Why is it that DVD's are so expensive ?

[Magnum357]

I mean they arn't rediculous, but I come on 30$ alot of the time for a new release ?(CDN) it's kinda steep, I don't think the production costs can be that much more than a vhs.. or are they ? *ponders*

 

[yakko]

Because people pay it.

 

[EvilYoda]

yeah......I mean, you think an audio CD costs that much to make? But it's a fight that's been going on for forever, and it'll never change. As long as the demand is there, the companies can sell them for whatever they want.

doh.

and hence, piracy. Not that I support it.

 

[IcemanJer]

"ridiculous"

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Magnum357
I mean they arn't rediculous, but I come on 30$ alot of the time for a new release ?(CDN) it's kinda steep, I don't think the production costs can be that much more than a vhs.. or are they ? *ponders*

Average length of DVD movie w/ extras: 3.5 hours

Average length of VHS with no bonus features: 1.5 hours

DVD's have extra bonus features, directory commentary, deleted scenes, DTS tracks, ect ect ect that have to be made and put together. That stuff isn't free. DVD's also are the "in" thing and offer far superior quality than VHS, so it's just a given that they are going to cost more.

 

[HombrePequeno]

The ones that are $30 usually come with a bunch of extras. If you want cheaper ones, just go for the ones that only play the movie.

 

[vi edit]

yeah......I mean, you think an audio CD costs that much to make? But it's a fight that's been going on for forever, and it'll never change. As long as the demand is there, the companies can sell them for whatever they want.

Production costs DO NOT make up the selling price of a cd/movie/game. You think that LOTR was made for free?????

 

[IcemanJer]

Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
The ones that are $30 usually come with a bunch of extras. If you want cheaper ones, just go for the ones that only play the movie.

yeah but that sort of defeats 90% of the purpose of buying a DVD.

 

[SaltBoy]

Uh, I'd stop your complaining RIGHT NOW if I were you. Back in the old days, when DVD's didn't exist, the only way you could get special features with your movies was to get them on laserdisc. No big deal, right? Wrong -- the average special edition laserdisc cost about $100!

You're getting more than your money's worth.

 

[neomits]

eh.... I find that the average price for a DVD is about 20 bucks (30 dollars yeah but then you get a LOT of extras) and when you consider that the basic price for a Music CD is still like 17 bucks thats not bad at all. The media business is WAY overpriced I agree but I think music needs to change before video does.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: IcemanJer

Originally posted by: HombrePequeno
The ones that are $30 usually come with a bunch of extras. If you want cheaper ones, just go for the ones that only play the movie.

yeah but that sort of defeats 90% of the purpose of buying a DVD.

If the picture/sound wasn't any better then VHS, then that'd defeat 90% of the purpose of having the DVD. Special features are nice, but I own a DVD player for the picture and sound.

And besides, if you look around, you can get a good number of DVD's for under $10 each. I think if you average the prices on all my DVD's, I haven't paid more then $12/ea for them.

 

[IcemanJer]

Originally posted by: MrBond
And besides, if you look around, you can get a good number of DVD's for under $10 each. I think if you average the prices on all my DVD's, I haven't paid more then $12/ea for them.

that works out to be about... $15 to $17 CAD.

actually.. I get DVDs cuz I don't have a VCR, so the only way I can watch movies is on my computer with DVD.

 

[LordJezo]

Originally posted by: neomits
eh.... I find that the average price for a DVD is about 20 bucks (30 dollars yeah but then you get a LOT of extras) and when you consider that the basic price for a Music CD is still like 17 bucks thats not bad at all. The media business is WAY overpriced I agree but I think music needs to change before video does.

I find it a whole lot easier to buy a DVD for $20 then a music CD for $18. The music CD will most likely only have a few tracks I really like and the rest are just okay. When I buy a movie though I know that I love it and will watch it multiple times. Plus, with all the extra stuff and high quality audio and video it sure seems worth it to spend the $20 or so.

Plus, I buy a lot of mine used from places like half.com. Buy.com seems to be having excelent prices lately as well with free shipping!

 

[JeremyJoe]

There is a small concept in our economy called supply and demand, if a dvd is in high demand then supply is less, hense the price goes up...its true the cd or dvd only cost 10 cents to make but remember they have to market the product and get people interested with advetisments, that involves people with salaries, and the raising of money for sequals or new movies and now videos are cheap usually 15 bucks or less because no one is buying them anymore....

plus like said above there are extras, better quality and a compensation for the millions of us downloading the divx versions to our computers for free

 

[Angrymarshmello]

Before DVDs came out VHS tapes cost about $16 brand new, but now since DVDs are taking over the price of new VHS tapes have gone down to $11-$12. DVDs cost about anywhere from $16-$20 brand new now too. I don't see how it's so expensive

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Before DVDs came out VHS tapes cost about $16 brand new, but now since DVDs are taking over the price of new VHS tapes have gone down to $11-$12. DVDs cost about anywhere from $16-$20 brand new now too. I don't see how it's so expensive

Actually that's not entirely true. Only select VHS tapes used to be labled 'sell through', those were movies that were absolute blockbusters that they KNEW people were going to buy. The sell through tapes would retail for around 15 - 25usd a piece. Most movies however, were released at extremely high prices (ie 69 - 119usd per tape) simply so video rental stores could buy them and no one else could... Normally after a 3 or 4 months (many longer than that), they would be released at the sell through prices. The simple fact that DVD's came out originally costing LESS than a normal sell through title is fantastic, so magnum... stop complaining.