OT.com civil disobedience over the OT Blu-Rays

It occured to me yesterday that you could legitimately return a Star Wars OT Blu-Ray (or DVD) to the store you bought it from, on the grounds of it not being the original cut of the film(s). Since almost every edition does not state on the cover that they are not the original film(s).

Of course we all know that they aren't the original cuts but it would be a fun and somewhat defiant act to march into a store and pretend to be astonished and shocked that what you purchased wasn't Star Wars. It might go something like this...

Shop Assistant: How can I help you?

Customer: I'd like to return this Blu-Ray.

Shop Assistant: Oh, what's the matter with it?

Customer: When I played it, it wasn't 'Star Wars', which is the film I wanted to buy. It was the 'Special Edition' recut which I didn't want. I'd have thought some kind of warning on the packaging would have been in order. At the very least a mention in the small print. I feel like I've been mislead. Also the picture quality is very poor and looks strangely pink?

Shop Assistant: I'm sorry about that Sir/Madam. Would you like a replacement product?

Customer: Well I looked into it before coming here and I was equally shocked to discover that you can't get the original films on Blu-Ray! So I'd like a full refund.

Shop Assistant: Okay no problem Sir/Madam. If I could just have your reciept?....... etc etc

In some cases, it might not go that easy and could require some further arguing but I'm confident that everybody would get a refund. If everybody returned the Blu-Ray on the same day it might create some ripples. I'm not 100% sure who bears the financial penalty of a returned and therefore tarnished item (The store or the supplier?) but I know it wouldn't be us. It wouldn't cost us a penny/cent (Just a little time out of our day). If the protest was big enough, it could easily get picked up on by the media, given their current rabid thirst for SW related stories and would help alert those members of the public that don't even know they are being sold an inferior product.

Well, who's with me comrades?!?!!

(btw It would be best targetting a large chain rather than d*cking about with a mom 'n' pop video store... if any still exist? Also they have transparent and consistent returns policies)

ADDITIONAL NOTE OF CLARIFICATION:

In short: All of us buy a second copy, open it/unseal it and then return it the next day for a full refund.

towne32 said:

Unless you're suggesting that we all go to best buy, buy new/second copies, and return them in masse to raise awareness. That actually sounds like a neat idea, if there were actually enough people doing it for anyone to care (not likely).

 Sorry people. This ^ is exactly what I meant, maybe it wasn't clear in my OP. Of course I'm not suggesting returning a 3 year old Blu-Ray, that would be ridiculous, impossible and be unfair on the fanedit front (As has been pointed out above).

In short: All of us buy a second copy, open it/unseal it and then return it the next day for a full refund.

KilroyMcFadden said:

I don't even have a Blu-ray player.  I only own them so that I can enjoy Harmy's cut. 

It's irrelevant wether you can actually play it or not, since you are going to get your money back the next day... or you could buy and return the DVD.

The important thing is registering why you've returned it. In most cases when I've returned DVDs/Blu-Rays, a note is made of why it was returned. Presumably this is collated and used to monitor problems with stock. Studios frequently replace inferior products based on customer feedback, although they often keep selling the remainders of the faulty discs at a discount.

Wolfman said:

Would high street stores issue a refund on an opened item ?

I think opening a blu ray box set and then trying to return it would be highly suspicious here in the U.K. Usually, once you break the shrinkwrap that's your lot! I don't think our main high street store HMV give a refunds now anyway only exchanges and  that even trying to exchange an opened item would be a no, no.

 HMV have never refused me a refund and since it is demonstrably impossible to have known from the packaging alone that the film you were buying was not as described (A deliberate deception by Lucas). You'd have to play it to find out it wasn't Star Wars, I feel the law would be on our side.

Not sure about consumer law elsewhere in the world, but in the UK, a retailer doesn't just have to ensure that products are labeled acurately but they also have to ensure they do not imply something that is not the case. Having the only date mentioned on the label be "copyright1977" and not "copyright1997/2011" is "implied" false advertising.

It's a while since I last familiarised myself with the 'Trades Description Act 1968' but it can be easily looked up, easily printed and easily produced in store if they argue the refund. Despite what they might try and tell you, individual store policy does not overide consumer law.

I'm confident that everybody would get the money back but it might take some arguing in a minority of cases. Frankly having an argument with a store manager in front of the customers about the precise faults of the Special Edition would be kinda awesome ;-)

Didn't someone here sneak around slapping stickers on the first DVD sets indicating the originals were not included way back when? I'm sure it was at least talked about.

In any case, it's a nice idea, but that ship has sailed. Fox would if they could, but George doesn't want to. And it remains to be seen what Disney will do.

And returning a Blu Ray you already know doesn't have the OT on it is not civil disobedience, it's just being a wise ass.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_disobedience