Buying DVD'S as Gifts

A DVD is one of the most versatile gifts out there. It can be given on any occasion and to any person in your circle of friends or family. There is a world of titles to choose from with all budgets catered for. Find out what you can do with this gift idea.

All Boxed up

TV is awash with American dramas. Every channel has one and they have proved to be addictive viewing. 24 House, The Sopranos, ER and Desperate Housewives are just a few worth mentioning. Add to that the fact that classic films are constantly being re-released with added extras and special features and you may just have your gift idea!

If your friend or family member is a diehard fan of either then make sure you get them a box set of DVDs. Box sets can be picked up in all major music shops or bookshops and are often priced over the £40 mark. Prepare to pay up to £80 for some of the shows or films. They generally come with limited edition extras that make the price worthwhile. Think commentary from the Director, Making of documentaries and interviews with the cast.

In the DVD world, box sets are the crème de la crème of gifts so reserve it for someone who is going to really appreciate it. Make sure you also plan ahead. Those popular TV shows or limited edition version often have waiting lists and can be back-ordered for months if you leave it to the last minute so you have been warned!

Hard to Find

What if the person you are buying a gift for has very picky tastes? What if they only want obscure films or imported DVDs? Don't panic! These days no DVD title is out of reach. All you have to do is a little research and you will definitely find what you are looking for.

For example, if your friend loves Japanese movies, you don’t have to get on a plane to Japan to pick some up. Head online and do some research. Start with a simple World Wide Web search on their favourite movie title or director and chances are that sellers will appear within the results.

Online auction sites are also a great start – sellers from all over the world will be touting their wares, often at great prices. Register with the site and get bidding to secure your chosen title and make sure you do so well in advance. If titles are coming from abroad they can take up to a month to arrive by which time the reason for the purchase may have been and gone! Look out for illegal copies or fakes – if the price is dramatically lower than expected then take that as a warning that it is not the genuine article.

Made With Love

You don’t have to buy a DVD as a gift – you can make your very own! If you have some footage make use of it and edit it into a homemade movie. Here we are talking about montages of amazing holidays, images of your children playing and growing up or even funny clips that will make them laugh and bring back memories.

You can put together your own DVD fairly easily. All you need is the footage and access to a computer that has some movie software. Paste scenes together, add captions and even add credits to the end – you can really use your imagination and get stuck into this project. The effort that you make will no doubt be appreciated.

DVDs are such a great gift idea. They are non-offensive, will always come into good use and are fairly reasonably priced. Anyone can give them and anyone can receive them. They are also a great last-minute gift idea as well – there is always a title out there that is suitable and available - so add a DVD title to your gift shopping list!