Steelbooks -> nothing to do with collecting anymore!

[Jumase]

I have been following the forum for a while and in this short period members of the forum have transformed from collectors to greedy idiots.

Most of the threads now concentrate purely on how many copies each member has succesfully acquired. And for how much each steelbook is currently selling for at Ebay. If a vendor sets a limit on how many you can buy, people even use costumes to get around of the restriction. And naturally all of these restrictions are cursed down to hell by everyone. Even thought they are placed just to provide the possibility for a reasonable price for everyone.

Trading has seized almost completely so it's not hard to figure out that basically the whole bunch of active members are now after steelbooks because of the quick profit. I cannot remember when someone has been happy to get a one copy of new release. Seems like everyone is trying to buy the whole inventory when ever its possible.

I don't blame any of you. Just don't claim to be a collector if your main purpose is to make money by buying whole bunch of copies just to jack up the price through the roof and then sell your copies to true collectors at an inflated prices. I find this appalling even though I'm not suffering in any way because I only collect steelbooks with finnish subtitles and these have been widely available at least so far.

[tribalnoise]

thread deletion in 3...2...1...

[jw]

Off topic, not deleted. Everyone can have their opinion in the right forum

In response, We Americans pay the same from Canada as you probably do. From my personal experience and I STRESS personal experience, german Members are the best and most helpful to deal with. Why I have no idea but they offer the best deals, the best steels and the best help. Unfortunately their shipping is a KILLER and the dollar is in the crapper

America will have its day(today was good) and it will be payback

[nycomet]

OP, while there are some people who buy and sell steelbooks for profit, there are many more who are like me: strictly collectors.

Yes, I have paid a lot for some of the rarer steelbooks, but one cannot blame sellers for trying to make a profit. Do you blame Best Buy for selling DVDs and Blu-rays to make a profit?

Collecting steelbooks -- or any other item for that matter - naturally gives birth to a marketplace based on supply and demand.

I have found many members right here on blu-ray.com who have been extremely helpful in assisting me to obtain steelbooks. Many - some of whom reside in Canada and Europe - have also become good friends.

It is a good feeling when someone helps me to get steelbooks I am seeking. And I enjoy being able to help them when they need something as well.

For many of us, collecting steelbooks is a passion. Adding new steelbooks to our collection simply makes us happy (but it does stretch the budget at times).

[P@t_Mtl]

I never join the steelbook passion, they really don't interest me. I can understand the passion for them. My friend is one of them, he love's the steelbooks cases.

For me I just never saw the need. In fact originaly when steelbooks came around here in Canada, Future Shop was giving you the steelbook at purchase at the register since the DVD was in a normal case, the few times this happen, I gave my steelbook case away.

Like everything else, some people will try to profit from it. It started as a normal hobby and then the greed take's over. It remind's me of the greed of the hockey card collecting in the early 90's when it all became about making money and not the joy of collecting the cards.

[Porkchop Express]

I'd purchase more if it wasn't for the price. I like them, but by no means am I a collector. The steel I was able to find at a reasonable price was the future shop Dark Knight, which is why I own it.

[Moefiz]

OP....Look around the steelbook and trade thread and you can which person is really here to help collectors.

You have to understand the time and money involved with getting steelbooks from one source to the other, its time consuming, expensive and most of all they have to put there own money up front, so you can't blame them for adding a surcharge for this.

I, personally have bought from 2 people on here and never had a problem with them, if I think the price is too much then I just don't buy it...I wait until hopefully there is a price reduction...I think the worst thing you can do is confront a seller about the price he or she charges.

[Zman2k2]

I was actually considering getting into purchasing larger amounts of steelbooks, and helping out the collectors here. Considering the fact that steelbooks are getting harder to get in large numbers, I thought this would be something that I could do to help fellow members. I investigated the pricing of sending steelbooks to the States, and found that to "break even", I would have to charge $50. So I put a price of $55 on buying the steelbooks.

I broke down the reason for the price in my post, including the shipping with tracking, purchase of the box, cost of the steelbook, and my $3-$5 profit for my time, gas, and overall effort.

Instead of getting reasonable requests, like can we lose the shipping with tracking, or something along those lines, I get hit with PM's telling me I'm "scalping" and I should leave the Blu-ray.com community. One even told me I should "f**k off and die". Nice, huh?

People didn't consider cost factors for those that do help collectors out. The cost of shipping internationally, the fact that the Canadian dollar is almost at parity with the US dollar, and so on. I had a couple of those people tell me that I was charging too much because they got the last releases from Canada at a much lower cost. That's because the dollar was lower, and shipping was cheaper.

