posted on May 5, 2002 02:26:44 AM new
if I now realize the item is "suspicious"? There is this canadian video seller, I bought off him in the past, always sold me factory originals. Haven't bought off him in 8 month. Last week, he had a very rare video tape, and I won it. i was about to send him payment when I noticed he had ANOTHER one of the same video, same scan of the image ,closing a week after mine. Since this is considered one of the rarest videos, usually fetching for 150.00 at ebays, so I checked his selling history foe the last month, and noticed he has been submitting the same 40 rare videos for the last month!
Now before anyone say something like "oh he got lucky and found multiples of this rare video" many of the titles he sold up to 6 times this month is very very rare, was oop'ed in the 80's, and the one I won was only released briefly for a short time before the company folded. Only 200 was possibly made. I used to be in the video business, this title, in which he so far has 5 of, is so rare, on a rare occasion it shows up in ebays, it is usally only twice a year. And is actually worth several hundred dollars.
I thought I got lucky winning it for 65.00, that I can re-sell it for much higher later, but being from the video business, there is no way in hell this guy can have these same 40 titles, let alone 4 to 6 copies of each, unless they are bootlegs! (again before anyone say "oh he got lucky, you can ask any top experts on oop tapes, like bideo, booberry, etc, they will tell you this is impossible)
i dont want to pay him, for I do not want to be taken, but if i dont, I will get a strike when he files FVF. The last video powerseller who had multiples of many many oop videos was thebarry,and he ran off with over 200,000 dollars from over 150 different bidders. I feel bad vibes, and I already was ripped off 200 dollars from thebarry, and i am not about to be taken for 65.00.
Is there anyway I can avoid the FVF strike when he files for I refuse to pay for a dupe? should I let ebays know? (and again a note to the devil's advocate. You can ask experts of OOP videos, they WILL tell you no way on earth someone could find 4 to 6 copies of the same 40 titles, especially some of the most rarest of videos! They are the ones who I talked to that said wished they had warned bidders who got taken by thebarry)
posted on May 5, 2002 02:54:27 AM new
If you are nervous about this transaction, cancel your bid, let him know about it and why you are cancelling and take the neg. You should have researched this far better than you did. It is your responsibility to be certain you wish to complete the transaction prior to bidding. Not after the fact. I can see your point but it is still your responsibility.
posted on May 5, 2002 06:07:21 AM new
Just out of curiosity what is the title of the video? If you think your concerns are warranted, I would let the seller know you are cancelling your bid and if he leaves youa neg, you will have no option but to leave a neg too informing other potential buyers he is selling dupes.
posted on May 5, 2002 06:49:24 AM new
Im not all that sure there is all that many video's and DVD that are really all that rare.
with all the clubs out there selling these many times at bargan prices for joining and buying from them.
I have seen thousands and thousands of video listed on amazon, ebay and yahoo that state they are rare selling for hundereds that I can find in these mail order clubs and even store for $19.00 and less yet they are described as rare and hard to find with bids as high as $150 at auction and I know I can buy 5 or 6 for that price.
posted on May 5, 2002 08:27:10 AM new
I am now going thru 35,000 videos. If you email the title to me I will list one for you when I find it ... there's gotta be at least one of all kind of weirdo titles here!
posted on May 5, 2002 09:56:46 AM new
It would be interesting to know the title also.
We have a wholesaler that came up with an out of print (not sure how rare, though it must have been something good, got very good prices) video a couple years ago. Got them for rock bottom price, if we bought the caseload, thought I would give a shot, and yeah, I got good money for each one. And they were original, they had been stored for a few years, and I guess forgotton about in a warehouse.
It can happen.
You say he has a scan... is it the oringal artwork on the cover, are they sealed?
I don't know if you said, did you ask him if this is original? do any of his feedback say differently? Are there any postives for this particular video?
posted on May 5, 2002 10:23:42 AM new
If it were me, I'd e-mail him and ask him if his is original media or a copy. If he tells you that it's a copy you can tell him that it's against not only eBay's TOS to sell bootleg media, but also against Federal Copyright Laws, not mention mail fraud if he intends to send through the US Postal Service.
eBay won't do a thing for you until you have paid for the item and have it in your hand and can prove it's a copy.
