Twilight Time Discussion Thread

[CRASHLANDING]

Originally Posted by jayembee

SAE has been a going concern for longer than Twilight Time has been around -- since sometime in the 90s, maybe? -- so I wouldn't expect them to go belly up just because TT is.

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

I hope they stay open. I mean, it makes no difference to me, I don't think I've bought anything from them besides TT titles, and I'm done with those now. But for their sake, I hope they do.

I have always had the impression that SAE was mainly a storefront for film soundtracks, and that Twilight Time's relationship with them was due to Nick Redman's background in TV and film music production. SAE still has that huge soundtrack catalog, plus DVD and blu-ray listings from various other boutique labels, so I suspect they'll be just fine.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

(2) their recent shipping price increase could be interpreted as suggesting that they're not doing so well (but might also have been anticipating the income loss from TT).

An opinion on your 2nd part. SAE is not really increasing it's Shipping and Handling charge other than removing the Media Mail option.
They are basically returning to what was their S/H before 2015 or 2016 when they starting offering the MM option. They existed for over a decade at that prior charge level and they aren't likely increasing their income that much by removing the MM option.

Essentially the Handling component (employee time, bubble wrap, box, tape, label) is what it was for 10-15 years prior to the MM option and probably not a lot different than the Handling component they've charged over the last 5 years. The USPS part of the charge increased, but he SAE slice didn't, but most of that upcharge isn't seen by SAE so little if any financial benefit to them.


Massive companies can roll that employee component into their Overhead easier or hide it in their item price. Amazon makes the whole idea even fuzzier with their fake Free Shipping that Amazon Prime creates by having people prefund the shipping for small orders with a $120/year membership fee (and slowly chipping away even that advantage with their steadily increasing excluded items)

[rdodolak]

Here is a historical list of shipping rates at SAE. Remember, SAE mentions the additional cost is per disc so they're charging the + for each additional disc in a multi-disc set. Whether they actually do that or not I don't know, but that is what they state on their site.

US:
1999-2001: $3.00 + $0.40
2001-2002: $3.30 + $0.50
2002-2004: $3.50 + $0.50
2005-2007: $4.00 + $0.50
2007-2008: $4.25 + $0.85
2008-2015: $4.35 + $0.95
2016-2018: $4.91 + $1.55
2019-CUR: $6.40 + $1.55

Canada:
1999-2007: $4.50 + $0.75
2007-2008: $4.50 + $0.85
2008-2013: $4.60 + $0.95
2013-2018: $8.00 + $0.95
2019-CUR: $10.00 + $1.95

[hariseldon]

Impressive breakdown. I don't have any orders from before 2012

so $2 more now vs equivalent package from 2012-2013

Do you remember when they added the MM option -- best I could find was sometime in 2016.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

An opinion on your 2nd part. SAE is not really increasing it's Shipping and Handling charge other than removing the Media Mail option.
They are basically returning to what was their S/H before 2015 or 2016 when they starting offering the MM option. They existed for over a decade at that prior charge level and they aren't likely increasing their income that much by removing the MM option.

Counterpoint: their stated reason for dropping the Media Mail option is that they were losing money on shipping that way.

But anyway, this is all just a sidebar prompted by me saying that I don't know whether they're planning to close or not, it's not really worth this much discussion.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

I saw the Italian one but for some reason I thought it was a bootleg. Thanks for the tip. I don't anticipate "Blue Max" getting released by another label over here. I didn't realize "Love" was Fox, but I did know it had a foreign release -- I am always reluctant to import from Japan because of the cost, but whenever there's something there that I just can't wait for, I'll be sure to add "Love" to the order.

Yeah, I seldomly order from Japan because of prices. For example, I like "The Party" but not enough to pay $43 (thank you Italian Blu). Sometimes, however, you can find a good price (I'm glad I got "Blood and Sand" for $13 a few months back instead of paying the OOP prices for the US release).

[Jobla]

SAE has been around since the 1990's, I'd say. i'm sure they'll continue, as long as soundtrack CDs are still being released.

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

Counterpoint: their stated reason for dropping the Media Mail option is that they were losing money on shipping that way.
.

Losing money seemed to be b/c of damage/lost shipment replacement, not from shipping costs themselves.

With the way SAE packs their BD/DVD, I think most people thought the losses were mainly from non-Movie orders. It would be nice it they allowed Movies to ship at a different speed than the more fragile CD/Jewel Case

I never had any problem paying for SAE packages anyway. They packed things so safely and securely that it was worth it. For me even MM packages arrived in 2-3 days. I think 300+ items I bought from them I didn't have a damaged item in 8 years. Nobody I've ever ordered from can even come close to that track record. The only store I can think of that bested their packing was a couple Korean and Japanese stores.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Jobla

SAE has been around since the 1990's, I'd say. i'm sure they'll continue, as long as soundtrack CDs are still being released.

