- Jun 19, 2001
- 25,716
- 4
- 81
i bought the friends complete series dvd box set from ebay, but i think the guy sent me some bootleg copy.
the first thing i noticed when i opened the USPS box is that, it was packaged like crap. the seller used store flyers for packaging, which is ok, but he just threw down one "best buy" flyer, then the dvd box set, then another "best buy" flyer. i've used "best buy" flyers for packaging in the past, but at least i ball up the pages to fill up more space so the package contents don't bounce around in transit. anyway, this pic shows some damage that might be due to the crappy packaging. i was unhappy about this rip on the box, but i did not think it was worth it to send everything back (thus eating $15 in shipping).
so i opened the shrink wrapping, and i felt there's something that just isn't right about the actual dvd box set (see exhibit A and exhibit B). in exhibit A, it looks like the glue on the wrapping paper melted or something. in exhibit B, it's fairly obvious to me that the wrapping paper on the box is slightly ripped, nor was it cut straight. i haven't purchased any dvd box sets in the past, but i expected the craftsmanship on these products to be better. is this assumption incorrect?
i go on to inspect the contents of the box. again, i have never bought a dvd box set before, so i'm not sure what things are supposed to look like. i'd assume that things would "look" new. i'm not sure if i am just being picky, but this does not look new. for one, notice the spots all over the dvd booklet, particularly in the area on joey's cheek and his jacket. another thing is, on the bottom of the dvd booklet, there appears to be glue residue spilling out.
now, maybe it's my mind/eyes playing tricks on me, but when i look at the actual dvd discs, i feel like the printing isn't right. i've seen bootleg dvd's that my friend bought from china, and as good as they look, it doesn't seem quite the same. looking that pic of the friends dvd disc, the picture that is printed on seems a bit blurry and not really sharp. i have some "home improvement" dvds, and the pictures that are printed on them seem better. i guess it's not good to compare dvd's like that, but my point is... the friends dvd disc just looks funny.
lastly, beside capcity, is there any difference between single layer and dual layer dvds? i thought i read somewhere that commercial dvd discs are all dual layer. i popped in one of these dvds and noticed that the capcity was 4.x GB. is there any other way i can tell if this disc is single or dual layer?
i emailed the seller my thoughts on thursday, and i haven't received any replies yet. his feedback is actually very good. here is a link to the auction.
i guess the purpose of this post is to try to answer the following two questions:
1.) any chance that any of you guys have the friends complete series dvd box set? does it look crappy like the one i bought?
2.) other then capacity, how can i tell if a disc is single or dual layer?
update 7:56pm 2/09/08:
thanx :beer:<<<<<bigal40:beer: for recommending dvdinfopro. this handy util helped me verify that these dvds are fakes (link to evidence)
update 8:13pm 2/11/08:
so i first emailed the seller on 2/06/08, and after no responses, i emailed him again today. at the same time, i decided to open a dispute case with paypal. three hours after i opened the paypal dispute case, the seller responded via paypal. the following is the messege i posted via paypal:
dear seller,
i have contacted you (kingvinylandvideo@yahoo.com) on 02/06/08, and again on 02/11/08, regarding this transaction. i have not recieved any responses from you, so i have resorted to attempting to get in contact with you via paypal. to re-iterate, i purchased an item from you on ebay (auction #320213223790), but it arrived damaged due to insufficient/negligent packaging. also, the item that you sent to me is a pirated bootleg item. your auction described the item as new, unopened, and authentic. i bid on and won your auction, paid for it via paypal, but when i recieved your package, the item was not what i had agreed to purchase. i wish that you will be willing to correct this situation.
i believe there are two reasonable & acceptable resolutions. they are as follows:
1.) send me what i purchased, which is a brand new, unopened, and legitimate copy of "friends the complete series collector's gift box set". please package this item appropriately. in browsing through your other ebay feedbacks, i see that you have had other buyers criticize you for your packaging (or lack thereof) practices.
