The Criterion Collection

[Mr.White]

Originally Posted by benricci

The MSRP on that is only $39.99. Why is BB selling it for above MSRP, and two weeks before street date? That makes no sense...

Funny, I did'nt even think BB sold Criterion Blu's, the only one I've ever seen there is Benjamin Button!

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Mr.White

Funny, I did'nt even think BB sold Criterion Blu's, the only one I've ever seen there is Benjamin Button!

It's also the only Criterion I've seen in major stores like Best Buy or Future Shop, forget Wall Mart

Usualy I get my Criterion at Amazon or at a local video store here in Montreal

[aggienader08]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

It's also the only Criterion I've seen in major stores like Best Buy or Future Shop, forget Wall Mart

Usualy I get my Criterion at Amazon or at a local video store here in Montreal

Yea I have to order mine through a store called Movie Trading Company usually for $29.99 or through Amazon.com

[krisstivers]

Will Criterion be offering a new case for Benjamin Button to match the clear ones?

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by krisstivers

Will Criterion be offering a new case for Benjamin Button to match the clear ones?

I believe that's the one questionable release. I haven't read anything, yet, about that one being replaced.

CC

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by retablo

If they got the packaging right in the first place, we wouldn't have to send $5 extra dollars. They are the ones who changed their packaging after they spent months coming up with it.

That's why I'm complaining, and my complaint is legitimate.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree that complaint is legitimate.

The first style of packaging was not defective. It may not have been to some people's liking, but there were no hidden flaws - what you saw was what you got. If you did not like the packaging, you had the option of simply not buying. If you did purchase, it was your own choice and you knew full well what product you were getting.

Recalls and free replacements happen when something is faulty - when it does not live up to what it was advertised as (i.e. discs with glitches or missing content, electronic devices that fail, etc.). Companies are allowed to change their products at any point, and original buyers have absolutely no right, and above all no REASON, to complain. They still have the original product. It still works exactly as it was advertised to, as they expected it to when they purchased it. That transaction is done - Criterion has lived up to its commitment when you implicitly agreed upon the terms of the sale. That's it.

The very fact that Criterion is even offering the $5-a-case option is noble, as they surely will not make any sizable revenue off of this, and it is just another hassle for them to deal with - but they are doing it because people wanted it, and keeping customers happy is good business. This is a fairly unprecedented move - I sure don't remember any major studios offering new case upgrades for the dreaded snapper cases, and I sure bet Sony and Warner won't be doing anything like this if they ever reissue their digibook releases in normal cases.

But no, people still have to complain.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

I'm sorry, but I don't agree that complaint is legitimate.

The first style of packaging was not defective. It may not have been to some people's liking, but there were no hidden flaws - what you saw was what you got. If you did not like the packaging, you had the option of simply not buying. If you did purchase, it was your own choice and you knew full well what product you were getting.

Recalls and free replacements happen when something is faulty - when it does not live up to what it was advertised as (i.e. discs with glitches or missing content, electronic devices that fail, etc.). Companies are allowed to change their products at any point, and original buyers have absolutely no right, and above all no REASON, to complain. They still have the original product. It still works exactly as it was advertised to, as they expected it to when they purchased it. That transaction is done - Criterion has lived up to its commitment when you implicitly agreed upon the terms of the sale. That's it.

The very fact that Criterion is even offering the $5-a-case option is noble, as they surely will not make any sizable revenue off of this, and it is just another hassle for them to deal with - but they are doing it because people wanted it, and keeping customers happy is good business. This is a fairly unprecedented move - I sure don't remember any major studios offering new case upgrades for the dreaded snapper cases, and I sure bet Sony and Warner won't be doing anything like this if they ever reissue their digibook releases in normal cases.

But no, people still have to complain.

For one, when we bought the first releases, no one knew they were going to abandon their original packaging. So saying "it was your own choice and you knew full well what product you were getting" has no relevance. Yes, I wanted the movie. But had I known that months later they would replace all their packaging with better cases, yes, I would've waited.

And more importantly, as I stared before, WHY did they change their packaging in the first place? If it wasn't defective, why change it? Because of consumer feedback? Seems that if consumers didn't like it enough to cause them to change the design they said it took them a while to come up with, then they would offer a better deal than $5 a case.

