Columbia House is Back with Blu-ray - We Do the Math!

Back in the 80's and 90's Columbia House was a big deal. I can still remember the postage stamp stickers they used to send, where you could search out and select your favorite albums and then plaster them onto your order sheet. I always wondered if they laced the stamp glue with some kind of mind-altering drug to get me to want to buy more CDs... It never seemed to work in any event. The best way to use the service was always to sign up with them to get a bunch of CDs - including the minimum amount you needed to purchase to fulfill the agreement over the next several years. Then, you could immediately cancel the contract since the requisite number of purchases were fulfilled. That avoided the monthly hassle of having to send back the silly CDs they sent you automatically. To be honest, the process was always painful for anyone who didn't do the math and close everything out up front.

Now Columbia House (or Direct Brands, as the parent company is named) is back - this time with Blu-ray discs. The deal is very familiar. As of July 1st you can go to www.columbiahouse.com/blu-ray and enroll in the Blu-ray Club. The offer is 2 Blu-ray discs for $5.99 each plus "shipping & processing" and then you have to buy 3 more at regular club prices - currently starting at $19.95 plus "shipping and processing".

So what's the catch? Well, here's the fine print (which isn't very fine):

As a member, you will receive our Club mailing about every three weeks (up to 21 times a year) announcing the Director's Selection, the hottest title of the month and promoting a special offer...plus scores of Blu-rays to choose from, many at extra-special prices. If you want the Director's Selection, do nothing-it will be shipped to you automatically. If you do not want to receive the Director's Selection, simply check the appropriate box on the Order Card and mail it back to us so we receive it by the date specified. You can also respond by phone or online at our website You will always have at least 10 days to respond. If you have less time and receive an unwanted Director's Selection, simply return it unopened at our expense and we will credit your account.

Ugh. Having to send back a DVD you probabaly don't want... every three weeks? Not my cup of tea. So, if you're like me, you're issuing a sigh of angst and looking back at your time with Columbia House thinking: "Are people really still this dumb?" Well, let's find out.

Cause we did the math. 

We had to estimate the "shipping and processing" because Columbia House won't disclose what that is until you actually give them your credit card information and sign up - and honestly, we're just not that dedicated. So we're basing our numbers on prior history with their DVD club pricing - of which we are familiar (from RESEARCH!) Columbia House's DVD Club shipping charges come to $2.99 for your first DVD, and then $1.99 for each additional one in the same shipment.

If you do the math, assuming the initial 2-Blu-ray purchase followed by individual Blu-ray purchases once per month, here's what you get:

  5.99 - Discounted BD disc
  2.99 - shipping and processing
  5.99 - Discounted BD disc
  1.99 - shipping and processing
19.95 - Regular club pricing for BD disc
  2.99 - shipping and processing
19.95 - Regular club pricing for BD disc
  2.99 - shipping and processing
19.95 - Regular club pricing for BD disc
  2.99 - shipping and processing
- - - -
$85.78 for 5 movies = $17.15 per movie shipped

So if you think this is a good deal, go for it. In our opinion, it's probably not worth the hassle and you can easily pick up the same or better deal at Wal-mart or online, saving yourself the hassle of the monthly mailers. But it's not a total rip-off either, especially if you happen to like their $19.95 selections and order everything all at once and then cancel.

What do you guys think? Is this a deal? Let us know what you think.