Warning if you buy DVD's that are not released

[PattiB]

There are lots of scams out there so please beware.
I was recently ripped off.
I know, my own fault. I wanted a series not available and it was costly in many ways.
I'm lucky because I started to feel something was wrong within a few days of purchase when they didn't answer my emails. I did a lot of research then and found LOTS on the Internet regarding this company who actually goes by different names.
I contacted my credit card company who is going to remove the charges.

[Ireneparalegal]

You can find here on this board (somewhere) where some companies are pure scams. I think it is on the trading board. That is where you can find the good and bad abt traders, who is reliable and who isn't. Some people make threads asking abt "ABC company" and whether they are reputable or not. I hope that helps you out in the future.

[bencasey]

I've bought quite a few bootleg sets from IOffer and for the most part they have been okay. Some have been really crappy quality and some would have been good quality if the morons hadn't recorded at 6-hour speed. But I've gotten some pretty good sets. It's very hit or miss. But I only buy from individuals, not from bull**** companies that don't exist.

[storrs19]

Same here. I have bought about a dozen sets of series that will likely never see the light of day. I would say that 75% of the episodes were in really good shape while others were hit and miss. I also deal with people on I-Offer and ebay and so far have not been stung. Maybe I am lucky in this regard. Of course if the studios would get off their duff and release them that would be another thing...

[Larenz09]

Originally Posted by PattiB

There are lots of scams out there so please beware.
I was recently ripped off.
I know, my own fault. I wanted a series not available and it was costly in many ways.
I'm lucky because I started to feel something was wrong within a few days of purchase when they didn't answer my emails. I did a lot of research then and found LOTS on the Internet regarding this company who actually goes by different names.
I contacted my credit card company who is going to remove the charges.

I rember this exact same thing happening when movies on VHS were being sold online and in the streets. I got ripped off that time, trusting those bootleggers!

Someone was trying to sell me some DVD's earlier this year. I said; No, thanks.

Bootleg VHS and DVD'S are NOT to be trusted, much less the con artists that are pushing them on innocent unsuspecting buyers!! Where are they when the buyer finds out that the disk has no picture quality? Gone with the wind and never to be seen again!!

The picture quality and sound just isn't there. If something sounds too good to be true, then it probably IS! People must know when a snake is about to bite so that they don't get bitten and burnt!

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by Larenz09

Bootleg VHS and DVD'S are NOT to be trusted, much less the con artists that are pushing them on innocent unsuspecting buyers!! Where are they when the buyer finds out that the disk has no picture quality? Gone with the wind and never to be seen again!!

The picture quality and sound just isn't there. If something sounds too good to be true, then it probably IS! People must know when a snake is about to bite so that they don't get bitten and burnt!

Good points but you make it sound as if all unofficial vhs and dvd's can't be trusted and nothing can be further from the truth. I would love to have an official dvd release of The Amos 'N Andy Show but I don't see it happening no time soon so I had to settle for a bootleg set. I got a vhs set 10 years ago and he tapes were just as described. I later got a dvd set again with no problems.

If I want to see a show bad enough and it hasn't been released then I will buy it from another source but I will check the seller's rating for any negative remarks before doing so. There are some very nice Amos & Andy sets on eBay that can be obtained for less than $25. I've bought them myself and resold them locally for a very nice profit and not one single complaint. As a matter of fact, I can buy them online cheaper than I can make them myself.

[Eric Paddon]

First off, I think as a buyer you should have some savvy into the fact that if the show HASN'T been released officially, you are not going to find a pristine set of uncut discs of the show out there, and that you should go in with the expectation that what you're looking for is just meant to be a stopgap item that will let you watch this show while you wait for the day when an official release comes. That means be prepared to *accept* the fact that the source copies for the discs you get will come from cable recordings at some point in the past and *maybe* you'll get lucky and find a set from a cable channel that aired them uncut and the person directly recorded them to a digital format ("Batman" is one example of this with airings from TV Land Canada), but for the most part, keep your expectations in terms of picture quality down and view this as a "This will do for now" investment.

Second, go to ioffer.com because you will find plenty of options for the same sets at more reasonable prices than some website operation. You also have the ability to ask detailed questions on quality and where the source copies originate from. I've had great success through there and I wouldn't go any place else.

[comedyfreak]

Originally Posted by bencasey

I've bought quite a few bootleg sets from IOffer and for the most part they have been okay. Some have been really crappy quality and some would have been good quality if the morons hadn't recorded at 6-hour speed. But I've gotten some pretty good sets. It's very hit or miss. But I only buy from individuals, not from bull**** companies that don't exist.

Same here, you really have to read the ad carefully on iOffer so you know what you're getting. I've had good luck with that site so far.

[TVFactFan]

The main problem with buying DVD's of TV shows that have not been released is that a lot of sellers don't go through and see if there are any glitches like freezing and skiping, they are just trying to sell a complete set and don't realize by not going through each disc that there are glitches they are not aware of

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

The main problem with buying DVD's of TV shows that have not been released is that a lot of sellers don't go through and see if there are any glitches like freezing and skiping, they are just trying to sell a complete set and don't realize by not going through each disc that there are glitches they are not aware of

Would you really expect a seller or trader to go through every episode to check for defects? Even if they did, That's still no guarantee that the discs will play perfectly on all players. Most sellers I've dealt with will replace any defective disc and to me that seems more practical than having to check every one.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

Would you really expect a seller or trader to go through every episode to check for defects? Even if they did, That's still no guarantee that the discs will play perfectly on all players. Most sellers I've dealt with will replace any defective disc and to me that seems more practical than having to check every one.

If someone is paying $35 or more then Yes because it maintain a reputation as a good seller

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

If someone is paying $35 or more then Yes because it maintain a reputation as a good seller

I can understand that but it still seems more logical to me to replace a defective disc rather than going through every episode on each disc.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

I can understand that but it still seems more logical to me to replace a defective disc rather than going through every episode on each disc.

Well wouldn't the person have to check the replacement disc before sending it out? Why not just check everything the first time

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

Well wouldn't the person have to check the replacement disc before sending it out? Why not just check everything the first time

One reason would be because of time constraints. If you purchase a 10 disc set from me and disc #9 is defective, It's much easier to check the replacement disc then send it to you.

I doubt if many sellers are willing to go through every disc before they ship them. I'm certainly not doing it but if anyone get's a disc from me that is defective I will gladly replace it at my expense and that includes shipping.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by KingofTVResearch

If someone is paying $35 or more then Yes because it maintain a reputation as a good seller

If I pay $35 for a set of discs and one is defective it doesn't mean the person isn't a good seller. If the seller refuses to do anything about it then they go on my blacklist.