. Personally, I am an Edward Burns fan, so whenever one of his movies comes out on DVD I snatch it up. It's just fun!

I used to be. From the tailend of 2002 through the early stages of 2006, that's where the bulk of my money went. I lived at home, had my car already paid for, and really only had to pay for insurance and my cell phone. Thus, just about everything else went towards DVDs and the ex. I probably spent more on the former there than the latter, which is something I still question how I could've let myself do.

Anyway, things started to change midway through 2006. We split up and a few weeks later, I totaled car, which meant I had to take on a car payment and higher insurance rates. At that point, I started to realize how I had been throwing so much cash into DVDs, none of which had really made me any happier. I knew things had to change. They did. I still bought, but with less frequency.

In October, my mom had a ruptured brain aneurysm. That left a lot of uncertainty and really forced me to have perspective on what was important. She survived, but we had to sell the house and for the first time, I had to strike out on my own (I'm 21, by the way).

It's four months later and with a car payment, insurance, rent, utilities, cell phone, and other necessities, I just don't have that cushion to buy DVDs every week. I have extra cash, but honestly, would rather spend it on other things, like going out with friends, new clothes, or something that's actually going to improve myself.

I still buy the occasional DVD, but only the ones I know I'll watch again and again. I look back and realize my obsession with DVDs really hurt one of the most important relationships I ever had, not to mention kept my bank account eternally shallow. I'm still proud of my collection, but no longer do I let those shiny discs rule everything else around me.

There's a distinction between doing something because you enjoy it, and doing something because you feel very unhappy if you don't.

I love buying and watching DVD's, but stick to a strict budget and always wait for the stuff to appear in a sale (this is much more common here in the UK than it is in the USA, I know - we generally have higher prices but to compensate we have special sales a lot more!). I also have a list of "wants" that is ordered by priority. It doesn't bother me if I have to wait a year or so, also some months I buy very little, others...a lot more.

If I was spending money I couldn't really afford or needed for other things, or was buying discs every week for the sake of buying "something" to fulfill a need to just buy, then I'd know I would have what could genuinely be called an addiction.

I think that's what happens when people have something like a shopping addiction. Everyone indulges in a bit of retail therapy, but when it;s out of control...

We have a TV show here called "Spendaholics" which is all about people who have run up huge debts but just can't stop themselves from buying more stuff.

Heh, spendacholics always gives me a laugh.

I've got it pretty bad.. I spent over £300 in january ($600)

Mostly because I had to sell 400+ in 2005.

I only have around 300 at the moment and about 100 on the want list.

Most of my films are rewatched at least 3-4 times.. and others 10-15 times.

I'm trying to cut down.. but the worst part is I feel it all starting again with Blu-Ray -ohbfrank-

It's fun to buy dvds.. and have your own libary of films that you enjoy.. or that mean something to you.

And I always get excited on a monday when I get my new DVDs.

But just tell yourself you have a limit, and bills, food shopping ect to pay for and you wont go crazy.

Works for me anyway.

Not so much now, but a year or so ago I would say yes. I would go buy tons of new releases, most I had seen and liked but often I'd buy some special editions of movies I hadn't seen. In the last few months I've realized that with several hundred dvds I need to stop. Being in college and needing money for other things is important too. I went abroad for vacation recently and that cut any dvd trust fund I might have had.
I currently use an online rental service which is very nice and lets me see anything I want to again and I am really trying to stop buying unless its something I really want. I haven't bought a dvd since Christmas, but I will be getting The Departed and The Prestige soon.

I proudly have not purchased a DVD since December 19th. Thanks to Blockbuster online and the library, I haven't even had the urge. The Departed comes out Tuesday though, so I will have to buy one. After that, I can probably last the rest of the year as the movies coming out haven't been good and I have almost all the TV shows I want. I even broke down and have been watching this season of 24 as it airs to avoid purchasing the DVD on release day.

Yes, just yesterday i bought 3 new DVDs, even though its not Tuesday yet. There's always titles I want and right now, I can afford it. But there's been sometimes when I've overspent and have spent a lot of money. I always matain a decent size collection, because of my limited space, but have a big wishlist (see my dvdaf).

Sure, nowadays I spend little on "new release Tuesday", but its an addiction that I think is a positive one; I'm an aspiring filmaker and I love studying film. Lot better than drugs or alcohol.

when i get a new dvd all i fixate on is getting it home, melting it down and shooting it up.
the rush i get with a good batch as opposed to a bad one is that which cannot be described!!

i'm already salivating at getting blotto on "The Departed" and "Half Nelson" next weekend. "Half Nelson" should have extra kick.
http://wzus.ask.com/r?t=a&d=us&s=a&c...2417%2Ft_1.jpg

Don't worry, as an aspiring filmmaker you will have plenty of opportunities to study drugs and alcohol as well.

