Where's My Criterion?

[Gigi M.]

I never experience any trouble with DVDPLANET in the past. The only time was with the October titles for about four days and Shoot The Piano Player last month.

Hope that helps.

[Theodore R. Stockton]

DvdPlanet seems to have their shit together now.

[bjeggert82]

Since I'm off school for a month between semesters, I've been renting (and loving) the Ingmar Bergman discs--most of which I've never seen before these recent viewings. I've watched all of them except Cries and Whispers (but I'm a little hesistent about that one after reading about some masturbation scene with glass? ...What?!).

Anyway, I just put in an order for all of the Bergman Criterion discs at DVDplanet.com. On that order, I preordered The Virgin Spring. I haven't seen this film either, but I've read some literature on it, and it sounds good.

I haven't preordered anything from DVDplanet.com since October, since I (and everyone else on this site) had such problems with them that month. Since then, I had to buy Ran and The Bad Sleep Well at Best Buy because I don't trust DVDplanet with getting me my preorders anywhere within a week after the release date. DVDplanet customer service were jerks about the October issue too, which bothers me.

This preorder is a test for DVDplanet... If The Virgin Spring arrives like preorders used to arrive before October (on or before the actual release day), then they've got my preorder business again. Of not, then screw DVDplanet, and I'm going back to paying extra for Criterion discs at Best Buy. The Best Buy nearest to me has begun stocking all Criterion releases, so at least I can pick up and watch the discs I choose to buy on their release days.

I have no problem ordering already released discs from DVDplanet--they're usually pretty good about shipping those out quick. For example, the Berman discs order went out today and I put in that order Thursday night. Pretty quick, I thought. But their preorder service has been poor over the last three months, as we all know.

[tasog37]

Since I'm off school for a month between semesters...

Glad to know you're enjoying the Bergman stuff; I really love all of it and actually own it all (Region One anyway).

Anyways, based on the replies I went ahead and ordered both Saraband and The Virgin Spring. So, thank you all for the replies.

[Theodore R. Stockton]

I kind of figured that they would wait until they had a bunch to send out and do it all at the same time, but I thought I got previous ones sooner so maybe the Holidays did delay them.

Also, I may have to renig on my previous statement about DVDPlanet. I got a shipping notice on the 6th about Bad Sleep Well then later found out that it didn't ship until the 10th and I still haven't gotten the fucker.

[tasog37]

Also, I may have to renig on my previous statement about DVDPlanet. I got a shipping notice on the 6th about Bad Sleep Well then later found out that it didn't ship until the 10th and I still haven't gotten the fucker.

Yeah, I've been pretty disappointed so far with their service.

I preordered Sarband a few days before it came out and it still isn't here. I got a shipping notice but then found out it didn't ship until after the notice much like yours.

I got a shipping notice today for The Virgin Spring. I'll be sure to post when it gets here but so far my hopes aren't very high. I definitely can not see myself using their website again in the future, I've been much more impressed with deepdiscountdvd's service. I'd rather pay a few extra dollars and support ddd even.

I tried to cancel part of an order from dvdplanet and the first lady I spoke with told me I wasn't allowed to cancel it because it was ready to ship; a week later I called again to find out the item was still backordered, so I told the lady I wanted to cancel that part of the order and she said 'okay it's cancelled.' I called again a few days later and she must not have done it right because it hadn't been cancelled yet! That is just ridiculous.

[domino harvey]

man, that sounds a lot like what I went thru. screw DVDPlanet... I paid for priority shipping and they claimed my package was mailed monday... but monday was a postal holiday so who's lying here.

[bjeggert82]

My preorder for The Virgin Spring says it shipped on 1/19. I got it on 1/21 (today). DVDplanet's shipping seems to have gone back to normal to me.

[domino harvey]

eh, you know what they say about broken watches

[King of Kong]

My Virgin Spring hasn't been sent to me yet. What's up, amazon.com?

[tasog37]

My Virgin Spring got here today from dvdplanet. Bettert than next week I suppose.

Man, I am so excited. This also completes my Region 1 collection of Ingmar Bergman films.

[cerebus300]

Anyone have any bad experiences with DVD Pacific? I've been waiting for Night and Fog and a Godard box set for ten days. They say that they have shipped it, but all they have done is send a message to the usps to EXPECT the package. No package has actually been received. I emailed DVD Pacific and they are giving me this BS story that the post office only scans the package upon delivery. I have never had that be the case in the many times that I've used delivery confirmation. I wouldn't care that much but I need these films for a class and if they screw me over for too long my deadline to use them is going to pass.

[souvenir]

Anyone have any bad experiences with DVD Pacific? I've been waiting for Night and Fog and a Godard box set for ten days. They say that they have shipped it, but all they have done is send a message to the usps to EXPECT the package. No package has actually been received. I emailed DVD Pacific and they are giving me this BS story that the post office only scans the package upon delivery. I have never had that be the case in the many times that I've used delivery confirmation. I wouldn't care that much but I need these films for a class and if they screw me over for too long my deadline to use them is going to pass.

