Why do many Blu-rays from Amazon.co.uk come unsealed?

[xradman]

I have been buying a lot of Blu-rays from Amazon.co.uk recently due to their great prices and favorable exchange rates. However, I've noticed that many of their Blu-rays (~1/3rd of my total purchase) come unsealed leaving outer cases badly scratched. First time this happened, I thought they sent me a used copy. Moreover, sometimes there are stupid Blu-ray promotional stickers that are placed directly on the case which are very difficult to take off. It doesn't seem to follow any pattern. I get 2 titles released by Sony Home Entertaiment, and one is sealed in cellophane wrapper like the US and most foreign titles, and other is unsealed. Any thoughts?

ps. One thing I do like is that they don't use the dumb security tape over the case like most US Blu-rays and DVDs.

[koontz1973]

Originally Posted by xradman

I have been buying a lot of Blu-rays from Amazon.co.uk recently due to their great prices and favorable exchange rates. However, I've noticed that many of their Blu-rays (~1/3rd of my total purchase) come unsealed leaving outer cases badly scratched. First time this happened, I thought they sent me a used copy. Moreover, sometimes there are stupid Blu-ray promotional stickers that are placed directly on the case which are very difficult to take off. It doesn't seem to follow any pattern. I get 2 titles released by Sony Home Entertaiment, and one is sealed in cellophane wrapper like the US and most foreign titles, and other is unsealed. Any thoughts?

ps. One thing I do like is that they don't use the dumb security tape over the case like most US Blu-rays and DVDs.

Like you I have bought 20+ BD over the last month. Great sale and 3 for 2 offer. The unsealed ones are returns to the manufacture for quality control. They resend them without resealing. As for the stickers, use warm soapy water.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by xradman

Any thoughts?

Hello,

This has been a standard practice for many UK-based online retailers for many years. Amazon.UK (similar to the old Bensonsworld/now Sendit.com) receive their products directly from the suppliers and for a number of reasons (some cost related) many distribs do not shrink-wrap their discs; secondary parties do it for them. This became a trend during the first half of 2000 (with DVD).

You shouldn't worry about it.

Pro-B

[snoman_99]

i kinda dig that, because then we don't get so much sh!t stuck to the outside of our cases lol.

J & Jen

[Lucy Diamond]

Thank you folks.

I'm really glad you brought this up, because I have been ordering from the U.K. lately. I haven't come across this yet, but when I do, I'll be sure to pay it no mind.

Thank you again,

[grilli]

i ordered from amazon.co.uk and got 2 unsealed and 1 sealed so complained to them asking if they were used/returns etc and they gave me a 20% refund and assured me they were brand new.

[Clark Kent]

European customers are used to buying unsealed media items like cd's and dvd's. Unlike the custom in the U.S., some manufacturers in the U.K. have no qualms selling unsealed merchandise. It is like that in their stores also.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Hello,

This has been a standard practice for many UK-based online retailers for many years. Amazon.UK (similar to the old Bensonsworld/now Sendit.com) receive their products directly from the suppliers and for a number of reasons (some cost related) many distribs do not shrink-wrap their discs; secondary parties do it for them. This became a trend during the first half of 2000 (with DVD).

You shouldn't worry about it.

Pro-B

This is the explantion that I had been looking for.

[The Driver]

In the EU we have laws (different for individual countries but based on the same regulation) called Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000.

These regulations allow the consumer to return almost any item bought online within a period for any reason. In fact they don't have to give a reason. This doesn't apply if the media seal is broken. The CD and PCCDROM producers do tend to seal their goods because of this but less so DVD suppliers.

Personally, I've bought over 20 BR discs in the last month from Amazon UK and they've all been sealed except the ITV (Ipcress File) ones as they simply don't seal their discs (and they use North American-sized slim cases too so far).

[logboy]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Hello,

This has been a standard practice for many UK-based online retailers for many years. Amazon.UK (similar to the old Bensonsworld/now Sendit.com) receive their products directly from the suppliers and for a number of reasons (some cost related) many distribs do not shrink-wrap their discs; secondary parties do it for them. This became a trend during the first half of 2000 (with DVD).

You shouldn't worry about it.

Pro-B

as with CDs, videogames, uk retailers don't place goods on the shelves with the item inside the packaging - not very often, anyway - so it may be the case that retailers don't receive items sealed so they can take the disc out quickly. USA seems to use security strips, so the whole thing must go out into the store.. those that do that here use special plastic cases to lock the item in.

[Blu_Ray_UK2007]

Well over 100 bought from Amazon.co.uk only 1 ever came without the seal.

[Ph4ZeD]

Ordered all 8 of my blus from Amazon.co.uk and none came unsealed.

[CJWilkie]

All of my blu-rays have arrived with the shrink-wrapping. All except Shawshank Redemption actually, but as I understand it that was a distributor's (ITV?) issue.

[graf1k]

That's weird. I've bought about 20 Blus from Amazon UK and so far all of them were shrink wrapped.

[djluis2k6]

I ordered a couple BD's from amazon.co.uk and they've always come factory sealed.

[quexos]

So far my only experience with Amazon UK is with a PS3 videogame and it was sealed so I've got no worries for now.

[AaronSCH]

I ordered a bunch from Amazon UK and a few came unsealed. My copy of "The Replacement Killers" sported a cracked disc and a well-worn keepcase. They replaced it with a copy that was pristine and sealed. Personally, I believe many of these discs are from liquidated merchandise that Amazon UK acquired.