Why do some people never make the leap to buying DVD, VCR or other home video systems?

Question

Over the years, ever since VCR's became affordable, and all the way through the even more affordable DVD era, I have encountered people who refuse to fork over the bucks for even the cheapest DVD player. These people, mind you, can easily afford other entertainments and luxuries, so it's not a question of taking away money for food or other necessities. In all cases, they like movies well enough, and are more than willing to watch them on TV, so it's not a matter of big screen vs. little screen or not being into cinema at all. So, what's preventing these folks from shelling out $40-60 on something that will save them a ton of money on theater ticket prices and provide movies free of commercial interruptions?

Answer 1

I kind of think of it as movies are a treat.  You go to the movies as a treat.  It is something special.  If I were to buy a DVD player than it would be an every day thing.  And who needs more time spent in front of a T.V.

Answer 2

Its not an issue of money. First of all, not everyone wants to own the latest tech. They have their own comfort levels, and they are what they are. Once they have as much as they want to have, more is not something that bring them perceived value.

Next, you're missing the real issue with buying a DVD player; Its not that you now own a player, its that its not a useful device *if you don't also buy, and continue to buy, movies and TV shows ON DVD*. Now, if a person doesn't want to own lots of discs, then having a player isn't very useful.

My wife and like to own and buy a good number of DVDs, so having DVD players for us, makes perfect sense. Her father doesn't want to buy, own, and have to store lots of DVDs, so they don't have players on every TV (2 out of 5; cause my wife's mom does buy movies). We have three HT areas, each with at least one VCR, and a DVD player.

Plus, many people want to see movies on a really big screen. $9 a time is cheaper than a $10,000 TV, plus another $10,000 for the HT sound.

Answer 3

Some people are just basically scared of new technology and afraid they will have trouble using it. They are in their own comfort zone that they feel most comfortable when using their old equipment.

My parents don't even have a computer and I've offered to build them one for free and they still don' t want one. They just recently got their first DVD player and that's because their old VCR broke.and couldn't be repaired.

Answer 4

my mom is the most technologically unsavvy person around.  i gave her a dvd player and she briefly used it then my brother moved to OK from NM and she didnt use it for months cause 'she couldnt figure it out' nevermind that she probably has hundreds of vhs tapes.  and keeps buying more.  she doesnt care about the better quality and brags that she buys oodles of movies at the flea markets and such for so cheap.  some people.. the fact that my mom owns a cell phone awes me to no end.. and she talks loudly on it in public which doesnt surprise me.. lol

Answer 5

Most people I know have at least a DVD player.

But the 5.1 surround sound - could scare some people away.  An additional $700 for a basic HTIB  which the nice young man at Best Buy assures them they MUST have - might be too much of an add-on, or frighten them that they cannot set it up.

I suspect the setup & operation of a 5.1 system may scare many guys away.  (We dont like it when technology goes beyond our ability.)

Answer 6

Go to the nearest pawn shop and you can buy the best DVD player they have for $20.00

Answer 7

familiarity i guess. maybe they dont want to part with something they have had for so long. or maybe they are just  confused. the home theater world can be very confusing so maybe they just want to stick with the thing that they already have and can understand.