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A New Tactic... refunds????

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(sorry no posts for the last few days gang... me and the missus were in San Fran on vacation )

OK... reading and re-reading several posts regarding the OT and how the films affected both many of our lives (especially us 30 years old and uppers) and our formulative years and the many way Lucas has spit on us fans, I have come up with an idea:

We paid Lucas to see his movies. We made him and many other people very, very rich. Swimmingly rich. Filthy stinking rich. But we did so willingly, with grins on our faces and dreams of space battles in our heads as we slept on our Artoo and Threepio sheets. Many of us shaped aspects of our career dreams around the experiences of seeing the OT. And we continued to feed Lucas' pockets as we got older. And for what? To not even be thrown a wee little bone by his releasing of 3 little original versions of three big movies. To be told that those films 'don't exist'. To be told "and I'm sorry you saw half a completed film and fell in love with it. But I want it to be the way I want it to be.".

I say "Screw that, Mr. Lucas- I DEMAND A REFUND"

I demand a refund for every bloody cent I put in your pocket, as well as Kenner's pockets, 20th Century Fox's pockets, Underoo's pockets and every other pocket I lined with my and my parents money over the past 28 years.

I propose we draft a letter that each of us can customize and send it to whomever we can think of that we paid for Star Wars merchandise. I'm sure with a couple weeks of thinking I could get a fair idea of what all I've spent over the years. If those movies don't exist, then we all paid to support nothing. And I want my money back. There was no warning label on any of my movie tickets or action figure blister packs that said 'WARNING: This film will cease to exist in its original form several years from now and therefore you are pissing away your youth. Buyer beware."

Perhaps instead of refunds some of us would consider, say, a pristine film print of the OT to do with what we wish?

Any thoughts? Suggestions?
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If you really want to get back at Lucas - then donate to your favorite SW fan DVD project to encourage such efforts in the future. I can assure you that you will see more immediate results.

<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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I like this idea Greencapt, and most of what you wrote in your post could be addapted into a pretty witty and biting letter (which are usually the most effective in actually getting a refund). Lets do it.

War does not make one great.

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Hey all,
I had this very idea a while back and I think it is a great idea and I am behind it all the way.

HOWEVER

Unless anyone is, or knows a really good lawyer, this will never fly.

I would also like to take it a step further. I am addicted to Star Wars. Ever since I was 4 years old. (now I'm thirtysomething) Some of you may know what I mean by this. Whenever there are new figures, books, magazines, DVD's etc. I gotta have it. I can't help myself. (just ask my wife) If I don't have the money, I find it. And I don't even have a job! Just like cigarettes many years ago, there was no warnings on them. Now there are, and people are winning lawsuits all the time. "I had no idea they were addictive." Nobody is more pissed off at Lucas than me. Believe me! But, it's like fighing the Law.

If you guys decide to go ahead with anything, count me in.
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I remember that we had a thread in which we discussed the possibility to sue Lucasfilm, but we agreed it would'nt work. If the girls who sued McDonalds didn't win, why would we?
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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I've always felt a refund was appropriate, given that he's on record now as saying that the OT was only 1/2 a film. I'd like to ask him why it wasn't marketed as 1/2 a film, and to tell him I'd like 1/2 my $$ back for the movies, the merchandise, etc;
Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com
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Originally posted by: ricarleite
I remember that we had a thread in which we discussed the possibility to sue Lucasfilm, but we agreed it would'nt work. If the girls who sued McDonalds didn't win, why would we?


I wholly agree. In fact I'm not a fan of stupid frivolous legal action at all. BUT I do think that if enough people did write letters asking in a pointed way that someone might notice. I also know the news media, with its great desire to fill hours and hours of emptiness with dumb stories until they decide to actually report some real 'news', likes to latch on to stuff like this so a new 'refund' letter campaign may actually show up on the national radar.

Do I *really* think I (or we) deserve a refund? Of course not. That would be idiotic on my part; I knowingly gave my money then based on the entertainment value at the time. I still do, though much more carefully (that's what spouses are for!).

Do I *really* think a letter campaign would make a difference? Eh, not really. I mean look at all the hard work that went into the OT.com and the petitions and such. Lucas like so many before him are 'above' us. They live in their billionaire bubbles and don't, by their own admission basically, give a flying fig about a one of us as long as we keep buying. And when we STOP buying they still don't really care about us, they just try creating another product that will make another demographic start buying some other stuff. Its business pure and simple.

Maybe I'm just in a cynical mood this morning though. There must be *some* magic left in the franchise- I was at Target the other day and there were two young boys, about 8 and 11 years old, who were trying to figure out which ROTS toys they wanted to buy. They were genuinely excited and it didn't seem they were being pushed into the excitement by geek parents (like some of us though I'm not a parent yet). The older boy saw me looking at the same toys and asked me 'Are YOU into Star Wars TOO???'. And you know, instead of feeling old like I normally would have, it actually was kind of heart-warming. And whereas my gut wanted me to say... "kid, I was into the REAL Star Wars waaaayyyy before you were born" I instead just grinned and said "yeah- its pretty cool, isn't it?".

But I digress I think...
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But these DVDs were bought with the knowlege that they weren't the unaltered films. I don't think it could fly unless we were actually shocked and devestated when we saw the Furry Jabba or Greedo Shooting Simultaneously.

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Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
But these DVDs were bought with the knowlege that they weren't the unaltered films. I don't think it could fly unless we were actually shocked and devestated when we saw the Furry Jabba or Greedo Shooting Simultaneously.


Heh heh- that is IF you've bought the DVD set yet, which I haven't. No, I was referring to all the money spent from 1977-1997 after which Lucas decided the OT 'didn't exist'. The movies didn't exist and yet he gladly accepted our cash for anything related to them. Anything bought after 1997 would NOT be included in the refund request.
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Could you get a refund for a car that randomly exploded if it was whole when you bought it 20-30 years ago? That logic doesn't really fly either.

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Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab


Could you get a refund for a car that randomly exploded if it was whole when you bought it 20-30 years ago? That logic doesn't really fly either.


Hmmm... well, IF you followed manufacturer's guidelines for ALL of that time... to the letter... and it still exploded...

Actually that would put the car maker in a unique situation- do they set actual 'life expectancies' on their products or are they willing to stand by them if the proper criteria are met.

And yes, I know that scenario isn't realistic... just theorectical
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Originally posted by: Darth Chaltab
But these DVDs were bought with the knowlege that they weren't the unaltered films. I don't think it could fly unless we were actually shocked and devestated when we saw the Furry Jabba or Greedo Shooting Simultaneously.


There've been many successful lawsuits (McDonald's Coffee, anyone?) for less than this, IMO. It is emotionally distressing to see something we grew up on being radically altered to the point where we felt it was necessary to scream to eachother on this website.

Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com
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I guess this idea is dead in the water already.
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"There've been many successful lawsuits (McDonald's Coffee, anyone?) for less than this, IMO."

There's a big difference between third degree burns on one's genitals and raping one's childhood.

<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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Originally posted by: MeBeJedi
"There've been many successful lawsuits (McDonald's Coffee, anyone?) for less than this, IMO."

There's a big difference between third degree burns on one's genitals and raping one's childhood.


Not when the 3rd degree burns were caused by their own stupidity...

Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com