I shouldn't have done it E-bay...
As long time readers will remember, I'm concerned about the upcoming release of the "original" Star Wars Trilogy on DVD. So that I could have a copy of the unaltered aka. non-special editions of the films, I resorted to purchasing a set on Ebay. Bad idea as explained behind the cut.
Here's the ad copy from http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemWithCategory&item=6309274967 :
"The Holy Grail of DVDs! These ARE NOT the 1997 Special Editions, these are the ORIGINAL versions we all grew up with and loved before Lucas decided to tamper with them. Includes the Definitive Edition STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, RETURN OF THE JEDI and A 4th BONUS DVD containing ALL the special features from the Definitive Collection, including the interviews w/George Lucas, Muren & Burtt, the Lucasfilm Archives, *3* Featurette Films on the Making of the Trilogy, Digital Picture Galleries and more!
The movies are mastered from the Definitive Edition laserdiscs and presented in their original Dolby 2.0 soundtrack and a beautiful 2:35 widescreen transfer (see screenshot below) with no foreign subtitles.
I HAVE SEEN MANY SETS AND THESE ARE THE BEST!
Includes RARE REVENGE OF THE JEDI TRAILER!
The set features the pictured artwork provided in original DVD hard cases as well as artwork on the discs themselves. (not just sleeves w/unmarked discs like you get w/ many other auctions!) These discs will play flawlessly on most DVD players manufactured in the past three years as well as the Playstation 2 and compatible PC DVD-ROMs.
NO VIDEO OR AUDIO SYNC PROBLEMS HERE THAT YOU WILL FIND W/OTHER SETS FOR SALE ON EBAY!
These are the versions that Lucas himself has said no longer exist to him and he will never release on DVD. Don't miss your opportunity to own this treasure. It's a rarity. I am a fan myself and this would definitely make a great gift for any true Star Wars fan.
4th BONUS DISC INCLUDES:
*9 theatrical trailers (3 for each film)+RARE REVENGE OF THE JEDI TRAILER)
*"War Stories" an interview with the saga creator, George Lucas
*"Sound Advice" an interview with sound designer, Ben Burtt
*"The ABC's of Jedi Effects" an interview with effects supervisor, Dennis Muren
*A guided tour through the Lucasfilm Archives
*"How the Walkers Walk" time-lapse presentation narrated by Dennis Muren
*"A Flight through the Asteroids" story boards to final shot comparison
*Return of the Jedi Videomatics, narrated by Ken Ralston
*The Max Rebo Band's "Lapti Nek" music video
*Concept art slideshow narrated by artist Ralph McQuarrie
*Hundreds of behind the scenes and special effects production stills from all three films"
I received the discs and played them briefly in my player (This one: http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/HTIB/DVX_S200P_1.htm )to make sure they would indeed play. I didn't watch the full Trilogy then and there, but planned to the following weekend. Unfortunately, the DVDs each have areas that stutter. The choppiness of the playback makes them unwatchable for these periods. I thought at first it was a heat issue since I'd been watching a lot of movies on the player that day, so I popped it in my computer and it did the same thing. Because this was not the "flawless" playback promised by the Ebay ad, I left negative feedback on 7-27-04 at 11:40am: "Video choppy at times in highend players and in PC to point of unwatchability."
I chalked it up to experience since ya win some and lose some on Ebay. But this morning I saw this reply to my feedback dated 7-27-04 at 11:49am: " DVD'S PLAY PERFECT IN NEW DVD PLAYERS;BUYER HAS OLD INCOMPATIBLE PLAYER! " On my own feedback page I see this: "HORRIBLE IMMATURE BUYER! AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! LEAVES NEG FDBCK FOR NO REASON" to which I replied "Seller left neg. fdbk due to neg. fdbk left for her item. Player new. Immature?"
Neither my player nor my computer is old nor are they incompatible since they do in fact play the discs and even if it was incompatible, shouldn't the seller offer a refund? How am I immature for being upset that the product I received does not perform as advertised?
I'm not out to black list g8pebbles, but I would caution her to avoid jumping the gun in the future.
This whole dramatic saga leads up to another issue which is with Ebay itself. As DensityMan repeatedly points out, Ebay is a seller's world so fuck the buyer. 80 characters is not enough to offer true feedback nor replies to feedback given. Also, Sellers have more protection than buyers. Shouldn't that be the other way around?
