Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[Member-222782]

I've only returned something to Amazon twice during my 10+ year patronage and both times was because of a poorly made product and my dissatisfaction with it. I don't bother with things like creases on slipcovers or broken spindles in cases. I can always get a new case. If I get a crushed steelbook or Blu-ray (a rare occurrence for me) I get a quick refund after briefly chatting with a nice gentleman (or lady) in India. I don't abuse their very generous policies but I know plenty of people do.

[Rayjg]

Just remember that Shout will ban you too for excessive issues. Probably a lot quicker than Amazon too.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by RevolverOcelScott

I do this as well, but my only fear for this is, I've heard horror stories about Amazon terminating people's accounts for "excessive returns". I'm sure it's the people truly abusing the return policy, and not things like the scratched discs, but it does concern me.

I've been worried about that myself, because I'm extremely OCD when it comes to the condition of my blu-rays. However, I'd like to think if you're only exchanging, it's not as big of an issue as asking for an actual refund, where they're actually losing money.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

Just remember that Shout will ban you too for excessive issues. Probably a lot quicker than Amazon too.

I've only complained once to Shout, when one of my movies from the recent Halloween sale arrived re-shrinkwrapped, with multiple creases on the cover. They asked me to take photos, but I still haven't gotten around to it.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by Surge92

I've only complained once to Shout, when one of my movies from the recent Halloween sale arrived re-shrinkwrapped, with multiple creases on the cover. They asked me to take photos, but I still haven't gotten around to it.

They're getting wolfish over that sort of stuff. I took photos and sent them and they said I'd go into their replacement queue only to have some douse email me after saying the item wasn't damaged enough and to bugger off. I paid full price and purchased direct and you're gonna bust my balls over something that costs you a few cents? Might as well wait for it to be half off in a few months and get it in the same condition

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

They're getting wolfish over that sort of stuff. I took photos and sent them and they said I'd go into their replacement queue only to have some douse email me after saying the item wasn't damaged enough and to bugger off. I paid full price and purchased direct and you're gonna bust my balls over something that costs you a few cents? Might as well wait for it to be half off in a few months and get it in the same condition

Forty percent of the blu-rays I order from Shout, either directly or through Amazon, arrive with creased or semi-punctured covers (like someone dug a fingernail or something into them). Kino is actually worse, but since their sale prices are ten times better, it's more bearable. I purposely don't check for scratches, but my OCD self can't avoid seeing creases and stuff. It's a living hell.

[DrEricVornoff]

Originally Posted by RevolverOcelScott

I do this as well, but my only fear for this is, I've heard horror stories about Amazon terminating people's accounts for "excessive returns". I'm sure it's the people truly abusing the return policy, and not things like the scratched discs, but it does concern me.

Originally Posted by CrowKiller

I heard that too, but they'd have to be doing it all the time or doing something shady I'd assume. I've returned hundreds of things over time, sometimes I've returned the same thing three or more times. 99% of the time because of Amazon employee incompetence though. Things damaged, etc. Never have even gotten any warning or anything. Might be how much you spend too. If you're a regular buyer (and keep most things), you probably are safer. I wouldn't worry about it.

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I've only returned something to Amazon twice during my 10+ year patronage and both times was because of a poorly made product and my unsatisfaction with it. I don't bother with things like creases on slipcovers or broken spindles in cases. I can always get a new case. In cases where I get a crushed steelbook or Blu-ray (a rare occurrence for me) I get a quick refund after briefly chatting with someone in India. I don't abuse their very generous policies but I know plenty of people do.

Originally Posted by Rayjg

Just remember that Shout will ban you too for excessive issues. Probably a lot quicker than Amazon too.

Originally Posted by Surge92

I've been worried about that myself, because I'm extremely OCD when it comes to the condition of my blu-rays. However, I'd like to think if you're only exchanging, it's not as big of an issue as asking for an actual refund, where they're actually losing money.

I like Crowkiller have returned many many things over the years. But again, like was mentioned above, it has always been because an item arrived scratched or damaged. And it happens a lot. I mean... you send things in flimsy bubble mailers you are asking for problems.

I always promptly return the defective item... which is probably half the battle there. The fact remains... people you hear about who get their accounts suspended... we don't know the whole story. I'm sure there are folks out there who buy stuff... use it for a day or so... and then return it. They're using Amazon as an item lending service. And so those are the folks who probably end up getting suspended. If you are returning everything you buy... then yes you probably have to worry. But I don't return everything I buy... I don't even come close. I only return the items that arrive damaged. And so my ratio is probably way below what their algorithm would flag. And I'm sure everyone on this thread falls in that category. It's called using common sense.

