Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[rdodolak]

Really disappointed that brand new releases still come with the slipcover missing. Why does this happen to SF when they guarantee the slipcover for the first month of a new release. In case anyone was wondering my Wallace & Gromit 4K came slipless.

This seems to be a reocurring manufacturer issue that seems to affect them more than any other studio/label.

EDIT: SF is saying they won't provide a slip unless you ordered directly from them (i.e. their store). That is some of the biggest anti-consumer BS I've ever heard. How can you state you guarantee slipcovers for the first month of release and then the item comes from the manufacturer/distributor without a slip. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they may be violating consumer protection and advertising laws here.

[russweiss1]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Really disappointed that brand new releases still come with the slipcover missing. Why does this happen to SF when they guarantee the slipcover for the first month of a new release. In case anyone was wondering my Wallace & Gromit 4K came slipless.

This seems to be a reocurring manufacturer issue that seems to affect them more than any other studio/label.

EDIT: SF is saying they won't provide a slip unless you ordered directly from them (i.e. their store). That is some of the biggest anti-consumer BS I've ever heard. How can you state you guarantee slipcovers for the first month of release and then the item comes from the manufacturer/distributor without a slip. I'm coming to go out on a limb and say they may be violating consumer protection and advertising laws here.

I read this as the company you purchased the release from removed the slipcovers. Have you tried contacting them to find out what happened?

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by russweiss1

I read this as the company you purchased the release from removed the slipcovers. Have you tried contacting them to find out what happened?

I ordered from Bull Moose and they don't remove the slip covers. I also received Battle Beyond the Stars in the same package and it had a slip. The last time this happened with Silver Buller, Bull Moose stated all of their stock from the distributor came without slips. This is a manufacturer/distributor issue.

I've already reached out to Bull Moose.

[russweiss1]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I ordered from Bull Moose and they don't remove the slip covers. I also received Battle Beyond the Stars in the same package and it had a slip. The last time this happened with Silver Buller, Bull Moose stated all of their stock from the distributor came without slips. This is a manufacturer/distributor issue.

I've already reached out to Bull Moose.

If Bull Moose tells you their copies arrived without slips then SF should absolutely send you a cover. As your previous post mentions, their FAQ states:

"slipcovers are guaranteed for the first month after a product’s release date."

That is clearly set in stone.

[nathanashby]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Really disappointed that brand new releases still come with the slipcover missing. Why does this happen to SF when they guarantee the slipcover for the first month of a new release. In case anyone was wondering my Wallace & Gromit 4K came slipless.

Amazon, Target, and some other big box store locations were notorious for removing slipcovers a few years ago.

Bottom line: if a slipcover is a non-negotiable for you then order directly through SF.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by nathanashby

Bottom line: if a slipcover is a non-negotiable for you then order directly through SF.

This. One could even make the argument that the way their FAQ is worded, they're only guaranteeing it when you order directly.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

This. One could even make the argument that the way their FAQ is worded, they're only guaranteeing it when you order directly.

That's how I always took it.
I mean, they can't guarantee what happens to it after they ship it to the retailer.

[starsteam]

I stopped pre-ordering SF CEs from Target after three times the slip was missing. Even odder when others who also ordered from Target reported getting a slip. I had this trouble with Bullmoose right before I stopped shopping with them too, though not just with SF slips.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by nathanashby

Amazon, Target, and some other big box store locations were notorious for removing slipcovers a few years ago.

Bottom line: if a slipcover is a non-negotiable for you then order directly through SF.

Sorry, but I disagree. I'm not ordering from some big box store such as Amazon or Target. When a label states if you want a slipcover then make sure you order it when it's initially released and they offer a guarantee then why would you think otherwise? Not to mention they provide artwork to all retailers marketing the slip.

I understand slips are limited to the initial pressing and thus I've played by their rules and ordered at the normal preorder prices rather then waiting for sales. Not manufacturing enough even before the title is released really is unsatisfactory.

This isn't a retailer issue, but a manufacturing/distribution issue.

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

This. One could even make the argument that the way their FAQ is worded, they're only guaranteeing it when you order directly.

Not according to this. And if slipcovers are no longer manufactured after the one month window then how do they come from the manufacturer without slipcovers prior to release?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Not according to this. And if slipcovers are no longer manufactured after the one month window then how do they come from the manufacturer without slipcovers prior to release?

