2 Types of Shrinkwrap

[filmfreak24]

I've noticed that there are 2 kinds of shrinkwrap. The smooth, shiny factory sealed shrinkwrap that is folded at the corners and the rubbery shrinkwrap with no folded corners but a seam. Some people have said the second type is a sign that it has been opened and resealed but I've bought brand new discs that have this type of shrinkwrap. I believe it might be a certain plant doing it. I've noticed the second type of shrinkwrap also often has crinkled cover art due to the heating process they use to seal the shrinkwrap. I've heard the retailers are resealing movies because there are so many returns. If I receive a brand new disc with wrinkled art I always return it because it looks used. Thoughts?

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by filmfreak24

I've noticed that there are 2 kinds of shrinkwrap. The smooth, shiny factory sealed shrinkwrap that is folded at the corners and the rubbery shrinkwrap with no folded corners but a seam. Some people have said the second type is a sign that it has been opened and resealed but I've bought brand new discs that have this type of shrinkwrap. I believe it might be a certain plant doing it. I've noticed the second type of shrinkwrap also often has crinkled cover art due to the heating process they use to seal the shrinkwrap. I've heard the retailers are resealing movies because there are so many returns. If I receive a brand new disc with wrinkled art I always return it because it looks used. Thoughts?

I am familiar with the 2nd type of shrinkwrap because way back in the age of VHS, I had seen the employees of some Blockbuster stores re-wrapping some used VHS tapes. Sure enough, when I examined the shrink-wrap of those tapes that were being sold as used, they always looked different from the factory-original shrink-wraps.

I don't know that there are any limits on who uses the "smaller" shrink-wrap machine, because realistically it could be almost any retailer, re-seller, or eBay merchant, as far as I know.

[Smegma]

I'm leary when I see the second type of shrinkwrap directly on a case, but I have seen it over a slipcovers / o-rings, when those are enclosed in the shrink.

[unsung122212]

The trapezoid fold, sturdier shrinkwrap is from the packaging factory, while the rubbery, heat sealed wrap could be from a few things. Studios that repackages due to returns and discs check out ok or from replacements that they may send out separately. Also, returns from retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers where either the studio asks them to rewrap or they just decide to after checking themselves. Lastly, it could have been done by a buyer that bought just watch and return, rip the movie from disc or for the digital code. Basically, anything that isn’t part of typical manufacturing/packaging step.

[Troy1973]

Well, Shout Factory uses the heat wrap method on everything they release. Can't remember if I ever saw them do it differently. A good many Universal releases used heat wrap as well.

[filmfreak24]

Originally Posted by Troy1973

Well, Shout Factory uses the heat wrap method on everything they release. Can't remember if I ever saw them do it differently. A good many Universal releases used heat wrap as well.

I received Animal House with the heat wrap shrink and then I did a test. I ordered the same item from Target, Walmart and Amazon and all of them had similar shrink wrap. So I believe it is coming from the plants. If the wrap is very loose, poorly wrapped, with holes etc... it is a sign it is most likely not the factory.

[filmfreak24]

Originally Posted by unsung122212

The trapezoid fold, sturdier shrinkwrap is from the packaging factory, while the rubbery, heat sealed wrap could be from a few things. Studios that repackages due to returns and discs check out ok or from replacements that they may send out separately. Also, returns from retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers where either the studio asks them to rewrap or they just decide to after checking themselves. Lastly, it could have been done by a buyer that bought just watch and return, rip the movie from disc or for the digital code. Basically, anything that isn’t part of typical manufacturing/packaging step.

There is a huge thread on Reddit claiming Amazon, Gruv etc... are rewrapping the discs themselves but then I've heard that's just a conspiracy theory.

[filmfreak24]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

I am familiar with the 2nd type of shrinkwrap because way back in the age of VHS, I had seen the employees of some Blockbuster stores re-wrapping some used VHS tapes. Sure enough, when I examined the shrink-wrap of those tapes that were being sold as used, they always looked different from the factory-original shrink-wraps.

I don't know that there are any limits on who uses the "smaller" shrink-wrap machine, because realistically it could be almost any retailer, re-seller, or eBay merchant, as far as I know.

Yep, it's hard to tell but typically you can kind of tell. It's loose and has holes in it and just looks not as "professional" if you get my drift.

[filmfreak24]

Originally Posted by Smegma

I'm leary when I see the second type of shrinkwrap directly on a case, but I have seen it over a slipcovers / o-rings, when those are enclosed in the shrink.

