DVD Collection Size - Questions

I now have over 700 DVDs (and almost 750 CDs). My wife has pretty much had it with the "clutter". I am toying with the idea of going to legal downloads for movies, but I think the technology and expense are still prohibitive. So for now, I am continuing to compile DVDs. Couple questions:

1) What is the average collection size out there?

2) What is the best way to catalog your DVDs? I have tried a few of the catalog sites and have been a bit frustrated.

3) What is the best way to sell the DVDs you no longer want and get a decent price, without a ponderous listing process?

Thanks.

You ever thought of opening your own rental store. That's alot of DVD's. This just an idea, buy 3 multi DVD disk players that hold about 400 disks each, bridge them together and take all the covers out of the holders and put them in album books according number or alphabetical order with the players. It's just an idea.

[Post edited by tony1569 on Dec 3, 2007]

750 DVDs isn't all that bad. 700 CDs to go with it is still pretty average. When you get to about 2000 of each, then you'll have some storage issues.

1) I've got right around 350. I've seen a lot larger and a lot smaller.

2) I use a couple different sites: here (of course), DVD Spot and DVD Af.

3) Personally, I use Half.com and occasionally the local used disc shop.

Jason

I use DVD Spot and DVDAF as well. Those are really the best in terms of websites.

If you're interested in software, I use the programs from Collectorz (http://www.collectorz.com) to catalog both my DVD and comic book collection. There's also DVD Profiler (http://www.invelos.com/).

-Will

i have about 300. i use those tower looking aluminum holders, that hold about 50 movies each... so have like 6 of those. some are strait and some that look like an S curve. (fiance loves those.)

i like those because i can stick 'em in corners, and hang em in the wall. also i can tell when a dvd is missing. i just organize them however i please.

I've used DVD Profiler for years, and have every disk case spine labeled with the auto-generated sequence number. They're arranged by number on shelving. I created several custom reports that I print off in various orders (such as by title, genre, director, etc.) listing at minimum the title and the sequence number. I keep the reports in a binder that I have in my HT room. It's a great way for visitors to browse your collection to decide what movie they want to see.

[Post edited by Skyhawk on Dec 3, 2007]

One of my cousins once visited the house and looked at my CD collection in the living room. The CDs are in a specially built oak bookcase, a bit more shallow than a normal bookcase, with shelves spaced for CD height. Anyway, when he saw the collection, over a thousand discs, he was amazed that I had arranged them alphabetically (most are classical, sorted by composer, the pop stuff separate at the bottom, also alphabetized but by artist). He couldn't believe that people would go to the trouble of alphabetizing their collection. Presumably, he simply has his own collection thrown on the shelves at random. I mean, how do you find anything among a thousand discs if they aren't alphabetized or ordered in some way?

Same with my movie collection in the TV room, about 800 discs and an additional number (but far less) of tapes, also in oak bookshelves, and also alphabetized.

John

I have about 500 DVDs. I used to have them stored in bookcases alphabetically, but now it's becoming tougher and tougher to keep it going. I think I might just make a list and put numbers on the movie cases.

For my CDs, I have the Pioneer 300 CD Jukebox, so I have them all inside the player.

I am more of a movie aficionado than a musical one. Therefore, I obviously have more movies than CDs. I have over 350 which I admit is rather sparse to most collections. I too like DVD spot for cataloging DVDs. You can find pretty much any DVD out there and those that you can not find you can request to have added (you provide the information) and the DVD is added within a day or two. As for selling, I recommend Amazon. It's free to list and the only fee is taken from Amazon as a small commission for any sale made.

I have around 240+ titles, and I use DVD AF (josekalel.dvdaf.com) for keeping up with it.

As for the physical storage I am using 3 regular $30 shelves from Walmart and I tend to divide them into series (like Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, James Bond, Terminator) by director (Scorsese, Spielberg, Stone) by TV Series/Genre (Simpsons, all superheroes like Batman, JLA, Superman), all of these at the top two or three shelves...and the rest, alphabetically, below the series...and for the ones that I don't really like, I'm leaving at the very bottom horizontally , shame for them, lol...

I still don't plan to sell any, but I think if amazon doesn't work, I might give them to family (too bad I only have R1...)

I am 20, live at home with parents and I have about 1000 DVDs. This is in my bedroom alone. I am pretty much out of room. When me and my girlfriend get our own place I'll have my own little storage room finally. A good place to sell is Amazon. Also...if you have a big list of stuff you wanna get rid of list here. Let me know. Im always interested in buying used stuff.

Ive got over 600 DVDs compared to around 40-50 CDs.....it doesnt help that my car CD player doesnt work so I usually download through itunes

Quote:
I mean, how do you find anything among a thousand discs if they aren't alphabetized or ordered in some way?

LOL, John you made me think about a girl I used to date. She came over to my apartment once and was looking at my DVD collection. I started explaining that they were organized by Genre, Sci Fi, Drama ETC, Then they were alphabetized. She looked at me and said

"What are you Blockbuster?"

I have 2, 014. NO LIE!

I use here & dvd spot.

