Recently I joined an online site that offers me a huge variety of choices in DVD’s, VHS and music CD’s or Cassettes. It took me a long time in deciding to join this online store because I had heard that the shipping and handling charges were outrageous for these type stores. They may sell the merchandise cheap but get you hit every time with the large shipping and handling fees. In fact I have seen bills of some of my friends that had such charges. But, overall they have been satisfied with the orders they had received and convinced me to join. Telling me that even with the shipping and handling they still come out cheaper than going to the stores and they don’t have to fight the crowds. So I decided to give one a try. Thus far I have been happy with my decision.

The Online Store

www.columbiahouse.com is one of the many online stores that you can join and purchase any movie, any music and earn points in doing so to go towards free DVD’s.

When you first sign on to the site you will find across the top of the page links that will take you to various places on the site. To name a few: The DVD Club, My Account, Music Club, Video Club, Fun Cash (Which I will talk about in a bit), Wish List, Gift Certificates and many more.

They offer a search engine where you can type in the name of any movie and you will be taken to information on that movie, where you can elect to add to your cart or not. They also offer “Featured DVD”, “What’s Hot”, “Best Sellers” and “Newly Available” These are helpful links when you are searching for particular movies.

On the left hand side of the home page you will find links that will take you Action movies, Family and Children movies, Horror, War, Western and various others. You can also Explore Features like “Pre Orders” “Top 10” “Sets and Collections” “You Asked For It” and others. Each of these links will take you to a different section on the site where you can find out information about movies, music and people. Also, the “Bargain” link will take you to a page where you can find great prices on older movies. I liked this link a lot!

And of course you can shop at their Music store as well and all under the same account.

What I Got

When I joined www.columbiahouse.com I got 4 DVD’s for .49 cents each plus $1.49 s/h.
Great deal to start me out with I thought. For less than $10.00 I joined a site that I believe is going to bring me a lot pleasure. Normally the s/h is $1.99 each when you join.

I could also order one DVD for regular price and only have 3 to buy within 2 years. I chose to do this at the time of joining. The average price of a DVD is around $19.98 for new releases. Some are slightly higher, depends on the movie, some are lower. For instance, I pre-ordered “The Lord Of The Rings” on sale for $17.97. I thought that was a good price and I got to order 2 more movies at 49% off the original price.

I can join the Columbia Music club separately if I would like to do so and get the first time order deals, then linking the two accounts together is no problem. I can also just buy the music from the DVD site by clicking over to the music site.

I can pay my bill online, order online, look for hours at all the movies. And if I order 3 or more DVD I can get free shipping and handling. Also, if I order one DVD I can get 2 at 40% off for every one I buy. Now that’s a good deal I think!

Plus each month I will get a catalog with the latest news, rentals and of course the featured selection of the month. Which I can choose to order or refuse. I can make this selection online under my account. Which saves me a stamp! My information is safe when paying online and I like that as well. In fact, I pay a lot of my bills online now days.

Fun Cash

The Fun Cash is a way for you to earn money towards future purchases. What you do is but all the DVD’s you want and for each one purchased at full price ($19.95 and above) you get $2.00 fun cash. For each one at Sale Price you get $1.00 fun cash. You will earn double fun cash once your obligation has been met.

You can use your fun cash for the year (2002) from November 1st thru December 31st on DVD’s. What happens is that the amount you have saved up in your fun cash bank will be applied to your purchases during this time period. In some choices, the DVD would be free. I really like this feature because I can use it just in time for the Holidays. And you can get the fun cash whether you order online, via mail or via phone.

Shipping and handling

Single and Double Disc Titles     $2.99 for first selection
$1.99 each for additional selection

     
Sets and Multi-Disc Titles

3 disc selections: $5.99 each
4 disc selections: $6.99 each
5 disc selections: $7.99 each     

There’s a maximum total shipping and processing charge of $15.00 per order.     

I guess that is not to bad.

How I Feel

I am really glad that I decided to join www.columbiahouse.com. I can get the newest movies and I can choose to get them in DVD or VHS. I can save on older movies and I can save if I pre-order up coming new releases.

I like being able to shop at home and not fight the crowds. I also like being able to buy music over at the Music section. And all the pages load quickly and I have no problems getting around the site.

I can use the search engine if I happen to think of an older movie and that movie will come up with all the details and the price.

I also like being able to use the online codes that can be found on my membership information. I can use this if a sale is going on via the catalog sent to my home. I simply put the code in while shopping at the online site and I get that price.

I also like the gift certificates. I am a gift certificate giving fool that’s for sure. This way the person can pick out what they want and have no one to blame but himself or herself if they don’t like it! And I can get a return label at their expense. That is really cool!

Over all I have been happy and will most likely use this site for years to come.

I hope that this has helped in some kind of way.

God Bless!

©LKD 2002