I recently went to a few stores in the Twin Cities area that sell used music and movies and noticed that the number of used Blu-rays far outnumbered the amount of used HD-DVD, and I'm not talking 2:1 but more like 4:1. If Blu-ray has only outsold HD-DVD at about a ratio of 1.4:1, than why is their used media so much more abundant?

This could just be in my area but I was wondering if others have noticed this and what their take on it is?

My guess is because some people who own PS3s buy a couple Blu-rays and play them on their standard televisions assuming they will look better than DVDs, but then sell them off. While most everyone who buys a HD-DVD player knows exactly what they are getting into, so they are less likely to sell them.

I know on Ebay there is about twice as many Blu Rays selling and usually for higher prices then there HD counterparts. What does that mean?

Or....they buy 'em, watch 'em, sell 'em and buy more flix. The fact that there is more may mean it is the more popular format in the area.....

2 ways to look at it...both complete guesses..

HD DVD is the preferred format for those for who price is king. They are therefore all trying to buy second hand discs, while BD owners don't bother.

(Note that few discs available means either little supply or very high demand.)

Its hard to extrapolate much from such a small sample. What we do know is that BR discs are more popular in general than HD disc, so you would expect to see more used titles (all other factors considered equal). It could just be that BR is more popular in your particular area.

One other possible explanation is the content of the discs. This has come up many times before (and I think most people agree): BR has more new releases and HD has more classics. Most new releases (IMHO) are not instant classics. Many of the titles in Universals catalog are tried-and-true and are likely bought by people that have seen the film a thousand times (probably double-dipping). So this demographic knows what they are buying and are making a purchase to collect (hence long-term). With new releases, customers are more likely to blind-buy and possibly not want to watch the movie more than one or two times. I'm not saying this is the case across the board, but it may be a factor in what you saw in those few store. Do you remember what type of titles were on sale used? Were they mostly new releases or catalog titles?

HD DVD is the preferred format for those for who price is king. They are therefore all trying to buy second hand discs, while BD owners don't bother.

(Note that few discs available means either little supply or very high demand.)

The question was not why are so many HD-DVD supporters buying used HD-DVDs, but rather why are so many Blu-ray supporters selling their movies.

And you can say all you want that Blu-ray supporters "don't bother," but I have noticed Blu-ray and HD-DVD movies get snatched up just as quickly in AVSs Media for Sale forum.

I noticed on craigslist for the Seattle area that there are more Blu-ray movies being sold. There are probably multiple reasons why but from my admittedly brief viewing HD DVD movies are a bit more sticky.

The question was not why are so many HD-DVD supporters buying used HD-DVDs, but rather why are so many Blu-ray supporters selling their movies.

And you can say all you want that Blu-ray supporters "don't bother," but I have noticed Blu-ray and HD-DVD movies get snatched up just as quickly in AVSs Media for Sale forum.

You only said that there were more BD movies available than HD DVD movies. From these data, it is simply impossible to tell whether it is because more BD get sold or more HD DVD get bought. (Stock = inflow - outflow.)

Given that you 'recently went to a few stores', it doesn't seem that you can have any reliable data on relative sales rates. So the question you asked is as much 'why do HD DVD supporters buy so many used discs' as 'why do BD supporters sell so many used discs'.

Or....they buy 'em, watch 'em, sell 'em and buy more flix. The fact that there is more may mean it is the more popular format in the area.....

2 ways to look at it...both complete guesses..

I disagree! Take a look at the HD DVD releases, most of them are uncatalogue releases. People dun buy catalogue releases to watch them once and sell them. They buy them to collect and keep them. I agree more with the assessment of the topic opener ;)

I disagree! Take a look at the HD DVD releases, most of them are uncatalogue releases. People dun buy catalogue releases to watch them once and sell them. They buy them to collect and keep them. I agree more with the assessment of the topic opener ;)

Im not sure where you get this from. I just looked at the last couple months of HD releases and it seemed to me that at least 75% catalog releases. The few that havent been werent exactly big sellers or exclusive to HD.

I'm seeing the same situation in the Boston area with respect to used hi-def discs. There is generally more used BD titles in the half dozed or so shops I frequent compared to HD DVD. Since I own both formats I have been watching this with interest.

It is almost guaranteed that if I wanted to find a particular group of BD discs I can get a used copy at will at these stores. These include Click, 5th Element (original release), Memento, Talladega Nights (both releases), Terminator, 50 First Dates, Hitch, XXX, Underworld Evolution, and a few others. I also see newer releases available as well (including both Pirates of the Carribean, the Queen and Deja Vu).

I have personally bought used BD copies of the Departed, the Fountain, Crank, Running with Scissors, All the Kings Men, 16 Blocks, the Queen, Deja Vu, Alien v Predator, Basic Instinct and quite a few of the others listed above.

To find used HD DVDs I have to get lucky, but I have found some good titles as well. However, there are generally just a few titles that are regularly available used that I find in my travels. Apollo 13, King Kong, Lethal Weapon are the titles I see most often.

I generally buy all HD DVD titles that I want new in their first week of release and I hold off on many BD titles unless they are must haves.

I don't know the reason, but I've thought about selling some extra BDs now that I can rent them from Blockbuster a couple of miles away for $2.99 instead of pulling them out of my collection.

--Darin

I'm a Blu-ray owner and I generally purchase discs that I intend to keep in my collection, which is now 60+ for BD.

However, there have also been many BD releases that I have sold online after purchasing them out of a curiosity factor -- wanting to check out their top tier picture quality on my own system, for instance. Many are fine movies with excellent transfers but for whatever reason I didn't feel the need to hold onto them long-term.

