Page 1 of Why do DVD`s seem to be much cheaper than films on VHS????

Has anyone noticed how films on DVD seem to be cheaper then films on VHS? I mean , a couple of months after a DVD is released its included in a `Buy one get one free` offer , `Buy two for £20` offer or simply just has its price slashed!!

I remember years ago buying films on what is accepted now as shoddy VHS for top whack prices! I mean , I recall buying `Back to the Future` back in 1990 for around £14!!! Now , 13 odd years later , if you shop around you can pick up the trilogy on pristine shiny DVD disc just for a few quid more!!

Is this a case of retailer outlets getting more stock for their money - therefore selling them on for cheaper prices - or just a sign of the times?

Tell you what , if it has anything to do with Tony Blair coming into power then hats off to him!!!

DVDs are cheaper to reproduce than video - all you need to do to reproduce a DVD is run off a few more pressings, whereas videos have to be manufactured by someone, the copy has to be streamed onto tape etc. DVDs (in boxes) are also physically smaller and lighter than videos, so they`re cheaper to ship.

OK, so with the extras and menu systems etc., I can accept that the intitial outlay could be higher, but once they`ve got that outlay back, they make more profit on further sales.

I wonder why the studios like DVDs so much... :-)

VHS costs $2.40 to replicate

DVD costs $0.75 to replicate (dual layer is an extra $0.40)

So if they made 1 million copies of a dvd (dual layer) it would save them $1.25 million over the same amount of VHS versions.

This item was edited on Monday, 24th February 2003, 15:08

"Tell you what , if it has anything to do with Tony Blair coming into power then hats off to him!!!"

No, but I bet the slimy git would try to claim credit for it ;-)

Mike