How to Save Money when Buying DVDs

Despite the newer formats that have higher definition for entertainment purposes (Blu-Ray and HD DVD), the regular DVD is still the mainstream form of visual entertainment. New DVDs are about $20 on average for a one-disc DVD, but I have methods that can help you cut nearly 75% off of that! There are times when one method, or multiple methods will not work. When that happens try your luck at another method. If the DVD is a newer movie (i.e. Knocked Up, ect.), thern there's less of a chance of you getting a substantial discount off the average price.

Amazon.com
I've had nothing but good luck with Amazon.com so far. Prices for movies that I cannot find in some places can go for around $4. I believe I got the whole Blade trilogy (seperately) for less than $15 altogether!

However, I do suggest reading seller's reviews prior to purchasing anything - despite their price. There have been known instances where a buyer either never gets their product, or it's in horrid condition. There are ways to get refunds through Amazon.com, but it's truly a hassle. You shouldn't have to go through such steps, especially when you're merely buying a product fairly.

There are a couple of downsides to buying online though. These downsides include shipping costs and a delay in use of the product. Shipping costs about $3-$4 in itself per DVD. So a DVD that is said to be $4 packs an additional $4 onto it making it a total of $8. Still, that's nearly a 50% cut off of some stores prices. And with the delay of use you need to wait a week or so just to obtain your product. If you were to buy your product in a store such as Best Buy, then you'd immediately get the joy and satisfaction of viewing your DVD at your leisure. But isn't the amount of money you save truly worth it?

Video Stores Sell Cheap
Video stores such as BlockBuster and Hollywood Video both make the majority of their money through rentals. Selling their used DVDs is just another method of obtaining extra income altogether. Since such video stores have already made their destined profit they will generally sell their DVDs for a cheaper price. Sometimes some stores have sales such as 4 for $30, or something in that ballpark figure.

Another instance where video stores very cheap is when they go out of business. My Hollywood Video that I was just employed at just finished their liquidation sale about a week or so ago. Our sales were at 90% off on the last day of our liquidation sale (the average dvd was being sold for $0.99). People came with piles of movies to buy, and it was well worth it for them of course. Some games, even newer generation console games such as Wii games, rang in at about $3-$5 or so in total. Not bad, right?

Supermarkets Sell DVDs?
Believe it or not, some supermarkets such as Pathmark sell DVDs. The DVDs and other forms of entertainment are generally contained near the Customer Service area (you know, the place where they keep the magazines and stuff, and where there's always that one kid looking at the Maxim while his mom is shopping).

Usually the DVDs supermarkets sell are the older ones, or no-name DVDs that you wouldn't even want to really waste your time with. But sometimes, just once in a blue moon, there's a good movie on sale there. Since supermarkets generally don't make sales on DVDs since people are there to buy groceries and such, their prices will be lower than the average DVD sale.

Grand Finale
There are other ways of saving on DVDs. Some people legally, others don't. I wont go into illegal ways since, you know... they're illegal! I'll let you in on some of my DVD-saving secrets in a second article some time in the future.