So let me get this straight. You start out with two points. How? By emailing one of you guys? You then use them up and are benched - until you yourself find dvds for other people? I read both FAQs, so please forgive me if this sounds redundant.

BTW, here's my request list:
Rashomon
Stray Dog
High and Low
Red Beard
Kagemusha
Dersu Uzala
Sanshiro Sugata
Dodes'ka-Den
Kurosawa: Documentary
The Lower Depths
Rhapsody in August
Madadayo

Also, is it impossible to include Criterion LaserDiscs? I'm dying to hear some of those oop commentaries....

Finally, what if you have something in-hand that hasn't been opened yet because you regretted not checking the school library first! Case in point, Nanook of the North - Criterion Collection (1922). I got this puppy for $25+. Do I sell it for half the MSRP anyway? Thanks. :D

You start out with two points, each good for one buy. These points are a given. If you are a member, the points are yours...no need to contact anybody about it. Once you've bought one dvd, your name goes on a list, saying that you've only got one point left. From the time that you go on that list, you are tracked, whether you buy another or sell a title. That list requires either the buyer or seller to e-mail drjay with information regarding the two parties involved so as to accurately track points.

Regarding Criterion LD's: I really like this idea. LD's are OOP and somewhat hard to find. I know that one of the places I search for dvd's has an excellent selection of Criterion LD's, but seeing as how I have no LD player or even a basic knowledge of Criterion OOP commentaries and such, I would be hard pressed to figure out which ones would be worthwhile. Maybe it would be better to get a better foothold on the DVD market first, before branching out into other venues. I like the idea, but I do find it to be overstepping just a bit. Thoughts?

I am 100% FOR the Criterion Laserdisc idea. I think that there are many who still own these, and still would want harder to find titles.

I know that some of my local places still carry used LDs, so it wouldn't be too hard to look through them as well.

CRITERION LASERDISC REQUESTS:
Raging Bull
Taxi Driver
Blade Runner

Great comments guys.

scroll2b,

groovrbaby nailed the summary explanation of how things work, so I won't repeat what he said. If you have any questions about his explanation, let us know, or try to reread the rules with that summary in mind, and, hopefully, all will become clear.

Also, scroll2b, there is no need to request or add to the request list Criterion titles. The operating principle is that anyone spotting a used Criterion will list it as a Spotted, due to their high collectability and demand. I will buy OOP Criterions to list as In Hand, due to the risk that they will be snapped up quick, but will probably list as Spotted some of the more common In print Criterions.

Regarding your Nanook question, an In Print personal disc that is still shrink wrapped is still a "used disc". It's kind of like the new car principle. Once you drive it off the lot, it's a used car. As such, the high water mark for such a listing should be 1/2 MSRP. However, if it is still sealed, it would appear reasonable to add no more than $2 in value since it is still sealed. You see, because it is sealed, you will not be checking the disc for scratches or confirming that it plays. I've had a brand new Princess Bride disc skip in my player. So, because the Buyer will be taking that risk without a convenient, if any, way, to return it to the retail store if there is a problem, it should not be listed for what you paid, even if it is still sealed.

An Out-of-Print disc that is still sealed, however, is a different story. Assuming you paid MSRP (or retail store's discount therefrom) when you bought it while it was In Print, you should be able to list it at what you bought it for (Ed Wood is a good example). More likely than not, the disc is easily worth more than what you paid for it on the open market when it was freely available, so listing it for what you paid would still be an excellent deal. Also, for collectors, it's my understanding that the value of a disc is increased if it is still sealed, so that would be an additional reason why listing it at what you paid would be reasonable. If it is an OOP disc that is not sealed, the standard pricing guideline is what it sold for used here in a listing where the Seller bought it used from a retail store or 1/2 the price it last sold for on ebay.

I will address these issues in the FAQ, after a little time for further discussion or questions.

Next, regarding Criterion Laser Discs, I see no reason to exclude them from the Hunt if there is sufficient demand for them.

I'm guessing, however, that because demand for Criterion LD's is much lower than demand for Criterion DVD's, it would probably be a good idea to require specific title requests for Criterion LD's, so that we can keep a running list of what people are looking for. If, however, demand is greater than I think, we could easily say "Any Criterion LD or DVD" at the top of our Request List.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Well, guys, it looks like I have a problem. Two people have claimed one of my discs...one via e-mail and the other in the thread. dhs122 e-mailed me at 2:30 saying that he wanted the Fiend Without a Face: CC and ivelostr2 posted in the thread at 2:57. I know that the official method is to post in the thread, but I foresee this problem coming up a lot. Loc Nar and I have already had this discussion, but the only thing we came up with that was solid was that claims should be made in the thread and not via e-mail to reduce confusion. Interestingly enough, that confustion was put into practice not one day later. Who gets this disc and how are we going to resolve this e-mail issue? To me, it really sounds like it must be stated somewhere in large letters that claims can only be made in the thread... As always...Thoughts?