Oh dear god, save me some of that. :drool:

My DVD addiction has calmed down in the past 3 years, mostly because I have everything I could ever want on DVD right now. I still buy a lot of DVDs, just not one every week. :p

Sometimes on Tuesday my lunch money goes to DVDs. I've got around 1300 DVDs and HDs. Always the best possible version. If there's a gift set, I'll buy it. I have no life outside of DVDs.

There is doctor on 5th and main in chicago that is said to cure this. But I get feeling he just watches my dvds....

I used to feel that way (I think it was 99 or 00 I had atleast 1 new DVD show up every day there was mail) but between; having most of the existing titles that I already want, re-releases and discount box sets once series are fully relased, dirt cheap used prices a month or two after the release and the 20% sale at DDD (not to mention being swamped w/ unwatched DVDs) I have to say my buying trend has taken a significant downturn. I still watch a DVD or two a day but a lot of it is rentals now and I usually only buy when I like the show/movie and I can get it w/ some sort of coupon/discount.

I'm not. I usually only spend about $200 a year on dvds if that. I always get the Simpsons for my BDay and Christmas from my family and maybe a few others. I hardly buy dvds at all unless its during the 20% DDD sale or Barnes and Noble b1g1f deal. I will pick up the last 2 seasons of Threes Co. since they are cheap and on sale now at DDD. Then I figure out down to the penny which is cheaper. I keep a list of dvds I want and when those deals come around I buy up to $200 and that's it. Oh, and no blind buys. There aren't too many must haves for me, so I can wait until things go down in price.

after reading this forum for a few years, i'd say most people who post here not only have addictions but have OCD on one level or another.. i know i do (it's been proven by doctors) But when i read about how anal some people are about creases, slip covers, snapper cases, dirt, etc as well as how organized they are (organizing dvds by letter, or colour or whatnot) thats a little bit of OCD in each of us

i'm addicted to buying dvds. i recently just bought over 80 dvds on ebay.

I've not purchased anything since the end of 2006. Yeah, it's only 6 weeks but it's a start.

I guess I knew it was sort of an addiction just by seeing my "On Order" list at DVDaf. Months would go by and there was always something I was waiting for -- mostly from online purchases.

I made a resolution to go the 1st 3 months of '07 without buying a single DVD. It's worked so far although my recent purchase of the Almodovar collection from my CH is going to my brother -- making me a small profit. ;)

LOL

That's totally funny! Yeah, I've seen some of you guys at your worst during the DDD 20% off sale ;-).

i've really tried to cut down on spending, but at one point when i was trying to "build" my collection more, i would say yes.

I recently decided I was also addicted to buying dvds (hence my username). I realize I never really watch many of them. I have these cd holders with the discs since i have no room to keep them in the cases and I kept having to reorganize them and sell some to make room for new ones. Also, I realize most of them have no real value with the new format coming out. Few things will be unavailable in some format or other. I've cut down a lot and will probably focus mostly on criterion, if anything. Netflix helps a lot and so does tivo. I used to watch a lot more dvds before I got the directivo. I'm approaching 30, though, and I figure it's time to move on with real things. I'd rather travel or save for a house than invest much further in my dvd collection. Also, I need to watch the discs I already own before I buy more. If you want to keep buying, I suggest parting with the majority of what you already own either on ebay or through a local buyer. It's amazing how good it feels.

I've pretty much broken any sort of addiction I might've had. I've purchased two tv sets the last 8 months, and that's been it. I've been holding out for HD/BD, I'll start buying them next yr I think.

There's so much media out there, even sitting at a collection of about 400, I don't know if I could rewatch them all even if I wanted to. Between new movies, shows, games, music, reading, internet.... it's overload. And I'm a single guy working 40hrs a wk, what happens a few yrs down the road when I've got a family or a job that takes up more of my time?

Still, those 2-3 nights a wk when I feel like watching a movie - it's nice to have a sizable collection to choose from.

I just started to get addicted (thanks to this site!), but I'm starting to feel guilty for the amount of money I'm spending. If it's a one of a kind deal, I'll spend, but otherwise you really just have to say "I think I can live without this." Also, with HD/BR happing, I feel even more inclined to wait out purchases.

Another thing to think about is books. How many format upgrades will there be for a book??? how about...none! You really get quite a lot more for your money when it comes to reading books. Take "The Stand" by Stephen King for example. That book will cost you 8.99 and probably take you months to read!

I also feel guilty because I know i could be doing something much more productive with my time...like learning an instrument or hanging out with friends...

I bought my first dvd player in April 2000 and I was obsessed with buying dvds every other day (I even joined Columbia House to replace a lot of my vhs movies).

After 320 dvds, I would say that I haven't watched more than 25%. What a waste. I just sold 30 of my dvds to music stores for a grand total of $120. It's sad to sell a dvd now for $5 when you originally spent $29.99. There's no real value for dvds unless you have a rare one.


