For the couch potato, film buff and the like, the TV set is the most important appliance they could ever have. Sitting there for hours, checking their bucket list, eating microwaved popcorns. Skimming through TV Guides, applying for memberships at the nearest video rental in the neighborhood. This was some fifteen years ago: that is, until gadgets came and ruled the scene. Gadgets that are small enough to fit inside the pocket, small enough to watch movies in the restroom, or during those train rides to work. And then came Internet live-streaming subscriptions, which killed every video rental in the neighborhood.
Now your TV begs for your attention: what now? What about those CDs you bought? Or the tapes you’ve stored long ago?
Unless you want those thick VHS tapes in your basement to get framed for an art exhibit in the future, you have the option to either spend some money converting them into CDs (or you can do it yourself, which might take some time) or sell them online. As in the case of the more recent format, the CD is still marketable. Here are tips and tricks for selling your CDs/DVDs:
– Blockbusters sell all the time. You will be surprised but most DVDs that sell faster are not of the rare French film variety. They aren’t called blockbusters for nothing—they will always dominate the market. Complete editions of TV shows also sell, whether its crime, comedy, or any other genre, so always organize your DVDs and don’t ever let one or two episodes slip away from your collection.
– Obscure films should go vintage. I’ll let you in on a secret: nostalgia sets in after more or less forty years. You can store them in their jewel cases with the album art or the brief movie description, or you can put them into padded binders or CD trays. Then, store them well: you can devise a way (alphabetical order, maybe) as to how you will be arranging them. Remember, the more obscure your DVD is, the more marketable they will be in the next few years or decades. As always, signatures and limited editions are an added plus!
– Befriend the cloud. Just to be sure, you should do a lot of back-ups most especially when it comes to your favorite films. (And unless you have 100GB storage on the cloud, external hard drives are very handy as well). Remember that rare films on DVD will be a sure hit in the market in twenty years or so, when DVDs become obsolete and your collection will be deemed as “vintage”.
– Sell or donate them to public/private libraries. Some libraries are actually open to buying old DVDs as long as it’s included in the list and is in mint condition. These libraries prefer DVDs as these do not wear from friction as vinyl records or tapes do, since there is no physical contact between the disc and the laser.
– Consider these as valuable assets. Treat them well. Don’t get too technical when it comes keeping your DVDs, like going OCD and trying to maintain a particular temperature for safekeeping. As long as you use protective cases—preferably in their original jewel cases, if you want to get a good price on your collection—they’re in good hands. CDs perform well within a wide range of temperature and relative humidity conditions—but remember that cooler temperature is better, and they last longer when not subjected to extreme environmental changes. Should there be a case that your CD has been submerged in water for 24 hours or less, it can still work normally after 24 hours of drying out in room temperatures and away from direct sunlight.
– Know the market. Always try to be ‘in the know’ with entertainment news. One of your CDs may be in demand for a variety of reasons: death of an actor/director, or an upsurge of themes (as of late, vampire flicks are trending worldwide, as are apocalyptic, sci-fi and earlier comic book adaptations).
– Go green and recycle. If you’re creative enough, feel free to dabble into the unknown by recycling DVDs. Since DVDs can reflect light to some extent, it’s been used in gardening to reflect sunlight to the shady parts. You can also trace guitar picks out of a single DVD, or decorations on your table, or even earrings! If you have a wild imagination and too many CDs, try spending some time creating and recycling things. Just remember to be extra careful especially when carving something out of DVDs, as these might cut your fingers.
– Sell them before it’s too late. DVDs can still be recognized by laptops, but the swift pace of technology is making laptops look unbelievably big as against to its counterparts: the smartphone. The time will come that laptops won’t have that slot for DVDs anymore, as the trend to switch to cloud storage (and thinner laptops) become rampant.
7 Tips and Tricks for Selling Your DVD’s