You'll get a standard response from them that they are not copyright experts. They will, however, do something if you have the bootleg copy in your hand. I turned a bootlegger in about a year ago for this very same thing.
eBay also shut down a couple of people who were selling their season episodes for TV shows that are off the air; these were nothing more than VCR recorded copies of the episodes, not produced by the network in any way.
I bet if you press the issue with the seller he'll release you from the deal as quietly as possible. He doesn't want you reporting him after the deal is done, and you don't want to send him the money.
posted on May 5, 2002 03:44:01 PM new
Again, these videos were released in the late 70's and early 80's, BEFORE every home had a VCR, BEFORE video clubs existed (please, please I know what I am saying, you can contact the 2 experts I named, bideo and booberry, who sell on ebays, they will tell you how rare these are)).
Here are some of the titles (the last batch I dont see him selling anymore, they have fallen off ebays history, but he did sell multiples)
LIES MY FATHER TOLD ME (only released in Canada in 82, maybe only 200 was printed, in fact on his web site, bideo wants $1000 dollars for it!)
MARCH OR DIE (on the ORIGINAL Magnetic video label, NOT avid video)
MYRA BRECKINRIDGE (only released on video in 1980, for a very short time, on original Magnetic video and he sold like 5 of them?)
TEEN WITCH (original media label, he sold like 7 of them in a month!)
RAD (on the original embassy video label, he sold 10 of them in a month??)
HUGGA BUNCH (the original version, released in the mid-80's)
MOUSE AND HIS CHILD (released only in 1984)
UNICO (hard to find, released only on video in 1983)
ICEMAN COMETH (lee marvin one, only 300 was made back in 1980 as part of a limited mail order deal to high stock holders of american express, last list price was $1,500)
DIRTY MARY CRAZY LARRY (only released on video in 1979, most of the ones in ebay are bootlegs)
dman3,mrssantaclaus, nearthesea, So if you have any of the above, please sell it to me for $10. NO ONE, and I must stress this, NO ONE gets this lucky.
Like I said, I previously purchased from him before, so when he had this video, I jumped at bidding without checking what he sold before. Has it gotten to a point where we must all check any sellers selling history, even ones i purchased from before, to see if he is starting a scam?
As for the ebays. Even if I buy it and pay that outrageous fee for a item that costed the seller $1 for blanktape dub. Ebay will not do anything. I got taken before and all i get is canned email from ebay over copies. Ebay doesn't seem care as long as these people make money.
I think the most I can do is don't buy it, wait for him to rate me BAD, then warn the other potential bidder by leaving him a feedback. Any of you have more than 6 quantity of each of these tapes, please let me know. Because I have been in the video business since the early 80's. I also worked for a used tape broker after I closed my 2 video stores. I know how original looks like and know how rare a tape it is. Trust me, it's impossible to find so many copies of some of these films.
posted on May 5, 2002 04:21:03 PM new
I'm just popping in for a moment tonight and happened upon your post. If it was me I think I would just not pay for it and take whatever feedback he left. But if you decide to pay for it I would definitely use a credit card to pay for it so at least you might have some chargeback protection.
posted on May 5, 2002 04:53:28 PM new
Since you has so much doubt about the purchase, how about using an escrow service. That way you can inspect the tape before he gets the money. If he will not go for that, make sure you do use a credit card and if it a fake, report him as fast as possible.
posted on May 5, 2002 06:15:56 PM new
I once came across some rare Rock & Roll memorbillia that was selling in the $80-$100 range on ebay. It just so happened that this stock was literally supposed to be thrown in the ocean, never to be seen by the public but was saved by the promoter. I bought dozens of it and sold it on ebay, used the same pic. Not so rare now, and drove the price down.
You can't say with certainty this seller is selling you copies, his connections may be super. Manufacturers or stores sometimes have old stock laying around collecting dust. However, I'd be suspect of what this tape is really worth if there are these extra's around.
posted on May 5, 2002 06:24:10 PM new
Ok I think I found him. Btw he does have some interesting titles.
