Help, we need a DVD player

[luvsgrumpy]

Hey everybody, I know many of you own DVD players. My question is should I just get a really inexpenseve one (less than $50) and maybe have to replace it in a couple of years or try to buy one that is more costly? I should mention, we are on a VERY tight budget this year. (Layoffs, etc.) We need to keep our VCR since we have so many videos, mostly Disney I must say. The kids are getting a few DVD's from Santa so I need to get one by x-mas. Any ideas on brands? Thanks a bunch, I really hate all the research. I prefer hearing others experiences!

Happy Thanksgiving

 

[frannn]

You might be able to get an off brand DVD/VCR combo for around 50, or just a plain 'ole dvd player for less. I saw on the Black Fri website discussed here recently (maybe gottadeal.com?) a really cheap dvd player- like 20 or 30. Walmart has lesser expensive electronics as well.

 

[cgcruz]

Honestly, unless you have a High Definition TV and you want a DVD player with progressive scan or have a 5.1 digital audio sound system, any DVD player will be good. Movies look the same in all players. The only thing that i'd be concerned about is the disc tray (were you put the actual disc). Sometimes they are very fragile. You just have to be careful.

 

[ntburns22]

We buy a "cheap" one every couple years because that is all they last for us. But with 2 young children I would rather not have a high end player in our house just yet.

 

[staci]

Buy a cheap one. We got a nice semi expensive one at Best Buy a few years ago, of course it broke after 12.5 months and we didnt buy any extended warrenty. So I told dh to go to wally world and get the absolute cheapest one, he did, and 2.5 years later, still going strong.

 

[staci]

depending on how crunched for cash you are, dh friend got little dvd player at a pawn shop for $20, it worked just fine for him. this time of year, unfortunately, people may be pawning more things for heating and christmas.

 

[ducklite]

For the most part a DVD player is a DVD player. I'm not sure that I'd trust one under $50 to last long, but you can definitely get a good one for under $100.

Anne

 

[Princess Nancy]

Go cheap!!!!! Try Sam's Club ir Costco the next couple of weeks or watch for a deal for Black Friday. I bought ours last Christmas at Sam's for $30. Magnavox and still going strong!!!! The cost fro repair on these items is so expensive they are basically disposable!

 

[crazelion]

Check the sales for a cheap DVD player. I know Rex Electronics had one for 20.00 dollars a week ago. I bought my DVD players at Wal-mart for under 30.00 dollars last year they is still going strong.

If short of cash go with the one that's cheapest until get back up on your feet.

 

[florida2005]

IMHO, with these things there is no middle ground. If you want the very latest technology (eg HD DVD player) then you pay a lot for that. If you dont ,then pay as little as possible.

Its not worth buying in the middle price range. You may get a better user interface but they go out of date so quickly.

 

[dbarker]

Check out the deals for Black Friday. Many of the stores have DVD players for very good prices. Just be up very early to get them. Try the "gottadeal" and "bf2005" websites for details.

If I needed or wanted one this year, I would snag one of the cheap ones. I have never bought the higher priced VCRs or DVD players. However, I do watch brand names. There is one brand that is horrible. But, all I saw in the BF ads were "good" brands. So, happy shopping next Friday. You'll be happy you did.

 

[Leader of the Club]

In my experience, DVD players last about 18 months. Whether we pay hundreds of dollars or tens of dollars for one, it only lasts about 18 months. We currently have 3 in the house.

I would avoid the DVD/VCR combo. Again, in my experience, a VCR can last for many years and the DVD portion will go bust in about 18 months leaving you with a VCR and no DVD player.

so, GO CHEAP!

 

[luvsgrumpy]

Thanks so much everybody. I think I will just go the "cheap" way. If there are any other suggestions, let me know. It's good to have another opinion against the DVD/VCR combo. That was my original thought but I have heard not so good things about them too. Thanks again!

 

[ckret01]

I just bought a portable DVD player that you hook up to your TV at Best Buy for $39. I saw a VCR / DVD player at Walmart roday for $59.

 

[CarolA]

I have purchased two VCR, DVD combos over the past few years. Both of them work well, BUT the DVD players get very little use.
I would go cheap... In a few years you can upgrade to DVD Recorder for next to nothing the way those are dropping.

 

[tinan]

We have had both a high end dvd player as well as a cheap Daewoo from Sam's Club and I must admit the $40 Daewoo has well outdone the expensive high end Sony we bought! We bought the Daewoo's for my parents as well as my MIL and theirs are still going strong. I know my MIL's is used on a daily basis for hours on end. I think she's had hers now for at least 3 years now. Cheap from now on for us

 

[WaltD4Me]

Go cheap! I got my DVD player over a year ago at Walmart for $35 and it still works great!

Circuit City had a Cyberhome DVD player in their ad today on sale for $39 from $49 and it comes with a $15 mail-in rebate, so it would only be $25 after the rebate. I am probably going to get one for me niece tomorrow.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

The SuperFresh in my area is selling an off-brand DVD player for $29.88. I think that I may pick one up for the TV in the guest bedroom. I bought one last year at Target's Black Friday sale and it works better than the expensive DVD/VCR that I bought several years earlier.

If money is tight right now, then I think buying a cheap DVD player is the way to go. You don't feel so bad when a $25 piece breaks down on you. When that $300 state-of-the-art contraption stops working, you just want to scream at yourself for spending all that money.

 

[we3disneygo]

We got ours at Sam's Club last year it was under 30.00 and we have never had a problem with it..... I bet on Friday there will be some in the ads. a cheap one will be just fine.

 

[Shagley]

I would agree with going for a cheap one. My sister bought a $250.00 Sony, and it went out after 18 months, and was too expensive to have it fixed. We replaced it with a $30.00 one at Walmart, and have used it for the last 3 years with no problem.

Also, you can get a cheap one for now, and replace it with a more expensive one in a few years when you are in a better financial situation.

I did see that Walmart has a VCR/DVD combo for $59.00 (right now), I'm not sure if that will go cheaper on Friday or not.