Columbia House DVD Deals -- 7 DVDs for $9.94 each

[konichiwa]

I'm not sure if this is a No-No for the HD forums so I figured if it is the mods'll lock it up, otherwise, enjoy your cheapo DVDs. This deal has been around the DVDTalk forums for quite awhile now, and the best deal from Columbia House right now is the one mentioned in the thread title.

Basically you sign up over the phone, you get your free introductory DVDs and then you have to buy 2 more over the next 2 years. If you calculate it all out, the average cost is $9.94 per DVD, which, wiht the absence of good online DVD deals lately is really good.

<< With the sparsity of good deals online, the Columbia House DVD Club has become a good source to get higher priced titles at a decent amount. To activate these deals, you must call Columbia House at 888-CHC-DVDS (888-242-3837) and sign up with a credit card. They are open 24 hours a day to take your orders. The catalog is available at http://www.columbiahouse.com and click on DVD Club. But, there are a few titles not online, so if you're looking for one, ask the Customer Service Representative (CSR) over the phone to search for you. Make sure when you call, say you want to join the club, and give the CSR the offer code &quot;xxx&quot;. Mentioning the details of the offer won't work. If they ask you for a long number after they get the code, just say you don't have it or your friend told you about the offer. It's not necessary to join the club.

After you sign up, wait for your package, then call them back at 888-CHC-DVDS (888-242-3837), press &quot;3&quot; to speak to a CSR, tell them your account number, and ask to become a &quot;Preferred Member&quot; so you don't automatically receive the Director's Selection DVD every month. To cancel your account after you've fulfilled your enrollment agreement, simply call the 888 number and press &quot;3&quot; to speak to a CSR, and tell them you want to cancel. It is as simple as that. >>

Columbia House DVD Deals - Thread 5
Expensive Movies

EDIT

I'd avise you to read through at least the first 4-5 posts of that thread (the ones that actually explain the deal) because they not only give a very in-depth description of the deal, but they also tell you all the DVDs that will maximize the value.

EDIT #2

Updated link. Thanks Rossman.

 

[bladerunner8]

I just don't know- when the terms and conditions are larger than a class curriculum in law school, and the freebies are _limited_ and conditional which means one choses what they want and not the first cherces, even $10ea seems unwarranted. I'll wait for individual specials which are sure to come along by the spring holidays. Only my opinion.

 

[konichiwa]

Go ahead...but this deal has been around DVDTalk for over a year now and there're people who've done it more than 30 times themselves. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, by all means, don't, but I will.

 

[Shippy]

Actually, I've done this deal once (when it was about $9 a cd for 6). It's pretty cool because I ended up selling one of the DVDs to a friend for $20. Alot of people do this deal and get the most expensive DVDs and then resell them on eb@y and turn a profit. I just wanted to fatten up my DVD collection.

Shippy

 

[madthumbs]

I don't know how Columbia works, but BMG get's most of their money from shipping and handling. Does that price include S/H?

 

[konichiwa]

madthumbs

Yes, the average price does include S+H and 8.5% tax:

4 DVDs @ $0.75 each $3.00
--------------------
5th Optional @ $14.95 $14.95
--------------------
Shipping/Handling Free
--------------------
Tax @ 8.5% * $17.95 $1.53
--------------------
6th and 7th Fulfillment @ $19.95 each $39.90
--------------------
Shipping/Handling ($3.99 + $2.29) $6.28
--------------------
Tax @ 8.5% * $46.18 $3.93
--------------------
Total = $69.59 / 7 = $9.94 per DVD

 

[gdog3000]

another member of the dvdtalk forums here??? cool!!!!!
I have gone through columbiahouse two times now. once with this code and the other with em1 and have been extremely happy. You can really get ur money's worth if you get expensive dvd's with your one's that are like .75 cents each and then get the ones you want that cost $19.95 as your fulfillment titles. It is a great deal. Just read the link at the top of this thread

 

[SuperFreaky]

too bad they've deactivated all the good codes (the $7 per DVD ones).

But this is still a great deal if you get the $40 DVDs as your enrollment ones

 

[RONType1]

I'd certainly do it... but I don't have any cash right now! you're looking to spend almost $70 on 7 dvds.. not bad I know, but after buying textbooks... can't afford it! oh and YES THEY CHARGE TAX ON THE S&amp;H TOO!! if you do it properly you average under $10 a DVD... it's a good deal that guide is easy to follow.. READ IT

 

[Nutdotnet]

This is an awesome friggin deal. Go over to dvdtalk and actaully read the FAQs and you will understand.

