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Info: Stop ebay pirates

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One of the reasons this board exists is to stop ebay pirates from making money selling OT bootlegs, right?
Well, did you know that anyone can report an auction offering bootleg items? Simply go to this page (bookmark it!):

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/bootlegs.html

Click “report” and send them the item number, or send multiple numbers at once. If we each did one report every day, we could eliminate the problem completely. I just did one then, this auction should be ended soon enough (if you get an “item not found” page, it worked):

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=617&item=6338521169&rd=1&ssPageName=WD3V

So go and report a couple now!

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Ebay does not care about bootlegs. All they care about is getting the money for people posting. second even I do not care about Star Wars bootlegs. Reason for this George Lucas has screwed his fans by not releasing the original trilogy on DVD. thirdly widescreen laserdisk 1989 and 1992 both widescreen versions have letterboxed problems. George Lucas sold these laserdiscs with no problem. the Star Wars definitive collectors edition box set was also effective the first run of printing. Fox only wanted to replace one of the disc. this was Empire strikes back with the scene with Princess Leia Walden a scene on the millennium Falcon. The other laser disc were also defective. closed captioned subtitles did not work and also they had a weaker soundtrack. The second printing had close captioned subtitles and a better soundtrack. Also the new Star Wars DVDs that just came out this year. Star Wars 5.1 has a sound problem. George Lucas does not want to fix the problem.

when Star Wars episode one came out George Lucas said that no DVDs would be released until episode three was finished. So he released it on VHS. A lot of people do not like episode one so he decided to release episode one on DVD two year's later. When episode two came out there were still a lot of people that did not like this movie. and after episode two a lot of people gave up on Star Wars. He knew that most people do not even care about Star Wars. to pump Star Wars up he released the Star Wars SE 2004 trilogy on DVD. And also gave us a bad soundtrack to a new Hope Star Wars with a bad 5.1 soundtrack.

George Lucasis is full of crap. he tells the media that the reason why he brought out Star Wars on DVD. Is that there are too many bootlegs. As we all know Star Wars fans have repeatedly bought these movies over and over again. And it is extremely rude to say these are the movies I want out there. with know consideration for the fans that have watched the original Star Wars movies for 20 years. They should not have to be a web site like this to preserve the original trilogy. Every other director except for Blade Runner has had two different directors cuts.

if George Lucas will not bring the original Star Wars trilogy to DVD. Then I just do not care at all. I do not like the man really that much any more. I did not have any problem with the special editions if he wants to do changes to his films but not to release the original films is arrogant in my opinion.

I want to say one thing about George Lucas is a very nice person from a certain point of view. During Empire strikes back George Lucas gave out $5 million dollars in bonuses. George Lucas has also adopted five children. So I think he does deserve credit where credit is due. But my views on Star Wars will always be the same until the original trilogy is brought out on DVD or a higher capacity format.
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Spider is correct, Feebay could not care less about bootlegs. The only ones who do are the VeRO members, who are the ones that shut down auctions. Usually in the case of OT DVDs, it is done long after the auctions close and the seller gets booted eventually once they rack up 3 VeRO violations in a short time span. If people want to voluntarily get ripped off, let them. People who buy these items on Feebay are usually just ignorant... I once saw one of the old 2000 OT sets (LOOK version) go for $255 on ebay early last year.. ridiculous, but true.
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Curious....what's the most you've gotten for one of your sets?

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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"Spider is correct, Feebay could not care less about bootlegs...People who buy these items on Feebay are usually just ignorant."


Yes, and you would know, wouldn't you.
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No these boards are not here to stop eBay sellers from selling bootlegs - BUT it does help, The fact is it's NO big deal that they sell them - YES it sucks as they sell my Holiday Special with my artwork (for upto $100!!) but hey it happens. When this first happened I was angry but it's cool as I did post them on the internet for the whole world to get for FREE!

BUT YES - It's true that they could come HERE and get them either for FREE or way CHEAPER then they could on eBay - BUT some people NEVER research that kind of stuff SO those people NEED eBay - I mean have you seen the feedback these alleged "jackers" are getting form the buyers of these overpriced sets? They (the bidders) LOVE what they are getting and the feedback they leave the "jacker" shows this - IF they did not like the DVD's they would negative feedback.

