$999.99 DVD-R!?

The Virginian (1946) was released on DVD a couple of years ago, available exclusively through Movies Unlimited (moviesunlimited.com) and TCM (tcm.com), which uses MU's catalogue. The price I think was $14.99. That single disc is now unavailable, but the film is included in a new box set of four Joel McCrea westerns, available exclusively at both those sites, that retails for $49.99 but has an on-line sale price of $39.99.

It was also once issued via the DVD-R Universal Vault series, an Amazon exclusive. That disc is also now unavailable, but in looking the title up on Amazon, I saw it available from a seller on Amazon Marketplace who had one "new" and one "used - like new" disc for sale.

His price for each?

$999.99!

Is he kidding? For a film on a DVD-R that's now available on standard DVD in a set costing less than $40? I thought it was a misprint until I checked it out. And if you were sufficiently unhinged to spend nearly a grand for this disc, would you really opt for the "used - like new" one costing the same as a new-new one?

Oh, excuse me: you would be spending over a grand. There's that $2.98 shipping and handling charge on Amazon Marketplace, and I'm sure this seller is going to make sure he collects every penny of it. Make that $1002.97.

And smile when you pay it.