Looking at LD's today and came upon this huge collection of 125 'Discs mostly releases from 1989- 1998 but the big shocker for me was the price.

$1,999.00!?!?!?!?
WHAT?
That is ridiculous. And most of the discs are common titles. Although the seller hasn't listed all the titles, the most expensive one I see is Psycho '98. Some are brand new but most look used.

Back in 1998, that would have been a sensible price but now I'd say it would be worth about $200-300 maximum.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Famous-American-Movie-Collections-125-discs-Some-still-Brand-New-pack-/110782973053?pt=AU_Movies_Movies_TV_Shows&hash=item19cb2e047d

Oh well, enough ranting.

Good day randomtvandmovie,

That was indeed ''to my mind anyway'' a high price for 125 Laserdisc's.

I would have thought around £600 would be tops for this amount of disc's.

If they were all in protective outer sleeves & inner anti static sleeves, in perfect condition then I may pay more, but this would depend on how many of the disc's that I really wanted.

When a collection like this comes up for sale I usually only want about 2 or 3 titles, but a number of sellers want to shift the collection as one sale, and not sell any individual titles.

There are some rare Japanese titles that am still willing to pay a high price for, of which I do have reserved with a seller but these will be my last exclusive purchase.

I am looking forward to recieving these as I have waited so long, and have had many trials to contend with, that have played a part in preventing me from making further payments.

Regards

Most I would pay for a lot of common titles would be about $1 to $2 per item (including shipping) for a large lot. The problems with lots is that you end up with many titles that you don't want and have to sell or give away.

It's frustrating for some people who have paid top dollar for LD(s) in the 1990's and have to sell for pennies on the dollar now ... but you have to realize that it's an obsolete video format and deal with current market prices. I've even blogged with some people who claim to have thrown "common" LaserDiscs away over the last 10 years.

Good day condorsat,

The only lots that I have purchased are the ones that I have selected from a seller.
This seller then reserves them for me whilst I pay for them, and then he ships them to me.

The shipping cost's are enough, but then when they arrive in the UK more times than not, I get charged by customs, with average cost From around £30 to £60.

I imported a Brand new unopened Elite CLD-97 from the US over three and a half years ago, I think the shipping was £250 and then UK customs charged me £332. . . . . . I was gutted but paid the fee.

I have contacted Customs to complain. . . .But a fat lot of good that did.

I have an HLD X0 reserved with the same seller holding the LD's for me, and I know that this will cost around £300+ to ship in it's original box, and then when it arrives I will expect customs to charge me around £500. . . . . . . This is something that I am preparing myself for.

When I write preparing myself for, I mean putting aside the extra funds for the customs charge.

Yes I am looking forward to getting this but, it's tough being an avid Laserdisc enthusiast.

Fortunately this will be my last player purchase, and this unit has taken over four years so far to complete. . . . . . . . Here's hoping that 2012 will be a good year for this.

Regards to all

Hello benmbe

Sounds like LaserDisc players and movies are rare in the UK. I use to live in the UK in 1984 - 1986 ... I don't remember seeing any back then ... but I wasn't looking for them either. I do remember renting video tapes from a local store.

I've purchased four used players (all working models) for a little less than $500 including shipping. Most of my models were units that were sold to the US school systems by Pioneer ... CLD 2400, 2600 & 2800. I've purchased one refurbished auto flip machine (Pioneer CLD 504) for around $125 including shipping from a dealer ... it was 50% off the asking price on sale.

LD(s) are not that common in small towns in the US ... most of my purchases come via mail order from the East & West Coast cities with some others coming from the state of Illinois. I am an avid bargain hunter and extremely patient and persistent ... I get some really good deals over time. LD collecting is not an expensive hobby for me ... I spend more money on vinyl LP(s) and turntable set up.

Good luck with your collecting and Cheers.

Condorsat

Hey, guys in the UK, what would customs charge you if you brought in a player from a trip out of the UK?

That price seems ridiculous for used, no longer made merchandise that you can't buy from a UK store anyway. I thought customs was a way for the home governmment to try to force people to buy in the country, but as is typical for any government, it's used as a way to collect more money out of your pocket to put into theirs.

Same sort of things happen in the US, like right now in Calif, local governments are raising their "fees" and parking penalties, and all the local police are running around ticketing people for penny ante stuff, while they let petty criminals go on their merry way. There's no profit to be made from catching most small-time crooks here, only a loss while they sit in jail and eat.

Whenever I have a chance to chat with a cop, I ask them how it feels to be a tax collector now. Some laugh and some grumble, but they know it's true.

