It's Mr Video versus Universal Studios

[Movielover1]

If it was illegal then wouldnt it have been stopped already?

Parallel importing is a reasonably new concept in the rental industry - Mr Video only started doing it mid last year.

 

[Movielover1]

Movielover, I'm no expert (at least in this field). I just want to rent movies on my terms.

1. Region coding is anti-consumer. There is no benefit, it is just a hassle.
2. Mr Video are taking advantage of a loophole/niche created by your distributors. Instead of complaining and taking legal action, why aren't they closing that loophole by providing videos when people want to watch them?
3. My business is based on my skills, not some artificially created monopoly. We try to give our customers what they want when they want it.

1. Region coding was implemented to protect against piracy - that is the benefit. Did you know it is a proven fact that money generated from piracy has been used to fund terrorism?
2. If it makes you so unhappy to have to wait a few months to watch certain movies why don't you just move to L.A. so you can be there when they show the premiers?
3. So I have no skills? We give our customers what they want when they want it how they want it. We provide the best possible customer service and advise our customers on what movies are good and what they will enjoy and give them choices.

 

[Movielover1]

That's how I feel about region 1 DVDs from Mr Video.

Ha ha you are funny!! You won't believe me if I tell you how many customers has left Mr Video because they rented zone 1 and then could not watch it at home and then they would not be refunded. They walk into my shops specifically requesting that we please do not ever give them zone 1 movies.

 

[Movielover1]

It is cheaper to import movies direct from America, so how can you not have the infrastructure or finances?

I will have no support from the internationaly supplier when there is a manufacturing fault on the DVD's - I will just have to re-order and pay again and wait for the delivery, I receive no point of sale, I get no 30day payment option, delivery is not guaranteed so sometimes the stock is delivered even after it is released locally, it is only about 30% of the titles that are available on parallel before it is released locally.

 

[Movielover1]

I think he is referring to the cost and administration involved in getting the movies the stamp of approval from the FPB. I personally don't believe anyone should have to bow this organisation either or pay them to have something scrutinised. If the government wants to do this they should carry the cost.


I think it is unfair that Microsoft has billions of Dollars. Someone should take it away from them so we can compete on a level playing field. It isn't fair that movie studios and music labels get infinite copyright that stifles my ability to create new material without risking getting sued. It isn't fair that Microsoft, Apple and others hold patents on the most trivial things preventing me from competing.

You may have heard the cliche that it isn't personal, it's only business.

The FPB is there to protect our children from pornograpy (child and adult), violence and indecent behaviour. If you have a problem with that I'm really starting to worry about you. (By the way I'm a she not a he..). I have no problem paying to have something licenced to protect children - problem is I have been in Mr Video shops where there is no FPB certificate number on the DVD's which means that it did not go through the FPB.

I don't think it is unfair for anyone to have millions of dollars if they worked hard and honestly for it. It's any illigal aspect that I have a problem with.

 

[Movielover1]

If you don't believe in competing I'm sure there will be others willing to step in and take them on.

With SK and NM out of the way we could even get a real import industry going here.

Maybe you missed some of my earlier postings where I encouraged and stated that I love competition....

Yeh, like we really need more money going out of the country instead of supporting local industry...

 

[Movielover1]

Things are bad enough already, don't give them more ideas about how to prevent competition.


Those people represent a tiny, tiny, miniscule fraction of the people who work long hard hours to make movies happen. Most of those people get very little in comparison. The music business is even worse. As is book publishing.

These organisations all employ accountants the mafia salivate over, accountants who can make it appear that a major blockbuster movie made a huge loss.

Companies like Ster Kinekor do have deserved reputation for being greedy bastards, but it is obviously true that they aren't making the bulk of the money. That is made higher up the chain. Doesn't justify their price gouging though.

Maybe if more people spend their money locally instead of sending it to the USA our currency and economy can get stronger and things can become more affordable...

 

[ginggs]

I will have no support from the internationaly supplier when there is a manufacturing fault on the DVD's

Amazon have always replaced my defective discs, without question, and without even requiring me to spend money shipping them back.

