Five Tips for Collecting Physical Media (Blu-ray, DVD, Movies, Music, Comics, Books, Video Games, 5)

Whether you're a long-time physical media collector or have just come to the hobby, here are five tips to live by when collecting anything! These tips apply to Blu-rays, DVDs, comics, vinyl records, books, CDs, video games, and just about everything else, and by living by these five tips, you're collection will be growing in no time.
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Check out more content about Physical Media and collecting from Cereal At Midnight and Heath Holland:
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Visit CeralAtMidnight.com for tons more stuff to keep you up past dawn!

[@jaysony8587]

i will forever do physical media. There's nothing like picking thru a shelf full of awesome movies/video games YOU own. Makes great decoration as well.

[@Derpinurface]

Also great to show your kids things u enjoy

[@steve2275]

ive always been physical copy guy movies books so on and so forth

[@ryeguy2256]

True true

[@knowthycell]

Especially when some of its still sealed!

[@ronhardy6176]

When you prefer not to channel surf and or when your internet company fails you.

[@Diabolik771]

For those who think Netflix is the be all and end all, just remember they are gate keepers and if they don't approve of your movie/cartoon, it's never going to be on there.

[@picobaglama]

Diabolik771 one day they have the movie, the other day it's gone!

[@jtaylor9562]

Diabolik771 That's true, and the content changes all the time too. My belief is that in this disposable age, downloading removes the value from the film. If it's on netflix, you don't think too much about watching it. People are always watching for the first 20 mins, then switch off if it's not grabbing them. You never do that with physical media. Because they take time to choose, you value them more and 9/10 will watch them. People who only own downloads of film aren't film buffs. Simple as that.

[@CentauriStirFry]

Right on

[@scumbucketrix]

I mean, that's kinda true. If you compared a list of your favorite movies to what's available for streaming, I guarantee less than half of them will be on there. They force you to get the DVD option for a lot of the good stuff.

[@GoNova82]

Very well said.

[@myriadpro86]

I love that you expressed the fact that collecting any kind of medium is an expression of yourself. Sometimes people who don't understand why you do this, don't realize why it's really a hobby and why you enjoy it. Great video.

[@Yoshiman2024]

The same people that don't get this are the same people bragging about their book library in their living room. I like both, but a lot of people just can't transfer that thought to other physical media.

[@Corfield81]

what annoys me about them stopping physical media is at any time a online service can stop ...meaning if you don't have your media ( Game, Movie, music etc) downloaded then if this service has stopped hosting it then...its gone. Physical is yours forever, can be used and even kept for future generations

[@adriannn3720]

If it does not have DRM, you can just burn it on a disk, or load it on a USB and back it up on a hard drive, or somehing. Sure, it's not the preferred way, but it works.

[@moskitoh2651]

Optical discs have an intermediate lifespan of 50 years... that is not forever!

[@alvybar2990]

And you’ve predicted it. I try browsing amazing for physical movies now and it’s harder to find what I want because they just list streaming options for Prime Video instead of showing options for Blu-Rays/DVD/s

[@Corfield81]

I won't live another 50 years so thats fine for me, online service can shut down tomorrow@@moskitoh2651

[@bearlineproductions2966]

I love the thrill of the hunt.

[@koleff2541]

I am 18 and l collect rap CDs. I dont care if someone thinks it is weird. I love seeing my favourite artists work. When you respect someone you should pay for their work! Currently l have 40 CDs and l am still expanding the collection. I buy from local sellers or big online stores.

[@trinicade7574]

Blu-rays, DVDs, CDs, Comics, Books, Video Games... You like everything I like.

[@chuckstanley4744]

I will never stop buying my blu rays or cds

[@hopesfairy8613]

Yesssssssssss but am more like a dvds but I won't stop buying my dvds am collecting horror movies on dvd

[@rexsexson5349]

@@hopesfairy8613 me either. I may 41 but still.

[@harryhood8698]

amen Brother

[@steve2275]

44 @@rexsexson5349

[@mariogiresi6792]

Chuck Stanley ...or laserdiscs and vinyl. If a particular media works, why get rid of it? 😊👍🏻

[@postcardperspectives]

The thrill off the hunt is one of the best aspects of collecting and with patience. Great video!

[@MovieGuy0896]

Very true

[@McLovin_2007]

I love physical media, and collect books, VHS, DVD's, and video games. I also think they look great on a shelf. I like the way your collection looks behind you.

[@nickm2483]

I completely agree with tip #5. I collect toys and everything in my collection is something I love. The collection itself isn't really worth much because its mostly made up of items that you can buy fairly easily (e.g. nothing rare or limited edition). I don't care though, I just love looking at the collection and enjoying it.

[@joshalan5125]

As someone who collects comics, Blu-rays, retro games and metal CD's, this was good information that I needed to hear. You have a new subscriber.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

That's really cool, Jack. Welcome aboard the Cereal At Midnight train. We stop in some pretty weird places from time to time, but we always get you where you're going safely and hopefully with a smile on your face!

[@babysisdolls3336]

I am into living off the grid .... physical media is the way to go.

[@themaninawhitecoatandhat7503]

I live off the rails... physical media is the way to go.

[@vikdaddy]

You're in the KZbin comments, you ain't that off the grid

[@510tuber]

Do you have a license? A job? Bank account? I don't think you know what that means.

[@CollectingDustHobbies]

Physical media gives you the best option for playing what you want when you want.

[@Mr49r1681]

I hate streaming! Always be collecting blu rays and dvds!

