Disney Movie Club - Dollars and Sense

[skelster]

As a longtime lover of all that is Disney, I figured I should share some info about the Disney Movie Club. Everyone has probably seen the ads but since I found no posts on it I figured I might be able to save someone else from what they might consider a bad deal - I always prefer to go into things with my eyes open.

The bottom line on the sales pitch: 6 DVD's for $25.90 with 3 more to buy over the next 2 years (at regular club prices).

Bad deal this seems not, thought I. (bad :yoda: impression)

The problems are (and they don't share all of this with you before joining):
$3.95 shipping on purchases.
To count toward the 3 extra, movies must be >=19.99 (this one is in the fine print of the offer)
And many movies (including most of the new ones and bestsellers) that are around $20 in the disney store at the mall cost $22-25 from the movie club.

My total cost will be about $100 for 9 movies. Still not a bad deal but with each extra movie the overall price per movie goes up. Club prices and S/H add about $10 over mall prices per movie

All in all, not a bad deal if you get out after making the required purchase. Oh, if you can suck others into the plan you get a free movie - just pay S/H.

Note: They do have "exclusive" movies, but I am not really sure if they really mean it can't be found elsewhere or if it is an exclusive price, or something else.

Hope this helps someone else down the line

[carolina_yankee]

I fell for a similar deal a couple of years ago. It was great to get some of the earlier feature animation releases that you don't find easily elsewhere, but I've over-paid for everything since then. I think I fulfilled my quota by paying for the unwanted titles I forgot to decline in time, thus making it less of a bargain. Doh!

Anyway - the other problem is that they don't get the new releases for a couple of months, and I've gotten most of those at Costco for $15 or so. Oh well, I'm a pushover for all things Disney . . .

Dirk

[TW1]

Learned my lesson on these deals back in high school when I joined Columbia House so I could get 12 cassettes for a penny. Should have known then when I had trouble finding 12 I really wanted cause for the next three years it was a real struggle to find a cassette or album worth buying much less paying twice as much as I would have paid at a Woolworths.

Fool me once, shame on me...or is that shame on you...?

[bavaria]

I too made this mistake.....

I found it hard to find titles that I would buy. For instance, I had been looking for the WWII collection. It was listed online and in the catalogue, but it took many many calls before anyone was able to find the item. (Not a stock issue, they just couldn't find it using the title or order number)

I did fulfill my obligation but I rarely buy DVDs, so if one is buying them elsewhere as well as the movie club it may be difficult to meet the obligation. I suspect that DVDs are cheaper elsewhere.

And as I've stated elsewhere, the amount of paper really frustrated me. I requested not to receive anything by mail, but every time I opened my box after a few weeks away it was overflowing with items from the movie club ie catalogues, etc.

[carolina_yankee]

That reminds me, I don't think I've ever been able to reply to the featured selection online despite printed material assuring me I could. Sometimes Disney just doesn't get the web thing . . .

Dirk

[bavaria]

Sometimes Disney just doesn't get the web thing . . . Have you tried booking a room online at disneyworld.com recently? :thumbsway

I've said it over and over - Goofy got the contract to build Disney's websites, and he hired Chip and Dale.....

I did however read that all Disney websites are to be revamped shortly.

[yecats48884]

I try to stay away from clubs for the same reason Dirk has trouble---just can't get that crazy reply card back in time!!!!!:boohoohoo

[carolina_yankee]

I spent more money shipping back unwanted selection to History Book Club than I did mailing Christmas gifts the week before Christmas . .. :headbange

Dirk