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More than half of the vhs sellers on Ebay are selling bootlegs - otherwise known as pirated or copies. They buy a brand new sealed movie at top price and then they make copies and resell them as used either stating in a rental box, or showbox, or hardcase or clamshell-
Most movies that come in clamshells and are not stated as rentals are bootleg and not only illegal, but against ebay policy- this is not to be confused with legitimate studio released videos that do come in clamshells ie: Disney and a lot of other Children's videos- always ask if it's in studio issued packaging, as opposed to...
Color copy artwork inserted (is another hint)- If it's a studio original, where's the original box?
Look for expensive/rare movies shown at an unbelievably low prices- if it's too good to be true it probably is.
Also look at quantities- 20 copies listed in clamshells is a good indicator- if the movies are rare, how did this seller get so many and why are they not in their original cardboard sleeve?
No box at all is suspicious
You need to email these sellers w/questions before you bid, for your own good- no reply? they are avoiding you!! Don't be a victim of these bootleggers- it cost them no more than $2 to make the movie, when the honest sellers pay top dollar for quality collectible merchandise
BEWARE OF NEW SELLERS WITH LARGE INVENTORIES- they most likely are recently removed sellers returning under a new ID - if you recognize them or ther inventory, report them.
follow up 6/26/06
Firstly, I want to thank everyone who has emailed me on this subject, and now I think it's time to reveal the names of the worst offenders. UNFORTUNATELY THE NAMES HAD TO BE REMOVED - so video buyers only, (not dvd) - please feel free to email only directly should you doubt the authenticity of a rare out of print video or seller of videos. It is time everyone stops getting ripped of and PLEASE stop supporting these bootleggers who are illegally selling their homemade videos as if they were studio released.
SELLERS NOTE: I highly suggest you place all bootleggers on your blocked bidder list, so that they cannot use/purchase your brand new or mint video, to run copies- do not contribute to their illegal activities!
follow up 7/6
As I can no longer list the user names of bootleggers, I have decided to provide you with a list of the most frequently pirated movies, NONE of these are legally on DVD, unless otherwise stated, I am hoping you will do a search on these titles, thus recognizing the same user names over and over, week after week, check their misspelled words, their verbiage etc., and in that way become familiar with these bootleggers: Most of them are usually $9.99 or lower on rare, hard to find, out of print videos, and usually have a close buy it now offer. I will be updating this list a couple of days per week.
A New Leaf vhs
Captain Horatio Hornblower vhs
Something for Joey vhs
Full Body Massage vhs
The Promise vhs
My Brilliant Career vhs
Summer Of My German Soldier vhs
It Happened at the Worlds Fair vhs
The Enchanted Cottage vhs
Hell to Eternity vhs
China Beach Pilot vhs
Full of Life vhs
Resurrection Ellen Burstyn vhs
Boys in the Band vhs
Reincarnation of Peter Proud vhs
April Fools vhs
Love Among the ruins
Ode to Billie Joe vhs
Cold turkey vhs
The Gathering vhs
Golddiggers of 1935 vhs
Scavenger Hunt vhs
Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean vhs
OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES vhs
Rad vhs
Thrill of a Romance vhs
Night of the Grizzly vhs
Trader Horn vhs
The Oscar vhs
Elvis- The Movie vhs
Susan Slept Here vhs
Phar Lap vhs
Song of the South vhs never on DVD- banned in the usa
A Big Hand For the Little Lady vhs
Electric Dreams
Eyes on the Prize
Parent Trap 3 and 4
Really Rosie
Rhapsody in Blue
Rich Man Poor Man
The Enchanted Cottage
The Rounders
The Trap, Oliver Reed
Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe
40 Carats
A Gathering of Eagles
A Smoky Mountain Christmas
A Warm December
Dear Heart
Electric Dreams
Howard the Duck
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium
In A Child's Name
Janis, The Way She Was
Man In the Wilderness
Mind Walk
My Foolish Heart
Naked Tango
On Borrowed Time
Purple Hearts
Rachel and the Stranger
Rhapsody in Blue,
Rich Man Poor Man
The Chalk Garden
The Dollmaker (beware of clamshell cases on this one)
The Glass Slipper (Caron)
The L-Shaped Room
The Mortal Storm
The Phantom Tollbooth
The Rounders
The Tango Lesson
Where the Lilies Bloom
Young Tom Edison
Here is a very interesting email I received in response to this guide, so u can see what we as sellers are up against
Maybe you need to find a hobby in your spare time.
I am a powerseller and sell copies of rare videos. It is not
illegal and maybe you should mind your own business.
If it is illegal, then how am I a powerseller??? Duh!!!
People like you have nothing better to do with your time.
And there is nothing that you can do about me, so there!
My name is , my account is on Ebay, and
there is nothing that you can do, so take down your stupid page,
because it makes you look like an idiot!
