DVD on DVD, Season 3

[The Obsolete Man]

From everything I have read, Season 3 isn't supposed to be released until next tuesday. Even Amazon.com says it hasn't been released yet.

So, Imagine my surprise when I walk into Best Buy today, and they have a half dozen copies of the Season 3 box set out for sale.

Being a sane, rational person, I quickly snatched up a copy, giddy with my find, and bought it.

I haven't started watching yet, but soon... soon.

I'm a happy Dick Van Dyke fan today.

[Charlie Chan]

Thanks for the heads up.

If you don't mind my asking, how much was BB asking for these sets?

I'm still trying to figure out the best deal for this set. I may use the $20 gift card I got from buying Sets 1 and 2 to offset their price.

Then again, I'm not happy with the way the Image/Best Buy non-rebate situation was handled and I prefer not to give Best Buy any more business than I have to.

[The Obsolete Man]

It was 51 bucks or so.

It'll probably be cheaper next week, though. Best Buy usually has stuff discounted the first week it comes out. I just couldn't pass this up, though. I've always heard about people lucking into stuff early, but hadn't actually had it happen to me.

Oh, and what's the Image/Best Buy non rebate situation? Haven't heard of that one.

Anyway, about the set...

The wood tone of the box is lighter...

Only one easter egg on disc one... Dick Van Dyke as the Chairman of the Board for Nick at Nite. It's one of the old promos N@N ran about a decade ago.

However, there's commentary, and a "the cast remembers" on "That's My Boy?", and in the episode "Laura's Little Lie" the teaser for the following week's show has been added back in.

The picture is better than anything that's been on TV in the decade I've been watching the show.

[Charlie Chan]

You're such a tease by giving us details!!! I can't wait to get my hands on these.

Regarding the Image/Best Buy situation, here's what happened:

As you mentioned, BB occasionally has opening week incentives to buy at their store. When Seasons 1 and 2 came out their ad said you would get a $20 gift card for buying both sets. As you may now the sets also had stickers indicating Image was giving a $20 rebate for buying both also.

Many consumers, myself included, took advantage of this to presumably get a really good deal. Best Buy's prices were higher than what you could get them for online so the combined rebates brought the prices down somewhat.

In late December, early January Image started sending out letters to people who bought their sets at BB saying they weren't going to give them the Image $20 rebate because BB's gift card was considered the rebate and Image was actually reimbursing BB for the gift card. This was never explained or made clear in BB's ad nor were the Image rebate stickers altered to indicate this.

I sent an e-mail to Image complaining and received a personal phone call apologizing for the confusion. They indicated that I wasn't the only person who had contacted them. Because Image did the right thing and apologized, I accepted it and moved on. I put most of the blame on BB because they didn't alert their customers to the way this particular situation was to be handled.

[jehobden]

You got a letter? I haven't even gotten that much yet. I mailed both rebate cards in early last month and have yet to hear or see anything about my rebate. At least this time I preordered season 3 through Amazon, so Best Buy won't bug me again.

[hank18]

I got a letter from Image too. There was no indication from either side that the rebates would be incompatible, so it seems like blatant false advertising to me. I hope they handle this better next time.

I would have gotten season 3 elsewhere, but with my original $20 BB card, and the $50 one I got for Christmas, I see no reason not to use them up on season 3 at BB, even though they are now on my list.

[Lolac]

I canceled my pre-order with Amazon this week and ordered through Deep Discount DVD.com at B&W Fan's recommendation. It was a much better deal and the next day I got an e-mail saying it had been shipped. I know B&W Fan got the same e-mail that I did a couple of days sooner, so I was wondering if his had arrived yet. I can't wait to get this set. My birthday is tomorrow, so I consider it a birthday present for myself!

Lolac

[B&W fan]

First things first - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOLAC!



