What bothers you the most about dvd packaging?
 

My biggest problem with the way that dvds are packaged and shrinkwrapped is that most of the time the plastic sticks to the spine. You spend about 10 minutes scraping off pieces of the plastic and the spine ends up looking terrible.

Yes the plastic is horrible as are the stickers.

The really funny thing is that at one time I am sure this was a real deterrent. Now there are so many dvd's in bargain bins selling for less than $10, all the packaging does is annoy people.

I hate it when the artwork is just above or below the plastic protection and gets ripped from the security stickers. Speaking of which, those damn stickers are annoying. I don't mind the top ones because it helps searching for something if you're looking over it but there's no need for the side or bottom (plus the actual security tag inside the case that sometimes is tough to take off).

More than anything else, how TV show packaging changes on a regular basis. I like everything to be relatively uniform.

I hate all of the above and I also hate it when the price is on the actual case and not the plastic.

Don't know if I can describe this properly ... with a multi-DVD set that comes in a cardstock case with glued-on clear plastic hubs ... and the security slug is stuck underneath the plastic, making it impossible to get out. Put it on the outside of the hub so I don't have to look at it forever and be reminded of a preserved insect.

In Australia and New Zealand, all TV shows seem to be coming out in big plastic cases - often 6 disks crammed into an oversized (thicker) dvd case. They have moved away from foldout digipacks. They are also moving towards 6 disk releases in normal sized dvd cases.

Which is why I purchase most of my tv shows from the USA. Not only is it quicker, they also tend to have more better packaging

Digipaks.

To add to that, if you can remove it, chances are you end up tearing out a chunk of the artwork the security tag was stuck to.

:thumbsup:

The above, and inconsistancy between packaging in a series/set/season.

See you in hell, security stickers.

All of the above, but the biggest one for me right now is that standard DVD cases have become sort of a next-generation jewel box. It's no longer necessary to use them, even for 2-disc titles, but in order to preserve the perception of value, very few titles are released individually in slimcases. I can see why from a business point of view, but to have a single DVD take up a full half-inch of space on a shelf is just ridiculous, which is why I've started buying binders.

Honestly, I'm so anal or OCD...can't make up my mind which one! But, all of the above pretty much bothers the s--t out of me!

Nah, thats kind of silly. I couldn't imagine trying to read the spines of 600 slims lined up.

As stated above.... When security stickers are unremoveable--as in, slapped *behind* a transparent or translucent disc tray. Or glued into place so that trying to get them off tears the image off the cardboard. Grrr.

That 10 years into the format, and there's still the risk of loose discs. In all my years of buying cds, I've never once had a loose disc. But dvd, it can happen at any time. Though, I've gotten lucky the last few months with no floating dvds. Oh, and I still see gigantic thumb prints from time to time. sheesh

Totally agree and have already taken the same action with binders early last year. (I still haven't figured out where to store the empty cases!) Slim packs would only take up half the space.

Honestly...nothing. Guess it's just a 7 year fluke because any problems have been microscopic. If the content within the case is correct...then they can wrap it in a brown paper bag for all I care.:D

Don't get me wrong...the "look" of my library vault is important, but nothing to do with "housing" has ever disturbed me enough to get my panties in a twist.

I've had shrinkwrap stick to my spines every so often, but unlike an earlier post....I have never had to "scrape" and destroy the spine/case.

And no thanks on the "binders"....they serve no purpose for my library at all.

Guess I hope my luck continues.

In Canada, that annoying Bilingual packaging!

They should make the covers, dual sided. One with french for the french speaking people and the other side, in English only.

When the sticker sticks to the paper liner and damages it.
Snapcases [I think that's what they're called, like the original Superman 1-3 were in.] They suck.
When the disk is so tight on the middle hub button that you have to bend the disk to get it out.
Cutesy theme packaging that is a pain in the arse to actually use.
Floaters.
I'm not a fan of that tight shrinkwrapping anyway, but that's not specific to DVds. If I had fingernails it might be better. Besides, I'll take shrinkwrapped DVDs over kids' toy packaging, or that hard form fit plastic crap that cuts your hands, any day.