If I receive something with that shrink I will look it up on ebay to see if all the other new ones have the same shrink and they often do. I don't have a problem with the shrink itself, it's the cover art that is all wrinkled and damaged that I have a problem with.

[unsung122212]

Originally Posted by filmfreak24

There is a huge thread on Reddit claiming Amazon, Gruv etc... are rewrapping the discs themselves but then I've heard that's just a conspiracy theory.

It’s definitely possible and probably is happening. It would also save on shipping to have the distribution centers check and rewrap if it checks out. For years at Walmart BF, there would be shippers with the rewrap (mostly WB), that were just for BF and even had DC taken out. I just think one can’t just say that all the rewrap are due to returns, since there could other factors involved.

[filmfreak24]

Originally Posted by unsung122212

It’s definitely possible and probably is happening. It would also save on shipping to have the distribution centers check and rewrap if it checks out. For years at Walmart BF, there would be shippers with the rewrap (mostly WB), that were just for BF and even had DC taken out. I just think one can’t just say that all the rewrap are due to returns, since there could other factors involved.

The only way to avoid this I've realized is to buy everything as soon as it comes out and then you can be sure you're getting brand new factory product and a nice slipcover. The longer you wait the more likely you are to potentially get someone else's resealed return.

[Telemachus]

Tons of re-wrapping going on. I can always get a factory wrap if I return it enough. My Ghosts of Mars and Vampires were both fold wrapped from Shout Factory, they absolutely don't use heat gun on their own stock not at least currently. Paramount and Lionsgate use folded wrap new on cases, Sony maybe not on Steelbooks so it's hard to tell. Means very little these days since I get scratched to hell discs from folded wrapped things either way.

[filmfreak24]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Tons of re-wrapping going on. I can always get a factory wrap if I return it enough. My Ghosts of Mars and Vampires were both fold wrapped from Shout Factory, they absolutely don't use heat gun on their own stock not at least currently.

I'm scared to do that to Amazon because if you return too many items their system flags you and you get banned.

[filmfreak24]

Originally Posted by Telemachus

Tons of re-wrapping going on. I can always get a factory wrap if I return it enough. My Ghosts of Mars and Vampires were both fold wrapped from Shout Factory, they absolutely don't use heat gun on their own stock not at least currently. Paramount and Lionsgate use folded wrap new on cases, Sony maybe not on Steelbooks so it's hard to tell. Means very little these days since I get scratched to hell discs from folded wrapped things either way.

Criterion 100% will never do this either.

[Telemachus]

Originally Posted by filmfreak24

I'm scared to do that to Amazon because if you return too many items their system flags you and you get banned.

No you don't, you will get banned for scamming their system using returns to steal or something criminal. I've been a member since 2001 and have returned hundreds and hundreds of items

[BluBonnet]

I can always get a factory wrap if I return it enough.

Just the kind of customer every retailer dreams of!

[filmfreak24]

This is one I recently received from Amazon. It says " DISC MADE IN MEXICO" on the back shrink wrap so it's coming straight from the pressing plant there with the heat gun shrink wrap. There are also new copies on ebay with a slipcover and the nice folded shrink wrap. What the &%$# is going on???!!! ��

[Troy1973]

Originally Posted by filmfreak24

This is one I recently received from Amazon. It says " DISC MADE IN MEXICO" on the back shrink wrap so it's coming straight from the pressing plant there with the heat gun shrink wrap.

"DISC MADE IN MEXICO" is not necessarily stamped at the plant it was manufactured. It is stamped by the distribution centers. It's even done on QC rewraps. The stamp is there just to identify where the disc was manufactured not where it was wrapped.

[8traxrule]

A lot of times that text is stamped on the case, not on the shrinkwrap.

When I worked for Tower Records' main headquarters, their warehouse had a process called "beautification" which I disagreed with- if old stock had torn shrinkwrap, they'd put it on a conveyor belt where a vacuum sucked off the remaining shrinkwrap and then a machine would put new wrap on. I didn't like that because it 'tampered' with the item, and any hype stickers on the wrap were discarded (I've always cut out and saved those.)

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by 8traxrule

A lot of times that text is stamped on the case, not on the shrinkwrap.

When I worked for Tower Records' main headquarters, their warehouse had a process called "beautification" which I disagreed with- if old stock had torn shrinkwrap, they'd put it on a conveyor belt where a vacuum sucked off the remaining shrinkwrap and then a machine would put new wrap on. I didn't like that because it 'tampered' with the item, and any hype stickers on the wrap were discarded (I've always cut out and saved those.)

That really explains a lot of the things I saw at Tower when I was buying movies there