I discovered SAE when I started buying Film Score Monthly soundtrack releases. Having said that, I've really only bought TT titles from them over the past few years, as FSM stopped releasing titles in 2013. This sale I went with TT direct, due to the shipping option changes at SAE.

[bdgking]

Here is a low quantity update for both Twilight Time & SAE for this Twilight Time sale only . Only mentioning ones that recently just sold out plus ones that are very low quantity & likely will sell out soon for those whom may not have a copy of and may want to get one before they are gone .

Recently just sold out titles :

The Hawaiians , Scorpio & Remo Wiliams . These are aside from ones I mentioned a while back .


Low quantity Twilight Time and ones that likely will sell out soon

La Moglie Piu Bella 100 units remain ( then it is sold out for good via both sites)
Cowboy slightly over 100 remain
Alexander the great slightly over 100 remain
Peyton Place & Cutters Way looks as if there is a great chance they will sell out soon as well .

SAE titles are low quantity and have a great chance to sell out really fast now .

Peyton Place
How to Steal A Million
Flaming Star
To Sir with Love
The Detective
The Best of Everything
Count Yorga Vampire
Cutters Way
Theater of Blood
Zelig
Twilight Samurai
Sense and Sensibility

Another title I was thinking about buying is Manhattan Murder Mystery was wondering whom has seen it and if it is a suggested pick up ?

Thank You in advance

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by bdgking

Another title I was thinking about buying is Manhattan Murder Mystery was wondering whom has seen it and if it is a suggested pick up ?

If you're a Woody Allen film, yes. It is very much dripping in the style of Woody's films from that era. The original idea of the film stemmed from a dropped subplot of Annie Hall, so if you like scenes of Woody and Diane Keaton bantering and getting into hijinks, it'll be up your alley. Don't go in expecting to see some sort of Knives Out, Agatha Christie-style mystery.

[gregmtl92]

Originally Posted by bdgking

Another title I was thinking about buying is Manhattan Murder Mystery was wondering whom has seen it and if it is a suggested pick up ?

Thank You in advance

If you like Woody Allen movies in general, I'd say it's a rather safe blind buy. It's my favorite out of all the Twilight Time Woody Allen titles.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by CRASHLANDING

I have always had the impression that SAE was mainly a storefront for film soundtracks, and that Twilight Time's relationship with them was due to Nick Redman's background in TV and film music production.

Nick had explicitly said in interviews that that was why he and Brian chose to go with SAE as their vendor for TT.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

I never had any problem paying for SAE packages anyway. They packed things so safely and securely that it was worth it. For me even MM packages arrived in 2-3 days. I think 300+ items I bought from them I didn't have a damaged item in 8 years.

Same here. I'd have to admit that there have probably been an occasional disc case that had a crack in it, or a broken hub, but those were most likely that way in the warehouse rather than because of the packing.

As for speed, I've always gotten my shipments fairly quickly, even with MM. I've just recently made what will probably be my last order with them (unless a title or two sells out at TT before I get to it), and the first under the new no-MM policy. Given the prices I paid (2@8.95, 1@14.95) the extra shipping fee averages them out to $14 each. I can easily live with that.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bdgking

Recently just sold out titles :

The Hawaiians , Scorpio & Remo Wiliams

It would be nice if someone else were to pick up the rights to Remo Williams if for no other reason than to add an extra that TT didn't: the unsold pilot for a proposed TV series with Jeffrey Meek as Remo and Roddy McDowell as Chiun. It actually aired on ABC in 1988, and I have it on Betamax somewhere. But it'd really be good to see it packaged with the film on BD.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by hariseldon

Losing money seemed to be b/c of damage/lost shipment replacement, not from shipping costs themselves.

With the way SAE packs their BD/DVD, I think most people thought the losses were mainly from non-Movie orders. It would be nice it they allowed Movies to ship at a different speed than the more fragile CD/Jewel Case

I never had any problem paying for SAE packages anyway. They packed things so safely and securely that it was worth it. For me even MM packages arrived in 2-3 days. I think 300+ items I bought from them I didn't have a damaged item in 8 years. Nobody I've ever ordered from can even come close to that track record. The only store I can think of that bested their packing was a couple Korean and Japanese stores.

I can understand lost packages, though I don’t see that as a regular occurrence, but what I don’t understand from your post above is that you state their packing is remarkably state of the art safe and secure and, at least for you, utterly foolproof for eight years. Yet they claim so many people are complaining about damaged shipments? Seems like a contradiction to me.

