Impressive Impractical Packaging

[life_boy]

My Ford at Fox box has arrived from B&N almost intact, with only one slightly scratched disk.

For the record, I also received my Ford at Fox set from B&N and had no problems whatsoever with lose or scratched discs.

[ltfontaine]

With an assist from dkmb (thanks!), I spoke today with very nice Erica in customer service at Fox about the process of exchanging my box of damaged discs for a set of clean ones. Erica expressed surprise, saying that mine was the first complaint she had heard. (Only people on this forum have received multiple scratched discs, what are the odds!) Erica suggested that I send her the box I received from Barnes and Noble and she would send me a replacement set. When asked, she said no, Fox wouldn't swap out the damaged discs only or inspect the replacement set before sending it on. So I guess I spins the cylinder and pulls the trigger.

If anyone else would like in on this very special offer from Fox, call Erica at 888-223-2FOX, or contact her via email at [email protected] and she will send you the instructions on where to send the goods.

[Scharphedin2]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but are these scratches causing the discs not to play or impairing the image/sound quality in any way? I buy a lot of discs, and I always need them shipped from the States or UK or other places. I often receive banged up boxes -- the latest was Berlin Alexanderplatz, where most of the transparent plastic housing holding the discs inside the fold-out sleeve basically arrived looking like one of those windshields of a bad car wreck. When I opened the thing, all these little plastic pieces came spilling out all over the place, along with two of the discs, one of them with several rather serious looking scratches. I played parts of this disc, but there seemed be no harm from the scratches.

So, are these scratches really a major concern, or are you all just standing up tall for your rights to expect discs to arrive clean and unblemished in your mailbox?

[ltfontaine]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but are these scratches causing the discs not to play or impairing the image/sound quality in any way? . . . So, are these scratches really a major concern, or are you all just standing up tall for your rights to expect discs to arrive clean and unblemished in your mailbox?

The scratches caused stuttering and freezing, and in one case prevented the disc from loading. My curiosity was sated after checking four discs. But yes, I do think it's reasonable to expect undamaged, playable discs underneath that shrinkwrap. (The Ford box and its contents, apart from the discs, were immaculate.)

[Gregory]

I also had a bunch of scratched discs. I can't figure out how they got that way, as they were totally immobile on their posts. I often receive shipments of regular Amaray cases that allow the disc to spin around or even come totally dislodged from the spindle, often with no scratches visible on the surface.
Aside from playback, there is also the issue of resale value, which I don't think anyone has mentioned. If one wants to re-sell a DVD, having scratches on the surface seriously affects how much one can get back, and this often has nothing to do with playback. I'm reasonable sure I'll never want to sell this item -- but for those who might want to do so, this should be a source of concern.
I'm hoping this is simply a tempest in a teacup confined to DVD-related internet forums and that the rest of the public buying this set are indifferent to these little packaging problems. Otherwise, I'm afraid Fox might be deterred from another ambitious release like this one.

[domino harvey]

Consumer buys new item --->
Consumer expects to receive item in new condition --->
Consumer receives product in poor condition --->
Consumer is upset because (s)he paid for the item to arrive in new condition and did not receive the item in new condition --->
Internet message board poster expresses righteous rage at consumer.

[Kinsayder]

Like Scharphedin2, I buy a lot of discs from aboard and have had more than a few "rattlers". Returning a disc that is scratched but playable (and it takes a lot of damage to make a disc unusable, in my experience) can be more trouble than it's worth for overseas buyers. I've learnt to live with cosmetic damage on my DVD purchases.

It's disheartening to hear that the damage to the Ford at Fox discs may be so bad as to make them unplayable - has anyone else found that to be the case? - and worse still to hear that Fox will only take returns of the entire box. That makes any sort of replacement highly problematic for non-US buyers. Airmail costs for the return, and import duty for the replacement could amount to half the price again.

[zedz]

In case the people enjoying this thread missed it in the other thread, I think we might have a winner in the grotesque form of the UA mega-box, which sounds like it was designed by Rube Goldberg's retarded cousin:

I had absolutely no interest in this set, and find the whole thing offensive, but - I received it as a present. (I will be selling it soon, PM me if you're interested). It is literally the most asinine set I've ever seen. The pictures don't do its idiocy justice.

