Buying a movie online has never been easier. Competition, plus customer word-of-mouse, has encouraged better service all around. Amazon.com is still the king when it comes to customer support, with the best account and order maintenance on the Web. But up-and-coming sites such as BigStar and DVDEmpire are on its heels.
If you're buying a holiday gift and you're not sure it's going to be a hit, you should probably stick with an online retailer that doesn't exist just in the virtual world. Some sites are better than others about returns, but all of them require you to pay to send it back.
Bargain hunters have a number of options when buying movies on the Web. And you don't have to check the prices at a dozen sites to find the best deal. DVDTalk.com and BargainFlix.com do the work for you. BargainFlix even lists the coupons and other promotions that various sites are offering. DVDTalk.com also rates the online retailers. Its top pick-no surprise-is Amazon.com.
Two retail sites that have huge followings with movie fans are Buy.com and Checkout.com. After Reel.com bit the dust, Buy picked up its bargain-loving customers by offering some of the lowest pre-order prices on the Web. Its customer service is slowly improving, but it's difficult to change or cancel an order here, so make sure you really want that anniversary edition before you buy it. Checkout.com, which is owned and operated by Wherehouse, is another sleeper that has attracted a loyal following. The site offers great prices, but order maintenance is nonexistent.
As always, make sure you know up front how much shipping will cost you. Remember, it's your money. Make them work for it, even if it is the holidays, and you're feeling especially generous.
-Jackie Spinner
Other Category Comparison Charts:
Dep't Stores |
Beauty |
Books |
Clothing |
Computers |
Electronics |
Food |
Movies |
Music |
Toys
Online Holiday Shopping Stories:
Return to the Lead story, or read about:
Decking the Halls With a Mouse;
Avoiding Pitfalls;
Shopbots;
Foreign Purchases;
Online Greetings;
Customizing Gifts;
Comparison Shopping