I don't have any experiences with DVD Pacific, but the USPS tracking numbers are almost worthless prior to delivery. I can't even count the number of times that my tracking status is what you've described (message sent to USPS to expect the package) and I'll receive the package the next day or two. I wouldn't use the USPS tracking number as any kind of definitive indication as to where your package is.

[cerebus300]

You were right. The dvds came and they had never even been scanned into the usps system. I have to take back anything negative that I said about DVD Pacific. They did a wonderful job at getting the dvds to me, and their customer service is excellent. They responded quickly to each e-mail. So, bottom line. It was my mistake and I would definitely use DVD Pacific in the future. By the way I got a Godard set including Breathless for a damn good deal through them. At least $10 cheaper than anyone else.

[swimminghorses]

All of 2006 Criterions releases including those in the coming months are full price (althought amazon discounts nearly all preorders for every company and has for the most part done so for Criterion (with the exception of a month or two in early 2005). I wrote amazon about this and received no real explaination but being as I buy alot from them they gave me a $10 coupon. What is up with this pricing strategy and why the hell does it continue? (by the way it seems to have started when Criterion changed distributors.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

All of 2006 Criterions releases including those in the coming months are full price (althought amazon discounts nearly all preorders for every company and has for the most part done so for Criterion (with the exception of a month or two in early 2005). I wrote amazon about this and received no real explaination but being as I buy alot from them they gave me a $10 coupon. What is up with this pricing strategy and why the hell does it continue? (by the way it seems to have started when Criterion changed distributors.

This has been going on for a couple of months now. There's a dedicated thread about it here.

[daniel p]

Has anyone seen Late Spring up for order yet? I use dvdempire, and it isn't in their database yet. Where can I find out the pre-order dates?

[ellipsis7]

Very unusual - there was a pre-order discount on Amazon for about a week (I ordered at that price then) and now it's gone!

[Dr. Mabuse]

I ordered Metropolitan, Young Mr. Lincoln and Kind Hearts and Coronets from CriterionDVD.com on feb 5th. The order shipped on feb 6th, but I have not received it yet. It could be lost in transit, but I remember I found it strange that "Kind Hearts and Coronets" were shipped so early. I think it was supposed to be release two or three weeks after the first two titles.

Did anyone else ghad their KHC shipped so early?

Also, anyone had any experience with CriterionDVD with lost packages.

I live in Norway, and usually Global Priority Mail takes about a week.

[redbill]

I ordered Metropolitan, Young Mr. Lincoln and Kind Hearts and Coronets from CriterionDVD.com on feb 5th. The order shipped on feb 6th, but I have not received it yet. It could be lost in transit, but I remember I found it strange that "Kind Hearts and Coronets" were shipped so early. I think it was supposed to be release two or three weeks after the first two titles.

Did anyone else ghad their KHC shipped so early?

Also, anyone had any experience with CriterionDVD with lost packages.

I live in Norway, and usually Global Priority Mail takes about a week.

as I remember, criteriondvd charges you when you order, not necessarily when they ship. So maybe you thought they shipped it when they really didn't?

[Dr. Mabuse]

They charged on feb 5th (when I ordered the items) , and shipped on feb 6th. Their helpdesk have been helpfull so far. The items could be held up in costums. Anything is possible. I'll wait another week, before I get back to them.

[ugobo]

I also have an order from critriondvd.com waiting to arrive. I ordered The Lower Dephts,Shoot The Piano Player and Pickpocket and it was sent on feb.10. I live in Montreal (Canada) it it usualy takes five open days to get here. I'm a regular customer from criterion.com and i find them very reliable. They ship fast and are custom friendly.
I don't know what they can do regarding a lost or stollen shipment. I was wondering about that myself. If don't receive it by friday then i'll let them know the situation. I hope we can work something out...

[domino harvey]

DVD Planet is up to their old tricks. they told me they shipped Metropolitan via priority mail on Thursday... it's Weds, still no DVD. what are the odds they've even mailed it at all.

[souvenir]

I ordered Kind Hearts and Coronets from Amazon when it was still discounted back in January and it's finally entered the "Shipping Soon" stage this afternoon despite listing the original estimated ship date as 2/28. After calling two days in a row, the best explanation they could give me was that it was a popular item and they didn't have enough to satisfy the pre-orders. This doesn't make a lot of sense to me because I placed my order very soon after it was even available for pre-order from the site. There's obviously something strange going on between Amazon and Criterion/Image.

[What A Disgrace]

I've never had this kind of trouble with a Digital Eyes shipment before...my Kind Hearts and Coronets (as well as the Controversial Classics box) shipped the Thursday before their release, under 2-5 Day Shipping. It is now the Saturday after their release, and still no package.