I've been doing the same thing with SD DVDs for years. I will always appreciate a great transfer and often time I make the purchase even if it's a movie I don't intend to hang onto. Selling them simply allows me to keep funding future purchases and keep on top of the new releases.

I recently went to a few stores in the Twin Cities area that sell used music and movies and noticed that the number of used Blu-rays far outnumbered the amount of used HD-DVD, and I'm not talking 2:1 but more like 4:1. If Blu-ray has only outsold HD-DVD at about a ratio of 1.4:1, than why is their used media so much more abundant?

This could just be in my area but I was wondering if others have noticed this and what their take on it is?

My guess is because some people who own PS3s buy a couple Blu-rays and play them on their standard televisions assuming they will look better than DVDs, but then sell them off. While most everyone who buys a HD-DVD player knows exactly what they are getting into, so they are less likely to sell them.

Doesn't mean anything...look at some of the threads on this forum....does a 1,000 page thread mean that product is popular or does it mean it has a lot of problems?

Could be both, could be one or the other. You need to do more research (I.e. question the people trading their discs) as to why.

I recently went to a few stores in the Twin Cities area that sell used music and movies and noticed that the number of used Blu-rays far outnumbered the amount of used HD-DVD, and I'm not talking 2:1 but more like 4:1. If Blu-ray has only outsold HD-DVD at about a ratio of 1.4:1, than why is their used media so much more abundant?

Maybe they just get stolen and pawned more! :D

You need to do more research (I.e. question the people trading their discs) as to why.

I would do that if I was planning on writing a thesis on this, but I was just curious.

Seems that they are stolen and sold.

A lot of people make blind buys on day and date releases, which Blu-Ray has more of than HD DVD. When you buy a catalog title, you've more than likely seen the movie before and knew for sure that you wanted to own it.

It's actually opposite here in Houston at a store called Movie Exchange. There are way more used HD-DVD discs than there are BD discs. I'm format neutral so this makes me happy regardless!!! :D

I'd just say its impluse buyers selling their discs. The young PS3 crowd has a lot more money to burn so. Prehapps they are very impulsive. Then find the movie stinks sell it for a 1/8 the cost then buy more. The store then drops the price to just bellow MSRP and they don't sell.

My local gamestop has about 30BDs and 10 HDDVDs. Although they have 2-3 king kongs and 5 or so tallidagga nights. Nothing real good either.


As far as sales on ebay/AVS I'd say it a combnation of the same and those just trading as it offten better online. As you'll get a good chunk of your money back

just a sign of blu-ray selling a ton more than hd-dvd. just like you'd find way more used VHS than laserdisc.

If I were to make a wild guess w/ no other facts or evidence I would think you see more used BD because....

1. BD sells more overall, more sales = bigger used market.

2. The vast majority of BD owners got into BD through the PS3, which has broad market appeal to the "general" consumer. General consumers are probably more likely to sell their discs as they tire of them. HD DVD consumers on the other hand *seem* to be much more comprised of avid movie collectors, who would be more willing to build a large library in their homes.

"I can make a hat... or a broach... or a pterodactyl..."

I recently went to a few stores in the Twin Cities area that sell used music and movies and noticed that the number of used Blu-rays far outnumbered the amount of used HD-DVD, and I'm not talking 2:1 but more like 4:1. If Blu-ray has only outsold HD-DVD at about a ratio of 1.4:1, than why is their used media so much more abundant?

This could just be in my area but I was wondering if others have noticed this and what their take on it is?

My guess is because some people who own PS3s buy a couple Blu-rays and play them on their standard televisions assuming they will look better than DVDs, but then sell them off. While most everyone who buys a HD-DVD player knows exactly what they are getting into, so they are less likely to sell them.

Thieves tend to bypass less valuable items and focus on the more valuable items. So discerning thieves ignore any HD-DVDs they see when they're robbing houses but whenever they see Blu-ray discs they scoop up everyone they can. Then proceed to the pawn shop or music second hand store and unload the loot. But in answer to your question, no I haven't noticed this supposed phenomenon.

Oh, oh, I want to play:

People buy a PS3 to play video games, find out they can get 5 free movies which they don't care about, so they sell them to offset the price of the PS3.

I doubt anyone has received their five free movies yet.

I recently went to a few stores in the Twin Cities area that sell used music and movies and noticed that the number of used Blu-rays far outnumbered the amount of used HD-DVD, and I'm not talking 2:1 but more like 4:1. If Blu-ray has only outsold HD-DVD at about a ratio of 1.4:1, than why is their used media so much more abundant?

This could just be in my area but I was wondering if others have noticed this and what their take on it is?

My guess is because some people who own PS3s buy a couple Blu-rays and play them on their standard televisions assuming they will look better than DVDs, but then sell them off. While most everyone who buys a HD-DVD player knows exactly what they are getting into, so they are less likely to sell them.
It is indicative of the nature of the HD DVD and BD base. HD DVD titles are owned by largely movie afficionados and enthusiasts who maintain a collection, while Blu-ray titles are owned by largely gamers and the occasional movie watcher, with a much smaller number of those who actively collect. A lot of the used BD titles are probably from PS3 owners who bought a couple initially, but decided to quit buying the movies and either purchase a few games, or start renting instead.

Oh, oh, I want to play:

People buy a PS3 to play video games, find out they can get 5 free movies which they don't care about, so they sell them to offset the price of the PS3.


There is probably some truth in this. I suspect with games being $60 a pop, some may want to cash out of movies (when no games existed) to finally buy a game or two.

I know on Ebay there is about twice as many Blu Rays selling and usually for higher prices then there HD counterparts. What does that mean?

Maybe some people realized they bought obsolete players who cannot do all the wonderful things those who sold them said they would. And now they are selling it while they can still get a decent price.