[@shreyc1]

GOOD TIP: When you’re buying boxsets, buy and outdated version. Mission Impossible 6 film collection is currently around £27, but the 5 film one is £13. The sixth film on its own is £6, so that equals £19 which means you’ve saved £8 for the same films!

[@acquij]

And by now there is a 7th movie on the way. :D This always gets me with box sets in rather loose series like these; they are always likely to produce more movies ... bit different with strict Trilogies like LOTR.

[@markracer3281]

Physical media rocks... And yes, it's the thrill of the hunt when searching in the wild for that special something. Great vid, CaM!!!

[@tomgardner9069]

The reason why I like physical, tangible media is that I've had digital copies that could be lost or corrupted very easily. Trying to get the company you purchased them from to fix the problem takes an act of Congress. Some may say that the same thing may happen to your discs, but my response would be that as long as you maintain the physical media (DVDs, Blu-Ray, 4K, CDs, books, etc.), you will have them for a lifetime. This is especially true now, since a lot of the discs have a 100 year lifespan. If you do have digital copies, some companies charge you an access fee to support their bandwidth in as little as two years after purchase. (Read the fine print; you'll see it in some companies' terms of service. And if one does it and gets by with it, they'll all start doing it.) I truly don't like having to rent something I've already purchased. Physical media is an art in itself. If you look at the covers, there's artwork. If it's a collector's edition or box set, they add to the experience of owning that tangible media. With a lot of the collectible sets, they're meant to be displayed. They surpass standard 4K, Blu-Ray, DVD, etc. by virtue of this interactive presentation. Also, with some of the digital media, you don't get all the bonus features or commentaries included with a physical release. Other places make you pay for the bonus features separately, sometimes paying as much or more for the bonus features as the feature media. (One example of this is Audible sometimes charging the same price for bonus features as they do for their audiobooks through their site. The same content is included in the box with the physical media.) I hate seeing companies like Best Buy and Target downsize/remove their physical media sections on the store floor. There have been many times I have found great releases I had never heard of and thoroughly enjoyed just by browsing the section and seeing a random movie grouped with some of my favorites. It's in the same vein as walking into a movie rental store and being able to see movies that span over a hundred years and just as many genres. You'd see titles you'd never even heard of. Now you go to a kiosk as big as a soft drink machine and generally only see the big-tent releases that have been out for about a year. It's become that way in most of the big box stores, which is truly sad. Movie recommendations online are far easier to dismiss than those compiled by living humans. Search features are often buggy and show you things that you'd never buy in a thousand years. With movies, it's all too easy to dismiss anything out of the ordinary Hollywood productions as just being a mishap in the recommended sections of a site.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Well said, Tom. I agree with everything you said.

[@mraew1865]

I appreciate everything that you have said thank you very much you need to have your own podcast.

[@pandaredemption]

Dig the video dude. I really appreciate that you gave the appropriate attention to being patient about collecting. With all the streaming services we have access to these days, collecting movies and/or music can be expensive and it’s very important to pace yourself so you can find the good deals. Also, nice collection man.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Hey, thanks for taking the time to leave such a nice comment. I appreciate it.

[@CentauriStirFry]

Physical media is freedom

[@folksurvival]

Not if you want to move.

[@Zeeman21]

@@folksurvival my blu ray collection won't stop me to move bro. They will come with me.

[@MetalSamantha]

@@folksurvivalI’ve moved with large physical media collections. Stop being melodramatic

[@ben8447]

I don't know what I am more impressed with. Your DVD collection or your beard. Both is growing before my eyes.

[@giovannideldio]

I love, love physical media. I adore my dvd/ blu-ray collection and will always add to it. I don't care for digital downloads.

[@WelcomeTooo]

I like both media’s....digital for the convenience of on the go and physical for the artwork and touch.

[@davidd4696]

Both should always exist

[@krinklemcwrinkle4741]

Exactly

[@thomasdalton9211]

I rip cds for mobile use and use the physical at home.

[@CameronKiesser]

Physical can survive apocalyptic events.

[@fhood2011]

Cameron Kiesser I downloaded a lot of tv shows on a hard drive for apocalyptic reasons.

[@wutang6020]

Cameron Kiesser and censorship 😉👍🍻

[@Freddy-Da-Freeloadah]

You might want to invest in a faraday cage... IMHO

[@gero3015]

Youll have more things to worry about in an apocalyptic event than not being able to watch your favorite movies lmao

[@CameronKiesser]

@@gero3015 Knowledge and art preservation is very important.

[@stephaniemack176]

I love collecting VHS', DVD's, and Blu-rays. As well as Books and Manga. So many people think that I'm crazy because every single one of those things takes up a lot of space, and you can't carry hundreds of physical books or movies around all the time and they could get damaged. While it's definitely true that yes, the digital in more convenient size wise. There is the problem that you do not own those digital copies, they are merely rentals that could be taken away from you at any time. It's crazy how many people don't know that, they truly think that those digital copies are theirs forever when that is not the case. They always react with shock or disbelief when I tell them that.

[@myimorata7678]

I've collected for a long time. This is a very good video, and collectors should watch it more than once. His #1 tip is so important. If you think your collection is worth a lot of money, think again. The pricey stuff has been found, bought, and currently resides in someone's vault. Don't collect on this basis; you'll just lose your hard-earned dough. Be smart, collect and have fun. This video is right on the money.

[@nathanreddent2427]

I love seeing modern artists releasing music on cassette. Like Dua lip and Taylor. I love how movies come with digital copies but love having a physical collection too.