If its the same seller, he puts they preview every tape for quality, they are former rentals, (I don't know, in Canada, they could have had a few of these for rentals?)
I think (not positive) he guarentees his videos.
Not one negative feedback and he's over a 1000 powerseller.
posted on May 5, 2002 06:29:37 PM new
Another thing I just thought about.
Quite a few years back, like about 11 years ago, my brother and I were on a quest to rent, but wanted to buy the video 'On the Beach' (there is a remake out now, not that one) it starred Gregory Peck.
We called everywhere, and finally found someone that gave us a number to call about most all videos. They told us the movie studio? put the movie in moretoruem, and they didn't know how long it would stay like that.
Today, you can rent or buy it. I'm not sure when they started selling it.
I don't know if this has anything to do with your problem, but maybe some were in moretorum by the studios and they released them, maybe just in Canada for now??
posted on May 5, 2002 08:24:22 PM new
neartheSea, I hate to repeat myself, but again, I was, and still is in the video business. These titles was NEVER re-issued. If you dont believe me, email seller bideo on just how rare and collectable LIES MY FATHER TOLD ME is. He sold one for 1000 dollars once, thats how rare it is. And yet this seller had 5 in a month...?
posted on May 6, 2002 04:35:54 AM new
DUH...why don't you express your concerns to the seller instead of here??? You are NOT obligated to buy an illegal item, as a matter of fact, it is illegal for you to do so. However, your main concern seems to be afraid of gettig the dreaded neg FB so...um...to avoid THAT, why not just go ahead and pay the 65.00...!!! geez! Wheredayaallcomefrom??
kiddo2
posted on May 6, 2002 01:27:38 PM new
OK becky/mrssantaclaus, you said you have multiples of some, please post which ones you have, I am interested. You can put it up for auction, please let me.
[ edited by ironking on May 6, 2002 01:36 PM ]
posted on May 6, 2002 01:34:12 PM new
tomwill, if SALO is from criterion dvd, then it is worth money. But ifit's the unauthorized dvd that was flooding ebays awhile back, it is worthless. as for REDNECK, that is worth about 4.50 cents!
I am not doubting for a moment your in the video business. I'm sorry if it sounded like I was doubting your expertise in this field.
I am not an expert in this, I only know what I like, and I buy it. I prefer DVD, but if its absolutely not on DVD and I really want it, I may buy it on video.
I have never heard of Redneck, but of course know of Telly Savalas, and someone looks like they made out great on that one, someone wanted it for that much, and that is great for tomwiii
Though I have heard of, and seen most of the videos you listed, I know nothing about how many videos were put out by the original company.
But the whole point, I guess, and I am not putting you down for this, is, if you know this is so hard to find, or just plain impossible, in the time the auction ran, was there enough time to ask the seller about it? Or did you use a Buy it Now,though even with a BIN on it, you may still have been able to ask the seller questions about this.
I suppose you still can ask him about the video now that the transaction is over.
I would certainly give it a shot, couldn't hurt. He may let you out of the deal with no hard feelings, no filing FVF and all, as you say it must be a bootleg. Or if your sure its bootlegged, turn him in, don't know. I think I would have to ask questions, if the problem was like this one. If they are selling for high prices, and its 'collectable' I mean its gotta be if you say that certain copies sold for $1k or $1500. I would have to question the heck out of the seller.
posted on May 6, 2002 03:37:28 PM new
If you are so 'in the business', why did you bid on this video to begin with? Why wouldn't you have contacted to verify authenticity before bidding? Remember, your bid is your contract. If you are concerned, contact one of the sellers old customers from feedback and ask some questions as to the authenticity of the tape. You never know, maybe this charletan IS for real. Then again, maybe this is a Regular star wars jawa with a home-fab fabric cloak...
posted on May 6, 2002 04:42:56 PM new
tomwill, congratulations, that tape really is not worth in the rare video world.I did sell one for 40.00 in 1999, but since then I have seen sellers like papier11 get 5.00 to 10.00 for it. I guess you were lucky to find 2 people who wanted it badly that week.
