The Criterion Collection

[mande2013]

Well my blu-ray discs are basically all in 'like new' condition, excepting a few I can count on one hand that came out of the shrink wrap with minor blemishes not affecting playback. Some of my DVDs may have some very faint surface scratches, but I doubt I'm alone there, and if people insist I am you're lying. It's impossible to keep a DVD in 'like new' condition cosmetically speaking unless you've only watched it once and handled it very carefully that one time.

Okay, my Woman is a Woman Criterion is entirely scratch-free, since I did only remove it from the case one time to rip it to my computer, so I wouldn't have to handle it whenever I wanted to watch the movie. At least the OOP Criterion blus are a bit more rugged.

With that said, much of my packaging is more 'very good' than 'like new', but I think you can get away with selling an item as 'like new' as long as the disc is in genuinely 'like new' condition and the packaging is presentable. I can't imagine a buyer would cause a shit storm over some shelf ware on an item advertised as 'like new' as long as it is in perfect condition otherwise. If the art sleeve had an inch-long tear in it, then maybe yes.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by mande2013

Well my blu-ray discs are basically all in 'like new' condition, excepting a few I can count on one hand that came out of the shrink wrap with minor blemishes not affecting playback. Some of my DVDs may have some very faint surface scratches, but I doubt I'm alone there, and if people insist I am you're lying. It's impossible to keep a DVD in 'like new' condition cosmetically speaking unless you've only watched it once and handled it very carefully that one time.

With that said, much of my packaging is more 'very good' than 'like new', but I think you can get away with selling an item as 'like new' as long as the disc is in genuinely 'like new' condition and the packaging is presentable. I can't imagine a buyer would cause a shit storm over some shelf ware on an item advertised as 'like new' as long as it is in perfect condition otherwise. If the art sleeve had an inch-long tear in it, then maybe yes.

very faint surface scratches and cases w/ shelf wear is "very good." no, nobody will make a s**t storm over the differences, but it is 'very good' and not 'like new.'

[mande2013]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

very faint surface scratches and cases w/ shelf wear is "very good." no, nobody will make a s**t storm over the differences, but it is 'very good' and not 'like new.'

very faint surface scratches is for sure 'very good' rather than 'like new', yes. As for shelf ware, it depends how bad it is I think. If the shelf ware is very faint, but all the other components are in flawless condition, it passes the 'like new' test. If there's an obvious scuff mark, then downgrade it to 'very good'. 'Like new' disc with 'very good' packaging passes the 'like new' test in my opinion. It's okay to round up.

Keep in mind, plenty of copies still in shrink wrap may even have very faint ware on the case or a slightly dog-eared booklet, so one shouldn't be too picky.

On another note, if the rumors are true and some of these Studio Canal films are returning to Criterion, should I unload some of my OOPs while they're still 'hot' and then repurchase them, not the blu-rays, but some of the pre-wacky C DVD-only ones? High risk, high reward.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by mande2013

very faint surface scratches is for sure 'very good' rather than 'like new', yes. As for shelf ware, it depends how bad it is I think. If the shelf ware is very faint, but all the other components are in flawless condition, it passes the 'like new' test. If there's an obvious scuff mark, then downgrade it to 'very good'. 'Like new' disc with 'very good' packaging passes the 'like new' test in my opinion. It's okay to round up.

Keep in mind, plenty of copies still in shrink wrap may even have very faint ware on the case or a slightly dog-eared booklet, so one shouldn't be too picky.

I agree with you 100%.

I was a bit confused about something you said earlier. Don't mind me if I sound like I was disagreeing. I think I got it figured out.

[mande2013]

When I get too anal, I always remind myself that hardly anything is in 'like new' condition when you go into a rare book shop where they have first edition novels selling for three figures nonetheless.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by mande2013

What does tracking add to shipping costs? It'll probably cost me like six or seven Euro to ship my Sonopress discs to Criterion sans tracking. How much extra should I expect to spend for tracking. Also, how necessary is tracking? Is it worth paying double the cost?

I dunno, my mother said it was like 1.50. She was vacationing in Maine/New Hampshire, so I had her mail my disc while she was there, because it was only 4 dollars, vs. 20 dollars for the Canadian equivalent. I just wanted to be sure my disc made it to Criterion because I'm in Nova Scotia.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Ministry of Fear is one of the most underrated Criterion titles, and it's a solid film noir. As always, Fritz Lang's visual style is incredible.

Lang's World War II era movies are masterful, because of his own background as a German filmmaker. If you like Ministry of Fear, then you may enjoy Manhunt and Hangmen Also Die. Hangmen Also Die makes for a fine double feature with Melville's Army of Shadows, in fact.

It's been on my list for awhile, and I have watched it before. Still haven't read the Greene novel yet, but it's on my list. I rewatched Army of Shadows last Thursday.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I am going to try get Les Blank set as next purchase, don't know much about it and stuff, but I LOVE documentaries and never been let down by Criterion as of yet in terms of documentaries.

Plus it has a really nice packaging and lots to delve into!

Either that or the Criterion book, I haven't decided yet!

I've picked up everything this month, bar Les Blank. Compared to Demy and Tati it doesn't seem like particularly great value. I've got the book pre-ordered at Amazon, and my wife is buying it for my birthday! It comes to £45 shipped to the UK, so a great price (the Capra book I linked to in my earlier post about It Happened One Night retails for £59, for comparison!).

[jw007]

Okay folks, its that time of year again! 50% Criterion B&N sale time!