[@danielponder690]

I've been collecting physical media for years, 7000 cds, 700 dvds and blurays (along with HDDVD, VCD, and VHS, SACD, DVD Audio, some LPs, etc), and around 2000 books along with music stuff, it's really nice having your own library and I value ownership. Have you catalogued your movie/show collection? I have several excel sheets with everything listed, it's tedious but rewarding. Happy finding!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

I have complete databases for all my movies and all my comics. It was definitely a lot of work, but it's nice having it done because I reference that database literally every single day. At some point, I still need to catalog my music collection, which is also pretty large. I'm definitely an advocate for physical purchases and ownership, and it seems like there are tons of us out there. I don't think physical media is going anywhere.

[@danielponder690]

on my movie list I list format as well as major actors, directors, author if based on literature, year, US and UK ratings, as well as film score composer - and year released

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Nice and very detailed! I like it! I'm using the CLZ collector's app for comics and movies. the apps were 15 dollars each, but I have my collection on my phone at all times. I also pay for cloud storage that I can access via computer. I wasn't crazy about paying for such a service, but the upside of it is that I can just scan the barcode with my phone and it automatically retrieves all the details, including the box art. Changes made are uploaded almost instantaneously. So far so good.

[@ltr180]

Daniel Ponder I even love cassette tapes!

[@danielponder690]

I have a small handful as well!

[@keanueraine]

I love collecting physical media. Great video, keep em coming.

[@dfwjac]

I still buy CDs, DVDs and Blurays. If a streaming service stops carrying a program, or inet goes down, or drive fails, there/s nothing like having the media in your hot little hands.

[@JeromeRedBeard]

I started collecting DVDs,Blu-ray’s and comics some months ago and I love it.I think it looks great and I always know where I can find what I’m looking for in my shelf.

[@kathleenallen2046]

Just found and subscribed! I’m 64 and love my physical media. Was lucky enough to snag a signed copy of Mimi the Cannibal Girl recently that made me feel like I just won an Oscar.

[@wutang6020]

I was born in 1971 and one of the main lessons I learned is that no matter how big the company is it can always go bust i.e. commodore, Atari, Betamax 😉👍

[@kathywalker1970]

My husband and I will NEVER quit collecting physical media AND books. We love to be able to handle them and no one will ever take them away one month because they decided to no longer stream it.

[@ashleigh_whatever]

I seem to be pretty lucky when it comes to thrift shops. I got lord of the rings box set for $10 and game of thrones box set for $40 and when I looked it up on store sites it was going for $250. I’m Australian so things are a little more expensive here.

[@chicobiabia]

Ashleigh Nicole theres no better feeling of when you find something you’ve been looking for for super cheap

[@PTMarcoBryant]

What’s it worth now in stralia 🇦🇺

[@phantasm8180]

Physical Media 2019 I STILL LOVE Physical Media

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Me too!

[@balanchuk]

Buy it ....own it forever , stream it and pay every time ....seems like a simple conclusion

[@annedwyer797]

The first tip of "collect what you like" (and also the thrill of the hunt!) is absolutely right on, and that's what art experts/collectors advise too! I like the tip abt checking thrift stores. There's a regional chain in TX called "Nice Price Books" that I'll check out for DVDs/Blue Rays.

[@paradoxxor7770]

Great video! ☺️ I have a closet filled with books, comics, shows, manga, movies & video games. I've been collecting since I was a teenager. It's a nice humble collection. They are organized in alphabetical order separated by: stand alone & series. Again, great video. Thanks for the tips. 👍

[@jay2mg]

im starting out now and point number one is so true...never lose sight why you started. even for me i feel anxious to collect all the movies in the world in one second a nd put them in my shelves in the next second.... but its all about the joy of building it and seeing it everyday evolve and you being the main factor of that grow. another thing for me is like as it grows, i want to turn my house into a museum for everyone to see... and i think thats all ego... its easy to lose sight of the love you have for the collection and to turn into a reason for people to aplause you. i love your channel btw. i watched a few videos before randomly because i see these kind of videos more and more, and just now i watched the shelves video witch i comment...amzing channel keep going

[@itszackempire]

Something I've been doing lately to is looking up video reviews for stuff on KZbin. That's actually how I found your channel. It works great for comics that you might be ordering online, because it's almost like seeing a physical copy of it. Some books I've seen and thought, "I actually don't want to get this now that I've actually seen it".

[@ricardodiaz9805]

Bro preach!! I love collectors that do it for the love, not as a business, I'm a collector myself and I only collect movies I love , because it's like you say , your collection is a branch of your own personality

[@d.christophertatum2936]

My primary rule - focus on getting the best, not the most.

[@kalotwang8768]

Over the past few months I got interested in collecting physical copy of games, and man, this video is really helpful. Hope to see more content like this.

[@MainelyMovies]

Great tips - you’re spot on across the board. Patience is definitely one of the best tips you can give to a physical media collector. There’s always that nagging feeling that you’re going to wait too long and miss something, but that’s where paying attention to news and trends comes into play. You still get caught off guard and burned every now and then, but for the most part if you are staying aware, the long game will pay off. Camelcamelcamel is a great resource and, for blu-ray collecting at least, the news announcements and forums on blu-ray.com are a great place to stay on top of upcoming releases, deals, and soon-to-be OOP discs.

[@davejanes8091]

I agree. Collect what you love. The hunt is a large part of the fun.

[@MovieGuy0896]

Facts

[@MovieGuy0896]

I love the thrill of hunting for movies and video games at thrift stores mainly DVD and vhs.

[@LyricsCrashx3]

also on ebay you have to be careful of bootleg..

[@dohnpeterson133]

I'm a retro game collector... ps1,ps2,Xbox,GameCube are my main course.