My customers are happy, so just mind your own business and don't
worry about others!
What we do is our business, not yours.
I make quality copies with nice inkjet covers, not cheap ones.
And that is all that matters is if the customers are happy. And
they are, or I give a refund.
Just check my feedback!
I hope that you listen, or maybe I will warn others about you and
your kind.
NV
8-26
This guy has been emailing and trying to taunt me all week, here is his latest email from yesterday:
Ha Ha Ha!!
Once again BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!
Look at my sales and weep.
It's been a good week.
Like I said, I am untouchable.
Find a new hobby now.
Now I need to go buy more ink for my inkjet printer, like I said, it's been
a good week.
I am happy to report that FINALLY ebay listened and closed 3 out of the 4 accounts and the one that remains open. Persistance pays off - one more bites the dust!!
9-23- here's another:
Q: I am one of those buyers of so called bootleg movies, and I wish you would mind you own business. I love old movies and most I would never be able to get as there are few original copies out there. I am not of the age to be able to wait 20 years to find them or pay your sicko prices. Most of your movies I wouldn't want anyway. You are just a selfist busybody. Why don't you use you time fighting child porn on the internet or something else that is of true value?
here is a nice one, which I receive many.....
Q: I really respect your efforts to make buyers aware of what goes on out there. Your review was very helpful to me. I am sorry that you have received so much hate mail due to your efforts to raise awareness. I have your store on my favorite seller's list. I will keep you in mind when I am looking for classics. Thanks so much for being honest. I plan to follow your suggestions. I have no inclination to buy from sellers with such rotten and selfish attitudes as those who sent you those terrible emails for telling the truth. Again, thanks for being honest. In a world where it is rare to receive a compliment for doing something good and all too common to receive a reprimand for doing something wrong, I wanted to make sure you got the compliment and I take pleasure that you got it from me! I hope you get many more from others! God bless you. Marion Bush
another
Hi, I'm fairly new here on ebay but, as a person who respects integrity, I thank you for your helpful, informative, and honest "guide" on bootlegs. Being a lifetime fan of some things (Beatles, for example), I enjoy the occasional bootleg from a studio tape, but, it's usually well-known that it is that. (Actually, Paul was quoted as saying that he didn't have a problem with bootlegs as he understands the passion behind an avid collector.) However, when selling something to an unsuspecting public, it's imperative to at least inform the potential buyer that they are buying an article that is not an original. I only sell 45's and things that ARE original, so I don't need(or want) to get into selling anything that could be misleading, or faux. I did receive a movie that turned out to be a bootleg item. I must say, I was surprised, and mildly disappointed, but didn't say anything, as the hassle and loss of postage-expenses make the return a pain. I also fear negative feedback. Thanks
Just read your review and admire it after having some problems with a bootleg video myself. Just like you when I brought it up with him that it was a bootleg he sent me he got nasty and called it a "clone" not a bootleg because everything "was just like the original"--give me a break!! And when I turned it over to paypal and e-bay to handle he gave me negitive feedback claiming I was running a scam with paypal (pretty amazing since I had 294 rating at 100% at the time and he had 10). When I left him negative feedback he sent me an e-mail stating he didn't care if he got negative feedback because "even with negative feedback about his "clones" people will still buy" Then he sent me another e-mail bragging that he ruined my 100% rating and to mutually cancel the feedbacks. I wished I read your review before I started bidding on dvds on e-bay because now I'm weary and concerned that e-bay doesn't take tougher stands on bootlegs.
Thanks for letting me bore you
Thanks so much for your guide on bootlegged VHS tapes. (I admit I got a good laugh out of the moron how said "If it's illegal, who come I'm a powerseller?" Just selling a lot doesn't make it legal. And "Well, I want it and can't afford to pay for the real thing" is hardly what these peoplw would say if it were THEIR work being illegally copied.
and
Hi. While browsing through eBay, I came across your Bootleg movie guide. Thank you for having the guts to say what others dont. Thank you also for being honest enough to help buyers and teach them what to look for. Im sorry to see you've received hate mail for your guide, and hopefully it's stopped. But the more they complain about your guide, the more the fools prove your point.
I've been on eBay a long time now and the level of deceptiveness never ceases to amaze me. At one point in time I simply stopped shopping here
because of dishonest ppl like the ones you mention. I definitely pay closer attention to auction wording, pictures, prices and everything now a days. I only wish more ppl like you would take a stand, and I have you on my favorite sellers list. Your guides are a big help to buyers, especially newbies, so keep writing them and to hell with what the idiots have to say!
another angry jerk: ever stop to think maybe the reason your going after people making copies is cause your stocks stinks to high hell? And no i do not deal in Videos or DVD's before you get your nazi squad after me...Loser
another -
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