As for SALO DVd i sold one for 150.00 at half.com, with disasterous results!(see my post on half.com)
I also sold another rare dvd for 200.00 at ebays, only for the guy to deadbeat. Sometimes I wish ebays would punish a deadbeat on the closed price, as i would think a buyer deadbeaing on a 200.00 item is worse than a buyer deadbeating on 2 1.00 items.
intercraft, I purchased previously from this seller, had no problem whatsoever. When he had this item I jumped at it, for I trusted him, but when he started to re-list it every 5 days, my suspicions grew. If you heard of the big scam a former big time seller thebarry did, ( he ran off with 400 dollors off me!) then you should understand my concern.
[ edited by ironking on May 6, 2002 04:59 PM ]
[ edited by ironking on May 6, 2002 10:56 PM ]
Iceman ... but I do not know if it is Iceman Cometh
Unfortunately, the movies are EVERYWHERE! They are attacking me! HELLLLLPPPP!
LoL
I'll let ya know when I list them again. I am now putting up new releases getting ready to open again. I forgot how hard that job was
BTW, A few years ago I went to the East Coast show and spent some time with a reporter for one of the trades. The inside scoop was amazing. I even got the Bideo story
BECKY
[ edited by mrssantaclaus on May 6, 2002 11:25 PM ]
posted on May 7, 2002 04:13:01 AM new
Well Becky, I wouldnt sell DIRTY MARY at ebays right now. Too many bootlegs of this film. Best to sell it on a web page/store instead. As for ICeMAN, wrong movie! As for LIES MY FATHER, is it the original or the boots that was flooding ebays early last year by a now NAU'ed seller (with the slogan this is new! why buy a stale worn used when you can buy new!)? There is a way you can tell, but i wount reveal it on a discussion board. How can I contact you privately?
posted on May 7, 2002 10:28:45 AM new
mrssantaclaus
Are planning to list any DVD's?
I'd like to know to, if your comfortable putting your sellers name here, that would be cool if not, of course I would understand
edited because I think I know which Iceman she has... the one about the cro magnum man frozen in ice since the ice age, dug up and revived, with Timothy Hutton as one of the sceintists, right?
posted on May 7, 2002 01:49:29 PM new
I guess you can use the ole saying if it is to good to be true then it probably isn't true could apply. Seem like you should have done some question asking and all this research BEFORE you bid. regardless of your revious dealings. Since you say you were burnt by another seller you used to use then it would make since to research what seem to be a great deal before you bid on it. Does not sound like you have even e-mailed this seller with your concerns and question before you came on here to blast away !
posted on May 7, 2002 06:09:15 PM new
My seller id is the same as my AW id.
The videos are all originals, bought from either distributors new or as part of video store collections when stores closed ... we used to buy out a lot of stores like that, especially in the mid to late 1990's.
I am getting my store ready to reopen now so I don't have anything listed. I will begin relisting tapes once the doors are open, hopefully this weekend.
All of the movies, games, and DVDs in my store will be for both rental and sale. Unfortunately I sold my store about a year ago so I am starting from scratch .... I really forgot how much work this was!!!
Probably the best thing I can say is to check out my auctions periodically. I have picked up the collections of 2 other store owners (which consisted of about 5 other video stores) so I have no idea what is all in those boxes. Once the new releases are all out I will be checking into the catalog boxes and see what gems are hidden in there.
I will list the ones I think will bring good bids ... use Buy It Now.
posted on May 7, 2002 07:05:08 PM new
If you do not hold up your end of the deal, the seller has all rights to leave you a neg.
If you leave an unfounded and slanderous retaliatory neg, I hope each person who sees this thread avoids you like the plague.
You are willing to use your own feeling that this seller could not have these tapes to tarnish his feedback and therefore, reputation. You stated you have had prior good transactions with this seller. Email and ask if it is a copy. If it is, by all means do what you must, but if he says it is an original, pay the man.
!!! geez! Wheredayaallcomefrom??