According to DVD Spot, I have 1232 titles, and 1340 movies (box sets). I was planning to get custom shelving made, but actually found that I could buy the higher-end Billy bookcases at IKEA with extra shelves and DVDs fit perfectly with very little wasted space. The better Billys have more pegs for adjustable shelves. I have a very large room where my HD projector and screen are, so I had lots of room for shelves. I also have 3 more shelves at the other end of the room where I have 1000 CDs that I rarely listen to any more. If you are hard up for space, I know a guy who has all of his discs in portable disc holders that hold 200+ discs, and his cover art is in the same order (alphabetic) in large binders with sheet protectors. He can store it all on one shelf. I think he sells the cases on ebay in large lots.

As for selling, if it is a title in high demand, sell on ebay. You will probably get more than anywhere else, and if it's something rare, while you may be able to list it at a higher price on Amazon, you may wait forever for it to sell. If it is very recent, Amazon marketplace is a good bet. You'll get more than you would at a used DVD store. Otherwise, I sell to The Beat Goes On and Blockbuster here in Canada. This is why I haven't rented in years. I buy used, and I sell back the ones I don't like, and it often costs less than renting. Plus, with renting, if you decide to buy it, you have to pay the rental fee plus the cost to buy.

Thre IKEA Billy bookshelves are fantastic. I have about 400 DVDs andf HDDVDs, alph by title in three 31.5x79" combined shelf units. The shelves can be adjusted to 8.25 or 6.75" which fit both standard and hd cases perfectly. I have books in the middle shelves and my wife has some decorative glassware on some of them. Mine are white but I believe they now come in colors. You can also get them with glass doors, etc. Very nice. I have room for at least 1000 more on these units alone. These shelves make a real nice display.

Words of caution:

**They are heavy. Pick them up at the store of the shipping costs will send you to the poor house. You will need 3 or 4 people and a truck.
**You will need 3 or 4 people to put them together. They are not difficult but they are big and heavy.
**Bolt them to the wall and make sure they are level. They come with brackets.
**Have your beers AFTER you put them together!

I have this same problem, owning about 500 DVDs. This is what I'm doing, I found DJ cases for holding catalogs of CDs. I don't really need my DVD cases, but I will probably still keep them and just put them in boxes in the attic. Anyway, the DJ cases come with sleeves (numbered 1-1000) and each sleeve holds 2 discs.

This is where I found them:
http://stores.ebay.ca/Tek-Xpress

They have smaller ones that hold 500 too.

I only have 77ish DVDs and HD DVDs. I put them into a leather dvd case that holds 200 DVDs (costs about $15.00) I put the cases in a box and put them under the stairs. It is easier to flip through a leather case than 700 DVDs on a shelf or pile. And in a case they are very portable!
http://www.supermediastore.com/cd-dvd-wallet-wallets-cd-holders-cd-storages-organizer-epv-328.html
I use something like this!
Put it beside the couch. But in your case you will need more than one!

[Post edited by Ironbull on Mar 15, 2008]

I'm glad you guys posted about these IKEA Billy cases as I have been looking for some kind of shelving for my movies. Right now they're stacked all over my home theatre rack so it doesn't look good at all. IKEA here I come!

Can you post the links to your collections?

http://josekalel.dvdaf.com

I like the software at www.invelos.com. I've been playing around with it since you guys posted about it. The only thing I cannot figure out is "can you search for a movie by actor name somehow?" Thanks for your help.

Currently I am using ReaderwareVW (http://www.readerware.com/). You can download an evaluation version but if you buy you will get free updates.

I am also working on my own software in my spare time.... who knows when I will actually finish it.

Quote:
I'm glad you guys posted about these IKEA Billy cases as I have been looking for some kind of shelving for my movies.

Falcon, I was rummaging in the Walmart electronics/movie section one day and noticed these glass* tal poles stackable DVD shelves that were really cheap. You get 3 glass shelves, 8 of these little metal poles, 4 feet, and 4 end caps. It all just screws together really simply. The brand name is "Vue", and each fits 40 DVDs once assembled. I thought the picture on the box looked pretty slick, so I bought one just for fun. *

After getting it together, I got an idea. If I had many of them, I could ignore the directions and make it a Lego project, and build myself a cool looking assembly with different sized spaces, and exercise a bit of creativity. So I bought 5 more, bringing the total to 18 glass shelves all tied together with 48 of those metal pole dividers. They have 3 left at my local Walmart location, and I think I'll buy the last 3 tomorrow. Once I'm done and happy with the ever expanding unit, perhaps I'll post a pic here.

I live in New Orleans, and BEFORE Hurricane Katrina, I had about 1000 DVD's, 1500 cd's, and about the same in vinyl. Needless to say, they went under14 ft of water so I lost it ALL. I now have about 400 dvd's, and about 25 BRDVD's and 20 HDDVD's, I am building my collection back slowly but surely, and it is VERY disheartening, but I am getting there.

I lost a LOT of OOP cd's and vinyl that I had been collecting since i was 6 years old. Many worth over $30-40 each, and a couple dozen worth over $100 each. 700 is a fair amount but, I myself, would not go with downloads, I like having the cases and liner notes, etc. i also like to build shelving to display my films.