How to Tell if Your Dvd is Fake/Bootleg or Is This Dvd Real?

[littlefuzzy]

There have been a couple of threads here, at DVDTalk, and at the www.intervocative.com forums (DVD Profiler) about new bootleg Disney discs (mostly the Limited Issue versions,) that appear to be exact copies, even including the expired sticker on the front for the free movie, the mail-in slip inside, and stamping on the cellophane. One of the few ways to tell was that the disc art was a smooth matte finish on the bootleg, and a rough surface on the original Disney discs.

It used to be that the bootlegs were easy to spot, as they were all-region, had Chinese subs, often they would have DTS banners splashed across the front of the package (even on old movies,) or they would have DVD-5 (or 9?) printed on the front. Many times, they would have Chinese writing on the front cover.

[karlsen]

I ended up finding a lady on E-bay (seller name: k_melody), who explained to me the differences in bootleg DVD's, and the real thing. Needless to say, she confirmed that my The Little Mermaid was a fake (an almost perfect one, but a
fake nonetheless). Anyway, she sold me The Little Mermaid, Lady and The Tramp, 101 Dalmations, and The Jungle Book for a good price, and they were all factory sealed, Region 1, and had the Buena Vista logo stamped on the shrink wrap. I won't go into details, but this woman and her husband are truck drivers, and she has found alot of great stuff. So, if you ever want to buy from a reliable, reasonably priced seller, check her out.

I am sorry, but I would never trust the advice from somebody that for the past 30 days has been selling 16 copyes of the same incredible hard to get OOP title that was just for sale a couple of months in 1998/99. Those 16 was just what I could find the last 30 days, only imagine how many she has been selling over time.

If I were you I would check them to look if they are region 1 or not.

[DaeLex]

well it would be hard to tell if it was a bootelg by watching the actual movie itself since this was a single layer disc and you can easily copy it. But looking at the disc itself and or the packaging might give away the truth... I would first look at the bottom of the disc and see if its colored or not... then check the inner bottom of the disc and look for barcodes and numbers and compare that to the rest of your original purchased disney dvds. it should look similar to others...

yes it is true that bootlegers can not make Region 1 movies,

Thats not true at all.

[Fullhousegurl]

Usually, bootlegs have white CDs with a number code and have no label. Sometimes they might have the title written on the bottom.

[DaeLex]

Honey... youd be amazed at what people can pull off! I think what you are talking about is a homemade version... LOL but serious bootleggers have wearhouses set up. I forget when but I think it was last summer there was a huge raid in california on a wearhouse. There set up was so proffesional they were basically duplicating everything and everything looked authentic.. So sometimes you cant really tell.

1 Thing though I have noticed on e bay to watch out for, ok Snow White Platinum 1 Disc Edition? LMFAO... please if someone actually bought that (and im sure some will/have) There is no such thing in R1 as a 1 disc platinum edition snow white! Maybe somewhere else but not here in the us...

[saving107]

^^

there was a raid in my Home Town in last Month, like 2 weeks ago. it stretched from my home town (Modesto, not to far from Sacramento) all the way down to i think L.A. or San Diego. it was on the news, and i think they had Thousands of Dollars worth of DVDs in this Wherehouse alone.


I have bought 2 DVDs off of eBay and both came with original coupons, inserts and the Buena Vista logo on the back, and my DVD player says Region 1, so i am confident it is real.

[RJKD23]

1 Thing though I have noticed on e bay to watch out for, ok Snow White Platinum 1 Disc Edition? LMFAO... please if someone actually bought that (and im sure some will/have) There is no such thing in R1 as a 1 disc platinum edition snow white! Maybe somewhere else but not here in the us...

I've seen that! those poor uneducated about DVD people end up buying them! Ugh. If only I could email each Ebay member and tell them that was a 'unsmart' purchase! but people will buy it just to get Snow White on DVD. tis a sad thing...

[Nevermore]

Hmmmm thanks for the info guys!