[@channelname1562]

This is by far the best video like this that i’ve seen! Good job man, I subbed, totally agree with everything you said

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Hey, thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to let me know you enjoyed it! Hope you dig the rest of the channel.

[@RandallStevenson]

"Collect what you care about" for me, that's the movies and TV I watched in the 80s and 90s, virtually no blind buying involved.

[@dlarge6502]

The thrill of the hunt. I can agree with that! On VCR day 2018 I just happened to walk into a charity shop while at lunch and looked at their 2 VHS decks to realise one of them was a SVHS deck. This has been something I have been hunting for for many years as I want one for VHS to DVD capture. They wanted £5 for it. I took it straight to the till, didnt matter if it worked or not as it was just £5. It works perfectly fine and this model is priced for £200+ on ebay so it was certainly worth hunting. They literally had no idea it wasnt a "normal" VCR.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

I love hearing stories like that! Thanks for sharing.

[@jadchor9036]

Just found your channel in my recommended. This video was awesome thanks for the great tips! I used to collect blurays a lot but stopped a few years back when I decided to switch to digital. But it’s just not the same. I’m starting to get back into my physical movie collection. Started back with a bomb of a deal recently. Picked up the entire bluray set of Dragon Ball Super Parts 1-10 for $130 CAD and the Hobbit and LotR extended edition bluray set for $50 CAD. My all time favourite anime series and movie series now in my physical media collection. So thrilled! Look forward to using these tips going forward :D

[@karac.a.]

I live in a very rural area where we literally can't get internet, and I know a lot of people who can't get high-speed internet. Physical media is a necessity.

[@jesseross6029]

I agree with your "be patient" assessment. I collect a lot of music related media and there was a 9-DVD box set released in 2003 and is now long out of print in both VHS and DVD formats, "Ed Sullivan's Rock n Roll Classics." I checked ebay and Amazon time and time again looking for a reasonable deal. Most ebay sellers wanted over $100 -- sometimes close to $200 -- for the set. Finally I came across someone on ebay who was liquidating old stock and they had it on sale for $25. Like you said, the thrill of the hunt paid off!

[@jackaydostan]

Here is my tip for Ebay, with all buy it now items that are clearly overpriced, i will always message the seller and make him an offer, even if they dont accept your offer, usually they come back with a counter offer thats still lower than the buy it now price listed.

[@anunusualironiccircumstanc2246]

Jack Aydostan yup this work maybe 70-80% of the time.

[@ThePhoenixw68]

But its a mind trick. How many times do you go into Kohls, a pair of pants is $50 and overpriced..they have it for sale at $31.99, then they have. 15% coupon which knocks $4-5 more dollars. You give the buyer an option to haggle, you make them think they're getting the best deal..when the haggling price isn't far off of what you expected it to sell for.

[@ThePhoenixw68]

I purposely overprice things with a negotiable price on ebay and i get more etraffic and clicks as an ebay seller.

[@NotAnotherKuromi]

My tip is to your research, see what price items are selling for & how much it fluctuates. Usually the buy it now price is higher than an auction but if it is more rare or a large bundle auctions can be more... Time researching can save you a lot of money.

[@NotAnotherKuromi]

@@ThePhoenixw68 Yeah... One not everyone realizes so end up paying more than the item is worth, or the seller was expecting, by paying top buy it now price. The commenter was being helpful to those not in the know.

[@Tyler_W]

I've been getting physical graphic novels for a little over a decade. I've gotten a small number of physical movies over the years, but I've been actively byying them for about the last two. If I can find special edition boutique copies of them that are really well made with a bunch of special features and extras, all the better. Never really wanted to have an all-encompassing collection, only a curated one that has all of the stuff I really like and would happily come back to over and over again.

[@florencechestnut2270]

Thank You for sharing this information. I loved collecting physical media comic books, CDs,vinyl, and yes even DVDs. There is something about holding physical media in your hand and knowing you have it. Call me old fashioned but I'm not into the digital stuff I like buying it physical. ☮

[@killabite620]

The reason I collect physical media is because digital won’t always be there. The wii shop channel and UltraViolet closing is exactly why physical media is better.

[@RiderRated18]

Still buying blu rays and dvds, I’ve even started collecting laserdiscs 👍💿📀

[@Excalion88]

Laserdiscs are great, and sometimes the only way to go. For example, The John Wayne flick 'The Alamo' LD box set is the best way to get the original roadshow length movie (other way is vhs). Over time the original print had deteriorated to uselessness and because of it, all subsequent releases were the edited version.

[@d.a.thorndike8772]

THANK YOU for this channel. I have been building my cd/ vinyl and dvd/blu ray collection for over 30 years now!

[@Devilsblood]

I love collecting physical media. Unfortunately I couldn't hold on to my VHS tapes so I gave it to a friend of mine that likes collecting VHS. Maybe I should've sold them but those tapes were collecting dust and I'd rather they be used until worn out than anything.

[@frostychickenprods]

I’m so glad there’s a passionate community out there who are pro physical media especially dvd/ blu Ray

[@1980dbrown]

Started collecting movies at the VHS level in the 90's and haven't stopped. I Haven't moved up to 4K(the older movies don't look much better, the newer movies do, but they mostly are terrible movies), but have well over 5 thousand VHS, laser discs, blu rays and dvds. I get the luckiest when I hit the few remaining record stores. If they have blu rays or dvds they REALLY want to get rid of them as they're focused on their vinyl output. I've found too many to count out of print dvds and blu rays by hitting record stores.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Awesome! I really like the way you put your thoughts on 4K, because I agree: the older movies don't look much better, the newer movies do, but they are mostly terrible movies." What difference does 4K make when we're talking about movies like Storks, The Angry Birds Movie, X-Men Apocalypse, and Justice League? 75% (probably more) of what I watch is decades old, and those old films are never going to compete with today's digitally-shot 300 million dollar SFX epics visually. Literally most movies (tens of thousands of catalog titles) already look better on Blu-ray and even DVD than they ever did on theater screens. Thanks for weighing in, dbrown!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

By the way, it looks like your collection is about double mine. How do you store all your movies?