I addeed the above titles that weren't CC or already listed, and I started a requested CCLD section. We'll see how that works, and make changes from there...

you can give it to the guy that emailed you, I am fine with that. He beat me. Maybe this will make awareness to others to post in the thread though...


Nick

Versus
Director's Cut
or Special Edition 2 disc
Ichi the Killer

ivelostr2 again demonstrates his generosity.

The rules clearly state that the winner of a listing is the first eligible Buyer to post a reply claiming the listing, which can simply be in the form of hitting "quote" and then "submit reply".

This is what the Rules say re how to stake a claim to a listing:

Okay, assuming you’re eligible, how do you claim a listing? It's easy. The first eligible Buyer to post a "quote" reply in response to a Spotted or In Hand listing by simply hitting the “quote” button to quote the Listing and then the “submit reply” button, has first rights to the listing. Thus, two button presses are all that is necessary.

I don't understand what is not clear about that. In any event, under the rules, ivelostr2 won the title. It is very kind of him to relinquish his winning bid. Any e-mail attempts to claim a disc should be rejected by Sellers and they should refer Buyers to the rules for claiming discs.

Allowing winning bids via e-mail undermines the rules and the process and invites concern about unfair backroom deals, and also presents an opportunity to skirt The Bench if ineligible Buyers resort to e-mail.

Or consider this situation, a Buyer properly claims the listing by posting a reply in the thread, as ivelostr2 did, but Seller says that it was already claimed by e-mail, when what really happened is a losing bidder e-mailed Seller after seeing he'd lost the title and tells Seller he'd pay twice the asked for amount. We just can't have that nor the perception of that possibility. Period.

I heartily support having drjay editing the Buyers Guide to make it even more clear that the stated method for winning a listing is the ONLY acceptable method and that e-mail claims do not count.

I also support having DrGerbil amend the Sellers Guide to specifically state in bold if necessary that e-mail attempts to claim a listing should be rejected by Sellers.

Does anyone disagree with this?

I agree; we should indefinitely adhere to that rule. No emails, just replies here

btw, thanks to all who are working to launch this fantastic idea. I'm looking foward to helping out lots of fellow members and acquiring hard to find titles myself.

Thanks for your support nonametofame and willingness to help keep the wheels in motion by becoming an "active" used disc browser.

It's trite to say this, but this idea hinges on the ability to work together. This is harnessing the power of the Internet the way Al Gore intended. ;)

thanks for the warm welcome, Loc. A few questions for you.
I live in Orange County, CA. Are there any decent places I could check to find used titles? Most of the places I check dont' have much. And for the second question, is it a good idea to post offfers on buy it now deals on ebay as well. I assume this is similar to a "spotted" title.

Welp I just added a nice red & bolded line to the claim procedure, so it kinda jumps out at the eye ;) No one should overlook it any more.

I've had a lot of luck at what I think are national cd/dvd stores that also carry used titles. In my area, Coconuts and Wherehouse Music are great resources. Fye may have started carrying used titles also. Also, sometimes you find small college oriented CD stores that also carry used DVD's, and they often have the best prices. Finally, don't forget about Pawn Shops, if you have some in a decent area. They often carry used DVD's as well. Then there are Garage sales and Estate Sales which might list DVD's as an item to be sold. Anyway, I'm thinking that if I've been able to have some success in Birmingham, AL, you will do okay in Orange County, CA. Also, check places like Electronics Boutique or Gamespot the next time you are near one. They generally carry "pop culture" titles, but occasionally, you strike gold. I found my copy of Ed Wood there for a price I dare not disclose. :)

Also, groovrbaby will be keeping a geographical database of good used DVD fishing holes which will be shared with sellers who list and sell a disc under our system and who also send him their list of good spots in their area.

Finally, do not link to ebay auctions. Discs listed here should be exclusive to here. Also, I think it is a major no no to link to an ebay auction in this forum, so I am told.

Keep the questions coming if you got them and good luck with your hunt.