 

[NoreagaCNN]

NM

 

[NoreagaCNN]

OK, NM
I didn't read the whole thing, it's a pretty good deal

-Nore

 

[Brix13]

I did this about a year ago and still haven't bought the two that I am obligated to buy. They keep on sending me stuff to buy, but I have yet to buy, not a bas deal I got like 5 DVD from this deal, I didn't know it was still around! Hmm maybe I will concider doing it again........

 

[RossMAN]

Everyone who is unsure about this deal because of what &quot;catches&quot; there are, read the frickin' DVDTalk thread it has an awesome FAQ filled with every imaginable question.

I've done this deal, received all my DVDs for under $7 (the code has already expired) and that included my obligation DVDs and shipping. It was a super sweet deal!

 

[tydas]

Believe it or not consumer reports even says that columbia house is a good deal...you just have to do the minimum to fufill your agreement then quit...
defintly issues tho...selection, auto sending etc.

 

[Wag]

I did this deal too, and now I'm considering doing it again.

The only thing you really have to do is call them in a few weeks and say you want to be a &quot;premiere member&quot; so they don't automatically send you crap. Just set aside your money to begin with and buy your required 2 DVDs right away.

They very rarely ever send me junk mail too. That's why I'm considering doing it again.

 

[gdog3000]

last time i called to close one account and reopen another, they gave me my account number and asked if I wanted to become a preferred customer so I wouldn't get the &quot;deal of the month&quot;

I am one happy customer

 

[Vpham97]

As from the # of reply have shown, I'm sure that many of us on Anandtech are aware of this deals w/ Columbia but don't want to post it.

The reason #1 is that the large # of user here could ride it to death. I have been following that Dvdtalk thread for since the beginning.
Already there are many cut backs. I.E.: No more $50 Criterion title.

They could never get a contract w/ Fox, hence many missing title.
The lost their contract w/ MGM, hence, no more James Bond title, no more Ronin.
The old deals use to be for ~$8 per tile but that was lost.
Many peoples are taking advantage of the deals and buy multiple copies for resale. Now there are restriction and limit on that.

I'm sure this will soon spread on to other BB.

You're an elite member; I'll just hope that your posting of this Columbia won't cause it to die.

I have been around long enough to know Columbia House is still making moneys to provide you this deal(talk w/ their CSR.) The only problem with them was the large number of user enrollment selecting high price DVD have cause CH to be out of stock for their real customer(.i.e Clerk, Armageddon Criterion) CH make money out of this by charging it on Shipping and Handling.

As stated above, I'm sure that many studios do not appreciate their titles being under priced. Many peoples are buying this for resale or taking back to the store for refund. Lowering the values of their release. As I understand it, the movie studio doesn?t get much royalty for your first five selections.
Just my 2 cents.
Hoping for the best.

 

[konichiwa]

Columbia House makes money whenever you make an account, period. Otherwise they wouldn't be doing it. We're not exploiting their system in any manner.

 

[SuperFreaky]

but we are getting a good deal, whereas other people don't, that's where their profit comes from.

 

[MoJoichiban]

Konbanwa.

 

[lt123]

Think of it like Cyberrebate. Most people join the club with the intention of getting their cheap DVDs, and then (maybe) buying another one or two if something they really want comes up.

In reality, many forget to return the card, get the &quot;selection of the month&quot; and are too lazy to return it. Again and again.

Considering CH buys in bulk and probably gets a good discount on the DVDs they buy (while not passing those savings onto the consumer) I think they do OK.

They've been around way too long doing these deals not to be making money on it.

 

[konichiwa]

MoJoichiban

That was a very valuable contribution to this thread, and I applaud you.

 

[Thump553]

Columbia House has been doing this for over 30 years at least-first with their record club, then cassettes, then CDs and now DVDs. In the music field they boost their profits because their albums are treated as &quot;promotional&quot; ones due to their deal with the music labels. This means that the musicians receive no royalties on the albums sold through Columbia House or BMG. I'm not sure what they do in the movie field to boost their profits, but I wouldn't worry for a minute that more customers will kill the deal.

The Columbia music club &amp; BMG club have better deals if you sign up a friend-the referror gets some free CDs &amp; the referree gets the same deal or better than if he just signed up. Does the DVD club have anything similar?

 

[konichiwa]

Not that I know of...you could call a CS rep and ask him/her though. Let us know if you do.