Poll: Do you rent or buy your Blu-ray Discs?

by Darren Murph posted Dec 6th 2008 at 12:00PM

Look, we're as tired of hearing about "the economy" as you are, but even disregarding that, Blu-ray Discs are expensive. Darn expensive if we should say so ourselves. We get the feeling that they'll start falling to line up more evenly with Blu-ray hardware, but given that most flicks are still quite a bit at retail, we're curious to see the ratio of renters to buyers. Also, we're pretty sure most everyone would gladly answer this with "Both!," but we're concerned with what you do most. The majority of the time, are you a renter or a buyer? Has that changed since your days with DVD?

[Image courtesy of Parislemon]

Filed under: Polls, Blu-ray

Tags: bd, blu-ray, blu-ray disc, Blu-rayDisc, buy, consumer spending, ConsumerSpending, economy, growth, poll, polls, rent, sales

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

squiggleslash @ Dec 6th 2008 12:27PM

Where's the "No" option?

Highest Ranked

crawdad62 @ Dec 6th 2008 12:36PM

One must assume it's aimed at users of the format rather than a for/against poll.

Highly Ranked

Garst @ Dec 7th 2008 5:40AM

I believe that's the "still waiting to jump in" option.

Neutral

Woody @ Dec 7th 2008 9:45PM

Good question.

Highest Ranked

Noty @ Dec 6th 2008 12:43PM

Since I rarely feel the need to watch a movie more than once I always rent.

Highest Ranked

travis.Taylor @ Dec 6th 2008 12:44PM

I just jumped into Blu waters this past week, ans so far I have purchased Rambo, Superbad, Step Brothers, and Transformers. I have yet to rent a BD movie, and I plan on purchasing The Dark Knight this Tuesday. Personally, the prices aren't too bad as long as I really like the movie. However, if it's a movie that I am unsure of or I don't think I would ever watch more than one or two times, I will most likely put it to the side and rent it later. That being said, 3 out of the 4 BD Movies I have purchased thus far were on sale. I most certainly refuse to pay $23.00+ for a new release that I don't like that much. For example, Hancock was a decent movie... but not worth $25.00 (or 30 retail). The Dark Knight, in my opinion, is worth $30!

When new releases of BD Movies come down to $19.99-$24.99, I will be buying many more movies. Especially since that will mean prices on Amazon will be even lower.

Neutral

siva @ Dec 6th 2008 1:16PM

I have already bought about 45 bluray movies but to tell you the truth I have hardly watched them all and have not watched any more than once!! So, other than bragging rights, I don't think these purchases are worth it. However, I bought most of the movies in the $10 to $15 range. I bought Transformers for $10 on Black Friday online from Best Buy. That said, I subscribe to Blockbuster online and always rent Blurays and exchange them for bluray in the store.

Highest Ranked

Marshall @ Dec 6th 2008 1:07PM

Where's the option for "Rent ALL OF THE TIME"? By my math, with the average price of a Blu-ray title vs a netflix/redbox rental, I'd have to watch the move about a dozen times before I broke even over buying.

Think about that...how many movies in your collection have been watched more than 12 times?

In this day and age, buying movies is only for title that you know you will watch more than often, or as part of some movie collecting pissing match with your internet buddies. Me personally, I must not have inherit the movie hording gene.

Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast

Neutral

Jack Chance @ Dec 6th 2008 2:50PM

Movies i have watched more than a dozen times:
2001
Blade Runner
The Matrix
Fight Club

(This is partly because I feel the need to 'educate' friends who haven't seen these.. and i own them on DVD)

That said, I generally agree with you. Buying doesn't make sense. Especially with netflix.
If you feel like re-watching a movie there is nothing stopping you from putting it back in your cue again and again. I haven't gone over to blu-ray. And as pathetic as this is to admit, i probably won't go to blu-ray unless steve jobs gives it his blessing and makes a blu-ray mac mini

Highly Ranked

minimalist @ Dec 7th 2008 9:24PM

If you have a favorite movie and it goes out of print or the licensing agreement changes with whatever download/streaming service you are using then poof its gone.

Netflix and Blockbuster remove out of print movies from circulation and I've seen more than a few disappear from the digital services. Its even worse with digital services because their licensing agreements change more often. One week its there, the next its not. The ever present, all-encompassing "cloud" is nice to dream about but its just not here yet.

And in the meantime I'm not going to rely on the goodwill of Microsoft, Sony, Apple, Netflix etc. to make sure my favorite films are always in stock and availble. Renting is fine for testing the waters or trying out new stuff but its not a permanent solution by any means.

Neutral

Woody @ Dec 7th 2008 9:48PM

Well let's see, I buy a ton of blus at $10 a piece, Transformers for instance. I KNOW I'm going to be watching it a lot AND 2 trips to a rental store or Red Box stand plus the cost of the movie most likely equals $10. Don't always think that everyone is actually paying $30 for all of their blu rays. That would be pretty stupid if you ask me.

Neutral

Rob78 @ Dec 6th 2008 1:21PM

Where's the "not interested in optical formats, this is the 21st century" option?

Highest Ranked

coasterswim @ Dec 6th 2008 1:51PM

Probably grouped with the "I don't care about compression" option.

Highly Ranked

Stin @ Dec 6th 2008 3:33PM

No doubt. 1080p rips FTMFW!

Neutral

Emmanuel @ Dec 6th 2008 1:22PM

I usually rent, however with BD prices retreating towards $20-$25, (and select titles at $10 ) I will be buying only my favorite titles. I'll continue to rent the title, to get an idea of the transfer quality, and then I'll make the purchase. For example, I plan on buying Ratatouille, Transformers, and The Dark Knight, all excellent transfers.

