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

[Kram Nebuer]

Thanks for the link, Surfer Joe.

The cover art looks very real aside from those hologram flowers that don't exist on any real Disney DVD, but it looks pretty cool anyhow.

The banners for the DVD are supposed to be:
Top: Platinum Edition
Bottom: * All-new Immersive 2-disc DVD Experience *

I think the cover art for this boot leg is the VHS cover art resized and put into a single disc DVD case.

I was wondering, could this possibly be just a different region's Snow White DVD?

[MinnieMe]

Yep, it's the same picture as the real PE, but it does have that hologram effect to it that none of the authentics have. It's the SAME effect I saw on my friend's fake Lion King DVD. Platinum Edition will always be shown across the top stripe and "DTS Digital Surround Sound" somewhere big on the front is usually another sign that it is a fake.

You are correct in that they were at least "honest" about it. Well, actually I just searched the seller to see what they were selling now. This is what is up for auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... =WDVW&rd=1

It is an Aladdin DVD that is advertised as still shrinkwrapped, two disc edition, "Real, NOT copy or bootleg." The seller did not advertise that on the others they sold that were bootlegs (your SW, a Little Mermaid and a Toy Story 2). Looks like they did know that it was a fake.

They also did not advertise if it was one disc or two in the description of Snow White. Another sign that it was a bootleg: the price did not go very high. It was obvious that it was a bootleg. Something that is authentic would be up to $18.50 way before the auction ends, not as the final selling price.

Live and learn! At least you didn't spend too much on it. If it works, all the better. It can tide you over until SW comes out again

When buying such a rare DVD online you should email the seller and ask flat out if it is a bootleg or not. Bootleggers will not reply. I would email the seller to tell them that you are unhappy with it and that you know it is fake. It's hard to tell if you should give them bad feedback because they never really did claim it was real and they might just give you bad feedback in return. I might just swallow it and call it a loss since they didn't flat out say it was real and you didn't lose much money... it's all up to you.

Jeez I hate ebay!!

[Surfer Joe]

I was wondering, could this possibly be just a different region's Snow White DVD?

Durned if I wasn't thinking the same thing, until reading MinnieMe's excellent response below. MinnieMe, thank you for your sage observations and well-taken advice, which I will follow. I'm a little red-faced here since I'm old enough to know better and know all about bootlegs. (I even had a scratchy print of "Snow White" on VHS well before it was commercially released, years ago). Believe it or not, I think I was egged on by having seen a definitely-seemed-to-be authentic 2-disc version go for nearly the same price an hour or so before when I didn't monitor the end of an auction. Anything can and does happen on eBay.

The fact that the seller's other disc is explicitly identified as not-a-bootleg is very disturbing.

I wonder if all those single-discs for sale on Amazon and elsewhere are boots?

Guess I'll be shelling out a more realistic price as soon as I can find a decent deal...

Thanks again, folks!

Joe

[my chicken is infected]

I even had a scratchy print of "Snow White" on VHS well before it was commercially released, years ago

Whoa, how'd you manage to get hold of THAT?! :O

[Surfer Joe]

I was an animation student; these things floated around...we had 'em all. They were great learning tools, needless to say.

[my chicken is infected]

Were I about 20 years older, and old enough to do that before practically every Disney movie had finally been available, I would KILL to be in your school.

[MBBailey]

I also am doing some online shoping for this DVD. I have been looking at Beauty and the Beast as well and the B&B ebay auctions all address the issue of including or not including the cardboard slip cover. However, the Snow White auctions do not. My aunt told me she doesn't remember getting a slip cover with her copy (she bought it retail while it was still available).

Should there be a slip cover or was this DVD released without one?

[Luke]

I also am doing some online shoping for this DVD. I have been looking at Beauty and the Beast as well and the B&B ebay auctions all address the issue of including or not including the cardboard slip cover. However, the Snow White auctions do not. My aunt told me she doesn't remember getting a slip cover with her copy (she bought it retail while it was still available).

Should there be a slip cover or was this DVD released without one?

Welcome to the forum. Might I suggest you read this Guidelines and Helpful Links thread? From there, you will find the One and Only Slipcovers thread and your answer.

[Disneykid]

This DVD was released without one. From 2000-2002, Disney released all of their 2-Disc sets in cases called Double Alpha. Double Alphas are those really fat cases that are twice the size of most normal DVD cases (which are called Amarays). Snow White was released in a Double Alpha, so there was no slipcover made. Disney started using the slimmer Amarays during the second half of 2002 with releases like Schoolhouse Rock, Monsters, Inc., and Beauty and the Beast. Because of this, Snow White is the only Platinum to not only have no slipcover, but to come in the double thick Alpha-type case. Tarzan, The Emperor's New Groove, and Atlantis' Collector's Editions were released in this type of case, as well. With Tarzan and Emperor's New Groove coming out in reissues later this year, Snow White and Atlantis will stick out even more as sore thumbs.

[Alan]

I recently purchased "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" on platinum edition DVD, and I'm a little concerned if its a bootleg.

I bought this DVD just this afternoon on the amazon marketplace. The guy that sold it had a 4.9 star rating. He had like 175 feedbacks with only 1 neutral, no negative, and the rest are positive. He did not leave any description, but from his feedbacks it seemed he didn't sell bootlegs.

Now I got this DVD for twenty bucks, and it was listed "like new", so I'm a little concerned if its a bootleg, given the price for an out of print title.

[AwallaceUNC]

You got a good deal... that price tag isn't entirely unheard of for legit copies of Snow White. Usually if you wait around and watch for a while, you can find it for $20-30. Just be sure to give it a good look-over when you get it.

-Aaron

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

Not to disappoint you, but Snow White doesn't have a slipcover.

[Alan]

Not to disappoint you, but Snow White doesn't have a slipcover.

I know.

[JiminyCrick91]

Are there any other resons to think it is a Bootleg?

[Alan]

Are there any other resons to think it is a Bootleg?

Well theres no picture, so I can only tell the moment I open up the package.

[aggietubagod]

I wouldn't worry too much, Amazon guarantees products sold on the marketplace, so you can get a refund if it turns out to be bogus, and you don't even have to send it back, which is always a bonus. YOu just have to rememeber that you can only do this 5 times ever

[Alan]

Yeah, I just recently purchased Beauty and the beast from amazon marketplace also. (after snow white dvd) It costed 27 bucks(+ Shipping and handling). The seller had like 4.9 stars, 99 ratings, no neg reviews, one neutral review, and rest positive feedback. I don't think this is a bootleg, but do you people think there might be a chance?

[Alice]

There is ALWAYS a chance.....

[Robin Hood]

Yeah, I just recently purchased Beauty and the beast from amazon marketplace also. (after snow white dvd) It costed 27 bucks(+ Shipping and handling). The seller had like 4.9 stars, 99 ratings, no neg reviews, one neutral review, and rest positive feedback. I don't think this is a bootleg, but do you people think there might be a chance?

Was the Beauty and the Beast DVD you bought sealed?

[Alan]

No, it was used.