The soaring dollar and international DVD deals thread

[LosingMyMind]

Originally Posted by kenbenobi

Pardon my ignorance, but what is so special about this set? Is there anything on it that the US releases don't have? I've seen other post about wanting this badly, but I didn't think there was any new material on it...

It has the remastered versions of the first 3 series. "In 1998, on the tenth anniversary of the show's first airing (and between the broadcast of Series VII and VIII), the first three series of Red Dwarf were remastered and released on VHS. The remastering included replacing model shots with computer graphics, cutting certain dialogue and scenes, re-filming Norman Lovett's Holly footage, creating a consistent set of opening titles, replacing music and creating ambient sound effects with a digital master."

It also has the following special features that are exclusive to the set:

Bodysnatcher The lost episode of Red Dwarf I in storyboard form, performed by Chris Barrie.
The End: The Original Assembly The first episode - before the re-shoots.
'The Beginning' Original Series I Documentary
'It's Cold Outside' Original Series II Documentary
'Re-Dwarf' Original Remastering Documentary
Ed Bye and Doug Naylor Commentary on Five Episodes
Remastering Crew Commentary on The End
Script Extracts - storyboards with optional Grant/Naylor commentary
The Most Embarrassing Interview In The Universe Ever - with optional Grant/Naylor commentary.
'What's Different?' Text Track on All Episodes

Gallery
Red Dwarf Mobisode
Deleted Scenes
Raw FX Footage
Tongue Tied Archive
8mm Film Reel
Remastered Promos
Easter Eggs

[SPRBD]

Originally Posted by Subgeniusguy

Thanks OP, I had virtually stopped buying overseas during the past year. CDWOW's dollar currency prices appear to be overinflated but ... it looks like if you check out via Paypal, there is no conversion fee for the currency exchange. I know Amazon.co.uk is more dependable but I'm a cheapskate.

Can you use Paypal at AmazonUK to avoid conversion fees? How much are conversion fees usually?

[Subgeniusguy]

Originally Posted by SPRBD

Can you use Paypal at AmazonUK to avoid conversion fees? How much are conversion fees usually?

Your credit card company usually charges the conversion fee. It's usually less than $2, but may vary according to your CC company. As far as I know, you can't use Paypal at Amazon UK, and to be fair, it's your creditor that charges the fee. The fee is small compared to the shipping charges from Amazon UK. Also Amazon UK does not charge you until the item ships whereas with Paypal you're paying up front. I have NOT received shipping notice yet but that's a great deal IMO. Mad Detective and Black Narcissus came out to be about $22.81 each which is probably about what Amazon UK would come out to after considering shipping.

[Yakuza Bengoshi]

Originally Posted by SPRBD

How much are conversion fees usually?

Typically 2 or 3%. Here's a chart of some of the major CC companies.

[CritterYawn]

Right now I have an offer on my MTVU card which gives 10% in TY points, these more than make up for the forex fees when buying stuff at Amazon.co.uk. Otherwise I'd use a Capital One card, which has zero conversion fees.

[SPRBD]

Thanks!

[SPRBD]

I'm considering buy 3 or 4 different multi-movie boxsets at AmazonUK. Do I pay much more in postage to break them into individual orders or is it better to make one giant order? Is there any benefit, either way?

[kenbenobi]

Originally Posted by SPRBD

Can you use Paypal at AmazonUK to avoid conversion fees? How much are conversion fees usually?

If you happen to have UK money in your Paypal account, then yes. When I was working on assignment in the UK for a few months, I sold a few things on Ebay. When the money hit my account, they asked me if I wanted it converted to US dollars, or leave a UK balance in my account. I left the UK balance so I could buy things from the UK without having to pay any conversions.
But unless you have UK money like I did, you'll have to pay the 3% fee...

[kenbenobi]

Originally Posted by LosingMyMind

It has the remastered versions of the first 3 series.

Thanks for the info. I was aware of the remastered versions, but always assumed that when it was released on DVD, it had those versions. I didn't realize it had the original versions. Might be worth it for the new special features by itself...

[CritterYawn]

Originally Posted by SPRBD

I'm considering buy 3 or 4 different multi-movie boxsets at AmazonUK. Do I pay much more in postage to break them into individual orders or is it better to make one giant order? Is there any benefit, either way?

Roughly, the shipping is about 3 quid for the first item and then increases with about 1 pound/additional item. But I don't have an extensive experience. Anyway, I'd go for a big order instead of several smaller ones.

[movieguru]

Originally Posted by CritterYawn

Roughly, the shipping is about 3 quid for the first item and then increases with about 1 pound/additional item. But I don't have an extensive experience. Anyway, I'd go for a big order instead of several smaller ones.

It's definetely cheaper shipping wise to have it sent in one order. But the most I've ever ordered at one time is under $100. Does anyone know if larger orders are subject to (or will trigger) an import tax on a shipment?

[domino harvey]

They won't and aren't, you're never going to buy enough from Amazon to trigger customs

[Jgh8x]

Originally Posted by cheapdvdho

I was going to post this in amazon 2 for $10 thread but it would have been OT and noticed that others were starting OT conversations along the same line.

With the rising dollar, international bargain hunting is now possible again....finally some good economic news!

