Toshiba DVD players are known to have a very good build quality and also come with a long warranty.
Sony is a great brand of DVD player that will play DVD-R's. This brand of player will not only play DVD-R's but it will play them in great quality, unlike other DVD-R players.
Yes Samsung is a good quality brand.
If you want a basic DVD player by a reputable brand, the Sony DVP-SR200P/B DVD Player, is a great choice.
As of now the best selling DVD player is the PlayStation 4 gaming console. In the past the PS2 was the highest selling DVD player.
Sony is a great brand to use and lasts years.
Sony makes the best quailite DVD's by far.
Panasonic have the longest warranties available.
Virgin brand (from Target) (SONY AND SAMSUNG are good picks too)
The Toshiba D-VR5 DVD Player/Recorder with VCR has outstanding reviews.
The Initial DTV-262 26 in LCD TV with DVD Player has received astonishingly high reviews and has very good quality. You can find it as low as about $350-400, and I personally know a few people who swear by them. That's very, very cheap for 26 inches and a DVD player.
The Sony DVP-FX930 9 in. Portable DVD Player with Screen is very highly rated online.
I would try Wal-Mart or Future Shop, they are usually cheaper then Best Buy. It would probably be about $49.99-$89.99, depending on the quality/brand you want.