Dial "M" for Most Annoying Distributor

Alpha_Hazard · Post by **Alpha_Hazard** » Thu May 29, 2003 9:31 pm

ALright, I dunno about anybody else, But I have fallen into a trap and need help getting out. I Went on amazon and got great deals on FLCL and Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' On Heavens Door. As it turns out, these deals are not that great. THe Distributor find it neccesary for somereason to put this Damn little Bright Chartreuse "M" in the corner of the screen. What the hell is up with that? I Paid for it, I shouldn't have to see this ugly M when I watch my favorite series! Or is the the price I pay for my wanting to not pay 22 dollars for three episodes, and nothing else? I mean, Granted its only three dvd's out of my whole collection, It's not like EVA has it. ANyway, my point is, how will I be able to tell when I'm getting a "Manga" Product and when I'm going to get one that I can watch and rip without being sickened by the ugly fucking M in the corner.

Furthermore, is there anything I can do to remove this stupid M, Aside from cropping it out of the frame?

Does anyone else think that it is BUllshit for a company to put a mark on a legitimately purchased DVD? I mean, I would think there are laws against it or something. and it's not like one vendor on amazon, it's the distibutor who does it. THis is so damn frustrating!

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Thu May 29, 2003 10:52 pm

The thing is, that's NOT a legitimate dvd, its a bootleg.

Alpha_Hazard · Post by **Alpha_Hazard** » Thu May 29, 2003 10:57 pm

so you're saying I should report this to amazon?

EarthCurrent · Post by **EarthCurrent** » Fri May 30, 2003 1:14 am

I suspect you should. 'Cause you got ripped off...Knocking on Heaven's Door isn't even available domestically yet.

and I find it all quite amusing...buyer beware

MistyCaldwell · Post by **MistyCaldwell** » Fri May 30, 2003 1:43 am

How in the world did you get the Bebop movie off amazon? I looked it up and they only have a pre-order for the movie.

By the way, some good indicators that you are going to get it up the rear with a bootlegg are these:

-The full Series of the anime comes on 3 or 4 discs. Domestic releases do not come like that...they are released with ususally no more than 3 to 5 episodes per volume disc. There are some special cases though.

-There is no english track

or

-There is an english track listed but chinese is on the subtitle list. As far as I know, none of the domestic releases have chinese subs

-It is claims to be a region free or all region disc. Imports from Japan are usually R2, the US is R1

On ebay in particular, the bootleggs come from overseas. You are just asking for a ream job by buying those things.....

Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

BishounenStalker · Post by **BishounenStalker** » Fri May 30, 2003 12:22 pm

MistyCaldwell wrote:Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

G. I. JOOOOOOOOOOE!

Sorry, couldn't resist

But yeah, another good indicator is if the DVDs for said series are not available domestically (hence the only legit ones would be imports). If you're NOT paying through all available orifices, then it's more than likely a bootleg. God knows legitimate imports don't come cheap.

SarahtheBoring · Post by **SarahtheBoring** » Fri May 30, 2003 1:34 pm

Amazon now links to Half.com, which runs just like Ebay and is STUFFED with bootlegs. Stuffed. Even for stuff that's available domestically. I've looked. It's pretty sick.

First off, if the offer seems too good to be true, it is. I've also heard that Chinese subtitles are a huge tip-off.

Alpha_Hazard · Post by **Alpha_Hazard** » Fri May 30, 2003 2:24 pm

Actually, I have discovered something. Upon further investigation, all of the discs with this M are single disc sets. not multi disc. Each of these cost the same price 11.95, now, Of course I can avoid it with single disc sets, but multi disc will be more difficult.

Of course, I probably could have waited a week to get the full FLCL disc, I mean, it's out now... I'm just far too impatient I guess...

tutterbutter · Post by **tutterbutter** » Fri May 30, 2003 2:30 pm

I was on amazon the other day, looking up The Complete Sessions for Bebop and forl ike 70 bucks less, you could get a 3 dvd complete set? I was kinda iffy, luckily for me... I walked into the fye here, where the whole store is anime nuts and told me.. Its prolly not gonna be what you expect, and to get the full session if you can find it and explained that whole domestic blah blah blah stuff.. I figured.. ill just buy them as I grab them.
So much iffy stuff, bootlegged stuff.. and i feel horrible if i buy something that way..especially if im ripping someone off, whoms work i appreciate greatly.. <shrug> I bought the best sessions instead and will gradually collect and buy legit copies

Tutterbutter

Alpha_Hazard · Post by **Alpha_Hazard** » Fri May 30, 2003 3:42 pm

Actually I got a three disc set for half that price of the complete sessions and it's good. Sometimes the translations are funky, like the dub says, beandip, while the subs say chocolate... But it really is a gamble.

But the Love Hina one I got, it has an email addy for the guy who subbed it. Other than that though (And of course the Green M Stuff) I've been pretty lucky. I got the Iria DVD for 17 bucks, and it says it only has japanese dialogue, but it has english and japanese... it's weird...