Dodgy DVD off ebay

[ajbrun]

A few nights ago now, I bought Kill Bill 2 from someone on ebay. The description said it was factory sealed (which probably doesn't mean anything regarding its legitimacy anyway). About a day after I'd paid the guy, but before he'd sent it, he sent me an email saying it might be dodgy because the text on the back was a bit blurry. I decided (perhaps stupidly?) not to ask for a refund at that point because I'd already paid for it, and it might have turned out to be OK.

I've now received the DVD, and would agree that it's probably not legit for many reasons:

* No hologram of any kind
* Blurry DVD cover
* Special features not working
* Bad image quality
* PC seems to think it's a re-writeable DVD and tried to get it formatted
* Not factory sealed - more of a plastic cellophane bag

Therefore, I obviously want a full refund, but does ebay need to be notified as well? Do I just email the seller asking for my money back, or should it all go through ebay? Was he trying to look all innocent by telling me it might not be legit before I got it? Do I need to send the DVD back to anyone?

Basically, how should I handle it?

Thanks .

[Steve B]

ask him for a refund, if he says no, go to the cops
ebay will take upto a month to actually do anything about it, and the last time i reported a seller, they didn't do anything!

[Ferral]

Happened to me that one.

Report it to ebay and see if you can get a refund. Use the dispute console in one of the left side menus. Don't hold out on a refund however. I never got my money back and the claim is still open. Going back to March 05 with it.

[ajbrun]

Sounds like ebays system's a little on the slow side...

Is it worth simply asking for a refund from the guy first, then going to ebay if he gets abusive or just says no?

[Steve B]

i'd say so.
he's obviously tried to cover his back by letting you know that he thinks its a fake before he's sent it. that way he can say, "well you did take it"
in that case, just say, "well then, just refund me the cost minus postage"

[Agent]

Its a well known method - list as legit, then an email saying it "might" not be.
Its just to stop ebay pulling the auctions.

Ask for a refund, be polite. After that, report to Ebay / FACT - even with a refund. These muppets shouldnt get away with it.

[kalniel]

After that, report to Ebay / FACT - even with a refund. These muppets shouldnt get away with it.

This is what needs to be done, certainly.

[Brucelles]

How do you create a shirty DVD copy anyway? I have copied loads of DVDs (because my daughter screws up the originals I make copies) and they are a lower density then the originals but still perfectly good to watch.

In the Middle East the standard parctice at a DVD rental shop is to burn a copy for renting out, and they are all fine.

How does a muppet get hold of a duff copy?

[finlay666]

How does a muppet get hold of a duff copy?

CAMs / TS's when it is at the cinema and they are using a video camera or when they record from tv to video etc

[Brucelles]

I guess you must be right. What plonkers. Why not just rent it and rip it?

[MadduckUK]

if its on at the cinema then its not available for rent yet.

[kstanley7]

blah if the guy refuses to refund the money legitimatly then file a dispute with ebay/paypal it obviously is a duff copy if your dvd drive recognises it as a rw.. use nero drive info to give you more detailed information about the disc itself. then get in contact with FACT.

[Daymonkey]

if its on at the cinema then its not available for rent yet.

Yeh but kill bill 2 its only been out on dvd for what....1 year?

[Taz]

The fact of the matter is that the seller is doing something illegal. He should be reported to eBay.

[MadduckUK]

Yeh but kill bill 2 its only been out on dvd for what....1 year?

it will be an old copy from before then. probably done from a yank cinema

[Spud1]

Doesn't even need to be a TS/CAM/SCREENER or any such type of release from any group. Could easily just a badly copied dvd made on a cheap copier

I've had this problem a few times, and in each case what I do is ask for a refund first (which I normally get), before proceeding to inform ebay, then FACT, and then the copywrite holder and distributor for the movie/tv show in question.

One of my biggest gripes is people who try to profit from piracy - they all need to be locked up, and reporting these sellers is the only way to do this at the moment.