[DaeLex]

I've seen that! those poor uneducated about DVD people end up buying them! Ugh. If only I could email each Ebay member and tell them that was a 'unsmart' purchase! but people will buy it just to get Snow White on DVD. tis a sad thing...

hehe yes sad but true... I allways see tons of these and others on e-bay. And I have even reported them but e-bay never does a damn thing.. lazy buggers! Like cry-baby for example.. its not even out on dvd yet but a couple people have tons of copys on dvd... uhm hellooooooo? Oh well the people buying them will hopefuly learn from their mistakes

[yanya]

I guess I'll mention this, check the files to see when they were "Created/Last Modified". My copy of Lady And The Tramp shows that the files were Last Modified in 1999. Obviously a movie that has been OOP since 2000 wouldn't show a date of say '04/'05.

...of course I suppose if the Bootlegger were to change their computer's calendar and clock back they could get acceptable results. Regardless it's something to look at.

[The Little Merman]

I actually don't know..ever had one!

I've seen that! those poor uneducated about DVD people end up buying them! Ugh. If only I could email each Ebay member and tell them that was a 'unsmart' purchase! but people will buy it just to get Snow White on DVD. tis a sad thing...

I KNOW!!! Yesterday, I searched under The Little Mermaid and then, Cinderella. They had both of the "Platinum Edition" DVDs together for sale, and it had 8 bids, up to $200!! I could not believe it!!

[Big Worms]

Instead of starting a new thread I will ask here. I am looking at getting Lion King and Aladdin gift sets. Is there anything I should be concerned about when looking for one on ebay? I seem a few copies and some pics with them and they look legit. Any thoughts?

[saving107]

Instead of starting a new thread I will ask here. I am looking at getting Lion King and Aladdin gift sets. Is there anything I should be concerned about when looking for one on ebay? I seem a few copies and some pics with them and they look legit. Any thoughts?

why go to eBay and risk getting a fake when Bestbuy.com still has Aladdin Gift Set for only $42.99 and The Lion King Gift Set for $44.99, thats cheap and you know you will get a real version. if you don't want to use a Credit Card online then don't, just go to your local best buy and get a gift card for the exact amount of the dvd, then under payment options click Gift Card and type in your gift card number.

I would recommend this because there are too many risk with shopping on eBay for Disney DVDs, and with best buy you will have a tracking number and you don't have to worry about coming here and having someone identify a fake version.


Aladdin Gift Set
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... id=1354174

The Lion King Gift Set
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... t&id=27443

.

[Big Worms]

Honestly, becuase of the prices you just posted. Aladdin has sold for about half of what you just posted. Lion King almost the same. I am still undecided, becuase after a certain point you are correct that at what point is the savings no longer worth it for the risk. I was mainly just wondering. I already have both of these but not in the gift sets and it would be nice to have. Thanks for the response.

[RJKD23]

Honestly, becuase of the prices you just posted. Aladdin has sold for about half of what you just posted. Lion King almost the same. I am still undecided, becuase after a certain point you are correct that at what point is the savings no longer worth it for the risk. I was mainly just wondering. I already have both of these but not in the gift sets and it would be nice to have. Thanks for the response.

If you really want the Gift Sets, post a link from EBAY.
also, ask the seller for pictures and see their feedback rating.

[Big Worms]

Here is the Lion King set:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... RK:MEWA:IT

Aladdin
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW

[saving107]

Aladdin looks good, thought the person has only sold 32 items, all 32 are possitive.

Lion King, i don't trust Stock Photo so unless they can give you a picture of the real thing, i would Question it. over 600 items sold and all possitive is good also, but some people who buy fakes don't know they are fake, so they can be satisfied so you never really know.


they are very very cheap, so you do have to wonder why they are so cheap, if they are worth $45 - $55 and more at the store, why are they selling them for under $20?

[Big Worms]

Thanks for the input. I guess my big question is how could these be fake? I can understand if it was just a single disc, but these are decent size box sets.

[RJKD23]

Those are real!
and plus, it'd be impossible to have a bootleg of the PE Gift Sets.

so in short. you can bid on those; the sellers have good feedback and it looks real. good luck!

[Big Worms]

Thanks RJKD23 and saving107 for your input. Will you updated on what happens.