So instead of helping out the community, I've decided to keep my money for myself. You see, for me, it wasn't about making a profit, it was about helping out fellow collectors. But I had a bad experience with those of lesser class and tact, and therefore everyone else loses.

[Moefiz]

ZMAN--I understand where you are coming,I was following you in the other thread.

For me it simple if I don't like the price i just don't buy it why get into an argument with the seller,it accomplishes nothing...

[pmac]

Those are just low class always want something for nothing lowlifes that say things like that. I hope you reported the one that was explicit, members here shouldn't be talking to each other that way.

Bottom line for the topic. If you don't like the price don't buy, there is always someone else that will be interested (true collectors, and people that can generally afford the hobby without it hurting their bottom line).

Personally I don't collect, because I find them too expensive. I bought Iron Man steelbook because it was available locally at Future Shop. But I don't have any others, there is no real appeal I guess. Iron Man wouldn't have even been bought except steel costume steel book made sence to go out of my way for the novelty this one time.

[Zman2k2]

Originally Posted by pmac

Those are just low class always want something for nothing lowlifes that say things like that. I hope you reported the one that was explicit, members here shouldn't be talking to each other that way.

*snip*

No, I didn't report anyone. It's not worth the effort, and really, what would it accomplish. The person would come back with a new name and a worse attitude. Everyone's entitled to an opinion, even if the opinion is awful.

I was expecting some people trying to get me to come down lower on price, I mean, everyone is looking for a deal. I understand that, that's why my family goes to 3 different grocery stores every week. But to accuse me of something without trying to understand where I was coming from, well that turned me off.

I understand that I was the new guy setting up group buys. I don't have the experience of some of the other well established members. But I would have done my best to make sure everyone was happy. Some may have seen that as someone trying to make a cash-grab, I see that. But that was not my intent. Oh well, it's over now. I'm going to try to move past it.

*edit* Just a piece of information for any Canadians considering getting involved in this, look into VentureOne shipping with Canada Post. My postal clerk brought it up to me when I shipped my last two steels. It could save some cost on shipping, giving everyone a bit of a break.

[movieking]

Originally Posted by Zman2k2

*edit* Just a piece of information for any Canadians considering getting involved in this, look into VentureOne shipping with Canada Post. My postal clerk brought it up to me when I shipped my last two steels. It could save some cost on shipping, giving everyone a bit of a break.

Agreed. I use VentureOne when I remember, and while it usually doesn't save me money, it cuts down on the transit time (ie it gets bumped up to a faster shipping category).

[thecroshow]

sorry to hear that Zman that's crazy! if i were into collecting Steelbooks I'd be all over paying a few extra bucks.

i REALLY enjoy the Watchmen steelbook. I've never really been into the steelbook thing, Watchmen is slowly making me a believer. if the "Up" steelbook didn't resemble a lunchbox I'd be more inclined to get the steelbook.

[jw]

I found Zmans post, $55.00 is more than fair for one from Canada, Its the 70-75.00 posts I have a beef with. I mean come one.....

-1 copy of Transformers 2 Steelbook.
Selling for $55 shipped to the US. I ship in a secure box, with crumpled paper. Comes with tracking # as well. Never had a steel arrived damaged. Accept paypal gift only.

Includes movie and Steelbook.

Pricing breakdown. As some people say I'm charging too much.
$27.99 for movie and Steelbook
$4 for box
approx $15 shipping with tracking # and insurance.
I make $8.

You forgot to add tax to the 27.99 so your maths a bit off

[Zman2k2]

Wow! I thought I deleted that. Your Mod voodoo impresses me very much. I was getting quoted that people bought TDK for $40-$45, and I was "scalping" for the extra $10 or more.

[jw]

haha, you can view it as well, look at the edit, theres a link there now.
Compare versions and you can see changes(now if you delete it, its gone)

[jw]

currency sucks now, I am used basically free shipping when the usd is converted but now its not as much and this time I had to tack it on . Raised the costs up about 4.00

[Zman2k2]

Oh well, what do you do. You can't please everyone I suppose. I just didn't expect the kind of backlash there was. I was more than a little shocked, and definitely discouraged. It's not worth it for me to put up with stuff like that. No amount of good karma or happy feelings are worth that. So I'll just stand on the sidelines for now. If the dollar goes back in the toilet, I may consider rejoining the fray.

[Hi-Def Steve]

I didn't really know about the Steelbook market until I wanted to check out the Iron Man one a few weeks ago. I know I was on the late train but didn't expect to see that they were going for like $150 on eBay.

[anomynous]

Well at the time TDK came out, 1 Canadian dollar was ~$.70 USD. Now they're even, so naturally it's going to be more.


But it's not $20 more.