Look online. I’ve had good experiences getting used DVDs.
Also, become a member at Barnes and Noble or Border’s and take advantage of the discount and the constant supply of coupons they send.
If your in Canada, there is a bookstore called McNalley & Robertson that sells a lot of cult and criterion DVDs’. Hell I want the $650 so I can get the Janus collection! 50 DVDs + Encyclopaedia of awesomeness.
www.criteriondvd.com offers Criterion DVDs for a good price. Free shipping to USA. Free shipping to Canada if you buy 3 items or more.
I there with you. I still remember the glorious night I found Brazil the three disc set for 20$.
Barnes and Noble rarely send ‘blanket coupons’, its always a coupon for some recent release. Best way is to swipe ‘em when the cashier isn’t looking (you only have to do this say, 16 times without getting caught to come up even with that first shoplifting charge).
I usually just buy what I really want anyhow, some people buy dvd’s like thats all they do, c’mon who needs the ‘Underworld" DVD, how many times do you figure watching that?
Or even "jubilee’, I bought that from Criterion and it was way too ‘arty’ for me. For all the “punks” in the movie they all came off as poseurs. Sold it.
If anyone is paying the MSRP for Criterions (assuming you are in the USA), it’s strictly because he or she wants to. There are plenty of outlets to purchase from e-tailers at a substantial discount.
actually, if you sign up for the borders rewards program you get ‘blanket coupons’ all the time. i just got a 40% off any dvd box set coupon in my email last week that made the proletariat trilogy a great deal more affordable. every week you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a coupon for 20-40% off any single item. plus, for every $150 you spend you earn $5 in borders bucks which work just like cash there. and no, i don’t work for borders, i just like their coupons.
Yeap!
plus, and i know your mileage may vary according to where you live, i find gold at garage sales. in the last couple of months i have picked up brazil, do the right thing, my man godfrey and silence of the lambs (and those are just the criterions) for an average of about $2-3 each. if you live in a major metro area or a smaller town with a lively arts scene it might be worth your while to get up early on saturdays.
Any suggestion for someone who doesn’t live in the U.S. or Canada?
I work at Barnes & Noble and I’m fully taking advantage of “Employee Appreciation Week.” I’ve never felt more unappreciated by the company but we get 45% off of everything we buy! I’m finally finally finally buying Bergman’s “chamber” trilogy. I’ve been wanting to own this since it was first released. I may also cave in and buy the “Dazed and Confused” Criterion release too. Should I feel bad buying so much for myself just weeks before Christmas?
Hell yes.. I’m poor.
And besides… even if I were rich I’m a cheap bastard and would only buy criterions in the fashion that I do now. And that fashion is only when they’re used and cheap or if I ABSOLUTELY must have it (Seven Samurai 3 Disc). I own maybe 15 criterion movies, and proud to say it.
Oh, by the way, I found a mint copy of 8 1/2 for $2 at a thrift store. Steal of the century my friends.
Well, I live in Melbourne, Australia so imagine the cost of the criterion releases being doubled with an additional twenty dollars for shipping. Oh well, at least my University has some of their releases in their video library :).
Blah, I only own three criterion movies. Like I said they are way too expensive.
I sound cheaper than the rest, but I suppose it helps a social institution. The Public Library System….every Criterion film
I rent far more than I buy, which is extremely rare, so I own zero Criterion discs. I have occasionally bought them for gifts, though, and will be doing so this year, and if I play my cards right will be receiving some. I find personally that the boxed sets are the best way to go. More bang for your buck that way. I’ve made my own purchases through Amazon. I’d love to support my local retailer, but full price is way out of my range.
W/ you Rodney. And even renting videos is tough enough on my wallet, nonetheless buying them. One day, when my pyramid scam gets going, hopefully I’ll have enough to buy my favorite Criterion releases.
Yeah, I love the library. I didn’t even have a card until I saw someone return Seven Samurai at the library in the mall. I got one that day and walked out with 5 Criterion DVDs under my arm, how great is that!
I do buy must-haves, and often the eclipse or essential art house collections, as they are much more affordable.
They can be.
I truthfully don’t think they’re to expensive.
I usually look on Amazon. Some are cheap and are new or used in good condition.
amazon, ebay, and dvdplanet.com are good sources for people who can barely afford dvds, like me.
Once a while there are deals at Deepdiscount, DVDPlanet, Amazon for Criterion releases. I own more tha 100 Crtirerion titles and never paid more than $21-22 for a title which has $40 MRP and for the one having $30 MRP, i usually pay not more than $17-18 . Just need to be patient and on the lookout for deals.
Ebay is your friend. Often you can find the Criterion collection boxsets at half price, because it has been used and/or a pamphlet is missing. Now if only I can find the full Janus Boxset at less than $200 I will be a happy man. (50 dvds + film book)
I wish the Criterion releases were cheaper, but I understand that with their stuff you really do get what you pay for. With the Criterion edition, you know the transfer is going to look great, the extras will be worthwhile and the booklet will be good reading.
I’d like it if they were cheaper, but I think they’re worth it. I suggest that you join Barnes and Noble, because you get 10% off of it, plus 10% for being a member, and you can almost always get a 20% off coupon online. That’s 40% off, so the $40 DVDs are only about $28.
I suppose if they were too pricey, they wouldn’t sell. So, I think the problem is just that I’m too broke. No, but seriously, I own something like 50 Criterion DVDs, but a lot of them were used. For newer stuff, you can’t beat DVD Planet. Avoid Barnes and Noble at all costs.
Criterion should have a christmas sale.
they did have a Christmas sale, sort of, a few weeks ago.. I got lucky and directed to pals who I swap gifts with to head over, so I got 10 new titles coming my way, plus I bought 6… whoo-hoo!
Waseem Mainuddin
I know it is for me. I’m just curious to know, if it is too pricey, what is your alternate way of acquiring some of these great movies?
…that are fourty dollars.