I like slim cases if they're in a box set, then I can turn the box around and easily see the title, but though they're definitely smaller, I don't know if I'd like my entire collection [small though it is, compared to some of y'all's] in standalone slim cases.

My #1 pet peeve right now is all the titles that have cardboard slipcovers, but are shipped to stores with NO fucking shrinkwrap on them, instead having a shrinkwrapped keepcase inside! Most stores slap their price tags and security stickers right on the cardboard, so if you buy it you have to leave them on there or possibly damage the slipcover taking them off. They tend to get beat up after being on the shelves a couple weeks too. I don't buy used DVDs because I want everything in perfect condition, but this almost completely makes that a moot point. Right now I'll simply refuse to buy any of these that have a price tag stuck on them; I'll either search elsewhere for a store that doesn't use price tags, or get it through mail order. Whoever came up with this idea should be shot, plain and simple!

A close second multi-disc sets where one disc is stacked on top of and overlapping the other. If you want to play the second disc, you have to take out the first disc, then find a place to store the unused disc while the other one is playing! Whoever invented these cases should be stabbed to death with one of them. I know some people are violently against snapper cases, but I guarantee that I hate these cases a hundred times more than the biggest snapper case hater! Speaking of those, I never minded snapper cases, but since the last ones often had the "Security Device Enclosed" labels sealing them shut which were hard to get off without causing damage, I'm not as sorry to see them mostly gone now.

Discs getting loose inside the case and damaged as a result is a problem that should have been solved a LONG time ago. I'm always in the habit of checking for this before buying a disc, and I've walked out empty-handed if they're the only ones left.

What annoys me the most are digipaks and how they are so easy to break, especially the hubs. And when they do break, they are impossible to replace because the artwork is glued onto the plastic.

The size. Seriously. I always liked the keep case design, but why are they so long? They could have keep cases that are the size of normal CD cases (and they do make them...I've seen product packaged in them before, but NOT DVDs) and this would mean you could fit more DVDs into shelving units. For a collector with space issues, that is my major pet peeve.

I agree with some of the above criticisms, but I haven't seen anyone mention the center prong (sorry, don't know the technical name) being broken when you buy the disc. I've only bought one disc where it's so broken it doesn't even hold the disc, and it irritates the shit out of me. Along the same lines is when the disc is loose in the case. Now I make sure I check every time I buy a disc.

Edit: Well, it hadn't been mentioned when I started typing this post.

I'm really starting to get annoyed at these new hubs that put one disc on top of another. While it saves space, it's such a pain in the butt to handle especially when some of the hubs are partially broken.

I'm also not too fond of the "book-style" hubs on The Simpsons seasons 6-9 DVDs, I always fear that one of those hubs will break off soon.

To me, generally the boring package designs in R1 land. It's the same game over and over again - amaray keepcases. Even the slipcovers I generally find stupid - same art as the coverart. Great concept!! And the fact they are not shrink wrapped doesn't always ensure a pristine slipcover by the time a purchase is made.

So many imported releases that I've come across in are generally in better packaging. Quite a few from Korea and Japan are jacketed digipacks or customized boxes and made more sturdy by design. I'd say a larger percentage are similar in design to the LOTR Extended edition packaging as a comparative point.

ABSOFU#*INGLUTELY!!!

security tags, sticky plastic on the spine, and price tags on slip covers - booooo!!!

Removing the stickers an spending another half hour trying to remove the resigoo left behind. I used to use goo gone and other types of chemicals but they started stinking up my collection. Now when a sticker leaves the gooey residue I reapply it over and over until it pulls the rest of the gunk off. Sometimes this can be a tedious process but beats the hell out of the smell.

damn right i hate when they have the french packaging rite on the case. put a slip cover over it with french and leave the dvd case itself alone, we don't need all that crap.

i also hate overlapping discs like on the alf dvds and on the scrubs & golden girls dvds where the first 2 discs overlap each other.