Nevertheless, I opened it, because curiousity got the better of me. First of all, the box weights...I swear to god...24 pounds! The box is made out of metal (?!) and to get out the DVDs, you have to set the whole box upright on a table, then you pull a handle on the side, and actually wheel it out - there's actually a wheel. You wheel it out and then lift a giant book off the rack. When I pulled it out, literally 30 DVDs fell either to the floor, or onto the metal in the box. Just a fucking disaster. The DVDs slide in sideways into paper sleeves in the booklet, and I guarantee that everyone who buys this set (or gets it as a present) will have at least a dozen DVDs spill out on them - at least. And many more will be scratched - talk about impractical DVD packaging, this is the worst I've ever seen. If any of the discs play through, I'd be amazed.

But the worst part about the whole thing is that as elaborate as the package is, with its wheels and metal and bulk, there's nothing to it once you open it. There's nothing, no essays or anything. The design is aesthetically horrific. There's 2 DVDs on each page, and next to the DVD, the title of the film in a "classy" gold font, then a blue picture from each film with a quote from Leonard Maltin or some other crappy critic over each picture (Four starts! A true classic!) The only colors used in the whole set are blue, gold and white, except that each film has a maybe 3 inch x 2 inch full color reproduction of some original poster for that film. That is the best thing this set offers.

It gets even worse: try putting the book back on the rack to wheel it back into the case. You have to place this unwieldy, 15 pound book (the metal box is 9 pounds) which keeps flopping around, upright onto the rack, stand it up and wheel it back in. It has to be upright in order for you to do this, and since there's no way to keep the book closed, it takes a lot of maneuvering. It's actually pretty hilarious. I'm glad I didn't drop my own money on this, but I swear to god--swear to god--I will never buy a product from UA again.

[LightBulbFilm]

Sometimes I wonder if those people who say holding onto a scratch disc are just impatient. Whenever I order a DVD from a website and hear the thing rattling inside I automatically send it back (Unless the title is out of print and the last of its kind for the price I paid)

There was actually one time when I bought Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song from Deep Discount and had two replacements sent all of them rattling inside the package. I emailed Xenon about it and literally two days after sending out that e-mail I had FedEx drop a package off at my door with a brand new copy of SSBAS and a complimentary copy of The Harder They Come.

So if you have a little patience it does pay off. But I find it best to contact the distributor at once if it is a smaller company.

[domino harvey]

Wouldn't that you don't have the time to check every disc nor the money to just buy a new set mean you in fact don't have "too much money and time on your hands"?

[HerrSchreck]

Dude, I already asked this and had my head handed to me by a bunch of Better Business Bureau wannabees. Doesn't matter if your brand new car runs like a charm -- it's making a funny noise, so back it goes! Lemon!

Screw the funny noise (which is awesome comedy), but stick apples 2 apples:

"Sir I just bought a Mercedes from your showroom and the model they rolled out has scratches all over the exterior paint job,"

"Well excuuuuse me, fucking fancy pants prima donna. I didn't know I was selling to a God!! Shall I pray to you too now?"

[fdm]

fwiw, I did find a couple of decent copies of I Am Cuba at Borders (thanks to the post(s) that mentioned them - didn't even think to check there as seemed a bit too obscure even for them).

I think amazon botched up big time regarding how they chose to pack/ship it as both of mine were trashed (a bit smooshed from the shrinkwrappy type packing, and the innards were loose inside (at least) the less smooshed of the two). On the other hand, 1 of the 3 at Borders also had loose contents; 2 did not.

[Scharphedin2]

And another testimonial for the record...

I ordered these Milestone releases from DVD Empire, and they arrived late last week. They were fitted into a small box with apx. 20 other DVDs in regular amaray cases, and the excess space in the box was drowned with styrofoam peanuts.

No dislodged discs or scratches on any of the discs; the cigar box was in one piece, and looking very fine indeed. I am all for economical packaging, as I am desperately trying to confine my DVD library to one room, but I admit that for all its impracticalities I adore the way Milestone designed this package. The Killer of Sheep package was also in one piece, although the outer sleeve was slightly squeezed (in the same way that most CDs packaged in this type of soft carboard foldout within cardboard sleeve end up being squeezed or losing its shape, once the foldout inner sleeve has been removed). The concept of lodging the discs in slits in the cardboard may in the long run not be the best idea, but as far as I am concerned the discs had remained in place on their voyage from the States to Denmark, and I think as long as the package is stored up-right on a shelf, this should be fine.

Conclusion: DVD Empire takes a little extra care in packaging their consignments, and in this case it proved a very worthwhile practice.

