Disney DVDs - buying experiences at eBay

[Disney Guru]

I wish that this movie was out on DVD available for purchase! I know it was put out via Limited Edition but I wish it was still available for purchase from www.amazon.com so you wouldn't have to pay so much for it and end up getting a bootleg!

[AwallaceUNC]

I bought some very impressive bootlegs of the Limited Issue DVDs on eBay. I didn't know they were bootlegs when I bought them... it wasn't until I put them in my computer and checked the region coding that I figured it out (they were not region encoded, even though the cover (and the eBay seller) claimed they were all region 1.

How do you tell this on your computer?

As for this bootleg, has anyone noticed that the cover (what would be the front) is on the left side and the back is on the right. If you were to pick that up, wouldn't the "front" be on the back? That should tip someone off to it being messed up.

-Aaron

[Jens]

As for this bootleg, has anyone noticed that the cover (what would be the front) is on the left side and the back is on the right. If you were to pick that up, wouldn't the "front" be on the back? That should tip someone off to it being messed up.

-Aaron

I think those are 2 dvd cases next to each other. Don't see any "side cover art" there.

[AwallaceUNC]

I think those are 2 dvd cases next to each other. Don't see any "side cover art" there.

And now I feel like a moron.

-Aaron

[Grunches]

Well don't buy anything on E-Bay!

I buy stuff on ebay just not Disney Dvds. I have two bootlegs, but I didn't pay an arm and a leg for them. I think ebay is great to buy and sell things!

[Prince Adam]

I LOVE that cover art!

We've all been worried about Disney execs taking bad ideas from this board, but if any of you are out there-USE THIS COVER ART!!!!!

Someone shut him up!!!

What????? I like this art! Not as much as Chernobog or Chernabog's (sorry-I get you two mixed up!) version over in Off-Topic, but it's really bright, colourful, and familiar.

[Mermaid Kelly]

I've seen this on ebay too....and I think the back of the cover art is nice, but I would never deliberately buy a bootleg.

[Today4U]

I bought some very impressive bootlegs of the Limited Issue DVDs on eBay. I didn't know they were bootlegs when I bought them... it wasn't until I put them in my computer and checked the region coding that I figured it out (they were not region encoded, even though the cover (and the eBay seller) claimed they were all region 1.

How do you tell this on your computer?

I don't really use my computer to play DVDs, so the idea didn't hit me right away. But here's how I do it.

I use my Dell PowerDVD player... right-click... choose Configuration... select the Information tab... then a few lines down it says "Title Region Code:" The disc I just put in to remind me how to do this says "Title Region Code: 1, 4" (it's the Gilligan's Island season 1 set). The bootlegs I bought said 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 I believe. I think each bootleg cost $30, so it's not like I was terribly ripped off, seeing as how badly I wanted them and they are really darn good bootlegs. And hey, if Disney doesn't want to make it available for me, it's their loss (don't worry freaks, I will be buying the Platinum edition or whatever they call it when the time rolls around).

[Mr. Toad]

1) Thats the problem - even if you are totally intent on buying the legal issue of a DVD - it is imporssible to tell until you have it, and even then it is very difficult to know unless you really know what you are looking for.
Sometimes the only way to tell is that the physical DVD is made by the wrong supplier.

2) I agree with you - I dont agree with limited issues and have little patience for marketing games. If Disney does not want ot make it available to me, well then somebody else will. And I will buy the real thing when and if Disney makes it available. I destroyed by Lion King bootleg once it was available and will do the same with Bambi, Cinderella and Song of the South.

[goofystitch]

I bought a bootlegg copy of "Lady and the Tramp" on Amazon.com through their marketplace sellers. The DVD is a perfect copy. The quality didn't loose a generation and all of the menus are the same. I wouldn't have known it was a bootlegg if I didn't own the real versions of the other "Limited Issues." The disc art was so smooth that it is probably a sticker and the paper the cover art and isert is printed on feels almost like it has been laminated. So bootleggs aren't exclusive to ebay anymore and it is now going to be hard to find real copies. Unless the packaging has the official Disney seal on the top of the box and a sticker advertising the buy 3 get 1 free deal, it is going to be a fake.

