The Criterion Collection

[jw007]

Regarding the issues of receiving damaged goods or used/opened Criterion releases, I never had the misfortune of experiencing anything regarding the latter but about 5-6 years ago I was posting on this thread how upset I was at how the artwork booklets were damaged inside (most likely from the manufacturing process) and that the blue directors stickers (that I saw as "collectible" at the time) were covered by another sticker, likely a barcode sticker (but those were strictly items I bought at B&N, not Criterion.com). Other than some booklets that might have been creased or bent, I never once received a scratched/smudged blu-ray from Criterion.com (or B&N) before.

[SpiderBaby]

Glad someone brought this up. I have always ordered directly through Criterion, because I trusted them the most in having my items arrive not damaged.

But the last few sales have been a headache. It's clearly stuff that happens during manufacturing - discs not being put in correctly, cover art barely slid into the cases causing rips, folds, etc. Each sale, I've had every boxset completely smashed on one side, but the box it shipped in wasn't.

I've had to ask for replacements on the past few sales. Don't know if there has been a change to manufacturing or what, but it seems like someone is in a rush putting artwork in correctly, and just tossing discs in cases.

Now the positive, their customer service is fantastic, and replaces any and everything you have a problem with. I just want everybody to be happy, and don't want them to have to shell out more for damages that happen during manufacturing. I hope whatever it is gets fixed.

[SleazyForWeasley]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Interesting situation here...

Kino just announced a blu-ray of Soderbergh's The Underneath, coming in February.

The Underneath was included as an extra on Criterion's edition of Soderbergh's King of the Hill.

Criterion's page for King of the Hill says it's "Currently Unavailable", which usually means that it's out of stock and getting more copies pressed.

The question is, (a) is King of the Hill on its way to being OOP, (b) currently in limbo, and coming back with The Underneath removed, or (c) will The Underneath continue to be available from both labels?

King of the Hill via Criterion was one of their short-lived dual format releases. Chances are it's being repressed as a single BD with only King of the Hill.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by SleazyForWeasley

King of the Hill via Criterion was one of their short-lived dual format releases. Chances are it's being repressed as a single BD with only King of the Hill.

Doubtful. The individual releases of the dual-format titles used the same discs. The Underneath was a bonus feature on the same disc as King of the Hill, not a separate disc as part of the package.

[Cocophone]

Looks like my order from the Criterion flash sale is lost in Kentucky.

[CinemaBlu]

B&N sale starts December 6th??? WTF?

A B&N employee checked his calendar and told me that's the start date. Can anyone confirm this?

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

B&N sale starts December 6th??? WTF?

A B&N employee checked his calendar and told me that's the start date. Can anyone confirm this?

Sounds more like the end date, but unfortunately I don't know.

[Vidov]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

B&N sale starts December 6th??? WTF?

A B&N employee checked his calendar and told me that's the start date. Can anyone confirm this?

On the Criterion Reddit they say it starts November the 6th. Which sounds more plausible as it is a Friday. Dec 6th is a Sunday.

[CinemaBlu]

Originally Posted by Vidov

On the Criterion Reddit they say it starts November the 6th. Which sounds more plausible as it is a Friday. Dec 6th is a Sunday.

That's what I was thinking. But when he told me December, I asked "December?" and he said "yes." But November 6th seems more likely.

[SleazyForWeasley]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Doubtful. The individual releases of the dual-format titles used the same discs. The Underneath was a bonus feature on the same disc as King of the Hill, not a separate disc as part of the package.

Right, but with Kino releasing The Underneath, my guess is that Criterion's licence for The Underneath expired after 5 years and they didn't renew it. "Bonus feature" or not, they still had to license it to put it out, no? So killing 2 birds with 1 stone on the repress: No dual format & No The Underneath as a bonus feature.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by SleazyForWeasley

Right, but with Kino releasing The Underneath, my guess is that Criterion's licence for The Underneath expired after 5 years and they didn't renew it. "Bonus feature" or not, they still had to license it to put it out, no? So killing 2 birds with 1 stone on the repress: No dual format & No The Underneath as a bonus feature.

There are lots of examples of titles that have been released concurrently by different labels. Often the release by one label is part of a bundle (Strait-Jacket, The Valachi Papers, The Front Page being some examples).

I'm not saying you're necessarily wrong, it's just that the logic you're using to reach that conclusion is flawed. I can easily see Criterion still having the Underneath as a bonus feature with King of the Hill at the same time as Kino releasing it as a stand-alone.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by JackJD

Just a quick question/poll to see how many people are receiving damaged/used/substandard merchandise from Criterion.com during these sales.

