Topic: Anyone know how to spot a pirate DVD?

[Grey Ninja]

It's becoming increasingly clear to me that at some point I will have to buy the Kenshin OVA DVDs, and most probably the soundtrack at some point.    So that has me turning to ebay as usual.  The problem arises from the simple problem that ebay is full of pirated stuff.  I want the real deal, and not some stolen chinese crap.

Does anyone know if this is a real release?  To this point, I had thought that the Kenshin OVAs were released in the US on 2 seperate DVDs, labelled Trust and Betrayal.  A packaged deal would be quite nice though, providing that it was the real thing.

[nitsu niflheim]

*sarcasm starts*  Umm, look for the eye patch and peg leg? *ends sarcasm*


Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I'd help you if I could but I don't know anything about pirated DVD's.  I guess if anything looks suspicious then you should be suspicious.

[DRJ]

With eBay I would obviously recommend checking feedback, and paying with a credit card through paypal. If the item is fraudulent you can dispute the charges with your credit card company.

As for this item it looks fine. Amazon.com has the same item listed here. Amazon is shipping this item for free and it is $25.49 so it will likely cost you less to buy from them, and they are very trustworthy.

[Grey Ninja]

Thanks a lot for the info.  I checked amazon.ca, and they are offering it for about the same price, so yeah, I think that would be a far better option.    I was also meaning to buy the Jacob's Ladder DVD at some point, so I think that would work out nicely.

[Infernal Monkey]

That is hard to tell. The image provided by that seller is just some promo material by the looks of it. That does not look like a front shop of a DVD box. Where's the DVD Video logo?

I'm guessing you'd be sent a stinky HK bootleg, with bad English subtitles and VHS quality video.
I've got a few bootleg anime DVDs (which I purchased on purpose)

They never feature an English dub, have badly done subs, and so on. But they cost next to nothing, and would have no chance of getting a local release in Australia... So.. Yay?

*Shrugs shoulders*

[Uncle Rich AiAi]

If you know the serial number/catalog number of the product, ask the seller and see what the response is.  That should help if the item is pirated or not.

[mouse_clicker]

Send me the DVD and for a small fee of only $25 I'll tell you weather it's pirated or not.

[Lecter]

Well if you can see the cd, take a good look at it. It should somewhere say things about Dolby surround sound and DVD also a bunch of corporate mubo jumbo. Also look at the case if you can.

[DrForester]

Well Spotting bootleg DVD's is usually hard to do.

One of the best ways is price, if it's too good to be true, it is.  Another good way to avoid bootlegs is to avoid Ebay.  You can have moderate sucess finding legit Region 1 DVD's but finding legitimate soundtracks and Region 2 DVD's is near impossible.

One of the easiest ways to tell on ebay is a DVD is a bootelg is to look for a region code.  Auctions claiming DVD will work on any region DVD player will almost always be a bootleg (There are several legitimate anime DVD's with no region code, but only a very very small handful).  Your auction has a region 1 code, it's probably OK.  Bootlegs often will feture english AND Chinese subtitles, but no dub track.  Nearly every legitimate anime DVD release in the USA has a dub track (Few exceptions).

Another easy way is check box art, and compare it to palces like www.animeondvd.com or www.amazon.com  Bootlegs on DVD's often have different box art covers.

AVOID complete seres on Ebay, these will almost always be bootelgs, and will usually sport the "works in any region" description.

[HolyPaladin]

Quote
Originally posted by: nitsujdark
*sarcasm starts*  Umm, look for the eye patch and peg leg? *ends sarcasm*

Darn you!  I wish I had seen this post days ago so that I could have made a comment like that.  I was just about to do it when I saw your post!    

[DrForester]

Quote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja


Does anyone know if this is a real release?  To this point, I had thought that the Kenshin OVAs were released in the US on 2 seperate DVDs, labelled Trust and Betrayal.  A packaged deal would be quite nice though, providing that it was the real thing.

Forgot to mention this....

I'd say that is a legit DVD.  Same cover ADV used.  As for the 2 DVD's that was the first release.  ADV released the directors cut of the first kenshin OVA a few months ago (Features a few seconds of new animation ) on 1 disk.  In the end there are many disks for kenshin...

22 disks for the TV series
2 disks for the first OVA (4 episodes)
1 disk re-release of first OVA
1 disk for the 2 episode new OVA that ends the series
1 disk for Kenshin movie

[Grey Ninja]

Thanks for your help guys.    I am pretty sure that it's an authentic release now.

[ThePerm]

aye this dvd has pirates in it!!! http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates/

[Arbok]

Quote
Originally posted by: ThePerm
aye this dvd has pirates in it!!! http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates/

Umm... yeah, you kind of missed the boat on "Talk Like a Pirate Day"...

Also, -1 on the Grey Ninja return fake out.  

[Infernal Monkey]

Oh damn, I was hoping he returned so we could drive him back out again.

[Bill Aurion]

What...

On a completely related note, there are no naked pictures of Bill in Ferny's sig...Why must you lie and get my hopes up!? ;_;

[IceCold]

I've clicked that link at least 34 times, but no such luck

[Infernal Monkey]

Oh they're in there alright, but it's like a Where's Waldo/Wally!