2.) issue me a full refund, including all shipping costs. what you sent to me was not what i had agreed to buy. i should not be held accountable for an error on your part. the fault is yours, thus, so are the consequences.
i am not accusing you of purposely misrepresenting and selling the item on ebay. this is an issue between you and your distributor. all i ask is that you fulfill your half of this ebay transaction. if you are unabled to, please refund to me all costs involved in this transaction. thank you.
the following is his reply:
please send back. this is a legimate box set. once i recieve the boxset i will refund your money in full. please send back to:
michael scammer
street address
city name, state zip
maybe i am just being paranoid here, but i kind of want him to send me a pre-paid shipping label. the reason being is that if i mail it back... i doubt he will refund me the return shipping cost. and what if i ship, and he just plays dumb... as in "i never got the stuff, what are you talking about?".
suggestions?
update 9:01pm 2/11/08:
the following is my response to the sellers messege on paypal:
i would like to document here why i believe these dvds are pirated. the dvds that you sent to me are single layer discs, non-css protected, and region free. commercial dvds from television studios are dual layer, css protected (or some other DRM), and region coded. also, the craftsmanship of the box that you sent to me was very poor, and unfinished.
if you have any more dvds that you are selling on ebay, i encourage you to inspect the merchandise before you continue selling. i advise you to contact your distributor, because you have been defrauded. otherwise, you may take the fall for another person's crime. you would not want the local authorities or the MPAA pinning you for copyright infringement.
to be clear, i am requesting that return shipping costs to be refunded as well. i have paid you $147.95 on 2/3/08 for ebay auction #320213223790 . if it cost me $10.00 to ship these dvds back to you, i am to be refunded $157.95. if you would like to send me a prepaid shipping label, i'm fine with that too.
if we have an accord, please let me know if you wish to provide me a pre-paid shipping label, or if you will simply refund my initial payment of $147.95 and the accrued return shipping cost.
also, the address that you provided to me in your paypal dispute console message is slightly different then the return shipping address on the shipping label of the package you sent to me. could you please confirm the exact address that the package is to be shipped to?
thank you.
update 12:07am 2/12/08:
the seller replied to my message, but his message didn't really address whether or not he will reimburse me for the return shipping, nor did he verify what is his exact mailing address.
here is what he wrote in his reply:
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN ITEM IS SHIPPED, SO I CAN RETURN TO DIST FOR REFUND
the following was my response:
hello,
please confirm our agreed plan of action. i am requesting to be refund $147.95, plus incurred return shipping cost for the dvds. once i have a documented agreement from you here, i will ship the dvds back to you via UPS ground (i chose this method because it is trackable and insured).
i will also need you to confirm your mailing address. the address you provided in your previous messege is different then the return address from the package you sent me. to avoid further complications, i request that you verify your mailing address again.
for the record, the return address on the package you sent to me is as follows:
michael scammer
???? tylers pl #???
west chester, oh 45069-4684
however, the address that you gave me in this message dialog is:
michael scammer
???? tylersville place blvd ???
west chester, ohio 45069
please confirm that you agree to my proposed plan of action, and also confirm which of the addresses above is you correct mailing address.
thank you.
update 12:24pm 2/12/08:
new messages from paypal dispute dialog:
From Seller: MICHAEL SCAMMER on 2/12/2008 06:30 PST
the address is a ups store,where we have all our packages delivered. the address once again is
michael scammer,
???? tylers place blvd # ???
west chester, ohio 45069
From Buyer: spanky on 2/12/2008 10:56 PST
thank you for confirming the mailing address. can you please confirm if you agree with my proposed plan of action?
From Seller: MICHAEL scammer on 2/12/2008 12:10 PST
yes
michael kramer
???? tylers place blvd # ???
west chester, ohio 45069
From Buyer:spanky on 2/12/2008 12:27 PST
thank you. i will be shipping the dvds back to you via UPS on 2/13/08 (i will provide you with the UPS tracking number and shipping cost).
looks like progress is coming along
update 2/15/08:
i shipped the dvds back to the seller via UPS ground yesterday. now i sit back and wait to see if i'm refunded for auction cost + shipping, as well as reimbursed for the return shipping (which was like $13).
update 2/27/08:
i got my paypal refund, but the seller told me that he would need my email address to give me a reinbursement for the shipping. i emailed him, but i haven't heard anything from him since. i dont expect that he will actually send me the reimbursement. oh well. off the report him to the proper authorities. i'm going to email warner brothers and the mpaa. hopefully they'll nail this jackass.
