Posted by Annie at p188.amax24.dialup.aus2.flash.net on December 13, 1999 at 19:12:19:
In Reply to: Your problem..... posted by RugMuncher on December 13, 1999 at 17:08:43:
: has to do with the terms used.. The Priced to rent price... is the price that Blockbuster and those places HAVE to pay per copy.. Regular VHS will be cheaper for you to pick up...
No, "priced for rental" actually means that a VHS copy of the movie will cost $100+ to buy when it is initially released. Eventually, it will be reduced to a "sell-through" price (your standard, under $25 deal), usually after a few months. Also, most video rental stores will sell their previously viewed copies for cheap when the video has been out for awhile and fewer rental copies are needed to keep up with demand.
: Like you REALLY thought they'd charge $100 for vhs and only $30 or so for DVD??
Yes, they would. Back in the day (2 years ago!) I found myself dropping $35 or $40 on a laserdisc several times because it was not only my preferred format, but the cheapest way to buy the movie right then. I think I got "Grosse Pointe Blank" that way, whereas it would have cost like $80 on VHS.
I'm just glad DVDs are cheaper than LDs were.
--Annie