So WHY screw it up for the fans that cannot or will not spend the MANY MANY hours needed to track down a set of "fan-created" DVD's?

Some of these bidders do not have HOME PC's, Printers, DVD burners, broadband or the know-how to Burn, Print and create their own DVD sets. These bidders are getting COMPLETE sets for the most part - That's a TURN-KEY set that they can add to there DVD collections.

I do not agree with those that sell strictly for profit (you know who you are guys) BUT the DO have there place.

That and eBay has it's own Police to shut this stuff down, MOSTLY it's just other sellers that shut down folks like my brother (WHOM sold the sets for $25 SHIPPED Priority Mail with keepcase and disc art!!) - AS WE cut into their PROFITS. It would seem that even I was reported on SELL.COM by another member who sold Star Wars DVD's on that site AS I was cutting in on their profits. - You see the true pirates SHUT us down when we try to sell cheap, this is one reason the prices stay high - If a seller comes on the scene and starts to get people set-up CHEAP those profiteers jsut report us. (by the way... I've joined the other sites they sell on!! - see ya soon! )

I just see no point in hunting down these eBay sellers, since if you do start that crusade you'll really need to hunt them down on EPIER.COM, SELL.COM and of course YAHOO auctions. THEN you'll need to hunt down the sellers that offer them on FORUMS and NEWSGROUPS....

Soon you'll come after fans like myself and a few others that upload them for free.

THE best thing for us to do at this point is EVERYONE should start to sell on ALL THE ONLINE AUCTION houses - IF we do this WE can FORCE down the price off the bootlegs on eBay and the other sites.

THAT and if they get shut down... HOW the heck will WE (as in the FANS collectively) get the latest bootlegs that WE here on the OT forums do not create?

Also did you notice that those who sell the DVD's on ONLINE auctions posted ASAP about this thread?

YES, me included (but not on auction sites!) but I offer them for free download first!! - Man, I'm shameless

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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Hey rikter,
It's ok mate I was just trying to start a discussion about this. You can get some interesting responses when you post something 'controversial'. And yeah, I did notice who were quick to defend themselves...
I thought I'd test whether ebay would actually close the auction if I reported it. It's been about 24 hours and they still haven't. I did get a few auctions shut down a couple of years ago (not for SW sets). That was for bootleg games and stuff. Perhaps ebay aren't as worried about it any more.
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HAHA - I was just the devils advocate

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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Well,
It seems ebay did stop the auction.
So the question then is, since we CAN stop them, should we?
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Originally posted by: skeg64
Well,
It seems ebay did stop the auction.
So the question then is, since we CAN stop them, should we?


Report them if you must but - I think that if you do shut them down one seller at a time (which you indicated you have) YOU will be the single cause of the next insane price INCREASE on ebay - I say this as I've witnessed this over and over again in the last 5 years on ebay...

Day one - there are 20 sellers offering Star Wars Trilogy DVD auctions for $30-50 (the average eBay ending price with keepcases)

Day two - 16 of them are shut down.... AFTER being reported by a distraught fan that feels it's not right to pay such a high price.

Day three - (BTW - most auctions are only three days or B-I-N) the 4 auctions that did NOT get shut down end at $70 - $125 EACH!

The result is the same NO MATTER how many times I've seen it. WHOEVER reported ALL the auctions is now the direct cause of price increase - this is the very thing you seek to stop is is not?

HUM... counter productive it is...

WHY???

Well, here is the why - BY reporting the auctions and getting them closed said "distraught fan" has now created a "RARITY" market in which the value of said DVD's SKY-ROCKETS strickly due to the fact that you now only have a very limited number of choices - so inturn you have now created a greater demand for the DVD's by artificially created an even more SCARCE and RARER item.

So NOW those desperate Star Wars fan have NO choice BUT to buy the set for $70 - 200 dollars. (and you've seen prices that high) it's all marketing.

The Marketing of STAR WARS OT's on eBay as seen by me...

Demand: Refers to people's willingness to pay high prices just to own these DVD's.

* the fact that these are NOT on any known official DVD;
* the fact the official DVD's ARE not the same movies some of us saw as children;
* THESE recordable discs are only "convenient" format for fans to watch the TRUE versions of the films on DVD;
* THE only "Affordable" format for fans to aquire the ORIGINAL versions at this quality (the alternative - obsolete Laserdiscs)
* the price of the DVD's - $30-50 with keepcase and art is FAIR. (how much are the offical DVD's?? - right about the same price);
* these movies are the shiznit - and you know this!