Now, on to the question. No, I haven't received my copy yet, and I don't anticipate it until at least Monday, Lolac. Perhaps even Tuesday or Wednesday. See, when you use Deep Discount DVD's free shipping, they send out the shipment via Media Mail. This generally means a package will take anywhere from 5 to 15 days to get to its destination. Much of this will depend on how close to DDD's shipping center you live. Since I live in Florida, it sometimes will take all of 7 to 10 days from time of shipment to get to me. But since DDD usually will ship pre-orders out a week in advance of the official release date, it kinda evens out where I get my order on or about on the release date anyhow. Sometimes it's a day or two early, sometimes a day or two late. That's the nature of "media mail" via the United States Post Office.

Now, since DDD ships out a week early, I know you can assure yourself of getting anything from them earlier than the release date IF you use upgraded shipping (whether that be Overnight or Two Day delivery). This costs more, but you can pretty much be sure that you will get any dvd ahead of release schedule if you choose to do it. To me, as much as I love the Dick Van Dyke sets, it isn't worth it to pay an extra $6 to $10 just to get the packages earlier than the official release date. I'm content to get a good deal with Deep Discount DVD and let the mail come when it comes. If it's early, great. If not, I know it will come within a couple of days of it's official release because they mail out early to begin with.

Hope that helps and isn't too complicated, Lolac. Again, since your first order with them wasn't completed until after they mailed the initial shipments out, you may have to wait a few days beyond what I do. Then again, you may not. But I can assure you that if you pre-order Season 4 & 5 with them, they will mail it to you about a week ahead of schedule, and there will be every chance you'll get it early.

Take care and have a great birthday.

B&W "believe you me, Lolac. When I get my set, I'll post it here immediately" fan

[Lolac]

Thank you for the kind wishes, B&W Fan. I anticipated that it could be near the end of this week before I receive my set, but I feel as you do, it's not worth the extra money to get the set early. I can be patient (ugh!). I look forward to getting your post saying that it has arrived because I will know that mine can't be too far behind. (I live in Virgina, btw, just outside of Washington,DC.) I wonder where DDD ships from? No matter, this should be a great week for us all!


Lolac

BTW, I already ordered season 4 through DDD.

[B&W fan]

Lolac,

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if you got your set at the same time I did, or even earlier. Anything can happen with Media Mail.

I don't know where the warehouse for DDD is, but I would imagine you'd be in at least as good a spot as I am for receiving items from them.

As I said earlier, I used to go with Amazon for most of my purchases, but after finding DDD they get all my business now because they are almost always cheaper. I've found some items that were 40% of the retail price, while Amazon rarely goes beyond 25% for a discount.

B&W "I'm with you, Lolac, in that I love the show but can't see paying that much extra to get it only a few days earlier than normal" fan

[The Obsolete Man]

I've used DDD Once.

I ordered the first Twilight Zone collection... ordered it late saturday night, they shipped it on Sunday, it was here by wedensday. And, even with the extra 6 bucks in shipping, it was over 15 bucks cheaper than I could've found it anywhere else.

And now that I've heard of them shipping stuff a week early, it looks like I might use them even more.

Anyway, more stuff on season 3...

Disc 2 has a small bit on "The Ballad of Betty Lou", another Nick at Nite promo (ah, the good old days, when Nick at Nite really was about "preserving Television Heritage" instead of cramming Cosby and Full House down our throats), and a full episode of the Danny Thomas Show, featuring Morey Amsterdam as Buddy Sorrell.

Tonight.. .Disc 3!

[Christina E]

I used DDD, and I got my set yesterday! I've been having a great time watching them this weekend. I'm glad I paid the extra $5 for shipping because now I've gotten to enjoy them a weekend early.

I don't get much time for TV during the week, so I would have had to wait until next weekend to enjoy them if I hadn't gotten them until Tuesday. And I still paid almost $10 less then where I had pre-ordered them before.

Christina

P.S. They shipped from Illinois

[Pavan]

SitcomsOnline.com has a review of the Season Three DVD Show on DVD: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/thedick...dvdreview.html

If you haven't bought it, buy it, it sounds good!

SitcomsOnline.com will have a review up of season four soon, possibly well before the late April release date.

[Lolac]

Thanks for the info, pavanbadal. I have really been enjoying the season 3 set and I'm very much looking forward to season 4. Good to see you here, haven't seen you on this board for awhile!

Lolac