I get no 30day payment option

I pay by credit card; I get 45 days, on average, interest free.

delivery is not guaranteed

You're obviously buying from the wrong supplier; Amazon do guarantee delivery.

 

[ginggs]

Maybe if more people spend their money locally instead of sending it to the USA our currency and economy can get stronger and things can become more affordable...

You mean we should all be happy with Leon Schuster and Tsotsi?

Surely you're not suggesting that giving money to SK and NuMetro, only for them to pass it on to Universal, Sony, et al, is buying local?

Why should I "buy local", when I can buy the same (if not better) DVD online, pay the shipping costs, and the VAT and duties, and still come out cheaper?

 

[chiskop]

Ha ha you are funny!! You won't believe me if I tell you how many customers has left Mr Video because they rented zone 1 and then could not watch it at home and then they would not be refunded. They walk into my shops specifically requesting that we please do not ever give them zone 1 movies.

Wait, I thought you were losing customers to mr video? Now you tell us that you're gaining customers because of mr v's policies.

So we're all happy.

 

[Movielover1]

Amazon have always replaced my defective discs, without question, and without even requiring me to spend money shipping them back.

I pay by credit card; I get 45 days, on average, interest free.

You're obviously buying from the wrong supplier; Amazon do guarantee delivery.

Sure, you order for private use right? From when you place the order to delivery how long does it take? From finding out the disc is defective to sending it back and receiving your replacement how long did it take? Remember I'm a business that is trying to get the foot in the door first..

I don't pay interest to SK or NM.

I have ordered from Amazon for private use on a regular basis before I got into the business. They are great and very reliable I agree. I just checked Juno for instance - selling at $15.99 on the current exchange rate of R7.51 that comes to R 120.09. Then its the shipping cst and FPB licencing... Not sure this is the cheapest option for a business... In actual fact I have heard Mr Video franchisees complain that they are not saving any money with parallel importing.

 

[Movielover1]

Wait, I thought you were losing customers to mr video? Now you tell us that you're gaining customers because of mr v's policies.

So we're all happy.

The complaint if you will was about trading legally vs trading illigally and I think I have prooved so far that you guys like most consumers are not aware of all the facts. The fact that you are still arguing the point on weather paralell for rental is legal or not proves my point. If it was legal and Mr Video has been in existance for what 15years? why did they only start doing it within the last year? Where thir 230 stores being threatened by the supperior service provided by their competitors?

 

[Movielover1]

You mean we should all be happy with Leon Schuster and Tsotsi?

Surely you're not suggesting that giving money to SK and NuMetro, only for them to pass it on to Universal, Sony, et al, is buying local?

Why should I "buy local", when I can buy the same (if not better) DVD online, pay the shipping costs, and the VAT and duties, and still come out cheaper?

I did not say buy localy produced product but spend the money locally instead of sending it out the country.

I agree, SK and NM does send money overseas yes but surely not all their money.. or they would not be in existance. What about the jobs they create, What about the jobs shops like Look and Listen and Musica and all the rental and retail shops create? Is that not money spent here?

So are you buying for rental or private use? Because there is a big difference... You guys need to start looking at the bigger picture.

 

[chiskop]

The complaint if you will was about trading legally vs trading illigally and I think I have prooved so far that you guys like most consumers are not aware of all the facts. The fact that you are still arguing the point on weather paralell for rental is legal or not proves my point. If it was legal and Mr Video has been in existance for what 15years? why did they only start doing it within the last year? Where thir 230 stores being threatened by the supperior service provided by their competitors?

You are concerned about the protection of your monopoly position through legal means.

I am not arguing about whether parallel importing is legal or not - I am concerned about my rights as a consumer. I fail to see how this legal protection benefits me.

The system you rely on is broken.

 

[LazyLion]

I get my DVDs from a local company called SAIX news server. Never had a problem with them, and they seem to play in all regions! Excellent service!