Ah well, moral of the story: caveat emptor and just stick to VHS for an untouched version of the original Star Wars Trilogy.
Here's the ad copy from http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemWithCategory&item=6309274967 :
"The Holy Grail of DVDs! These ARE NOT the 1997 Special Editions, these are the ORIGINAL versions we all grew up with and loved before Lucas decided to tamper with them. Includes the Definitive Edition STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, RETURN OF THE JEDI and A 4th BONUS DVD containing ALL the special features from the Definitive Collection, including the interviews w/George Lucas, Muren & Burtt, the Lucasfilm Archives, *3* Featurette Films on the Making of the Trilogy, Digital Picture Galleries and more!
The movies are mastered from the Definitive Edition laserdiscs and presented in their original Dolby 2.0 soundtrack and a beautiful 2:35 widescreen transfer (see screenshot below) with no foreign subtitles.
I HAVE SEEN MANY SETS AND THESE ARE THE BEST!
Includes RARE REVENGE OF THE JEDI TRAILER!
The set features the pictured artwork provided in original DVD hard cases as well as artwork on the discs themselves. (not just sleeves w/unmarked discs like you get w/ many other auctions!) These discs will play flawlessly on most DVD players manufactured in the past three years as well as the Playstation 2 and compatible PC DVD-ROMs.
NO VIDEO OR AUDIO SYNC PROBLEMS HERE THAT YOU WILL FIND W/OTHER SETS FOR SALE ON EBAY!
These are the versions that Lucas himself has said no longer exist to him and he will never release on DVD. Don't miss your opportunity to own this treasure. It's a rarity. I am a fan myself and this would definitely make a great gift for any true Star Wars fan.
4th BONUS DISC INCLUDES:
*9 theatrical trailers (3 for each film)+RARE REVENGE OF THE JEDI TRAILER)
*"War Stories" an interview with the saga creator, George Lucas
*"Sound Advice" an interview with sound designer, Ben Burtt
*"The ABC's of Jedi Effects" an interview with effects supervisor, Dennis Muren
*A guided tour through the Lucasfilm Archives
*"How the Walkers Walk" time-lapse presentation narrated by Dennis Muren
*"A Flight through the Asteroids" story boards to final shot comparison
*Return of the Jedi Videomatics, narrated by Ken Ralston
*The Max Rebo Band's "Lapti Nek" music video
*Concept art slideshow narrated by artist Ralph McQuarrie
*Hundreds of behind the scenes and special effects production stills from all three films"
I received the discs and played them briefly in my player (This one: http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/HTIB/DVX_S200P_1.htm )to make sure they would indeed play. I didn't watch the full Trilogy then and there, but planned to the following weekend. Unfortunately, the DVDs each have areas that stutter. The choppiness of the playback makes them unwatchable for these periods. I thought at first it was a heat issue since I'd been watching a lot of movies on the player that day, so I popped it in my computer and it did the same thing. Because this was not the "flawless" playback promised by the Ebay ad, I left negative feedback on 7-27-04 at 11:40am: "Video choppy at times in highend players and in PC to point of unwatchability."
I chalked it up to experience since ya win some and lose some on Ebay. But this morning I saw this reply to my feedback dated 7-27-04 at 11:49am: " DVD'S PLAY PERFECT IN NEW DVD PLAYERS;BUYER HAS OLD INCOMPATIBLE PLAYER! " On my own feedback page I see this: "HORRIBLE IMMATURE BUYER! AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!! LEAVES NEG FDBCK FOR NO REASON" to which I replied "Seller left neg. fdbk due to neg. fdbk left for her item. Player new. Immature?"
Neither my player nor my computer is old nor are they incompatible since they do in fact play the discs and even if it was incompatible, shouldn't the seller offer a refund? How am I immature for being upset that the product I received does not perform as advertised?
I'm not out to black list g8pebbles, but I would caution her to avoid jumping the gun in the future.
This whole dramatic saga leads up to another issue which is with Ebay itself. As DensityMan repeatedly points out, Ebay is a seller's world so fuck the buyer. 80 characters is not enough to offer true feedback nor replies to feedback given. Also, Sellers have more protection than buyers. Shouldn't that be the other way around?
Ah well, moral of the story: caveat emptor and just stick to VHS for an untouched version of the original Star Wars Trilogy.