[Show spoiler]I purchase only from Criterion.com during sales (for the last few years, previously I purchased from B&N as well); I am a collector, and I have purchased every blu-ray Criterion has released since the announcement -first wave of blu-ray discs. Needless to say, I purchase a lot of discs in large orders...

That said, every purchase for the last few years from Criterion.com has been delivered with various forms of defect - some more serious, some basic substandard sold as "new" items.

This last order, I received two totally unwrapped blu-rays with fingerprints and smudges (one of the two was one of the cheap cardboard with folding cardboard insert packages- genuinely looks like a USED product (small tears in packaging, fingered disc, -I don't know if all the insert material is included or some is missing, etc.).

Three others look re-wrapped - no sealed folded plastic on the top/bottom edges, but simple stretchy plastic shrink with seam all the way around. NO STICKERS on the three "re-wrapped".

Two look normal, except no sticker on the "normal" wrap.

And one has a small crack in the plastic case. The shipping box was in tact, and the broken case was sandwiched between others (not up against the outer wall of the shipping box) - so one may conclude it was packed/sold damaged.

One pays a premium for these products- sold as NEW, PREMIUM, top-tier-collector-quality items...

As stated above, I have not received an order of more than 10 discs without 10-30% being sub-par in the last three years.


What's happening here...?

Sorry for your troubles. I've never had any issue buying direct.

One of the concerns you describe sounds like possible shipping wear and tear. Not downplaying it, but a "small crack" in the case can happen in transit, irrespective of the state of the outer packaging. Not sure how large your orders are, buy maybe split them into smaller groupings if a lot of product is being shipped together in an oversize box.

It could also have happened prior to shipping, but considered inconsequential by the packer. I've lost count to the number of times I've received items from Amazon with minor marks, nicks, or cracks. Each one of us has our own threshold of what we deem acceptable, but at 50% off (you state you only buy during sales), you may want to chalk things like this up to experience.

One thing to mention: The type of shrinkwrap is a red herring and not an accurate indication of a re-wrap. Same for the stickers. Brand new product can come in either type of wrap - with or without stickers. This has been verified many times before - for titles bought direct, and from B&N.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Doubtful. The individual releases of the dual-format titles used the same discs. The Underneath was a bonus feature on the same disc as King of the Hill, not a separate disc as part of the package.

Which means, it could possibly be re-authored without The Underneath as an extra. Or not.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Which means, it could possibly be re-authored without The Underneath as an extra. Or not.

Wow, thank you for that added level of insight.

[Mike0284]

Picked up a copy of the Carnival of Souls DVD from eBay for $16 after all of the talk about it the other day.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Wow, thank you for that added level of insight.

You wanted logic, I gave you real logic, since you "definitively" stated that "The individual releases of the dual-format titles used the same discs" like that could never possibly change. It 100% could easily change, since, you know, rights, so it's a careless statement with no knowledge to back it up.

Don't get butthurt because you're throwing around conjecture like you know the facts of what will happen in the future.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

B&N sale starts December 6th??? WTF?

A B&N employee checked his calendar and told me that's the start date. Can anyone confirm this?

Multiple forum members have been told by BN employees (including one of my most reliable) that the dates in the computer show starting Nov 6 probably through Nov 30 which makes pretty good sense.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

You wanted logic, I gave you real logic, since you "definitively" stated that "The individual releases of the dual-format titles used the same discs"

Which at this point in time is 100% factually correct.

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

...like that could never possibly change. It 100% could easily change, since, you know, rights,

Which is why I said "doubtful" which is not a definitive statement.

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

so it's a careless statement with no knowledge to back it up.

The knowledge to back it up is called precedent, and the additional information with respect to other movies that have been released concurrently by different labels was provided as further evidence. I was not directly contradicting the other poster and saying he was wrong, just that to take into consideration the fact that Criterion and Kino could both still have this title in print at the same time.

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Don't get butthurt

I don't know what the biggest violation is here... the fact that based on your posting history it's one of the most ironically hypocritical statements that you could make, or the sheer patheticness than an adult human being in the year 2020 would still unironically use the term "butthurt".

[Visco.]

I haven’t bought criterion’s in years. I got overloaded on my collection and I’m still having trouble watching my unwatched pile.

That being said I’m looking to buy over 100 criterion’s this next sale lol. Anyone know from last year if it starts around the 7th? I haven’t monitored these sales in years.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Visco.

I haven’t bought criterion’s in years. I got overloaded on my collection and I’m still having trouble watching my unwatched pile.

That being said I’m looking to buy over 100 criterion’s this next sale lol. Anyone know from last year if it starts around the 7th? I haven’t monitored these sales in years.

Literally two posts before yours there was some info.