 

[icyrus]

1. Region coding was implemented to protect against piracy - that is the benefit. Did you know it is a proven fact that money generated from piracy has been used to fund terrorism?

What utter bullsh*t on both accounts. I now highly doubt you are who you say you are and fully expect you are a corporate-shill paid to post your companies spin here.

Do us a favor and post your tripe elsewhere, or at least try backup your ridiculous claims with some data. I think you will find it close to impossible to find a credible source to support your outrageous claims.

 

[runspot]

Piracy funds terrorism - innocence or ignorance?
Source: ChilliBreeze

What happens when you buy a pirated DVD of the latest blockbuster from the nearest railway station or a footpath close to home? Would you end up saving more than what you would have spent on a legitimate copy? Yes, but in the process you could also have helped to fund an anti-social activity – perhaps another 9/11 or 7/11! Shocked? Don’t be! Read on to find out what we’re talking about.

Loss of jobs and damage to the movie and publishing industry apart, consumer support to piracy helps destroy the social fabric and developmental initiatives across the world. The tragedy is that most people are blissfully unaware of the far-reaching impact of something as mundane as watching a pirated version of the latest flick.

While there is considerable documentary evidence to prove that film and music piracy is a major contributor to funding terrorist activities, what is even more alarming is the fact that profit percentages in this seemingly innocent enterprise are much higher than nefarious ones like drug-peddling. Intelligence reports suggest funding of LLT from illegal Hindi and Tamil film music and a strong nexus between the perpetrators of music piracy in Europe, USA, and Pakistan with terrorist organizations.

Spine chilling facts

*
4,000 prosecutions in India in 2003, with 500 convictions pertaining to piracy.

*
Out of the 4.9 crore cassettes manufactured and sold in the country, 1.6 crore are illegal.

*
Since 2001, the music industry piracy caused losses of 462 million dollars in 3 years.

*
In March and April of 2006 alone, the Video Federation of India and Motion Picture Association India conducted over 25 raids in Delhi and Mumbai.

What can be done?

1.
Consumer education and awareness.

2.
Introduction of tamper-proof and non-reproducible holograms to help consumers identify genuine DVDs and CDs.

3.
Stringent prosecution by law-enforcement agencies.

4.
Encouraging consumers to tip-off law-enforcement agencies about the sale of illegal DVDs and CDs.

 

[Albereth]

1. Region coding was implemented to protect against piracy - that is the benefit. Did you know it is a proven fact that money generated from piracy has been used to fund terrorism?

Region coding was introduced to protect revenue streams, not piracy. The attempt to prevent piracy was the scrambling of the data on the disk. Here is the deal - the big movie studios/distributors/whatever found that they could sell a DVD for $10 in the USA but would only get $5 in India. They also realised that some bright person in the USA would import all the Indian DVDs at $5 and sell them for $9 in the USA thus cutting their home country profits. So they put in Region Codes - the Indian DVD would not work in the USA player.

You can change the country name for any asian country you wish. And you can extrapolate that to the whole movie house/retail/rental/TV channel too. Region Coding is there to protect profits, not prevent piracy.

Okay, you do have a point on piracy being used to support terrorism. And a whole bunch of other illegal activities. This isn't outrageous. And it isn't that every pirate copy supports this. There are many reasons for piracy.

 

[icyrus]

Piracy funds terrorism - innocence or ignorance?
Source: ChilliBreeze

What happens when you buy a pirated DVD of the latest blockbuster from the nearest railway station or a footpath close to home? Would you end up saving more than what you would have spent on a legitimate copy? Yes, but in the process you could also have helped to fund an anti-social activity – perhaps another 9/11 or 7/11! Shocked? Don’t be! Read on to find out what we’re talking about.

Post your sources or take your garbage elsewhere.

 

[Devill]

Why do i care if the people that are making $80mil a year lose $10mil a year?

Screw them same goes for all musicians and movie stars.....you did not find the cure for cancer or Aids so why are you earning tens of millions of dollars each year?