I was interested in getting the Region 2 Quantum Leap complete collection since it includes most of the original music unlike the butchered US sets. A few months ago it was around $150USD. Just this past week I got it for 59 Pounds UK which with the current exchange rate is only about $100! It shows up as 64 Pounds now but is still a good deal if you have region 2 player.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quantum-Leap...4885793&sr=8-1

I hope this thread can be helpful for consolidating non US deals. Mods if this thread is too generic I'd be willing to change it to just amazon.co.uk deals.

I think the correct title of this thread should be "Foreign currency plummeting to the level of the dollar and international DVD deals thread."

[Mosskeeto]

Well it can get a little complicated:
The conversion fee can be only part of the problem. A while back I placed a phone order for some light fixtures from an English company and they charged my card in pounds. I noticed that my card statement later showed a 10% overall increase over the conversion quote I was given from the merchants at the time of purchase. The card companies start with an exchange rate which hugely benefits them and then add the conversion fees.
Interesting thing happened when I booked 2 different car rentals for Europe within the same month on the same card. When the statements arrived, the Avis charge was 8% higher than expected while the Europecar charge was exactly as quoted. These were rentals of 7 and 12 days. I called Avis and they danced around in circles explaining the discrepancy until I gave up.

[beebs]

For those looking for great international deals -- here's a couple Brit TV ones that make me wish I had a decent PAL converting Region-Free player.

thehut.com (Walmart owned UK site) has Poirot Sets 1,2,3,5, and 6 for less than £5.00 pounds. Sets 4, and 7 are less than £15 pounds. Total under £45. Shipping is £1.59 per item. £56 for the whole series shipped to the US, including movies not released in the US yet. Currently, if you use the coupon code HALLOWEEN, they take another £2 off. I'm not certain, but I think you could reuse this coupon and break the order up and get £4 off the whole deal -- or £6 off if you can find just one more title to throw in there.

Prime Suspect complete collection is also an amazing deal in the UK. There's already a thread about that one. The 2008 box set containing all 7 previous movies/mini-series is commonly around £25.

The one movie boxset that most interests me is the David Lean Centenary collection -- the new 2008 10-disc set. It features restored and much improved image quality over the previous set. It is £25.99 from HMV.com currently. Even though the HMV description says 9 disc, it's the 10-disc 2008 release. $40 + shipping.

-beebs

[kenbuzz]

Originally Posted by DVDGamer

I was tempted to get Robin Hood Season 1 at £14 and change. But the additional £5 shipping made me change my mind. It still is a good price, so am still thinking about it....

Recommended. I bought at very set from Amazon.uk back in June for $25.48 (after conversion, shipped). It's easily worth $5-10 more than that - so for £19.89, which works out to $31 (www.xe.com), I really don't think you can go far wrong.

[kenbuzz]

Here are a couple of 2-for-£10 bargains I just picked up:

Flash Gordon - 25th Anniversary (R2)
Das Boot - Miniseries Version (R2)

The best price domestically for Flash Gordon is $19.98 from DDD. The R2 "Miniseries" version of Das Boot looks to be the same as the 5 hour "Original Uncut" version available here, but not for less than $30. Both, shipped from the UK, are $18.70.

I went ahead and snagged the R2 version of Doctor Who - The Movie for an additional £7 + 1 s/h. Total for the whole shebang £17.09 + £3 s/h = £20.09 = $31.30.

[Mikael79]

Originally Posted by beebs

Prime Suspect complete collection is also an amazing deal in the UK. There's already a thread about that one. The 2008 box set containing all 7 previous movies/mini-series is commonly around £25.

-beebs

I somehow missed that deal on Prime Suspect, but I'll definitely be buying it.

Another great deal right now is on the complete collection of Jonathan Creek, which is also right around 25 pounds. The complete collection is actually cheaper than buying one of the two partial sets available right now.

[LASERMOVIES]

I was able to order One Foot in the Grave Seasons 1-6 with Christmas specials for $42 dollars shipped from Amazon UK. Not a bad deal even though the complete series is not available yet in the US on DVD. Even if it was I doubt the price could be beat. The individual season sets range from $19 to $25 a season.

[lena]

Originally Posted by Mikael79

I somehow missed that deal on Prime Suspect, but I'll definitely be buying it. (snip)

If you search for "prime suspect complete collection" on amazon.co.uk, you will see the 2008 set priced at £24.98. And "Quantum Leap - The Complete Collection" is down to £52.97.

[cine]

What is the difference between the Prime Suspect 2008 set and the Prime Suspect 2006 set (listed here http://www.dvd.co.uk/DVD/Prime-Suspe...13/product.htm for £17.92 plus shipping)?

[cine]

Originally Posted by Chris-K

One place you might want to look is dvd.co.uk. ...

They appear to be the same outfit as BlahDvd.com, except their DVD is priced £0.10 cheaper!!!

[DVDude!]

I delayed on getting Quantum Leap until last night. As a result, I saved another £12 or so over what the price was last week. It was posted today. Sweet!

Thanks again, cheapdvdho!

[kenbuzz]

Originally Posted by cine

They appear to be the same outfit as BlahDvd.com, except their DVD is priced £0.10 cheaper!!!

Heh, never heard of BlahDVD. My Doctor Who - The Movie was £8.09 with shipping at dvd.uk, £7.88 shipped from Blah.... £0.21 would've saved me $0.35 or so.

Nice find. Too late for me, but not too late to bookmark for next time.

[samper]

I believe the latest David Lean set is 17 pounds at PLAY. They do not ship to the US but if you have a friend in the UK ...