Supply: Is really the number of producers who are willing and able to provide the DVD's. (in direct relation to ebay)

Supply depends on:

* the "avalibility" of the title - these are OUT-OF-PRINT and may NEVER been seen again in there original form or context,
the only real alternatives are obsolete and used OOP VHS tapes and Laserdiscs (how many AVERAGE movie viewers have LD players?)
* the easy avalibility of the DVD's to the AVERAGE fan/consumer; (eBay has how many users now?)
* the cost/ease of production for the producers; (relatively low at this time)
* a competitive supply - (NOT everyone has convenient access to broadband or DVD recorders)
* unexpected events that affect supply. ( "distraught fans" reporting auctions of said DVD's)

Sure these forums and all my free downloads of the trilogy help preserve OUR "HOLY TRILOGY" for thousands and in some ZANY way so do those eBay sellers - I mean do you want to email the next MILLION fans that will buy them on eBay and tell them that instead of buying them you will send them free copies?

YOU need to allow new competitors/suppliers (eBay sellers in this case) into the market, and the price will ALWAYS and inevitably falls due to increased supply - we do want to preserve the films and make them readily avalible to the fans right? By shutting those sellers down you deny fans the fun of watching the ORIGINAL films as they were ment to be seen.

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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Originally posted by: skeg64
Well,
It seems ebay did stop the auction.
So the question then is, since we CAN stop them, should we?


IF we (those of use that can burn DVD's) all took up selling a few of the trilogy DVD's on eBay for a LOW price we can put an end to the madness.

“My skill are no longer as Mad as the once were” RiK

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Yeah, I guess you're right. Anyway this was just a one-off test, to see if they did anything about it.

I really couldn't be bothered reporting any more, and like you said, it will probably make it worse.
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It's up to ebay to stop them ebay knows about them but they will not do any thing until some makes a report about it. Ebay is a horror when it comes to fees that why they will not tkae crap down until its on the news. Just the other day a lady was selling a grilled cheese sandwitch with the Virgin Mary burn in to the breed. Ebay said they do not let people sell cooked food. When it got on the news it was taken down but when the seller told ebay that it was not to be eatten ebay put it back up. Ebay profit are going down little to many sellers selling the same thing. So ebay now need are posting they can get there hands on.
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Enough with the sock, Spider.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Hello

To me, $30, even with a case and art, is too much for a bootleg product, from an unknown source and of questionable quality. Especially considering all the options available.

Would it be better to set-up a dummy account and use it to inform bidders that the films are available for download via BT? Perhaps include a link to suprnova and/or myspleen, along with a link to one of the fine BT tutorials online. At least then the person will have more information and options available in making their decision.

cheers!
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I believe Rikter does something along those lines. I know he has personally contacted people in the process of bidding, and sold them sets.

That being said, $30 really isn't cheap when you consider having a capable computer, laserdisc player, DVD/Editing software, DVD burner, cases, printing labels, etc. Not to mention the time involved (except for those who make their version in a week with a DVD-recorder.) Unlike the DVD manufacturers, most people making their own versions don't have the necessary infrastructure or means of production to offset their initial costs. Economy of scale is certainly not on our side.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Alternatively just send the high bidders a friendly email and point out where they might be able to download a copy considerably cheaper.
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well, considering the bootlegs are better than the officail product it stands to reason they're worth more. IMHO.
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I have spent nearly three times as much on my set than I could get the official release for. And that's WITHOUT paying ebay prices.

In US dollars I spent: $42 on discs & postage (via RiK), $40.85 on a tin from Paul Champagne & postage, and around $20 on glossy printable discs, and paper for the inserts and covers. Of course these are international shipping costs, and mine is an 8-disc set.

I could have bought the official release for around $40.

So I agree that these bootlegs are worth more to fans.
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"$40.85 on a tin from Paul Champagne & postage"

Is he selling those now? Where was that thread at?

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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^ Probably just the ones he was already selling? (here - http://www.designpaulchampagne.com/new2.html)

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
‘How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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Is he still making a limited edition for OriginalTrilogy.com?

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Yeah I got the "star wars classic" tin. I have seen the designs on this board but they're nowhere near as nice as this tin.