Plus... Amazon handles millions of transactions a week. It probably takes a great deal of abuse for them to even flag and start monitoring an account in the first place.

So, I don't worry about it. If it arrives damaged... it gets returned. And if the replacement shows up and it's fine... I keep it. I'm sure Amazon hasn't lost very much money on me.

[DrEricVornoff]

Oh and I'll add... it speaks volumes that customer service over at Shout actually admitted in an email that scratched discs have been a problem at the replicator level...

It shows that those of us who have been complaining about it over the last 2 years are actually... dare I say it... justified...

Just saying...

Now if we can just get Criterion to follow suit...

[sancho]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I don't bother with things like creases on slipcovers or broken spindles in cases.

Members from this site.....have never made any returns for a Creased or Damaged Slipcover. Completely unheard of.

[Surge92]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

Now if we can just get Criterion to follow suit...

[CrowKiller]

Originally Posted by sancho

Members from this site.....have never made any returns for a Creased or Damaged Slipcover. Completely unheard of.

I haven't personally. Only real damage. I've had things come to me decimated. Who cares anyway. Amazon avoids paying billions a year in taxes while we have to get our paychecks raped. They can afford it a million times over.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by sancho

Members from this site.....have never made any returns for a Creased or Damaged Slipcover. Completely unheard of.

In case you're serious (I don't see any emojis), there are people out there who will return something if the jiffy bag it came in is creased Other people just return stuff because they can.

[sancho]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

In case you're serious (I don't see any emojis), there are people out there who will return something if the jiffy bag it came in is creased

That is some funny shit. Very true.

[hainesdogg]

I don't know why Shout Factory isn't known as one of the worst labels. Between taking forever to ship out items during a sale, to crappy customer service, and employees complaining about leaked announcements and being passive-aggressive on social media, but doing nothing to fix it.

Forgot to add - "Shout Exclusive" bare-bones releases, that Mill Creek would laugh at, at Severin prices

I mean when you think about a lot of the stuff that people complain about for other boutique labels, Shout Factory does all the time. Imagine if Kino took as long to ship sale order during their sales as Shout does.

[Member-222782]

Wasn't Space Truckers a Shout exclusive? Diabolik has copies for sale.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Wasn't Space Truckers a Shout exclusive? Diabolik has copies for sale.

It's OOS there. They likely got some of the limited copies to sell. They have other SF exclusives there too. Every one I've searched isn't actually in stock, and just has a join waitlist thing, so I wonder if any of them have actually been for sale at the site. Perhaps just a couple if anything.

edit: Found one. Bluebeard is in stock with 2 copies

https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/...ctory-blu-ray/

Blood of the Vampire as well, and same thing, just 2 copies available. So yeah, it seems they just order a couple to resell on their site

https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/...ctory-blu-ray/

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

Oh and I'll add... it speaks volumes that customer service over at Shout actually admitted in an email that scratched discs have been a problem at the replicator level...

It shows that those of us who have been complaining about it over the last 2 years are actually... dare I say it... justified...

Just saying...

Now if we can just get Criterion to follow suit...

It stands to reason, if Shout actually got the replicator (or whoever is responsible for the scratched discs) to change their behavior, then those changes would carry through for Criterion discs, and others as well. I doubt they're just going to handle Shout discs with kid gloves, and continue treating the other discs like shit.

[DrEricVornoff]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Wasn't Space Truckers a Shout exclusive? Diabolik has copies for sale.

I’ve noticed that from time to time Jesse will get a limited number of Shout exclusives… but they usually sell out pretty quick if they are at all somewhat popular titles.

He must have some sort of agreement with them.

They also tend to be even more expensive than Shout sells them for

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

I’ve noticed that from time to time Jesse will get a limited number of Shout exclusives… but they usually sell out pretty quick if they are at all somewhat popular titles.

He must have some sort of agreement with them.

They also tend to be even more expensive than Shout sells them for

Maybe he buys them from the website, the same as everyone else, and has to make a little profit.

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

I’ve noticed that from time to time Jesse will get a limited number of Shout exclusives… but they usually sell out pretty quick if they are at all somewhat popular titles.

He must have some sort of agreement with them.

They also tend to be even more expensive than Shout sells them for

I wouldn't be surprised if he acquires a few of each for international customers and, as such, those customers probably don't mind paying a little extra for them. Also, probably why they sell out so quickly. (Shout doesn't ship outside of US and Canada I believe).