[wizzer]

any dvd that is single sided and single layered can be copied perfectly to dvd+r. some examples are: 101 dalmations, little mermaid, lady and the tramp, three cabaleros. i noticed luke even says on his reviews weather the disc is single or dual layered. any single layered disc can be copied perfectly-menus and all.

[tijerin]

hmmm.. a dilemna. I need your assistance. I received the two lots I bought on eBay and they are obviously bootlegs (albeit very good ones). All the signs are there: smooth instead of rough face, super glossy insert, the printing on the outside is even a little blurry (not bad but look closely and you can tell).

This is the dilemna. The DVDs work excellent. After ordering them, I figured theyd be bootlegs from reading this forum, however, when I ordered them, I was expecting authentic copies. I've decided to keep them based on a complete collection and that they are hard to find. I figure I'll replace them upon re-release.

The seller left me positive feedback. The seller assured me that they were authentic. I know the seller would refund my money , if asked and the product was returned. Help me by answering the poll above.

[Luke]

Well, I'd leave negative feedback, unless they were advertised as bootlegs. Which they clearly were not. That you've already been left positive feedback seals the deal. They sold you an illegal product when you wanted a legal product.

If you don't want to go that route, then you could just go the refund option, I guess.

[Cressida]

I would definitely leave a negative feedback! If the seller assure you that the DVDs are authentic and then they are not so the seller has betrayed you!

[Mr. Toad]

Well the only advise I can give you is the tactic I took.

Neutral with the remark they were bootlegs.

Of course I left positive with Song of the South, Bambi and Cinderella where I already knew they were bootlegs.

[slash]

I never understood why people would pay an outrageous amount of money for illegal copies of works just to complete their collection. You are funding piracy of the worst kind since they usually sell these bootlegs at higher costs than authentic DVD's. And no matter what you might tell yourself, your collection is not complete... anyone will see that they are not real copies of the movie. You are just lying to yourself. It's the same thing as going to Blockbusters and making a copy of the movies but only prettier. Leave a negative feedback and warn other people. Don't bother trying to get the OOP's, you already missed your chance and you'll most probably get a bootleg. And don't worry about completing your collection too much... when you finally do complete your collection, it will be that much more satisfying. Also, now you have reason to anticipate Disney releases for years to come. The majority of Disney Classics that have gone OOP are going to receive the Platinum makeover with tons of special features. Wait for those, Disney has plenty of classics to tide you over until then. And if you really want to watch one, go to Blockbuster and rent it. The only movies I even worry about collecting on DVD are Tarzan and Mulan since I'm not sure in how many years Disney will release them. But even with these, when HD-DVD takes over, I'm sure Disney will rerelease them and I'll collect them in that format. It's definately nice to have these movies in your library, but just wait, you'll get another chance. In the meanwhile, don't support blatant pirating. If they were selling them for only 5-10 dollars maybe it will be worth picking them up and buying the real ones when they come out. But there is just something completely wrong when they are selling them for much more than the real DVD's and making so much money off of other people's work without any of it going back to the original creators.

[tijerin]

I wasn't supporting piracy. I expected, asked for and was told I would get the real deal. I only paid about $25 each for the movies including shipping. Had I paid some ridiculous amount, I would be much more upset. Seeing as I didn't, I thought I'd go the keep them for now and buy them at re-release. Thanks for the lecture though. (FYI - I don't support piracy)

[karlsen]

If the auction closed at $25 then there must have been clear signes in it that it was a bootleg.

Do you have a link to the auction?

[tijerin]

It was actually a lot of two DVDs with a Buy it Now price and shipping that ended up totalling $50.90. Being a new collector, I didn't know (and still don't) what a true, authentic copy of the limited issue releases run. I just thought I was getting a couple used DVDs to help complete my collection. I joined this forum AFTER making my purchases and started reading some threads about bootlegs on eBay and that's what "educated" me.

[goofystitch]

Through amazon marketplace sellers, I bought the Limited Issue release of "Lady and the Tramp" to complete my collection. I paid around $30 for it and was told it was real. It ended up being fake, so I turned the person over not only to Amazon.com, but I also sent Disney all of the sellers information and the e-mail I received sounded like they planed to do something about it. One way to know if the seller is selling bootleggs is to see if they have multiple copies of the DVD for sale. The seller I bought from only had one copy of each limited issue at the time, but afterwards, he was able to post more. Maybe try watching people for a while.