I did the same thing with A.I., and I needed the bastard for a paper in my Sci-Fi class, so I called first and was in a terrible state, but the person at best buy assured me not to tell the story I told to the people behind the counter, and just it wouldn't play in my dvd player. I almost didn't do this, cause I'm so against lying, but thankfully I did, and when I brought the widescreen up, maybe there was a slight moment of hestitation, but I got it finally. Got a C+ on the paper, sadly, I think. grrrr.........

i bought Animal House this week, picking up the full-screen version instead of the widescreen (the bottom banner were similar tones, and i just didn't expect to pull a full-screen from a pile of widescreens). anyway, i opened it up before i realized this. took it back to best buy the next day for an exchange, and CS had no problem with it. they're good with exchanges, at least!

A little bit off topic but related to paying attention to the dvd you buy. I was buying a new release at a BB and shook the case to make sure the disc wasn't loose inside. A guy in the same aisle saw me do that and did it to his. He said "thanks" and smiled as he put the "bad" one back for a good one!

Be careful with that, my local Best Buy wanted to kick me out of the store for that. I picked up the DTS version of Jaws and heard something shaking. Sure enough, the disc was loose. I then went to pick up another copy of the DTS version of Jaws which was sitting right next to it. I made sure to shake it first. Also loose....(What is up with these DTS versions of Jaws? EVERY retail store I have seen it in has it loose in the case!)

A Best Buy employee saw me doing that and demanded to know what I was doing. I explained and she (a manager) said "You are only damaging the discs by doing that. They would be fine if you had not shaken them". I explained that I had purchased dvd's before that were loose in the case and that they were NOT fine. She then pushed passed me to all of the copies of Jaws on the shelf, both DTS and standard Dolby Digital and picked them all up and said "Well, if it bothers you that much then how about I take them all of the shelf? That way it won't upset you! I'd also like for you to leave MY (stressed very loudly) store." At this point I just couldn't care less. I knew I hadn't done anything wrong at that I was at the supreme stupidity of a Best Buy manager so I just began walking away.

When I was about out she approached me again with a copy of Jaws and said "This one is perfect, there is never any reason to shake cases." and promptly handed me the Dolby Digital one. I explained that I was looking for DTS and had experienced it being completely loose in the case at several retail stores. She then rolled her eyes at me and left.

Hooray for Best Buy.

I get really bummed when I'm at my favorite DVD store checking out the used shelf, see amovie I want for my collection and then find out it's FF-POS (Full Frame - Piece of S*** for those that were wondering). I have gotten a couple home before I realized I'd been an idiot. At least the store knows me well enough they always let me exchange even without receipts.

Wow Folger you showed restraint. I would have just thrown the movie back in her face and told her where to stick it. I don't put up with rude people at stores, pharmacies, etc. There are plenty of other places to take my business.

Everyone should be as it only takes a few seconds.

What an idiot. If she was out on the floor, I assume she wasn't the store manager (some middle management probably), so you should have said something like "Let me talk to your supervisor" (who doesn't hate to hear that, even if you know you're right). If she was the store manager, I would've asked her for the number/name of her boss at corporate (or however it works). Even if you were doing something worse than you were, the whole pushing past you, grabbing them and yelling (or talking loudly) at you would've gotten her into trouble. She probably needs to give up the liquid lunches.

I never usually make a big deal about things like mediocre customer service (I just don't go back) but what you described would've pissed me off enough that I would've taken pleasure from escalating it.

I also have never made the mistake of purchasing a P&S dvd. I always look at the specs briefly to see it if included both versions or just the OAR version.

The only dvds that I have that are fullframe are some Roger Corman & Troma dvds + a few earlier films like It's A Wonderful Life & Night of the Living Dead. Basically films which OAR is 1:33!

So I've done pretty good so far & have yet to purchase the dreaded pan & scan only dvd. Though you never know. I am thinking of asking for the Indiana Jones set for Xmas. Yet if I let my mom or relative purchase it on their own,they will not bother realizing the differences..& pick up the P&S only. I had this issue last year with Back To The Future. So I made sure to go to the store with her & pick it out. Sure it may ruin the 'surprise'. Yet the most important thing is getting the correct version the first time..& enjoying the movie!

If it's Christmas time and they get you the wrong version, just take it to any store (Best Buy, Wal-Mart, whatever), tell him it was a gift, and that you'd like to exchange it for the right version. As long as it's sealed, no major store should give you any hassle about that -- especially around the holidays, when plenty of people are exchanging gifts. That way you preserve the surprise, you get the right thing, and everyone's happy.

You could bring it my house and the guy will see wheelchair marks on it, that it broke too easily. Tell him it must have been a bad batch. LOL

Folger - careful with the disc-shaking. Sometimes there is, in addition to the insert, a card/small booklet (a 'tell us what you think!' card or 'check out our other releases!" flyer, etc) that's knocking about, not the disc. It seems too odd that all the dts Jaws in every store was loose.

This has happened to me before (I shake my discs, dammit, and if a manager has a problem then I talk to THEIR manager) - lately, with Barton Fink. Anyone else?

I did that once or twice when I was in a hurry. Luckily I checked before opening them.

Never happened to me.

Um, yeah.... That's all I'm saying.

K

i completely agree. I would never have settled for that kind of service.

I bought the jurassic park 3 full frame version, noticed, waited 30 min for a refund. almost picked up the full screen die another day but thankfully avoided that by looking before going up to counter.

The same thing happened to me this weekend. I accidentally bought the full screen version of "Narc"

Immediately dumped the disc into the trash can.
Ricardo

"I am thinking of asking for the Indiana Jones set for Xmas. Yet if I let my mom or relative purchase it on their own,they will not bother realizing the differences..& pick up the P&S only."

That's why I only ask for movies that don't have two different versions released to avoid this type of problem. Even if the DVD is still sealed, and you can return it, the refund/return lines after Christmas are much too long to wait in.

It just happened to me at Costco, didn't know there were 2 versions of animal house and the costco wrap covers up the bottom where it says fullscreen..GOD DAMN IT>>>

You shouldn't even need to shrink wrap it again... I accidentially bought the full screen version of Animal House & didn't notice until I was reading the back of the box while watching the mockumentary.

So I took it back to Best Buy with the receipt & they exchanged it without any problems. They did unwrap the new version, but I really didn't care.

Different places are more anal about DVDs being opened than others... anyway... no more grief over it for me. FWIW, if any of you are planning to buy the mummy collection be sure to check it. I don't think that it was labeled very well.. I mean it was there, but it didn't jump out at me that it was fullscreen.


edited for spelling error

This is a good point. I've run into this issue a couple of times. Sometimes it's a flyer or booklet that wants you pick free DVDs w/ UPC's etc.