Last year was the first time I kept track of how much I spent on dvds: a total of $864.83 Cdn. And I spent way more in 2005 (as I purchased all 5 seasons of Serling's Twilight Zone).

From now on, I'm going to buy dvds of films that I know I'll want to watch several times. In the next 6 months, the only dvds I plan on purchasing are Casino Royale and WKRP in Cincinnati.

And when I upgrade to HD, I don't plan on upgrading any of my current dvds. A bigger waste.

I sort of understand your point, but how can you compare books to DVDs? Books are just a collection of words on pages. Books don't have pictures (unless your George Bush) or surround sound. Those two media are completely different. Just a thought.

Plus, DVDs are a lot shinier than most books -- a lot!

What a sad group of people! :)


I collect DVDs because I thoroughly enjoy them. Building a library of the greatest films ever made, and studying them with the extra dvd benefits of documentaries and commentary is as worthwhile a pursuit as film school. I have plenty of time since I work at home, and enough money, so Tuesdays always provide me with something fun to look forward to. And my wife doesn't seem to mind. As long as all of the bills get paid and there's money in the bank, we're all good.

Why do some of you sound as though you're sick? Would you rather be collecting baseball cards or antiques? It's the same thing, except DVDs are entertaining. Cheer up!

Nicely said, and I agree!

I only regret my B&M purchases. they tend to be impulse buys and clog up my unwatched piles. DVDs I order via online (sales and coupons) I tend to really enjoy, rarely sell and sometimes even watch more than once.

I did collect baseball cards and they sort of do the same thing. Just sit there. There are similarities to what happened with baseball cards as now dvds and they were also entertaining (often because of the possibility of error cards) There were 3 main brands of cards, then a couple more added, but then all of them added their own extra series (topps stadium club, etc). Many of the cards are worthless unless it's a real rarity. So with dvds, now instead of one edition, you get several editions of the same thing and now HD. Books are no different. You can get the edition that first comes out, then if it's popular enough like The DaVinci Code, you can get the illustrated version. If you enjoy them, great, keep on, but if you have piles of unwatched and unopened dvds, then there is no point and it's doubtful you're taking advantage of any film school like bonus materials.

I used to be able to have $60 a week that I'd really really felt like I'd need for my collection. Now, there's usually one thing most weeks I'll want to buy, usually a movie and once in a great while, a box set for a TV show. I have cut down a lot, but my collection is still pretty large. I still have an addiction but it's calmed down a bit compared to a few years ago.

thats what i said to myself too,"no upgrading on blu ray or hd dvd" but boy was i wrong. I couldn't resist the beautiful picture. I read reviews to see if the picture is a big upgrade.If it's not a big upgrade, I don't bother upgrading

i agree also. i look forward to tuesdays cause im going to go pick up my shiny new disc and sit down and enjoy when i get home.
being a homebody myself i love waking up in the morning making a cup of coffee (now thats an addiction of mine) and going to future shop, best buy or wal-mart (sometimes all 3 if one or 2 places doesn't have the dvds im looking for).
i don't live the greatest life so picking up a dvd and watching it is a great way to spend my time.
its not an addiction its just something i enjoy doing. when people say im saving money and not buying as many dvds this year, i say the whole point of money is to buy stuff and enjoy your life not have it in the bank and wait till your retirement, who knows you might not even make it to than.

then don't buy dvds you arn't going to watch, simple as that.
i control myself i only buy 2 or 3 a week and i finish them that week. if you don't like it give it away or sell it.

This month I have been spending money like water! It was mostly due to my relief of finishing an exam, CC releases and frustration of being outbidded at trademe.co.nz (our equivalence of ebay). In total - approx. $200 in US for 5 DVDs and a boxset.

DVDs are so potent! :(

i wouldn't say i was ever addicted to buyind dvds, but i did have a habit of visiting best buy/circuit city/target at least once a week and browsing through their dvd sections and new releases. the dvd bargains sub forum didn't help either as i was always planning a week ahead of what i wanted to buy.

but lately, i've been short on cash and been trying to cut spending so i've really curbed on dvd's. i have bought some, but i've been using coupons like the $10 off from google checkout. i also realized that i don't have to buy new releases and can wait a few months when i see them on sale for $10 or part of a 2 for $20/3 for $30 special. there are several upcoming dvds i really want (the departed, the prestige, babel, casino royale, etc), but i'll have to wait.

I have a wife, 2 kids, 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 guinea pigs, and 4000 DVDs. When my tax return comes in next week, I'm hiring a guy to build my 2nd home theater (relocated and had to give up my first one), complete with stadium seating, 114" projection screen, concession stand, art gallery and gameroom.

So, no, I wouldn't say I'm addicted. It's all about the balance in your life. -wink-