[Show spoiler]

Take a look at the wording. It specifically says "an item in my order'. Those are the keywords there to point to the very strong likelihood that it's only speaking of products ordered directly from them. My Order obviously can't apply to every way it's purchased outside of their website since someone might in fact buy the release in person for example, which I wouldn't describe as "an item in my order"

If Shout wanted it to apply to all purchases anywhere, they wouldn't have coded it with that specific wording, but rather just made it a general thing about Purchases. Also keep in mind, this is part of the shop's Order Support FAQ, so it's undoubtedly created for those ordering directly from the site, and not meant to be a FAQ for SF purchases everywhere.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Take a look at the wording. It specifically says "My Order'. Those are the keywords there to point to the very strong likelihood that it's only speaking of products ordered directly from them. My Order obviously can't apply to every way it's purchased outside of their website since someone might in fact buy the release in person for example, which I wouldn't qualify or label an "order"

If Shout wanted it to apply to all purchases anywhere, they wouldn't have coded it with that specific wording, but rather just made it a general thing about Purchases. Also keep in mind, this is part of the shop's Order Support FAQ, so it's undoubtedly created for those ordering directly from the site, and not meant to be a FAQ for SF purchases everywhere.

I have to disagree. Why would I believe this is only for items ordered through their shop when I click on the FAQ directly from their label's website; not the shop.

Either way it's a bad look. I've been a strong supporter of SF, but guess I need to reconsider. Just another negative mark just like their issues with scratched discs.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I have to disagree. Why would I believe this is only for items ordered through their shop when I click on the FAQ directly from their label's website; not the shop.

Either way it's a bad look. I've been a strong supporter of SF, but guess I need to reconsider. Just another negative mark just like their issues with scratched discs.

Come on..You know as well as I do that their website literally is their shop. You type in Shoutfactory.com and you go directly to their shop with a header that literally says "Shout! Factory Store". As I said, the FAQ specifically says order support and has questions specifically tied to ordering on their site. There's no way to misinterpret "an item from my order" as being meant for anything beyond their own store..

Have you actually tried contacting their support about this? If you truly believe you are entitled to a slipcover, then reach out and request one.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Come on..You know as well as I do that their website literally is their shop. You type in Shoutfactory.com and you go directly to their shop with a header that literally says "Shout! Factory Store". As I said, the FAQ specifically says order support and has questions specifically tied to ordering on their site. There's no way to misinterpret "an item from my order" as being meant for anything beyond their own store .

Have you actually tried contacting their support about this? If you truly believe you are entitled to a slipcover, then reach out and request one.

I already mentioned that I did in my first post.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I already mentioned that I did in my first post.

Looks like you edited hours later after it was posted. But yes, you got the exact answer that I just told you.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Looks like you edited hours later after it was posted. But yes, you got the exact answer that I literally just told you.

It added the edit within minutes as I received a response rather quickly. The last edit was to change "coming" to what was meant to be "going".

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

It added the edit within minutes as I received a response rather quickly. The last edit was to change "coming" to what was meant to be "going".

My mistake then, I guess I missed it. I think I've shown pretty clearly in multiple ways that it's meant for just their shop, but if you refuse to accept that reality, so be it.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

My mistake then, I guess I missed it. I think I've shown pretty clearly in multiple ways that it's meant for just their shop, but if you refuse to accept that reality, so be it.

Not to further stir the pot, but if the guarantee truly only applied to their shop, why wouldn't they simply note that Slips are only guaranteed when purchased directly? Vinegar Syndrome very clearly makes note of the fact that the only way to get slips is through them and not a 3rd party retailer. It seems pretty simple to me that if Shout Factory truly intended to only offer replacement slips to folks that purchased direct, was that they'd flat out state that "We only offer guaranteed slipcovers for orders purchased directly".

Like rdodolak I had always believed slips were guaranteed regardless of retailer within the first month. As long as a receipt could be provided, the buyer was safe.

I feel like you both make good points, and to mifunefan's credit, logically his interpretation would make more sense, however I know I've read examples of people getting slips in years past for experiences just like what rdodolak noted and so if his (and my) expectation is no longer the case, then that was a shift in policy that hasn't been clearly advertised.

With that all said, it's clear that for several years now Shout/Scream Factory hasn't been the same company that brought us all to the table. The disc scratching issue is perhaps the most obvious sign, but even the less obvious choice in releases reeks of corporate shenanigans, and when you consider all the insiders that have moved on to other studios it seems likely that something as consumer friendly as replacing a missing slip is going to be tossed to the wayside in favor of saving that extra few dollars and building a solid consumer reputation. Shout is content to ride on the coattails of their rep from 2010 to 2019.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

Not to further stir the pot, but if the guarantee truly only applied to their shop, why wouldn't they simply note that Slips are only guaranteed when purchased directly?