[@1980dbrown]

Pretty much. Plus, honestly, you would need to have a screen at least 70 inches tall to really notice a supreme difference. I'm not quote to that level on the TV yet, but, again, the older movies don't improve much. Have you seen the original Ghost Busters in 4K? It's like watching a movie you love being torn apart.

[@1980dbrown]

Oh-Boy, storage, now that's a stuggle. Abou the same way you do, various shelves and some drawers. I have my set up in my spare room, bu it's getting crowded.(my girlfriend collects vinyl and CD's). I have to re-figure ou that room at this point. I used to collect horror movie action figures, but I decided to let that go, the passion died mostly anyway, and have mos of it up on Ebay, and what hasn't sold boxed up on the basement....for now.

[@JChannel_]

I like your conversation on the subject. There's just one thing. I collect things I want, but I also collect for a specific series collection of movies that I'm not collecting for value, but rather to be the ONLY ONE who has the collection in it's entirety and in great quality for historical, fandom and future generations. I also want to start a Marvel and DC movies collection in it's entirety for future generations, because I don't understand why no one has thought to do it. I know it'll take a long time, effort and money to do, but I feel like no one's doing it.

[@chefspiral]

Thanks for promoting something I've loved doing for years.

[@TheGhostofLono5586]

Just found your channel and I love it. A couple of my friends give me crap for still collecting physical media. They bring up Netflix, iTunes, ect, But I love the tangible aspect of ACTUAL collecting. I love the search, not knowing what hidden gem may be on the next shelf or hidden at the bottom of bin. Also I don't like the idea of someone/thing curating my collection for me. I greatly appreciate your channel and the work you put into it. Thank you.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Hey, thank you so much. That really means a lot!

[@justicierodelaliga]

I won't ever stop buying physical media. On movies because you get the better quality and extras. On comics because I don't like reading digital and it costs almost if not the same as physical. When DVD was at it's peak I bought almost anything. Not anymore, now I buy on BD but just the movies and series I know I want. As far as deals go... I barely buy new movies at full price. I buy them used on second hand stores. New I wait for Black Friday since they sell them for half the price (in Spain).

[@mark5ization]

Watched this becuz it came up randomly (or not!) on my KZbin ... some good solid advice on collecting this kind of stuff, thanks!

[@ThaatJosh]

I lost all of my physical media in a tornado. I salvaged the disc and used vudu disc to digital to preserve them digitally. I miss the cases, comics and etc...

[@CerealAtMidnight]

That's horrible. I'm sorry.

[@briguy_81]

I love your channel. I have gone completely digital with movies, tv shows, music, and video games. This was a hard choice to make as I am an avid collector of comics and action figures. Because of the amount of room these things have taken up after 32 years of collecting, something had to give. I love the cover art and extra content that comes with physical media. Though I miss a lot of aspects of physical media, your channel lets me live vicariously through you. Thanks

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Thank you! I am slowly embracing digital for books, comics, and music (for non-vinyl), but the movies are the thing that I will probably never go digital with, because the films I tend to be attracted to are so esoteric and obscure, the odds of digital representation for most of my collection is just too scarce. Plus, I love the special features. But it's interesting to see how my own collecting habits have evolved in the few years since I made this video.

[@perryfan49]

I love this video! It is perfect man! I have watched this over the past two weeks probably 10-12 times, seriously! However, I would love to see a part two or a continuation of this but maybe include some rare and/or out of print media as examples.

[@matthewlivingston3168]

I waited years to find or buy a working laser disc player at a reasonable price. One day ebay notified me of a LD player for sale at $65. I bought it and it works fantasic!

[@thedude6105]

I started collecting physical media 4 years ago and I’m proud to say that right now I own 400 bluray’s/ dvds and hoping to collect more and more of the movies and series that I love Physical media will always be my passion going through the shelf’s and picking up things that will stay with me forever and maybe someday when I have kids I’m gonna share it with them

[@sshrul]

Man I agree with everything you said here, that's what my collection is all about.

[@Futuredynamo]