Yeah, they have the right to do whatever they want, and as I also stated, it's cool that they are even offering a replacement case. But it's also my right as a CONSUMER, as one of the ones who keep them in business by purchasing their product in the first place, to complain if I want to. It's just ironic that all the deals I've gotten off Amazon for Criterion blus will pretty much now be negated. And I wouldn't have to upgrade my cases if the ones shipped to me weren't bent, torn, crushed, damaged, or, like Marienbad, not even the right size to fit.

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by retablo

For one, when we bought the first releases, no one knew they were going to abandon their original packaging. So saying "it was your own choice and you knew full well what product you were getting" has no relevance. Yes, I wanted the movie. But had I known that months later they would replace all their packaging with better cases, yes, I would've waited.

I'm sorry, but what you state here is what has no relevance. When you make a purchase, it does not matter what the future will hold. You are deciding that then and there, you are going to exchange a certain amount of money for a certain product. Your argument here is no different than someone complaining that a movie is double-dipped with more features in a year or so - the argument is faulty in that case, and it is faulty here. Whenever you purchase ANYTHING, there is always the possibility that something you like better will come out in the future.

And more importantly, as I stared before, WHY did they change their packaging in the first place? If it wasn't defective, why change it? Because of consumer feedback? Seems that if consumers didn't like it enough to cause them to change the design they said it took them a while to come up with, then they would offer a better deal than $5 a case.

They changed it because their customers wanted them to. I highly doubt Criterion felt anything was wrong with the first packaging considering they're the ones that came up with it and decided to sell it. Customers disagreed, so they altered their business strategy. That is not an admission that anything was wrong with the first packaging.

And you act like $5 is such an extreme price - it costs money to make these cases, it costs money to make the artwork insert, and it costs money to ship them.

Yeah, they have the right to do whatever they want, and as I also stated, it's cool that they are even offering a replacement case. But it's also my right as a CONSUMER, as one of the ones who keep them in business by purchasing their product in the first place, to complain if I want to. It's just ironic that all the deals I've gotten off Amazon for Criterion blus will pretty much now be negated. And I wouldn't have to upgrade my cases if the ones shipped to me weren't bent, torn, crushed, damaged, or, like Marienbad, not even the right size to fit.

Marienbad was a glitch, and they shipped better-fitted slipcovers for free to customers who asked. That is an example of a faulty product, and them exchanging it for free. For cases coming crush, torn, damaged, etc., that is the fault of the packing and handling job done by Amazon, not Criterion. And it's not like the Criterion discs are preternaturally likely to fail - slipcovers on normal releases are just as likely to get ripped or bent, and those goddamn Viva Elite blue plastic cases are much more likely to be physically broken (i.e. won't hold the disc, won't close properly). I've never seen a Criterion release more than a little dinged at the edges, and any decent packing job should yield similar results.

And hey, it is a free country so complain all you like. But I think it is unwarranted.

[Kartoon]

Originally Posted by retablo

If they got the packaging right in the first place, we wouldn't have to send $5 extra dollars. They are the ones who changed their packaging after they spent months coming up with it.

That's why I'm complaining, and my complaint is legitimate.

How did they "get it wrong"...? I've seen MUCH WORSE examples that NEVER got replaced. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's "wrong", and you still bought it without the thought that there would eventually be a different style of case.

You really don't have a legitimate complaint at all.

[PowellPressburger]

I can't stand the old Criterion paper BD Cases they are just flimsy, easily scuffed up, the fact the case opens on top and bottom and not the side was the worst move ever. They never keep their shape.

Now that said I knew these better plastic replacement cases were coming, we were just waiting. However I knew they would not be free, didn't expect them to be free.

Criterion DID not and DOES not have to re-do their original cases for release like Third Man, Man Who Fell to Earth, Bottle Rocket, etc... the fact they did is commendable.

I don't mind paying a little for a new and better case.

I realize they add up. I only own 5 of the paper style cases. (none of which are Benjamin Button) and I plan on buying replacements for all 5.

Call me crazy and I am not rich, but I think $5.00 a case is fine. It would cost about $1.75-$2.50 to mail them depending (First Class) So to ask maybe $2.50 more a case. Well I'm fine with that.