& this is a little off of the topic but her in canada or winnipeg at least i have yet to have a fox home entertainment double sided disc not scratched when its brand new. they are fully intact but reba, nypd: blue and the pretender every season of the shows were scratched right when i opened them, they work its just that it shouldn't be scratched when its brand new!

Broken center hubs or ones that wont let go of the disc without using a crowbar....

If you want an easy way to remove the stickers, buy a heat gun. I work at a video store and thats what i use when the stickers wont come off.

Yes.

I also agree that slimcases for all films is a ridiculous idea that would make it near impossible to read the titles on the spines, but it is a great idea for TV-on-DVD sets, and I'm glad to see more manufacturers using it.

1. Shrinkwrap melded onto the plastic on the spine.
2. Covers that overlap the plastic sleeve and get stuck to the security tape.
3. Keepcases with the sleeves all wrinkled to hell from heat gun over-exposure.
4. Poorly cut or misaligned covers where the title isn't centered properly on the spine.
5. Cases with "overcut" sleeves leaving a lot of the cover on top or bottom exposed.
6. Security latches on the sides of keepcases.
7. Snappers.
8. Over-lapping disc hubs.
9. Fat double Alphas for 2-Disc sets - why do they still use these?
10. Security tabs on digipaks - either under the tray or right on the paper surface poised to cause a tear.
11. Digipaks. Plastic trays that can't be replaced, folding cardboard that's guaranteed to wear and tear with each repeated use - they're designed to fall apart. Give me a multi-disc keepcase like the Nexpak VERSApaks or a bunch of thinpaks inside a nice, sturdy hard plastic box.

chalk me up as someone who would like to see all dvds in slim cases

That'd be hell trying to find something.

While I agree with just about everyone here, except for the one about putting your DVDs in binders, I cannot believe that the overlapping disc tray is not the number one issue. I honestly can't stand this style of case. Not only do you have to find something to do with the other disc but it seems like the disc on top would get scratched by the artwork of the other, of course that could just be me being extremely paranoid. Although I don't like snappers; I would rather have a snapper over a damn overlapping disc tray any day. I would rather have an alpha, anything other than one of these overlapping bastards. I fortunately only have 2 DVDs with this style of packaging, Henry: Portrait...anniversary edition and the Sin City extended cut. I had an extra double disc case to put Henry in and I have both discs of the Sin City set in slimline jewel cases next to the set on the shelf.

I would love to have Scrubs but I refuse to buy them for the simple fact of the overlapping disc trays.

Loose discs are of course a huge issue but that can be taken care of easily by simply not buying one with a floater or taking it back for another copy. The overlapping disc tray cannot just be exchanged for a different style case.

nah, not when everything is alphabetical. What are you saving...20 seconds...i'll take double the shelf space over a few lost seconds of moving my finger down the row.

Add another vote for the plastic being stuck on the spine. I'm never able to get all of it off. As for the packaging itself, I hate it when companies try stuffing a large amount of discs into a regular amaray case (i.e. 7th Heaven: Season 3). I also think the case they used for King Kong EE looked and felt very cheap.

I also agree with wrapping the slipcover inside the shrink wrap...they get damaged very easily on the shelves.

I would take it a step further:

Sell the damn french packaged cases in Quebec only!

Fuckers want to separate, so why should the rest of Canada have to suffer with bilingual packaging for EVERYTHING? DVDs are just the latest.

Yeah, I guess I'm going too far, but I can't be the only one who thinks that way. If I am, so be it.

Well, you might have a point, but I'll take a bit of eye strain over cases that are mostly air inside. Of course I'm sure I must be in the minority.