Not that I haven't commented on this video enough already, but I have some thoughts and advice for collecting as well for anyone who may read this comment and give a crap about my 2 cents. My points here go very much hand in hand with some in this video, and in some respects will be similar and even seem the same, but I'm trying to articulate it from a somewhat different perspective that still coincides with those in the video. This may seem like an oxymoron, but of all of the priorities that should go into building a collection, among the lowest ones should the the inherent "goal" of building a collection. In other words, the goals in building a collection shouldn't be about the size/volume of the collection, or "bragging rights." To be clear, there's nothing wrong with taking pride in one's collection and wanting to share that with others, especially like-minded individuals with similar interests. And there's noting wrong to an extent with knowing the amount that you have and mentioning it. But the number should be a peripheral aspect of the collection, not the main focus, goal, or something to "brag" about. Using myself as an example, I do have a sizeable collection of DVDs, Blu-Rays, and video games (systems and the games for them). But the size that my collection has grown to is incidental. I've simply been into these things from an early age. And for the most part I never traded in/sold off my old systems and games (the one or two times I did trade something in, I went on to regret it). Likewise, when I started collecting DVDs in 1998, it was my interest in the content that drove me to it... both in terms of having the content in better quality than VHS, on a format that will likely hold up better than VHS, and with the bonus features and so forth that are included on many releases (I never got into laser-disc mostly because while I was very much aware of it, I was too young during it's hey-day to be in a position to be able to afford collecting the format). Blu-Ray ended up being the next logical extension of that when it came along. I realize that for anyone who never bought/owned much of this stuff in the first place, or had some o it and sold/traded off a lot of it in the past, they don't have the same "advantage" that I have in currently being in possession of a collection that they happy to gradually build over the course of a couple/few decades. Obviously for anyone in that position, to an extent the "building" aspect with be a bit more of a focus than it is for someone like me. But just don't let that overshadow everything else. As advised in the video, do research what is out there (both in the past and what is coming out in the near future), get an idea of what you want, and of course availability and affordability will at least in part dictate which items are given more of a priority. But the point is to stay focused on your interest in the content itself. Even when going after only releases that one is interested in and not buying "everything" out there, it's still easy to fall into a trap of letting the "building" aspect of the collection overshadow one's love of the content, itself. I see a lot of this these days, especially in retro game collecting. Whether people are going after a complete collection of every game released for a given console (which I don't know why in god's name anyone would want to do that, given that even in among the consoles that have the best ratio of good to bad games released for them, they will still include a lot of crap) or just certain specific games that they want, people get so caught up in the "collecting" aspect of it that they burn themselves out, and in many cases get tired of it, wonder why they collected it in the first place, and end up selling off some or all of the collection. Whether you are someone who ultimately wants to get any and all of the movies and TV shows that you enjoy that have been released on DVD or Blu-Ray, or you are someone who doesn't feel the need to have a huge collection and you just want some absolute favorites, keep your focus on the content that you want and enjoy. As your collection builds, there's nothing wrong with being proud of it, but it shouldn't be about the number/size itself. Pace yourself, focus on the content, and don't go in so deep so fast that you lose sight of why you started to begin with.

[@Futuredynamo]

Another thought on this as well... A lot of great advise is given in this video about being patient for the more expensive/hard to find stuff, and how to get really great deals at yard sales, pawn shops, etc. And there is nothing wrong with buying used/second hand, as long as what you buy is in good condition. I'm not one of those who by any means feels that buying media used/second hand is "ripping off" the studios. That being said, though, it's still a good idea that when and where possible, reasonable, and applicable, to buy DVDs and Blu-Rays new directly from major retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, etc., or from specialty retailers that release some titles like Shout Factory, Warner Archive, etc. I say this because with digital distribution constantly growing and physical media sales declining, the physical side of things needs all of the support and first-hand sales it can get. Whether you've been collecting for years or are just starting out, if you care about being able to continue to buy physical media releases in the future, especially of obscure content/ catalog titles, the studios need to see that support now. An on that last note, if you are going to pick and choose what titles to by brand new and which to buy used, if you are going to limit your new purchases due to cost, it's actually better if you buy catalog/obscure releases new (when possible) than the latest Marvel or Star Wars movie. Not that there's anything wrong with buying a Marvel or SW movie new (I do so frequently), but those are the releases that are going to sell a lot of units new no matter what, so a handful of people not buying them new and waiting to get them used at a discount won't have much of an impact. By contrast, when Shout Factory, for example, releases a collector's edition of an older catalog title, or even if Mill Creek puts out a budget-release of an older catalog titles... those are going to sell significantly less units overall than those brand new major blockbuster films will. So each sale that those older/obscure releases do get will go much farther to support future releases than if that money was instead spent on adding one more sale to a huge movie that's already selling craploads of copies. The same goes for more obscure/older TV releases than brand new ones on physical media (though TV shows on DVD/Blu-Ray in general need all of the support they can get, even for the newer stuff.... thanks to streaming and on demand, sales for those sorts of releases have taken a huge hit over the last few years). To be clear, I'm not saying that anyone should prioritize spending more on new releases to the point of over-extending themselves financially and putting this over far more important things. But where possible and reasonable within the realm of the disposable income that one does have, supporting those releases will go a long way to help keep more coming out.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

That's a good point about buying new versus used. Personally, I find so much to be out of print these days that I didn't even think about that. I mean, I buy new media all the time (like practically daily), but the real rewards for me come from hunting in obscure places. But your comment has made me realize that's because I have all the mainstream stuff I want and am in a more esoteric level of collecting (read: I'm eccentric). Still, yes, if something can be bought cheaply from a major outlet like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, etc, support that first and foremost. Great point.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Plus, old catalog stuff from Mill Creek and even Shout Factory can be obtained incredibly cheaply. I buy pretty much everything Mill Creek puts out these days. They've actually become one of my favorite distributors. Like a really cool garage rock band putting out great indie music. Here's an example of my collecting from just the past seven days, in case this helps anyone: this week in the US, Best Buy was running a buy one get one free sale on about 30 titles. I picked up Superbad, Labyrinth, Taxi Driver, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind for a total of 20 bucks before tax. Three of them came with digital copies (Superbad did not). While I was there, I noticed Zero Dark Thirty was on sale for 5 bucks, so I snagged that too. It also came with a digital copy. Later in the week, I was visiting Blu-ray.com and saw that they had a movie I've been wanting to see, "Hitch Hike" by Italian director Pasquale Festa Campanile, on sale at Amazon, so I ordered it. I also snagged "Working Girl" starring Melanie Griffith and Harrison Ford for $5.99. I found all of those deals by doing my research. I got great prices (each and every one of those physical media purchases was way cheaper than their digital-only counterpart), but also supported the studios releasing these products. This week, Paramount is finally re-releasing the first 8 Friday the 13th films, which have been out of print for several years. I'll be picking that one up too, even though I have six of the eight movies on Blu-ray and ALL of them on DVD. I want to vote with my wallet that we want this kind of content on disc. amzn.to/2E09aVV Question: if I highlighted physical media deals at CerealAtMidnight.com by having a weekly feature about stuff that I personally think is worth picking up, would anyone be interested? KZbin wouldn't be the place for that, as the deals would only be temporary. Is anyone even going to CerealAtMidnight.com? It could be a good way for me to help highlight the great physical media deals happening all the time, and it could also help the site out by me putting up some affiliate links.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

