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Saqib New user 5 Posts |
Hey everyone.. I use to post up here alot, but then I stopped and well now I'm back into magic. recently I bought some dvds off of ebay, quit a few actually from this one seller. but this guy is selling bootleg dvds, he makes copies and sells them and repackages them to make it seem authentic. Clearly this is wrong, how do I go about stopping this, should I call the company that actually makes the real dvds and tell them about this? I wouldnt get in trouble would I? I didn't know they werent real...Also in normal dvds they have the warning of a 250,000 fine. Do the original owners get this money or does it go to the government? Would it be wrong to ask for some 'reward'? Thanks
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LostSoul Regular user Dave 148 Posts |
For starters I would notify eBay and post a negative rating in the profile. I would also send a copy of the notification to the publisher of the DVD. The 250,000 fine, I think goes to the government, the copyright holder has the right to sue for damages.
Good luck, Dave DeCoursey |
jwebyra Regular user New Jersey 140 Posts |
Whenever I buy magic DVDs or VHS tapes I always make sure that it states in the description that it is the orginial and not a copy. If new it would say it is new and is still in the orginal shrink wrap. When buying new look where it is coming from in terms of the type of business. I bought a used VHS tape and it said in the description that it was used and was the orginial tape and not a copy, and it was the orginial. Most sellers will highlight the fact that it is an orginial and that they do not sell copies. If you have a question you can always contact the seller and ask him/her.
I agree with Mr. Mr. DeCoursey in terms in contacting E-Bay. E-Bay does have policies against selling bootlegs. Also if you think something isn't real just contact the seller. If that doesn't work you can contact E-Bay and make sure you don't bid on anything you feel suspicious about. Like I said most sellers will hilight the fact that the DVD/VHS is brand new in it's orginial wrap or the it is used but the orginial DVD/VHS that is being sold. The DVDs I bought from E-Bay were from places that sell DVDs and were legit stores on the web. Just my 2% of $1.00 Ron |
Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
Also, beware of "original" shrink wrap. I've seen back rooms of video stores where a worker sits there with a hair dryer rewrapping video tapes. The shrink wrap material is cheap and hard to distinguish from the original.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
You definitely should contact the company that owns the rights to the DVD's. This is a crime. It is theft. It is as much an example of theft as stealing hubcaps. Not only that, it's a federal violation.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Hubcaps??? what are those??
Magic is a vanishing art.
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wildarr New user Isle of Palms, SC 80 Posts |
Yet another vote to give negative feedback to the seller, and to contact both ebay and the legitimate owner/distributor of the intellectual property.
Silence is complicity. |
Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-30 23:03, edh wrote: Anywhere from $25 to $250 each, depending on the vehicle.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
This is as blatant theft as walking into your house and stealing your TV.
Contact everyone you have to.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
wayno Veteran user Canada 323 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-05-16 16:22, Dave VanVranken wrote: This isn't so un-common. Workers sometimes have to insert anti-theft devices into the packages, and wrap them back up. With video casettes, they would insert them under the plastic protector flap so it wasn't visible to the theif. Then they would shrink them back up so they would stay with their origional box. No different than rental stores placing the anti-theft device onto DVDs before they put them on the shelves. As for retail sales, this practice is more common in smaller stores these days. A lot of items have the anti-theft deviced already instered (computer software, CDs, videogames) into the package, but that doesn't mean they will be compatible with a store's detection system. 10 years ago, I was having to do that with computer software at Future Shop. I didn't open the software up, but had to put the security tags (clevery disguised as price tags) on every piece of software that came into the store. The same was done with music CDs. I would imagine the larger chains can have compatable devices installed right at the manufacturer's packing factory before it reaches their distributors as they're buying enough volume. Sincerely, Wayne Stevenson The SpookClub |
wayno Veteran user Canada 323 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-05-16 08:08, LostSoul wrote: Giving negative feedback for the seller, can hurt you back. They can just as easily leave you negative feedback. Side-step this and submit a complaint directly to Ebay letting them know they are selling illegal copies of videos. They'll shut down the account so he/she will have to start over. As well, contact the publishing company(s) of the DVDs and give all the info for the ebayer including their name and return address from the packaging material. They are the only ones who can contact authorities regarding this theft, being that they are the only ones who can actually say if it is a theft or not. Sincerely, Wayne Stevenson The SpookClub |
Drs_Res Veteran user 325 Posts |
The whole point of feedback is to let other eBayers know about the person that you did business with.
I would gladly take the hit of a negative on my profile to warn others off from a seller of bootlegs. Savvy eBayers read the feedback of both people in transactions. With that said, just make sure that you keep it professional and emotionless, just the facts. If the only negative on your profile is left after you have left a negative for the seller, smart people will be able to figure out the situation. Don't forget that you can post a follow up remark on feedback left on your profile. By all means, you should do what wayno said to do as well, but I'd still leave the person the negative that they earned, and warn others away from that seller.
( / ) The Bunny
(O.o) Add him to your signature. (> <) Help him rule the world. /_||_ Prosper at his side. Scott |
Marvello Inner circle It's amazing how little I can say in 1612 Posts |
There is a big market for bootlegs on eBay, and a lot of it has to do with buyer demand. Many sellers offer titles that have not or will not be released on DVD. Keep in mind that many people search eBay to buy bootleg DVD's, and just as a savvy buyer who doesn't want to get stuck with bootlegs can learn how to spot them, so can those who are actually looking to buy them. You can play ignorant and act like you thought a certain movie or TV show was officially released on to DVD, however if you really are a fan of that movie or show most likely you have looked around to see if it is available at your local video store, so you should know if it has been released or not, and if you can ONLY find it on eBay that should send up a red flag. This is a big case of Buyer Beware (especially when buying on eBay). Key words to look out for to avoid buying bootlegs are:
ALL REGION or REGION FREE or REGION 0 (not EVERY DVD that is advertised as ALL REGION, REGION FREE or REGION 0 are bootlegs, but if you see that listed in an auction you should take a closer look at the auction and their past selling history as well as feedback. If they have a lot of DVDs listed, and they are all listed as region free, etc., then you can bet that they are going to be bootleg).
Never criticize someone else until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Then, when you do criticize them, you will be a mile away from them and you will have their shoes.
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Mystification Special user 571 Posts |
I would like to see some of these pirates prosecuted. If they were charged with a crime, maybe it would be a deterrent.
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