How did you build-up your collection?

[Classic-Rich]

Hi all,

I'm new here and have a question regarding your TV collections,

Do you find that must of the stuff you are interested in is available on VHS/DVD, if not how do you go about it?

[Wolfgang]

People on here primarily trade stuff that isn't commerically available. If you have nothing to trade people will probably sell you copies. There are specialist collectors sites that sell unavailable films too, and they sometimes pop on auction sites like ebay and ioffer. If you go to IMDB discussion boards, you will sometimes find people selling copies too.

[CaptainWaggett]

Take part in the discussions, build up relationships with people and you'll soon be getting new shelving for your piles of blurry masterpieces

[Moor Larkin]

Hard Leisure and Dedication to a single purpose.

Oh..... plus Google and ebay

[Steve Crook]

Nobody's mentioned off-air recordings? That's still the vast majority of my vast collection

Steve

[dpgmel]

Take part in the discussions, build up relationships with people and you'll soon be getting new shelving for your piles of blurry masterpieces

Worth pointing out that the blurry bit isn't compulsory just very likely with some people

[CaptainWaggett]

Apparently if you make the right contacts you can even acquire colour films but that's a far-distant dream for me

[Steve Crook]

Apparently if you make the right contacts you can even acquire colour films but that's a far-distant dream for me

They keep promising that soon they'll have films with people talking in them

Steve

[CaptainWaggett]

They keep promising that soon they'll have films with people talking in them

Steve

Now, that's just crazy talk...

[smudge]

How did I build up my collection? Slowly...

As the Captain said, get chatting to people and you'll soon find that they recommend stuff or say, "Oh, you've never seen!!?" and before you know it you'll be buying DVDs by the score and headed en-route to bankruptcy and/or divorce!

Smudge

[Bernardo]

Take part in the discussions, build up relationships with people and you'll soon be getting new shelving for your piles of blurry masterpieces

That written with feeling and so so true. The blurry and the shelving I mean.
Our hobby is a good reason to 'work' the high street going from charity shop to charity shop particularly when it is cold as this Winter, a warmer way to get down to Boots.
The internet in various ways, here in the forum there is tons of expertise available, just ask. Some sites have copyright free old programmes for download and the specialist sellers are always there. I read The Radio Times in minute detail, rare these days but sometimes a screen gem that I have missed comes along. The minor Channels on Sky broadcast rarely seen programmes check their websites then there are birthdays and Christmas plus I allocate to myself a once a month purchase, yes actually buying a pristine new retail remastered not blurred oldie from places such as Renown Pictures or BFI. Nearly forgot the newspaper freebies, particularly the documentaries, which can be interesting.
That just leaves, as the Captain indicated, the not small problem of finding an agreed home for all of one's 'stuff'.

[DB7]

I've now so many in the 'to be viewed' pile I'm starting to doubt I'll ever see them all. Most now come via the retro torrent or rapidshare sites.

[didi-5]

I buy anything legit that I'm likely to be interested in, also buy on the grey market from ioffer/eBay. Occasionally trade and/or share. And have lots of off-airs. I don't really have a master plan - if I feel I am likely to enjoy something, I'll look for it. I don't torrent etc purely because my laptop doesn't have the capability of doing it so have probably bought stuff that others have got that way!

[jaycad]

contacts
amazon.co.uk
amazon.com
network dvd
ioffer
ebay

[TimR]

contacts
amazon.co.uk
amazon.com
network dvd
ioffer
ebay

Yes - and I would add library clearance sales. I also pester TCM to show films that are difficult to find through their vote system and sign up for 'alerts' on Amazon.

[Sgt Sunshine]

As well as the standard Amazon/E-bay purchases I also trawl through the local charity shops (which seem to increase every month) and the occasional car-boot sale....
Most of the items on my list are recommendations from here....I keep several lists running in parallel and hop between them in sequential order......Some lists run from a known start point and then work back to the beginning, others move forward to the present day.
Cheers
Sgt S

[dpgmel]

The Captain and DB7 have IMHO hit on the two biggest problems with our hobby : storage and time to view

[moonfleet]

At least, the DVDs storage doesn't need temperature stabilization as wines or cigars

[jaycad]

At least, the DVDs storage doesn't need temperature stabilization as wines or cigars

moonfleet,please tell me that you don't drink cigars??

[moonfleet]

moonfleet,please tell me that you don't drink cigars??

Of course not I smoke wine, as everybody ...