By the way, thanks for adding your two cents. Some of this was covered in an earlier version of the video, but got cut. This video was originally 35 minutes long. I had to cut almost 20 minutes to make it easier to watch and to flow better for the general KZbin audience, but I appreciate the level of discussion we're all having here. This is exactly what I want for Cereal At Midnight. Community is super-important to me.

[@Futuredynamo]

There's nothing wrong with shopping in obscure places, getting out of print items, etc. Unless the only thing someone wants is the most mainstream stuff, you pretty much HAVE to do that these days. But it's just when the option does exist, buying from the bigger retailers does help the continued support of physical overall. And thanks for appreciating my comments. I know I've commented a lot. I didn't want it to come across the wrong way by any means. :) BTW I made a nice purchase just a little while ago at Walmart. At the end of last year, the earlier seasons of South Park (1 through 11) were released on Blu-Ray in HD and in widescreen. I've been wanting to upgrade them (I have those on DVD), but they've been hovering at about $30 for each set and that's a lot of money to drop. I've been periodically checking websites for and sales/deals on them. At one point a few weeks ago when checking Best Buy's site, there was a listing for a not-yet-released single set containing seasons 1-5 on Blu-Ray for about $40. There was no image of the set, it wasn't yet available to preorder, and a few days later, the listing disappeared entirely (which isn't the first time that I've seen that kind of thing happen on their site in general). While bumming around the movie section at Walmart today, sitting there on the shelf was the Blu-Ray set of Seasons 1-5 for $39.96. It's in single 10 disc case. To be honest, ascetically I would prefer the individual releases to match up better with seasons 12 and on (which is the point when the show started getting Blu-Ray releases). But since this was about $40 plus tax instead of about $150 plus tax, I wasn't going to argue, and it will take up less shelf space, which is at a premium these days at it is. ;)

[@JChannel_]

I started collecting movies during the 90s VHS, and it took me a while to flip to DVD and then BluRay. I started obviously collecting movies I was obsessed with, but now I'm also looking for specific titles I need for a specific collection I'm building. I'm in a stage where I'm cataloging what I have and looking to see what I'm willing to sell and what I want to keep for my I love movies collection. The rest I'm buying on digital when at a deal price, I never buy full price. I'm not a fantastic collector because it took me a while to wake up to the full scope of the movie community, the studio and store shop game and thinking about the long term of my collection. So I've now realized I have titles I don't really care for so I'm going to sell them at some point. I'm mostly focused on one major collection and the movies I love collection.

[@TheIgnoredGender]

I've been trading in tons of DVDs for store credit and I've gotten some good blu-rays (incuding a 4K title) for free using the store credit.

[@CerealAtMidnight]

I used to do a lot of that but found that I really missed having a lot of the titles I'd traded after a while. I've spent a lot of time trying to get some of that stuff back. But then, there's some of it that I haven't thought twice about.

[@TheIgnoredGender]

Yeah, I'll trade it in if I know I won't need it. If it's a DVD that has menu screens I love, special features that didn't port over to blu-ray, or has collectible packaging, I'll keep those.

[@bennyshambles]

That’s technically not free. You could get (at a lower percentage) cash or store credit for the DVDs/Blu-rays you brought in to sell, but either way, you’re not getting anything free.

[@slenderfoxx3797]

@@bennyshambles I never trade in things. To me I always see it as a lose for you...unless theres a really great store out there lol. Like trading in an old phone to save some money on a new one. I find that so dumb you spent twice or triple or quadruple the amount on the older phone than you save on your new phone. Plus you also lose your old phone. Have to transfer over all your data and waste space on a new phone. And then you also dont have a backup device which is really handy sometimes.

[@jeremyguthro]

#3 is SUCH an important tip Heath! I've fallen victim myself to not being patient buying something online, and I've definitely been shafted more than a few times. Lesson learned lol. I find when I'm buying movies, I usually try to take advantage of the least risky deal. For example, I've been looking for copies of Bringing Out The Dead with Nicolas Cage and Ghosts Of Mississippi with Alec Baldwin and James Woods for a LONG time, and I was not comfortable with the prices on Amazon to purchase them on DVD ($19.99 each was the cheapest offer for them lol). But as luck would have it, a Value Village close to my town had a copy of Bringing Out The Dead on VHS tape for 99 cents, and one of the employees literally had it on her cart ready to take to the shelves lol. I picked it up that afternoon, watched it that night, and LOVED it (and the tape itself was in awesome condition!) So now that I KNOW I enjoyed it and want it in my collection, I will keep my eyes open for it on DVD to upgrade, and if I can't find it, that's alright too because I STILL got it on VHS tape in my collection for a steal! :)

[@hekstoo5988]

Still looking for my needles in the haystack for years "Dreadnaught" and "Spooky Encounters" ☹️

[@AlexWeberg]

#5 is exactly me. I like getting physical copies of CDs, Blu Rays and Comics. I have most movies and some comics digitally but if I really like it then I'll make sure to get a physical copy of it. I have the old VHS box set and a Blu Ray collection of the OT Star Wars. I recently picked up the steelbook for John Wick Chapters 1 thru 3. One of the many CDs I have is a 20th Anniversary of Soundgarden's Superunkown. If I have a physical copy of it then it definitely means a lot to me. Everything else is digital.