Good day rixrex & condorsat,

Good to read you replies your views and experiences ect. . . . A pleasure

Rixrex comment;
Hey, guys in the UK, what would customs charge you if you brought in a player from a trip out of the UK?

benmbe's reply;
I have never gone out of the Country to return anything like an LD Player so I would'nt know, but if I did it would worry me to be sure.

rixrex comment;
That price seems ridiculous for used, no longer made merchandise that you can't buy from a UK store anyway. I thought customs was a way for the home governmment to try to force people to buy in the country, but as is typical for any government, it's used as a way to collect more money out of your pocket to put into theirs.

benmbe's reply;
I totally agree about the ridiculous prices for the retro merchandise that you cannot purchase from here.

rixrex comment;
I thought customs was a way for the home governmment to try to force people to buy in the country,

benmbe's reply;
That's what it was meant for but, the waters are no longer clear on this matter, in fact they are very cloudy, and have been for some time.

Hello benmbe

Sounds like LaserDisc players and movies are rare in the UK. I use to live in the UK in 1984 - 1986 ... I don't remember seeing any back then ... but I wasn't looking for them either.

Hello condorsat,

Apart from the PAL versions (dolby surround only,) and the picture quality of which was very questionable at times, shops that were selling NTSE Laserdisc's were very rare.
The availability of US and Japanese software in UK, Well all thanks go'es to those people (independent shops) who were themselves enthusiast's.

The hardware side of things; Pioneer was the dominant manufacturer with models such as: CLD 2950, CLD 315 / 515, CLD 925, then came the combi units: DVL 909 / DVL 919.

A large number of LD enthusiast's in the UK did'nt have the opportunity of owning the Pioneer Elite hardward.
Fortunately' those same independent retailers, ie specialist's shops, thanks to them who imported these for us, and on top of that they included the the needed transformer for the UK.

Thank you friends good reading your comments guys

<snips mine>

I am sure that Benmbe (Hi Ben!! ) will back me up on this but "...rare in the UK..." is something of an understatement. Whereas in the USA, it is still possible to go into thrift shops, charity shops and places like CASH CONVERTERS and buy some machine and some titles right off...I'd bet pennies-to-pounds that it just will not happen in the UK. And, whilst I highlight the word 'some' as indicating it to be something that is growing rarer - even in the USA - I would say that it is practically impossible over here.

That leaves forums like this, ebay, UK-craigslist and private buys/swaps really.

Good day dgtwoodward, good to read from yourself ( )
Even in the hey day of Laserdisc's in the UK, you still had to travel many many miles just to be able to find an independant dealer who imported US, and if you were very fortunate import Japanese Laserdisc's.

It was common for myself to travel by car for 2 1/2 hours each way from Berkshire to Kent, to purchase these rare precious collectables and I would spend many hundreds of £'s with each visit.

And when this shop had all of it's produce conviscated, because they were selling illegal titles, I then had to travel to Knebworth of which was 60miles each way to get my Laserdisc's.

UK Customs inspectors then had a clamp down on all the independent retailers around the country, of which made life a little difficult, as they were not allowed to display any titles that were not available in the UK yet.

I did discover a seller LVS in Kings Langley of which was 19miles each way, and spent a great deal of money with this seller on LD's

Serious Laserdisc collectors in the UK are mentally rugged and true die hard people who don't give up

You're right there Ben.

Though I had something of a late start in the world of LDs (starting just 18 months ago!!) I am catching up quickly

That kind of travelling does show dedication though. At the time, I just would not have had the means to acquire any of it, even back then, my first machine would have to have been a second-hand one.

Still, I am here now and I LOVE IT!

Hello dgtwoodward,

Trust me when I write, that for me to get hold of all of the titles and hardware I was working up to 84hrs a week.

I was also fortunate enough to have some available funds from selling my Motorcycle Honda Goldwing GL1500 fully loaded with extras US Model, and also from two Building Societies which merged, sold my shares and then with the extra cash I got into AV in April 1998.



dgtwoodward Comments
Though I had something of a late start in the world of LDs (starting just 18 months ago!!) I am catching up quickly

That kind of travelling does show dedication though. At the time, I just would not have had the means to acquire any of it, even back then, my first machine would have to have been a second-hand one.

Still, I am here now and I LOVE IT!

Mark Reply;
I completely know what your conveying in what you wrote, I suppose I was also trying to catch up with Laserdisc's and so on when I started, & was the reason why I invested in so much hardware.

Although a little over enthusiastic but it's all paid for by an honest days work, I now just look forward in having it all set up.

Take good care of yourself with honest Sincerity

Hmm for that kind of money i would almost sayt why don't you travel to the US and get it yourself,
try making a deal with someone over there that some other stuff like discs will be stored there..

It's really awful if you see that over here in the netherlands you can take for hundreds of euro's with you if you travel by plane.
But if you let someone send you a pair of 2nd hand jeans (30 euro's) you have to pay an additional 23 euro's for tax and 'services'.

good luck ...