Because the FAQ is only meant for their shop only. It literally is not meant for anyone besides customers buying directly from them.

Take a look at this other FAQ from the same section:

When will my order arrive?

Please allow us 1-3 business days to pack your order. You should receive an email with tracking once shipped.

If you have ordered a product that is in pre-order status, the pre-order product will ship to arrive to you on the release date of that product.

Backorders will ship when they are restocked, which can take 1–12 weeks.

Please allow us 5-9 business days for delivery in the United States after you’ve received your tracking email. Canadian deliveries can take up to 10-45 business days.

Please note that there may be packing delays at our warehouses immediately following sales events and/or due to inclement weather. Additionally, there may be shipping progress delays due to holiday mail slowdowns & weather delays.

It doesn't specifically say it's shoutfactory.com orders only anywhere here, although that's clearly implied. So would rdodolak assume this FAQ applies to anywhere you buy one of their releases? Afterall, it's using the same My order wording as the slipcover question. Or are we now picking and choosing which FAQ is for the shop, and which are for all purchases in general.

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

Not to further stir the pot, but if the guarantee truly only applied to their shop, why wouldn't they simply note that Slips are only guaranteed when purchased directly? Vinegar Syndrome very clearly makes note of the fact that the only way to get slips is through them and not a 3rd party retailer. It seems pretty simple to me that if Shout Factory truly intended to only offer replacement slips to folks that purchased direct, was that they'd flat out state that "We only offer guaranteed slipcovers for orders purchased directly".

Like rdodolak I had always believed slips were guaranteed regardless of retailer within the first month. As long as a receipt could be provided, the buyer was safe.

I feel like you both make good points, and to mifunefan's credit, logically his interpretation would make more sense, however I know I've read examples of people getting slips in years past for experiences just like what rdodolak noted and so if his (and my) expectation is no longer the case, then that was a shift in policy that hasn't been clearly advertised.

With that all said, it's clear that for several years now Shout/Scream Factory hasn't been the same company that brought us all to the table. The disc scratching issue is perhaps the most obvious sign, but even the less obvious choice in releases reeks of corporate shenanigans, and when you consider all the insiders that have moved on to other studios it seems likely that something as consumer friendly as replacing a missing slip is going to be tossed to the wayside in favor of saving that extra few dollars and building a solid consumer reputation. Shout is content to ride on the coattails of their rep from 2010 to 2019.

Their policy has drastically changed as they provided replacement slips when this issue happened with the Silver Bullet 4K release.

Hi there,

I have added your name and request to our current replacement list.

We're only in our office two days a week and we're currently working from a big backlog of replacements that need to be sent out in the order we received them; we will ship your replacement as soon as possible - please allow at least two weeks.

If you have any questions, just let us know.

Thanks again for your patience!
Shout Factory

Customer Service
Shout! Factory
1640 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Ste. 400
Los Angeles, CA 90025
info@shoutfactory.com

It's obvious that their customer service has gone down hill as they reduced their guarantee from 3 months to 1 month. It's also bad policy to say you "guarantee" slips for the first month, but then don't. If SF only guarantees slips for their own shop then that means they're only printing enough copies for their own store for one month; while also printing slipless copies prior to release for everyone else. Since their third-party distributor provides these to all retailers it would imply they're purposely setting aside slip copies for their store, but not the other retailers. Even though they say they stop printing slips after one month it's more likely they're only printing x number of copies. It means they're not being honest and upfront.

I guess it now makes sense why Gruv.com is no longer carrying new SF releases. Even when they did, their eBay prices were far higher than the Gruv.com site not to mention the SF site. There have also been reports this was due to SF dictacting the pricing.

SF is now claiming it's the retailers' fault while not taking responsibility for their own manufacturer/distributor. It comes off as pointing fingers and trying to save face.

We unfortunately have no control over vendors removing slipcovers prior to shipping, which I can confirm has occurred several times in the past.

It's really misleading advertising when they provide slip cover pictures to retailers for marketing purposes when they have no intention on providing slip covers to retailers.

[nathanashby]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

I have to disagree. Why would I believe this is only for items ordered through their shop when I click on the FAQ directly from their label's website; not the shop.

You mentioned you ordered from Bull Moose correct?

From Bull Moose's FAQ page: "Please note: Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee slipcovers with New or Pre-owned items"

Again, if a slipcover is important enough for you, just order from SF in the window when they guarantee them.

Problem solved.