Comedy Films | Film & Music | Classifieds.co.uk :

There is a seemingly endless array of comedy DVDs and videos on offer for sale nowadays. Choices here can suit all ages, sexes and senses of humour! This sector is consistently popular with both general consumers and with specialist collectors. Consumers may simply buy the occasional comedy or series whilst collectors may buy on a more specialised or regular basis.

Popular types of comedy DVDs and videos
There really is a comedy DVD or video out there to suit every sense of humour and people of all ages. Children, for example, may enjoy comedy films and TV shows that are suitable for their age -- anything from Spongebob Squarepants to Mr. Bean. Older people may enjoy watching the comedy greats such as Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy as well as enjoying DVDs and videos of famous comedians.

Few entertainment sectors give as much choice as comedy when it comes to buying DVDs and videos. Consumers can choose from films, TV sit-coms, sketch shows, cartoons, stand-up comedy and spoof documentaries. Some people simply buy what they find funny on an ad hoc basis whilst others may buy everything they can that relates to a specific actor or to a comedian. Collectors may opt to collect comedy in general or may specialise in only buying comedy from a certain era or comedian.

Considerations when buying comedy DVDs and videos
It is easy to forget that a funny video may not be suitable for viewing by the whole family so do make sure to check the age guideline and or rating. Having an avant garde stand up comedian ranting with a long string of four-letter words may be funny for adults but may not have the best effect on kids!

If buying comedy DVDs then check the region rating of the DVD to ensure that it matches with your DVD player. Europe and the UK are Region 2 so you may find that a Region 1 video (destined for the North American market) may not play on your machine. This may be a consideration if buying a DVD online from an international seller.

Also be aware that pirate videos and DVDs are out there in vast numbers. It is important to try and avoid buying fake copies. The chances are that the quality will not be too good, they may not work correctly in your machine -- and they are not legal.

Buying comedy DVDs and videos second hand
There is rarely any major problem when you buy a second hand DVD or video from a shop in the high street. You can, after all, take a look at the tape or disc to see how it looks before you buy it. Unfortunately this isn't an option if you buy online where you cannot see the goods at all before the purchase is made and they are delivered to you.

It is important therefore to ask questions of the seller to establish the state of the DVD or video in question. Most people have good reasons for selling on DVDs and videos and will give honest answers to these kinds of questions. Sometimes, for example, people sell off their videos when they change their VCR for a DVD player. Some people simply sell off DVDs and videos to free up space or to make some extra cash. Some people will be selling unwanted gifts or DVDs and videos that they simply don't watch or like any more. And, collectors may well sell off their surplus stock to both the general public and to other collectors.

So, ask the seller if the DVD or video still plays OK. Ask if it comes with all the original inserts and in what condition the case is to be found. Make sure you ask them if it is original -- if you have doubts here ask to see a digital photo of the DVD or video. Many modern videos and DVDs will have holograms on the case -- pirate copies generally won't. So, if you see a hologram then there is a better chance that it will be OK. Watch out for answers such as 'All the discs I sell are new' -- this kind of statement can be taken two ways. It could mean that the seller only sells original versions or it could simply mean that the DVD that was used to record the pirate version was a new disc!

In some cases -- especially with videos -- the seller may not be able to tell you how the tape plays if they don't have a video recorder. If you still want to make the purchase and this happens then get the seller to confirm what you can do to return the tape if it does not work. Ask specific questions with DVDs about the quality of the disk in terms of scratches and so on and ask the seller if he/she is aware of any problems. If you ask direct questions like this then you will generally get a direct answer.

Finally, check with the seller to see how the DVDs or videos will be delivered, particularly if buying a valuable title. If you are buying/collecting rare or old copies of comedy shows or comedians then you may thus need to see if the seller will offer some form of special delivery that gives some insurance cover in case the parcel gets lost.