[MichaelB]

I'd just like to nominate Merlin.pl as the most insanely conscientious of my regular suppliers.

It takes forever and a day to get one of their packages open, but once you've cut through several layers of tape and cardboard, you can pretty much guarantee that the contents will be pristine. I've made half a dozen orders with them in the last few months, and they've all arrived in flawless condition.

[Darth Lavender]

DVDPacific (were I buy almost all of my Region 1 DVDs) gets a mixed review on the packaging front...

The packaging itself is very good... Solid cardboard box stuffed with large quantities of butcher's paper for cushioning.
Unfortunately, I've still gotten all sorts of damaged discs. Presumably the disks were damaged before shipping. I've gotten a number of snapper & keepcases with loose DVDs (usually as a result of some of the centre plastic holder-things having broken off) and accompanying minor scratches on some of the DVDs, I've gotten a few bent edges on cardboard boxes, and even one snapper with a creased & mangled spine.
Also, very significant; DVDPacific doesn't do returns on damaged cases (and has a generally terrible returns policy)

Nonetheless, I'd actually still recommend them. The price difference between DVDPacific & Amazon is so huge, that even if I were to re-buy every damaged case/disk I've gotten from DVDPacific, I'd still have saved a whole lot of money over buying from Amazon.

[patrick]

In all fairness, my store's copy of Killer of Sheep arrived in good shape from Amazon - the corners were crunched but overall I can't complain too much. However, ours was sent in a box with packing material, I don't know how it would fair otherwise. I commend the producers of both Killer of Sheep and Futurama: Bender's Big Score for trying to be eco-friendly in their packaging, but there has to be a middle ground. Maybe getting tray cards/disc hubs made from corn (seriously - I know there's at least one DVD out there in packaging like this)?

[CSM126]

Or maybe they could get over their eco-paranoia and just use God damned PLASTIC. Just an idea.

[Scharphedin2]

I am not sure how impractical this packaging actually is, although it is certainly impressive in its way. And, even more impressive is its contents -- 110 Disney classics on DVD!

It is sometimes sold on eBay, and this seller claims that it is an "authentic" Chinese Disney release. Does anyone know anything about this? It would make for a wonderful present, ahem, for children in the family... (I should also add that the usual going price that I have seen is roughly $200, which I also find impressive).

[OliverB]

theres nothing impressive about all those dorky fanboy packages shaped like briefcases and lunchboxes and alien heads that look like they belong in a toy box in a twelve year olds room than on a dvd shelf. theatrical poster art and a standard keep case, that's all.

[LightBulbFilm]

I really dig the new Blade Runner packaging. Call me a fanboy if you'd like... It's fucking bad ass.

[Scharphedin2]

Maybe it was not clear from my post, but my interest here is mainly with the 110 films and the issue of their "authenticity." In general, I suppose I can take or leave the fancy packaing, although I think it could be argued in this case that it is in fact not an impractical packaing solution, considering that the casket holds 110 films in what looks like the space normally occupied by a mere 15-20 standard DVD cases.

[OliverB]

I really dig the new Blade Runner packaging. Call me a fanboy if you'd like... It's fucking bad ass.

it looks ridiculous. you'd have to pay me to keep that thing in my apartment. the digipak with theatrical poster art is the only decent looking release. i'm not a big fan of this movie though, i think it's way overrated and not too good.

[domino harvey]

Disney wants Chinese money as much as it wants American money, no way they'd package all their films into one cheap set like that for any region. 100% guaranteed bootleg.

[dx23]

theres nothing impressive about all those dorky fanboy packages shaped like briefcases and lunchboxes and alien heads that look like they belong in a toy box in a twelve year olds room than on a dvd shelf. theatrical poster art and a standard keep case, that's all.

I suppose that you may hate most DVD releases, including Criterions, since most of them don't have theatrical poster arts (which by the way, change from country to country and sometimes companies use several to promote the film), and they come in fancy digipacks, double cases or slimpacks.

To me, packaging like the Alien Head, the Blade Runner briefcase, the Ape Head, etc, differentiate the product from every other release, making the DVD a little more enjoyable. Yes, they can sometimes be over the top or inconvinient but why does packaging have to be the same release after release?

As for the Disney chinese set, it has to be a bootleg with pretty good packaging. Although looking at this pic from the auction, I doubt that there are 110 disc in the set.

[HerrSchreck]

Counting to ten, then multiplying that width across the sum... looks like there's hardly even sixty discs in there...