I buy DVDs because I like having a form of the movie/show that’s independent of whatever my computer and my internet connection might do. If my computer dies, I don’t need to re-download or re-install anything. If my internet connection goes down, I still still use the disc to watch it.
This:
My reasons exactly, Although I’d add Amazon and Hulu, even Fandango, as well as Netflix as to incomplete availability so as to make DVDs a necessary addition to my “library”.
We live in a rural part of Ohio, and our DSL is very slow. I have tried streaming, but it just doesn’t work. I also love to watch movies on Friday and Saturday nights. My solution? It’s not exactly cheap: when I want to watch a movie, I simply buy the DVD or (preferably) Blu-ray from Amazon. It usually arrives two or three days later. We watch it, and then I put it in storage.
So I currently own a few thousand DVD/Blu-ray discs. 
Most were watched once. I need to get rid of them some day. Not sure how best to do it.
What about Netflix DVD delivery for $8 a month?
Well, I just bought game of thrones, a boxed set of all but the last season on Blu-ray. So yes. This was a cost-effective way to get access to it, and I don’t have to worry about whether whatever service I’m using decided to drop it before i get to the end. I’m enjoying some of the extras, but that’s just gravy.
Never heard of it. I’ll look into it.
It’s quite good; the US Postal Service is remarkably efficient. Plus it has a massive library of discs. Probably the most extensive DVD/Bluray collection on earth.
Netflix was famous for years before it ever streamed a single show. The founder was annoyed by late fees from Blockbuster so he created his own DVD rental service to compete with it, with two key differences: Mail the discs instead of opening brick and mortar stores so you can service the entire country, and no late fees of any kind, ever.
Years later they decided to get into the streaming market. Technically, I think that sentence would more accurately read as “They decided to create the streaming market.” The DVD service has been the redheaded stepchild ever since, but there are still several million of us who subscribe.
Yes, for two reasons:
One, for special features (commentaries, deleted scenes, that sort of thing) that will almost certainly never be available streaming.
Two, for TV series that can switch from one streaming service to another without notice. When is Futurama on? Whenever I want.
Netflix used to be amazing for DVDs. Nobody ever came close. Now I’ve got a couple of dozen titles in queue essentially marked as lost not going to be replaced either. That and getting discs that are cracked means I just use Netflix for streaming.
I still buy DVDs and BlueRays for the reasons others have cited, convenience, extras, image quality, and getting titles that streaming services don’t carry. I bought a few DVDs many years ago that you can’t get anymore and I am glad I did. I am less glad about all the other DVDs I bought at the same time though.
I prefer owning to renting.
Plus the other reasons mentioned: extras on the disc; independence from the Internet/computer/bandwidth considerations; not having to worry about the service dropping the movie or show; better picture quality.
The DVD service still has an order of magnitude more titles than the streaming service. Of the 95 available DVDs in my queue, only 12 are available to stream on Netflix.
I do. A lot of old (like, silent) films just aren’t available on streaming. I periodically weed them, though, because there is a physical limit on how many I can store. It’s like books. I have an e-reader, but if it’s a book I really want to have fore re-reading purposes, I prefer the physical object.
I do.
Streaming is neither reliable nor permanent, and the resolution suffers on the streamed content I’ve seen.
I still buy dvds, much the same way I still buy books despite having hundreds on my Kindle. And while streaming’s great if you love big hits like Friends or The Big Bang Theory, you’ll have a tougher time watching Pushing Daisies, Daria or John Doe whenever you want. And I buy all the MCU movies because I know we’ll reach a point where Disney makes them inaccessible unless you surrender to their clutches in some way.
I never really bought DVDs en masse. I have maybe 20 of them and a couple boxed sets. I did subscribe to Netflix DVD for a while, and was very sad when it got to be too expensive.
I did start buying some of my favorites on BluRay, though. Mostly when they come up on sale on Amazon. I buy them for the higher quality than you get with streaming, the extras, and the permanent availability.
I voted never did, since over the years that DVDs have been out I’ve bought at most a dozen, not counting some I got as presents. Pretty much Kubrick and Marx Brothers. And most from used DVD stores. I only have one BluRay, 2001.
I have zero desire to get more.
My main reason was the special features, which aren’t usually available on streaming.
That said, I rarely do this anymore, but I was reluctant to vote in the poll, as the reason is that I don’t really watch much of the stuff that comes on disk anymore. I’m much more into Internet video, and only watch a handful of even traditional TV shows, let alone movies. I don’t even have a working TV in my house anymore.
Also, I would more often rent or borrow (or even pirate) because money is tight.
I have a few videotapes and DVDs kicking around, but I find I only watch them if we have a prolonged internet outage (i.e., very rarely).
I occasionally buy used DVDs on eBay for movies and shows not available on the streaming services that I subscribe to. Most recently the TV series Alias, which isn’t available to stream anywhere as far as I can tell. I also sometimes borrow disks from the local public library and Redbox.
I buy DVDs for the bonus features, but now that many digital downloads include them I’ve been buying less than I once did.