I mean, it's not like they have a special employee that sits and watches every single frame of every single disc. So how do they "know" it will play?

It just means they'll take it back if it doesn't play right, they aren't saying they know it will.

Exactly. I've encountered a few issues with used cds and dvds from Newbury Comics. Each time, I brought them back to the store. They either replaced it or let me grab another title for the same price.

Went to FYE, picked 3 used DVDs, 2 of the 3 were in sad shape. One had fingerprints ALL OVER the flipper disc, the other had a MEAN scuff through it. Luckily the cashier let me check them at the store, I ended up walking out empty-handed (the sale was 30% off 3 used DVDs and I didn't feel like looking for others).

Guaranteed my ass. -kd5-

Right! Thats been my experience as well-

Analyzers are now sold. The local record store has one. They'll clean it and put it in the analyzer. If it doesn't check out, they won't take it as a trade in.

The funny thing about these stores that take trade ins. Every time I go to trade things in, they go over each disc for even the slightest mark. But every time I buy a used product it looks like hell when I get home an open it.

Good point!

I used to have that job. It was quite the challenge. A good CRAP specialist (Customer Relations Assurance Professional - my official title!) can watch and certify between 8 and 10 fps. I let you do the math if you are CRAPPING a 3 hour, 30fps movie - you get an idea of the tediousness of the job.

Sometimes though, there was pleasure in small rewards. CRAPPING "The lion king" and finding "sex" in the dust when Simba fell resulted in a huge internet viral story. Other times, I would go all bananas and try to go up to 15fps of CRAPPING. Sometimes, that would backfire and once, I missed 2 frames in the extended version of Das Boot. Not exactly my best day, let me tell you.

There were some strange oddities though. Every CRAPPER would invariably miss no frames whatsoever with Caligula, but JFK would put every single CRAPPER to sleep - except the right-winged ones.

Those days are now over. They now have the A-CRAP system (Automated CRAP). These machines are phenomenal. They will go over every frame of every movie at up to 23 fps. Unbelievable. I guess machine beats man after all. Strangely enough though, A-CRAP cannot handle Jigli. It (no pun intended, haha) craps out on that one, so Jigli still has to be manually-CRAPPED by a professional.

Hope this post gave you some insight in a long-forgotten, often side-swiped skill.