[@sanchez.mg3234]

Well I collect only Blu-Ray‘s (and Steelbooks) because I dont care for DvD‘s I allways go to (sadly) closing video rentals and buy the Blu-Ray‘s for 3bugs or I buy them From Ebay and some from amazon like New movies.

[@kingsofcobra]

I collect steelbooks as well. I've got 120 of them!! I also collect games, comics, arcade fight sticks, toys, and watches

[@7554EdwardG]

Great advice and heartily agree that once collecting turns into a stressful thing and the fun has gone it's time to examine why you started out in the first place!

[@JP-fg2vo]

I love collecting my books physically

[@Robert-hc4vu]

I'm a new subscriber and I'm loving your videos, especially your physical media content. I'm with you all the way, physical media for the win! Also, your intro rocks!

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Welcome, and I'm glad you're enjoying the channel!

[@CKT1138]

Duuuude original Xbox games are soooo cheap! It's a steal! Also it's the perfect time for CD collecting, because the rarer releases are still affordable because people are hyped over vinyl

[@nikolajmadsen1002]

I have begun a DVD and vinyl collection about a year ago, and I really love it. I like having it in my hands, I only buy my favourite albums and movies so I can rewatch then all the time, and not forget them. Because I feel like I would forget some movies or albums if I didn't have them physically

[@AllThingsDalek]

Great video. I always fall into that trap of instantly buying something rare on eBay that I haven't seen in ages. I'll wait for the best deals in future 😂

[@CerealAtMidnight]

It's always tricky with rare stuff, but I'm kind of stubborn, so I always wait for a better deal. Waiting has turned around to bite me a few times, too, and things have gone out of print or disappeared completely. It's kind of like gambling or playing the stock market. Good luck!

[@dannihurley128]

Ik this is two years late but as a teenager trying to start collecting this video helped me out so so much and I can't thank you enough

[@CerealAtMidnight]

Awesome, Danni! If Cereal At Midnight can offer any more help, let us know!

[@liamlang6604]

For someone who is kinda new to collecting movies, especially horror movies, theese tips helped me alot!

[@thomasneufeld2035]

I don’t mind paying higher prices for movies that are released by notable companies like criterion ,arrow or scream Factory. I like supporting physical media and the continued preservation of films especially when they are so thoroughly released

[@iceWaterProductions1]

I’m not stopping collecting physical media it’s a addiction starting back in 1983 and continually month after month with no gaps.

[@charliemare8363]

The DVD cover art can be a deal breaker for me. The new cover art that looks like a comic book cover is a big turn off. I will put a purchase on hold until I can get it in a cover I really like.

[@ayunkhan2395]

Great tips dude! Thats a very wise set of tips for collecting physical media. I've been a collector from the get-go. But I switched to digital media in late 2016. I continued to collect digital media for more than a year but then I thought that this isnt it. People lose sight of the actual art of movies when they take movies for granted on streaming services or on digital. They dont appreciate them well enough. Over here in Pakistan, the physical media industry is dying. Like literally. There was this hugeass store from where I used to buy DVDs EVERYDAY during my school years. But in 2018, I visited that store after so Many years and the store owner recognized Me even after 6 years. That was the greatest feeling ever. I bought 6 DVDs that day for something which is equivalent to $6 US. I made a mistake that day, upon meeting that owner and saying our greetings, I askd such a stupid question: "Do people even buy these anymore?". Even though I myself had bought 6 DVDs from him. There was a silence in the room for a moment. And then he said "Yea, its doing ok for now". Boom, I go to the place days later and its closed forever. Ever since then, I've resumed my collection.

[@harryhood8698]

Its cheaper to buy the cds anyways

[@CasaD18Studios]

Physical media is everything to me. I often hit up Thrift stores, Dollar Tree, Big Lots, the $5 Bin at Walmart, just to see what I can find.

[@harpalchauhan428]

Love bluray steelbooks and limited edition and 3D SMH

[@CerealAtMidnight]

It's great that you do!

[@riverguy75]

1:50min "Buy the stuff you collect that you care about". So true!!! I collect what I like and grew up watching and reading and share my collections w/ friends and family. Some if it they like, some of it they don't and that's totally fine. Everyone has their own likes and interests. As long as we can all come together and share our lives w/ one another, the world is a better place. : D Thanks for all your great vids!!!

[@thebossman80s]

You have DVD’s mixed with blurays on your shelf! That’s a big no no in my house

[@CerealAtMidnight]

To each their own!

[@luvintheacoustic]

I agree, hurts me seeing that

[@d.a.thorndike8772]

Ya gotta keep 'em seperated!

[@mizaelboligan5431]

Digital media doesn't feel the same !!! There is something magical about physical media, just having a dvd or a bluray in your hands it's something completely extraordinary.

[@MovieGuy0896]

I agree

[@SegaCDUniverse]

Digital media blows, it's just renting. You are at the whim of the service and whether they want you watch/play it. Physical media has made somewhat of a comeback with records, people will hopefully always want physical media. I need it in my hand and want tangible goods.