It’s obvious from your posts that you are a big supporter of SAE/TT, but with all due respect, none of your contentions have convinced me that their dropping media mail as an option was anything other than a way to increase their profit margin, however minimally. Regardless, they lost me as a customer. TT has no CD business to help out sales and their shipping increase is not as insulting as SAE, so I choose to support them instead.

[whiteberry]

For those who haven't picked up Moscow On The Hudson and can play Region B blu-rays, Indicator announced it this week with extras not on the Twilight Time blu-ray including an interview with Maria Conchita Alonso:

4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
Audio commentary with director Paul Mazursky (2001)
The Guardian Interview with Paul Mazursky (1984): the filmmaker in conversation at London's National Film Theatre
Maria Conchita Alonso on 'Moscow on the Hudson' (2020): new interview with the actor
Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
Original theatrical trailer
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Monica Castillo, a contemporary account of the making of the film, Paul Mazursky's research visit to Moscow, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
REGION-B "LOCKED"

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=26519

[hariseldon]

Originally Posted by jayembee

I've just recently made what will probably be my last order with them (unless a title or two sells out at TT before I get to it),.

My last order just arrived a couple days ago (orderd Sunday, arrived Wed afternoon). Almost certainly will be my last order of TT -- literally got nothing left unless they release new items

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I can understand lost packages, though I don’t see that as a regular occurrence, but what I don’t understand from your post above is that you state their packing is remarkably state of the art safe and secure and, at least for you, utterly foolproof for eight years. Yet they claim so many people are complaining about damaged shipments? Seems like a contradiction to me.

It’s obvious from your posts that you are a big supporter of SAE/TT, but with all due respect, none of your contentions have convinced me that their dropping media mail as an option was anything other than a way to increase their profit margin, however minimally. Regardless, they lost me as a customer. TT has no CD business to help out sales and their shipping increase is not as insulting as SAE, so I choose to support them instead.

A lot of folks have speculated that the damaged packing was primarily due to Media Mail handling of their CD/Soundtrack items with those fragile Jewel Cases. I have no idea how they package those and at what point they use boxes or other packing methods. If a large number of their CD were being damaged via MM ( which may be a larger proportion of their sales) then the MM loss statement makes more sense.

I can't speak for TT.com since I so rarely ordered from them -- their packaging in the early days was inferior and shipping slower than SAE so I abandoned them except for one large order last fall.

I do know how SAE package their Movies and at least orders of 3 or more (or if a box was requested for a 1 or 2 item order) are nearly vault safe the MM loss makes less sense. I know they use bubble envelopes for order or 1 or 2 items unless a box is requested so I guess it's possible a lot more people were making 1 item orders than I realized and those were being damaged.

Some back of the envelope numbers just for the sake of discussing/arguing depending on perspective

[Show spoiler]
1) 3 item order from April.
MM - $6.90 S/H, postage was approx $2.65 for 13 oz package, net SAE Handling charge $4.25
today - $10 S/H, postage First Class approx $5.90 so SAE Handling $4.10 (1st class is more dependent on zip code and if they get commercial rates which that may make 0.50 difference overall).

2) 7 item order I made in December/MM 10.70 S/H -- 1.5lb MM charge was probably $3.20 or less so $7.50 handling goes to SAE

7 item order done now would be $15.70 S/H, but a Priority Flat rate box is $15 (a little less if they get a commercial rate). SAE gets only $2 now for their Handling for the package. It costs them up to $5 of income to drop MM.
If they individually weigh, don't use flat rate, then the overall true postage could range from $10-15 depending on zip code so maybe that don't lose money dropping MM option depending on the zip code.

3) 20 item package which is probably the largest Medium Flat rate order possible
Media Mail 9 months ago $23 S/H - $4.30 $18.70 Handling to SAE
Priority Mail now $35.85 - 15 Flat rate -- $20 Handling fee to SAE (around 16 appears to be the breakeven number, and 5-15 they could even get less of the total UNLESS their commercial rates are pretty extreme compared to what I've seen and they don't have Amazon or Alliance negotiating power)


You can argue that SAE Handling charge may or may not be worth it. I've always been fine with it, but have no problem with those who see otherwise. For items that are available both at TT and SAE I might even choose TT if I had to -- the one order I made with them in the fall was better packaged and arrived quickly so obviously much better than 3-4 years ago from my last order

My problem is with the argument that eliminating MM option was to pad SAE's income and some even seem to arguing that it's a windfall. For many packages it could even be costing them money up front depending on the number of items per order.
.

[MovieDood]

TT ships all their orders in cardboard boxes. I never have an issue with their packaging.

[exzachary]

There's a clown currently selling The Killer Elite (more than 9 available), Gun Fury (more than 10 available) and Miss Sadie Thompson (more than 10 available) on eBay for $999.99 each. You would think he'd give you free shipping, but no, it'll cost you $4.70.