So ASK yourself this question would you rather they NEVER made the new cases and you had only the paper stock case?

it is worth it to me. I will rebuy all the new cases they offer for those past releases.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

And hey, it is a free country so complain all you like. But I think it is unwarranted.

I will, thank you.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by Kartoon

How did they "get it wrong"...? I've seen MUCH WORSE examples that NEVER got replaced. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's "wrong", and you still bought it without the thought that there would eventually be a different style of case.

You really don't have a legitimate complaint at all.

If they didn't get it wrong, then why did they change it after what, 8 releases or so? Maybe they should've done a little market research and found out beforehand that no one wanted flimsy paper cases.

And as I've said all along, which people conveniently ignore when trying to make an argument, I applaud them for changing them and offering us the option to upgrade. I just expected a better deal, is all. I never said it was fair, or that it was supposed to be fair. I bought it without the thought that there would eventually be a different style of case because, well, why would I think they would change it? Packaging doesn't stop me from buying a movie.

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by retablo

If they didn't get it wrong, then why did they change it after what, 8 releases or so? Maybe they should've done a little market research and found out beforehand that no one wanted flimsy paper cases.

There is a difference between a faulty product, and an improved product. They improved their cases to make a larger number of people happy. That does not mean the original product is faulty. Why can't you understand that distinction?

[retablo]

Originally Posted by neo_reloaded

There is a difference between a faulty product, and an improved product. They improved their cases to make a larger number of people happy. That does not mean the original product is faulty. Why can't you understand that distinction?

I understand it fine. But what I don't get is why are you trying to bait me into an argument? Do you work for Criterion? You seem to have a personal stake in this or something.

I made a simple statement in my initial post where I applauded Criterion for offering the choice, but that I thought it would be a better deal. That's all I said. Why is it so hard for YOU to understand that I am entitled to MY opinion? This is a public forum, and last I checked, I'm free to post my opinion. I didn't attack anyone, or the company. I applauded them.

Ever hear "If it isn't broke, don't fix it?" Well, they fixed it.

Maybe Universal will "fix" Gladiator and offer upgrade discs for $5. I mean, it's not faulty to begin with, according to some, so it would just be an improvement that should've maybe been different to begin with.

[neo_reloaded]

Originally Posted by retablo

I understand it fine. But what I don't get is why are you trying to bait me into an argument? Do you work for Criterion? You seem to have a personal stake in this or something.

I made a simple statement in my initial post where I applauded Criterion for offering the choice, but that I thought it would be a better deal. That's all I said. Why is it so hard for YOU to understand that I am entitled to MY opinion? This is a public forum, and last I checked, I'm free to post my opinion. I didn't attack anyone, or the company. I applauded them.

Ever hear "If it isn't broke, don't fix it?" Well, they fixed it.

Maybe Universal will "fix" Gladiator and offer upgrade discs for $5. I mean, it's not faulty to begin with, according to some, so it would just be an improvement that should've maybe been different to begin with.

I'm certainly not trying to bait you into an argument - I've made my opinion clear, and I'm done. Enjoy your complaining.

[JJJ225]

I can't even fathom how some people would expect these replacement cases for free. They changed the cases in the first place because of customer response. How many companies would do that? Then they even set out and re-made the original cases so that those finicky people could even have their collection match. How many companies would do that?

The original cases were not faulty. If you don't want to pay, then don't. And if you really, absolutely must have your Criterions in matching cases, $5 is hardly unreasonable. Even if you buy all 9, that's very likely a fraction of what you spend on Blus in the course of a year.

[banned user105]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

The original cases were not faulty. If you don't want to pay, then don't. And if you really, absolutely must have your Criterions in matching cases, $5 is hardly unreasonable. Even if you buy all 9, that's very likely a fraction of what you spend on Blus in the course of a year.

Indeed, but it's still overpriced.

[PowellPressburger]

Today is the 15th wonder if we will hear of new announcements today or maybe delayed like last time.

[krisstivers]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Today is the 15th wonder if we will hear of new announcements today or maybe delayed like last time.

Hopefully, we here something about "Che" soon...

[PowellPressburger]

really want a BD announcement for 8 1/2 for Jan badly... but maybe we will be lucky and jan could be a 4 BD release month! Che seems like it has been pushed around a bit