Looks good drjay. Thanks.

Groovr-

Give Fiend W/O a Face to ivelostr2. I don't want to bend the rules. I'll claim High and Low instead.

It's great to see so many cool people suporting this system. Congrats on the High and Low pickup!

I just edited the Introduction in the main thread to add this request for your assistance in getting the word out, and I thought I should add it here as well for those who have already read the main thread. Here it is:

In addition to participating as a Seller or Buyer, we would also very much appreciate your help in spreading the word about the Used DVD Treasure Hunt, because the more people that participate, the better chances are that the disc for which you have been searching will appear in a listing here for an incredible used price. One way you can help us spread the word is by adding a hyperlink to this thread in your signature. To do that, just highlight and copy this text:

[ URL=http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=357173]Used DVD Treasure Hunt[/URL]

Then click on "Member Control Panel" near the top of the screen, then click "Edit Profile". Then, scroll down to the "Signature" box and paste the copied text into that box. Next, delete the extra space that appears after the opening bracket ("[") before the letters "URL" and then click on the "Submit Modifications" button at the bottom of the page. That's it! Thanks!

It will then look like the hyperlink in my sig.

testing

and again

i've been spreading the word since I discovered this and am actually spreading the word as we speak. By the way, checked two gamestops and an FYE, came up empty headed, but I'm sure something good will come may way soon. It's pretty much safe to pick up anything "Criterion"

Thanks for adding the sig link noname. So, the instructions were clear enough?

Re picking up Criterions, I would imagine it's generally safe depending on price. Keep an eye on what they are going for at places like www.deepdiscountdvd.com to make sure the used price you see it at plus tax and shipping will still be a good deal at the end of the day as compared to ddd. More often than not, it will still be a good deal.

Also, question for you Disney fans, would someone please clarify what titles are OOP? I think we should "flesh out" our reference to Discontinued Disney Titles to have a firm list of OOP titles people are looking for.

I see these titles from time to time, but don't have a firm list in my mind as to what is discontinued. I have no interest in picking them up for my personal collection, because I have a good VHS library of them and that suits my 6 and 3 year old boys just fine.

Thanks!

Notice of FAQ Amendment:

This addresses how long Sellers should leave listings up before pulling them, so I felt this warranted an update. Here is what has been added to the FAQ:

9. How long should I leave my listing up?

In Hand Listings

This decision is up to each individual seller, but we ask that you leave an In Hand listing up for at least seven days in order to give all thread browsers a reasonable opportunity to see and perhaps claim your listing. If you wish to leave it up longer than that, that is perfectly acceptable. You can leave it up indefinitely if you wish.

Spotted Listings

For "Spotted" DVD's, we recommend that those be left up for no more than seven days. The reason being that in most cases, the odds that a spotted disc on our Request List will still be there more than a week from when it was spotted are very low. Thus, a Seller will more likely than not be wasting his time if he goes back after a week to see if that disc is still in the store. If Sellers wish to list "Spotted" discs for less than one week, that is acceptable. It all depends on their personal preference. It is courteous to notify Buyers in the Notes section of your "Spotted" listing how long you intend to leave the listing up.

Tip for Benched Buyers

Buyers on the Bench would be well advised to keep track of what unclaimed listings are pulled off the thread by Sellers because at that point, Buyers on the Bench would be permitted to e-mail the Seller to inquire about whether they would be interested in selling the pulled title to them outside of the Hunt (since it has been pulled from the Hunt), assuming it is still available or the Seller is still willing to go see if a "Spotted" title is in.


If you have any comments or questions regarding this information, or believe it should be revised in any way, please let me know.

I responded to your email. The point you made here is the same point I made in my response back. Thanks for looking out though

I edited the list dropping Akira Kurosawa's Dreams because of the low price it is available for everywhere, and I changed Versus to the Special Edition. Pleaselet me know if I ned to do anything else...

OOP Disney Titles: (Limited Issue, not Gold Collection)
* Pinocchio (1940, 88 min.)
* 101 Dalmatians (1961, 79 min.)
* Hercules (1997, Letterbox 1.66:1, 92 min.)
* Mulan (1998, Letterbox/P&S 1.85:1, 88 min.)
* Lady and the Tramp (1955, Letterbox 2.35:1, 75 min.)
* Peter Pan (1953, 76 min.)
* The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998, Letterbox 1.66:1, 75 min.)
* The Jungle Book (1967, 78 min.)
* The Little Mermaid (1989, Letterbox 1.66:1, 83 min.)