update 3/04/08:
got an email from warnerbros... it reads like this:
Dear Spank:
If you could please respond with any information on the seller, I can then forward it on to our piracy department. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Kind regards,
Warner Home Video
the first thing i noticed when i opened the USPS box is that, it was packaged like crap. the seller used store flyers for packaging, which is ok, but he just threw down one "best buy" flyer, then the dvd box set, then another "best buy" flyer. i've used "best buy" flyers for packaging in the past, but at least i ball up the pages to fill up more space so the package contents don't bounce around in transit. anyway, this pic shows some damage that might be due to the crappy packaging. i was unhappy about this rip on the box, but i did not think it was worth it to send everything back (thus eating $15 in shipping).
so i opened the shrink wrapping, and i felt there's something that just isn't right about the actual dvd box set (see exhibit A and exhibit B). in exhibit A, it looks like the glue on the wrapping paper melted or something. in exhibit B, it's fairly obvious to me that the wrapping paper on the box is slightly ripped, nor was it cut straight. i haven't purchased any dvd box sets in the past, but i expected the craftsmanship on these products to be better. is this assumption incorrect?
i go on to inspect the contents of the box. again, i have never bought a dvd box set before, so i'm not sure what things are supposed to look like. i'd assume that things would "look" new. i'm not sure if i am just being picky, but this does not look new. for one, notice the spots all over the dvd booklet, particularly in the area on joey's cheek and his jacket. another thing is, on the bottom of the dvd booklet, there appears to be glue residue spilling out.
now, maybe it's my mind/eyes playing tricks on me, but when i look at the actual dvd discs, i feel like the printing isn't right. i've seen bootleg dvd's that my friend bought from china, and as good as they look, it doesn't seem quite the same. looking that pic of the friends dvd disc, the picture that is printed on seems a bit blurry and not really sharp. i have some "home improvement" dvds, and the pictures that are printed on them seem better. i guess it's not good to compare dvd's like that, but my point is... the friends dvd disc just looks funny.
lastly, beside capcity, is there any difference between single layer and dual layer dvds? i thought i read somewhere that commercial dvd discs are all dual layer. i popped in one of these dvds and noticed that the capcity was 4.x GB. is there any other way i can tell if this disc is single or dual layer?
i emailed the seller my thoughts on thursday, and i haven't received any replies yet. his feedback is actually very good. here is a link to the auction.
i guess the purpose of this post is to try to answer the following two questions:
1.) any chance that any of you guys have the friends complete series dvd box set? does it look crappy like the one i bought?
2.) other then capacity, how can i tell if a disc is single or dual layer?
update 7:56pm 2/09/08:
thanx :beer:<<<<<bigal40:beer: for recommending dvdinfopro. this handy util helped me verify that these dvds are fakes (link to evidence)
update 8:13pm 2/11/08:
so i first emailed the seller on 2/06/08, and after no responses, i emailed him again today. at the same time, i decided to open a dispute case with paypal. three hours after i opened the paypal dispute case, the seller responded via paypal. the following is the messege i posted via paypal:
dear seller,
i have contacted you (kingvinylandvideo@yahoo.com) on 02/06/08, and again on 02/11/08, regarding this transaction. i have not recieved any responses from you, so i have resorted to attempting to get in contact with you via paypal. to re-iterate, i purchased an item from you on ebay (auction #320213223790), but it arrived damaged due to insufficient/negligent packaging. also, the item that you sent to me is a pirated bootleg item. your auction described the item as new, unopened, and authentic. i bid on and won your auction, paid for it via paypal, but when i recieved your package, the item was not what i had agreed to purchase. i wish that you will be willing to correct this situation.
i believe there are two reasonable & acceptable resolutions. they are as follows:
1.) send me what i purchased, which is a brand new, unopened, and legitimate copy of "friends the complete series collector's gift box set". please package this item appropriately. in browsing through your other ebay feedbacks, i see that you have had other buyers criticize you for your packaging (or lack thereof) practices.
