Orbit DVD — Attraction in Asheville

If you're one of those individuals who only reads the first sentence or two of a review before forming an opinion, hi! I'll save you some time and just say Orbit DVD is the best store for movies in the country. For the rest of us still reading, let's dive a little deeper into what makes this place an essential destination for lovers of physical media.

I first stumbled on Orbit DVD late in 2021 when someone mentioned them on a film message board. Having dabbled with Diabolik and given Grindhouse a chance, I was surprised to hear about this Orbit DVD place that had yet to find its way into my, uh, orbit.

It took all of 10 seconds for me to realize this store was going to be hazardous for my wallet, shelf space and free time. Not necessarily in that order.

The selection is nothing short of mesmerizing, tapping into whatever genre or boutique film label you crave. You want to buy Vinegar Syndrome movies with some Criterion Collection thrown in? Go for it. Arrow flicks and Masters of Cinema essentials? Sure thing. AGFA insanity and BFI couture? They've got you covered.

And the ability to trade in used movies (and video games) for store credit is the kind of bonus that makes me hoard Amazon boxes so I can ship stuff Orbit DVD's way. I've done this maybe four or five times and the store credit received is very fair, which goes a long way towards the equally fair-priced merchandise.

Speaking of going long ways, I have to confess this review is a few months old as I was actually lucky enough to visit here back in April. While the store is fairly small, make no mistake in thinking you'll fly through here. You could easily lose hours here, reading about movies you've never heard of, browsing a robust selection of film reference books and then going into the next room to realize the video game equivalent of their film selection is also under this roof. There is no shortage of stuff to see, and it's a testament to the store's fanbase turning their pre-owned items in, as well as to the staff who is able to curate all of this, whether new or used, in an easy-to-browse fashion.

And really, the staff deserves all the shout outs possible. Everyone I've emailed with, spoken to in-person and otherwise engaged with has been incredibly friendly and eager to assist. From film recommendations to local restaurant suggestions, this team does it all, and they do it in such a way that makes everyone feel welcome.

If I need to find something to nitpick... I mean, I guess they could carry more t-shirts...? But being that the name on the building is "Orbit DVD" and not "Orbit T-Shirts," this is a flimsy critique.

Really, the store is just -that- good. If you have a passing interest in film, a love of physical media or a kitchen crying out for Udo Kier coasters, Orbit DVD is absolutely a place you...

Support a different independent media store. Orbit DVD's customer service--at least via email--is shockingly poor. I have made a total of 11 purchases from Orbit DVD since 2023. The first 10 of those orders were delivered with no issue. The last order was not delivered due to what Orbit DVD called an "insufficient address." Orbit DVD offered a refund of the item I purchased only if the item was returned to it, and declined entirely to refund the shipping cost. I asked for a refund of the shipping cost as well given that any error in providing an "insufficient address" on the shipping label was Orbit DVD's fault--as shown by the fact that my previous 10 orders had been delivered to my address with no issue (which is the same and only address saved in my account for all my orders). Orbit DVD completely ignored that obvious fact and then offered to ship me a replacement only if I paid for shipping again. Why would I pay for shipping twice when you hadn't gotten the address right the last time, and then tried to blame me for your error? Why not just accept responsibility and try to make things right with a longtime customer?

I won't be shopping here again. It is important to support independent companies and small businesses more generally. But they are not worth supporting where they provide poor customer service and refuse to do right by their customers....

I learned about Orbit DVD after bringing my Nintendo DS to a business in Arden with the intention of selling it and being told it wasn’t eligible for resale. A guy at the store overheard this conversation & recommended I bring it to Orbit DVD to ask if they would be interested in buying it. And that is how I met Jack - a kind & helpful guy behind the counter who said he’d gladly buy my - in perfect condition - Nintendo DS, case & games. He gave me an extra $10 for accepting store credit & let me know that a once favorite game I played on the Wii console was available to play on the Nintendo Switch.

I’m sorry it’s taken me since November to write this review, Jack. I remembered our interaction & the time you spent with me talking about my gaming console & games I liked. I’m grateful to finally have time to write this review, so I can let you know that I took your advice after buying the special edition Switch that I wanted & used my store credit in Dec. to buy the Sports game we talked about.

I would thank the customer who referred me to Orbit DVD again if I could and let them know their thoughtfulness helped turn my experience around. Many thanks to Jack for the awesome customer service I received. Orbit DVD is now my favorite place to shop for all my...