We all love good buys- but bootleg is illegal-- to sell or buy.

Bottomline- you are stealing- someone owns that property- and someone else is copying it for their own benefit.

How can you tell if the VHS/DVD is bootleg? LOOK at it when it comes- usually bootlegs VHS come in those plastic cases like rentals- ( so be VERY careful with listings that say they are rental copies- look at buyer feedback!)

Is it the REAL artwork or a good( or bad) color xerox. If you look carefully you can tell.The label on the VHS /DVD will also not be original.

Look at the buyers listings- and check their feedback- if a VHS/DVD is rare-- for instance ( and I'm making this up) let's say Gone with the Wind is a rare hard to find VHS or DVD- then why has seller A had 10 copies in the past month to sell? ( click on his/her feedback- you'll see what he/she has been selling)-

Do the  buyers have PRIVATE feedback- which means you cannot tell what they have sold- BEWARE! They are covering something- you draw your own conclusions.

E mail the buyer a question- is tape/DVD from private collection? garage sale? Do they guarantee authenticity? If they don't answer your e mails- again-- you need to be fully informed as to what you are buying.If they don't answer your email- again-buyer beware.

Authentic DVD's VHS cannot be made to order! Unless the seller is MGM or Universal! When a seller says- just email them your region and they can make the medium fit your needs- please- you've got to wonder where is the ebay police with these kind of sellers?!

Most authentic DVD's do not ship from Asia. Surf the net a bit- some nations do not honor copyright laws- hence DVD's originate from these places that are not available anywhere else-this is called bootleg- they are transfering from vhs to DVD or something like that ( I am not a tech queen just a movie lover). Again why E bay allows such sellers- I don't know- but do know there is a chance you are again buying bootleg/stolen material. Again ask yourself why do only sellers from Asia have these DVD's- why no one in Western Europe or USA?

Some people don't care if they buy stolen goods- again that is their business-- but we've all watched enough Law and Order episodes to know better.( or should we find those Bible verses on sewing and reaping)

If you are sold bootleg on ebay- file for FULL refund through Paypal- I did this recently and got a full refund -including what I paid on shipping.

While we're on the subject- it's illegal to sell copies of films-- you'll see this often when people are selling lots- if you have copies you made for yourself from the TV- throw them out- or donate them to a charity, hospital and the like- don't sell them on e bay.

Be a smart shopper- check your seller's feedback- check their inventory- then bid and enjoy some great buys on e bay.Most e bayer sellers are great- they're cleaning our closets, pruning their own collections or professional VHS/DVD sellers.

Again if you're sold bootleg- report them immediately to Paypal and insist on full refund -

 I've had many many happy shopping experiences on ebay- and trust you will too.

Happy Bidding and buying and watching great classic VHS/DVD films.

If this guide was helpful to you I'd appreciate you're voting for it- thanks and God Bless.

favorite vhs films for bootleggers:

Buona Sera Mrs Campbell

CHRISTMAS EVE ( Loretta Young)

New Leaf

Shake Hands with the Devil ( Cagney)