2.) issue me a full refund, including all shipping costs. what you sent to me was not what i had agreed to buy. i should not be held accountable for an error on your part. the fault is yours, thus, so are the consequences.
i am not accusing you of purposely misrepresenting and selling the item on ebay. this is an issue between you and your distributor. all i ask is that you fulfill your half of this ebay transaction. if you are unabled to, please refund to me all costs involved in this transaction. thank you.
the following is his reply:
please send back. this is a legimate box set. once i recieve the boxset i will refund your money in full. please send back to:
michael scammer
street address
city name, state zip
maybe i am just being paranoid here, but i kind of want him to send me a pre-paid shipping label. the reason being is that if i mail it back... i doubt he will refund me the return shipping cost. and what if i ship, and he just plays dumb... as in "i never got the stuff, what are you talking about?".
suggestions?
update 9:01pm 2/11/08:
the following is my response to the sellers messege on paypal:
i would like to document here why i believe these dvds are pirated. the dvds that you sent to me are single layer discs, non-css protected, and region free. commercial dvds from television studios are dual layer, css protected (or some other DRM), and region coded. also, the craftsmanship of the box that you sent to me was very poor, and unfinished.
if you have any more dvds that you are selling on ebay, i encourage you to inspect the merchandise before you continue selling. i advise you to contact your distributor, because you have been defrauded. otherwise, you may take the fall for another person's crime. you would not want the local authorities or the MPAA pinning you for copyright infringement.
to be clear, i am requesting that return shipping costs to be refunded as well. i have paid you $147.95 on 2/3/08 for ebay auction #320213223790 . if it cost me $10.00 to ship these dvds back to you, i am to be refunded $157.95. if you would like to send me a prepaid shipping label, i'm fine with that too.
if we have an accord, please let me know if you wish to provide me a pre-paid shipping label, or if you will simply refund my initial payment of $147.95 and the accrued return shipping cost.
also, the address that you provided to me in your paypal dispute console message is slightly different then the return shipping address on the shipping label of the package you sent to me. could you please confirm the exact address that the package is to be shipped to?
thank you.
update 12:07am 2/12/08:
the seller replied to my message, but his message didn't really address whether or not he will reimburse me for the return shipping, nor did he verify what is his exact mailing address.
here is what he wrote in his reply:
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN ITEM IS SHIPPED, SO I CAN RETURN TO DIST FOR REFUND
the following was my response:
hello,
please confirm our agreed plan of action. i am requesting to be refund $147.95, plus incurred return shipping cost for the dvds. once i have a documented agreement from you here, i will ship the dvds back to you via UPS ground (i chose this method because it is trackable and insured).
i will also need you to confirm your mailing address. the address you provided in your previous messege is different then the return address from the package you sent me. to avoid further complications, i request that you verify your mailing address again.
for the record, the return address on the package you sent to me is as follows:
michael scammer
???? tylers pl #???
west chester, oh 45069-4684
however, the address that you gave me in this message dialog is:
michael scammer
???? tylersville place blvd ???
west chester, ohio 45069
please confirm that you agree to my proposed plan of action, and also confirm which of the addresses above is you correct mailing address.
thank you.
update 12:24pm 2/12/08:
new messages from paypal dispute dialog:
From Seller: MICHAEL SCAMMER on 2/12/2008 06:30 PST
the address is a ups store,where we have all our packages delivered. the address once again is
michael scammer,
???? tylers place blvd # ???
west chester, ohio 45069
From Buyer: spanky on 2/12/2008 10:56 PST
thank you for confirming the mailing address. can you please confirm if you agree with my proposed plan of action?
From Seller: MICHAEL scammer on 2/12/2008 12:10 PST
yes
michael kramer
???? tylers place blvd # ???
west chester, ohio 45069
From Buyer:spanky on 2/12/2008 12:27 PST
thank you. i will be shipping the dvds back to you via UPS on 2/13/08 (i will provide you with the UPS tracking number and shipping cost).
looks like progress is coming along
update 2/15/08:
i shipped the dvds back to the seller via UPS ground yesterday. now i sit back and wait to see if i'm refunded for auction cost + shipping, as well as reimbursed for the return shipping (which was like $13).
update 2/27/08:
i got my paypal refund, but the seller told me that he would need my email address to give me a reinbursement for the shipping. i emailed him, but i haven't heard anything from him since. i dont expect that he will actually send me the reimbursement. oh well. off the report him to the proper authorities. i'm going to email warner brothers and the mpaa. hopefully they'll nail this jackass.
update 3/04/08:
got an email from warnerbros... it reads like this:
Dear Spank:
If you could please respond with any information on the seller, I can then forward it on to our piracy department. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Kind regards,
Warner Home Video
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