Before this already massive thread mildly explodes for the next month, I just want to give my 2 cents and advice for anyone who is new to the B&N Criterion 50% sales.

THIS APPLIES ONLY TO IN-STORE PURCHASES!

1) The best way, in general, to use coupons during the sale is NOT TO PRINT out the coupon.

2) I'll say this again, the best way, in general, to use coupons during the sale is NOT TO PRINT out the coupon.

3) Okay, you heard me, now if you do want to use the coupon, make sure you use the coupon from your smartphone. Find the digital coupon and have it ready to show the CSR (customer service representative) and he or she will manually punch in the code. The reason why I urge all of you not to print the coupon is, a lot of the times a perfectly valid coupon won't scan effectively, such as the $8/40 coupon. However, if the CSR manually punches in the coupon from your smartphone, the coupon WILL work!

4) Don't pressure the CSR or make him or her angry about why your coupon should work and it does not. Don't feel you're self-entitled as YMMV (your mileage may vary) in any case. Feel fortunate that you were able to use additional discounts because of your coupon, whether its 15% off, 20% off, 30% off or the $5/50 or $8/40 coupons.

5) Don't even attempt to try stacking any coupons! You'll save yourself a world of pain. The only time you might be able to do this is if you use a single coupon for one item (maybe 20% off one Criterion title) and then if you buy 3 titles and it exceeds $50 you can use the $5 off $50 or more coupon to save a few more bucks. That's what I usually do, on top of my 10% members discount of course.

6) During this sale, only go at most once a week to your local Barnes & Noble store as if you go more often during this sale you might run into those same CSRs and some of them might not like your rampant use of coupons. Try and investigate when certain CSRs work, what shifts they're on and if they're cool with you using coupons during the Criterion sale. You need to do some research and recon for your Criterion shopping spree to pay off.

7) Last but not least, save all your receipts if possible so that one day you can create a vast spreadsheet where you can track how much money you spent on all your purchases and how much money you saved and then show it off to people on this forum!

[filmmusic]

Does this end on December 1st or in the first week of December?

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by jw007

3) Okay, you heard me, now if you do want to use the coupon, make sure you use the coupon from your smartphone. Find the digital coupon and have it ready to show the CSR (customer service representative) and he or she will manually punch in the code. The reason why I urge all of you not to print the coupon is, a lot of the times a perfectly valid coupon won't scan effectively, such as the $8/40 coupon. However, if the CSR manually punches in the coupon from your smartphone, the coupon WILL work!

Where can you download these coupons?

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Where can you download these coupons?

Here.

[LPMA]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

I dunno, my mother said it was like 1.50. She was vacationing in Maine/New Hampshire, so I had her mail my disc while she was there, because it was only 4 dollars, vs. 20 dollars for the Canadian equivalent. I just wanted to be sure my disc made it to Criterion because I'm in Nova Scotia.

It cost me $4.36 to mail-in my Howards End disc from Canada!

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Here.

There is a similar thread here too I think.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

Where can you download these coupons?

Over at the Criterion thread in Hot Deals. My sig has the link.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by LPMA

It cost me $4.36 to mail-in my Howards End disc from Canada!

With tracking? And to have it arrive within 2 days?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jw007

1) The best way, in general, to use coupons during the sale is NOT TO PRINT out the coupon.

2) I'll say this again, the best way, in general, to use coupons during the sale is NOT TO PRINT out the coupon.

It depends on the store, and the cashier. I've never, ever had a problem using a printed-out coupon at my local B&N. But then, I'm a familiar face to most of the video department cashiers at my local B&N.

3) Okay, you heard me, now if you do want to use the coupon, make sure you use the coupon from your smartphone. Find the digital coupon and have it ready to show the CSR (customer service representative) and he or she will manually punch in the code. The reason why I urge all of you not to print the coupon is, a lot of the times a perfectly valid coupon won't scan effectively, such as the $8/40 coupon. However, if the CSR manually punches in the coupon from your smartphone, the coupon WILL work!

Except that if the cashier has to manually enter the coupon code, they can do it just as easily from the printed-out coupon as they can reading it from your smartphone. I have the coupons printed out right here in front of me, and they have a paragraph titled "Bookseller instructions", which starts off with "Scan all items, then scan coupon barcode or enter coupon code".

Besides, not everyone has a smartphone.

[Clare2904]

B&N 50% Sale List

Nothing



Going to feel a little strange not partaking but I:

a) Have, thankfully, nothing to buy
b) Have, sadly, nothing to buy with even if I did
c) Have too many unwatched on my shelf to keep me occupied until the next sale

[Vinyl]

Originally Posted by Clare2904

B&N 50% Sale List

Nothing

Going to feel a little strange not partaking but I:
a) Have, thankfully, nothing to buy
b) Have, sadly, nothing to buy with even if I did
c) Have too many unwatched on my shelf to keep me occupied until the next sale

I have very few things I am wanting this time around. This matches my having moderate funds in the account.
Similar to you with nothing to get and no funds I have little to get with the appropriate little funds to spend.
As for too many unwatched on the shelf, don't we all?

[Clare2904]

Originally Posted by Vinyl

I have very few things I am wanting this time around. This matches my having moderate funds in the account.
Similar to you with nothing to get and no funds I have little to get with the appropriate little funds to spend.
As for too many unwatched on the shelf, don't we all?

And that is what is stopping me most. No funds can be overcome with the credit card but seriously, why spend $100+ that I don't need to only for them to join the rest of the unwatched

If push comes to shove I can think of better ways to spend $100.

Anyway, happy (over)spending everyone.