Thanks for that great list i-bystander. Ivelostr2, please revise the Request List for the Discontinued Disney entry to show these titles as sub-parts. Thanks!

done...

Dang...between a car repair and a Sunday visit to the dentist, my "mad money" fund was depleated these last couple weeks.

So, I wanted to let ya know I'll be hitting the my favorite used places this weekend with the "wanted" list in hand. Hopefully, I should have some stuff to post. w00t!

Thanks Tom! I look forward to seeing what you spot. Also, thanks for including the link in your sig.

Reflections on Week One:

Today marks one week since we started the Used DVD Treasure Hunt thread and Lounge. It's been a great start thanks to the collective effort of DVD Talk members, i.e., YOU, who have, for example, helped maintain the threads, asked good questions or given suggestions which help improve the rules and process, listed DVD's or claimed those listings, helped us spread the word here at DVD Talk and beyond, taken the time to read the rules and see what this is all about, or simply viewed the threads with an open mind. We're at over 1700 views for the Hunt thread alone and the Lounge is not far behind at over 1200 views.

We would like to post an update here in the Lounge once a week which recaps what listings were claimed during the prior week and what are still currently available. We will likely move this update to the weekend after this first update.

Here are the claimed and unclaimed listings from week one:

Claimed:

Flash Gordon (OOP)
Do The Right Thing (CC)
Naked Lunch (CC)
George Washington (CC)
The Rock (CC)
Fiend Without a Face (CC)
High and Low (CC)
Silence of the Lambs (CC) (OOP)
The Most Dangerous Game (CC)
The Godfather DVD Collection

Unclaimed:
X-Files Season 1
X-Files Season 8
Memento LE
LoTR: FoTR EE
Supergirl (2 Disc LE) (OOP)
Ed Wood (SE) x2 (OOP)
Ran Masterworks Ed.
Seven Samurai (CC)
Traffic (CC)
King of the Hill Season 1
Kurosawa Samurai Box Set
Versus Director's Cut
Angel Season 1
Babylon 5 Season 2
Babylon 5 Season 1
Band of Brothers
Friends Season 3
X-Men 1.5


So, we had 28 listings in week one, and those listings came from 9 different Sellers. Five of those listings were of Out of Print titles. That's a tremendous start, and there are still excellent listings which are not claimed yet.

Think about the best used DVD store in your city, and ask yourself if within the space of a week, you ever saw discs like those listed above available at the used prices listed here. That's why this process can work, and is working. Please continue to help support it by keeping your eyes open the next time you are browsing for used DVD's, and list any great deals you see on Request List discs you don't want for your personal collection.

Also, if you would help us spread the word by adding a hyperlink to the Hunt thread in your signature, that would be most appreciated. I gave explicit instructions on how to do that above in this thread. The more people that participate in this process the better, as it will expand the network of used DVD browsers and increase the number of listings, so anything we can do to spread the word is in all of our best interests.

Thanks for your support!

My sister gives birth :), and I completely miss the Silence of the Lambs CC OOP dvd listing!!! :mad: Well, please, someone find this title, again!

Congratudolences scroll2b! ;) I'm betting it will turn up again. Robocop Criterion is currently still available IIRC. Update: Umm . . . Nevermind. :)

What do you guys think about adding Toy Story 1, Toy Story 2, and Toy Story 2 Pack, on the list. They are selling for 30-40 in some auctions on Ebay.

Why are so many people after Last Days of Disco? I watched the movie a couple nights ago and I didn't think it was anything special.

Wow. I thought the OOP Ultimate Toy Box (which is on the Request List) was the only one that was commanding a steep price. I see that the two pack is also in demand and it would make sense to add that. The individual titles seem to be going for a wide range, but I see no reason to keep them off if they are OOP also. Unless anyone objects, I see no reason not to add them. Good suggestion Jin.

I haven't seen it so I wouldn't know. I know it was recently requested to be added to the list in this thread.

I do know that there is no accounting for taste when it comes to collecting DVD's. For some folks, it becomes like baseball cards. I resist that "gotta have it because its OOP" urge daily with varying success. :)

I would also suggest placing Snow White 2 disc Platinum Edition, Fantasia Anthology, Tarzan 2 Disc Collectors Edition, Bug's Life 2-Disc Collector's Edition (Green Case), Tarzan Regular Issue and any Disney Treasures (limited issue disney tins) on the want list.

i'd be interested depending on the condition of the discs and case