I have The Dark Knight on BD (sadly I must return it) and it is loaded with features. Both the sound and picture quality are stunning!

Highly Ranked

Jnetty @ Dec 6th 2008 1:40PM

I have rented about two movies from Netflix. Still don't own one a movie but will be buying my first next week The Dark Knight

Highly Ranked

DEEZNUTZ @ Dec 6th 2008 1:55PM

I have bought a few BD's here and there (probably about 20 now) but as a recent convert to Netflix, I will definitely be renting a hell of a lot more than buying.

I accumulated a shit load of DVD's over the years, but I don't plan on doing the same with BD. I am only buying those movies I will want to play over and over, and will give my setup a good visual and audio workout. I would say the majority of DVD's I purcahsed over teh years have been a one time viewing, so I am not making the same mistake with BD's.

Highly Ranked

slatez @ Dec 6th 2008 3:17PM

the netflix 3 at-a-time unlimited is cheaper than buying just one blu-ray. with the economy the way it is, i'm very happy using netflix to watch blu-ray movies and pocketing the extra coin.

Neutral

Byrdman @ Dec 6th 2008 3:57PM

Since I bought my Blu-ray player, I started using netflix, and it is definitely a better way to get your movies. I only have the one at a time package, however with my schedule thats all I really ave time for. I plan on buying a disc here and there (dark knight FTW!), but just like everyone else said, only if i know I will watch it over and over.

Neutral

frank @ Dec 6th 2008 4:14PM

The problem with Netflix is that you'll wait many weeks, if not months, for the blockbuster blu ray new releases. Sometimes I end up buying instead of waiting for the disk to arrive. I have pre-ordered the Dark Knight BD because I konw I won't get it from Netflix for at least 6 weeks.

Neutral

Rob78 @ Dec 6th 2008 10:45PM

This why the Vudu model makes more sense. What whatever you want, when you want.

Neutral

WebDev511 @ Dec 6th 2008 4:43PM

We buy classics we know we'll watch more than one or two times (Shawshank) and rent everything else via Blockbuster online. Catalog titles arrive pretty quickly and we do in store swaps for the new releases that will take forever via mail.

Price matters too.

Kung Fu Panda at $24.99? Sorry, not interested. $16.99 or $17.99? Sold.

Stargate or Total Recall for $10? Why not.

Neutral

bry2an @ Dec 6th 2008 6:20PM

Well I would say I watch a lot of movies. I have Netflix and buy movies I want to see many times. I buy as many Blu-rays as I did DVDs. I don't buy DVDs much at all these days I pickup blu-rays instead. I do like to shop for bargains and there are many to be found.

$24.99 Blu-ray no problem sold but I can find them cheap if I look around.

Neutral

techie @ Dec 6th 2008 6:40PM

I have 200 HD movies. Around 40 is HD-DVD and the rest Blu-ray. I have around 10 on order yet to be released.

Prince matters, but quality is more important. I cant imagine using a streaming service with 720p. a bitrate around 2000-3000 and only Dolby Digital unless it is dirt cheap and thats just not gonna happen here in Europe.

Neutral

H Choi @ Dec 6th 2008 6:45PM

Just dipped into blu the other day with 4 movies. I will probably only spend money on BDs on black friday. Unless of course a movie like TDK comes out, which I have to buy on the first day.

Neutral

kevon27 @ Dec 7th 2008 4:46AM

My neighbor has a very large bluray collection. So when he is not home I just go into his house (he never locks the back door) and borrow the movies I want, then return them later.
So I don't spend money on renting or buying Bluray.
Yep, I'm a home theater Thug..

Neutral

YouFaceTheTick @ Dec 7th 2008 2:47AM

No sense in buying any movie media. We used to have hundreds of DVDs. We never rewatched them. Eventually we sold them to CD/DVD shops and just used the money for other things.

Now when we want to see a movie we can try netflix watch instantly via the Roku and if it's not there, put it on the netflix queue at the top and within 1 to 2 days we'll have it. Good enough.

Eventually, I assume, we'll get most everything online anyway. The days of keeping hundreds of movies just seems to have passed, just as CDs have disappeared from our home. Honestly, who still uses CDs for anything?

Neutral

DrXym @ Dec 7th 2008 5:46AM

Movies I want to keep I buy. Movies I'd like to watch but don't really care about I either rent or wait to appear on TV. Same as with DVD really.

Neutral

Daimyo Nintendo @ Dec 14th 2008 11:22AM

Well, like any smart person, when I made the jump from DVD to blu-ray I bought blu-ray movies I knew I liked and if I have not seen a movie I rent it before I consider buying it.

Neutral

Steve @ Dec 7th 2008 3:52PM

I only buy. Haven't done a rental in years. But at the same time, I WILL NOT pick up a movie unless it's between under $10 (catalog titles) or $20 (for newer releases). $10 to $15 is my sweet spot.

My patience was rewarded quite well last week with many titles in my buying range. Hopefully the studios wise up with regards to pricing.

Neutral

Ernesto @ Dec 8th 2008 5:04AM

I treat BRDs the same way I did with DVDs (and assume most do). If I absolute love a movie and will watch it repeatedly, its Buy no question. For everything else I have Netflix. No blind buys and if I have the DVD version already, get it from Netflix and compare and see if I think its worth it. I stopped buying DVDs over a year ago when I got my PS3, no point investing in it anymore the way I saw it.

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