Retailers selling region 1 DVD's?

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riahon

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#75211 14-Jan-2011 16:29

Hi

My daughter used her xmas money to buy herself a dvd from a retailer in Hamilton. It is her first dvd purchase (she is 3years old) and was very excited and wanted to watch it on our one and only dvd player - a ps3. Unfortunately it is region locked and unable to play. I had a quick look at the settings on the ps3 and did a bit of a google and it appears I am unable to change the region settings on the ps3.

I am about to go back to the store but curious why they would be selling region 1 dvd's. Is this allowed? Do they have a disclaimer in store about region settings when purchasing these discs. I didnt go with her to buy it.

Cheers

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#427210 14-Jan-2011 16:45

I do not know if they are legally required to state the region. I know video stores are required. So I would assume they would be required, as the disc is 'not intended' for sale in other regions.

They could have done one of several things;

* sticker on case stating region
* notice on section stating all DVD's were non zone 4
* informed customer at time of sale

If they did not do any of those, I would be requesting a replacement/refund.

blakamin

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#427220 14-Jan-2011 17:06

Warehouse? They do it all the time. They *should* have a sticker saying "import" though.

freeviewfan

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#427224 14-Jan-2011 17:17

i love region 1 ntsc because most of the dvd in pal have been converted from ntsc to pal

riahon

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#427227 14-Jan-2011 17:24

Yes it was the warehouse. Both my wife and daughter would have not known what 'regions' meant. No one would have explained it to my wife so will see how we get on.

gible

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#427232 14-Jan-2011 17:58

Are they legally allowed to sell region 1 disks in NZ?

Are they legally allowed to import region 1 disks into NZ?

Are their suppliers legally allowed to export region 1 disks to NZ?

Given the point of region coding, I'd have thought someone along the supply chain would be breaking the law...or at least a contract.

riahon

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#427242 14-Jan-2011 18:57

They reluctantly refunded me the disc but said they wont do it again. Happy with outcome but still curious as to how these discs happen to be in the country.

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richms

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#427243 14-Jan-2011 18:58

Totally legal, despite labours last attempts at putting some limits on it.

More to the point, why should it ever not be legal for people to exchange a legitmatly purchased item for money.

Im glad we have parallel importing allowed here, now they just need to start on that other burden on import DVD sales and axe those bloody ugly stickers that you legally have to have on them to sell them.

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

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#427244 14-Jan-2011 18:59

riahon: They reluctantly refunded me the disc but said they wont do it again. Happy with outcome but still curious as to how these discs happen to be in the country.

They are parallel imports. The Warehouse simply buy them in bulk from foreign distributors, typically excess stock items.

nigelj

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#427262 14-Jan-2011 20:26

gible: Are they legally allowed to sell region 1 disks in NZ?

Are they legally allowed to import region 1 disks into NZ?

Are their suppliers legally allowed to export region 1 disks to NZ?

Given the point of region coding, I'd have thought someone along the supply chain would be breaking the law...or at least a contract.

As long as the case has an Office of Film & Literature Classification, censorship sticker on it, then as far as the authorities go, it's legal for sale etc (in store, Trade Me, etc.). However, there could be something in the Trade Practises legislation to help protect (could be anything from expectations to deceptive displays - IANAL + I'm not too sure on the Commerce Commission etc's stance on DVDs). The Warehouse stickers imo aren't always that clear, really it should say something to the effect of: "Imported DVD - Zone (1|2|3|5|6|...) - May not play on all NZ DVD players".

Lurch

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#427273 14-Jan-2011 21:06

To be honest DVD's have been around for quite sometime now so people usually know what regions are. The sticker stating import and the label on the back stating region 1 or 2 should be enough.

DVD players usually state on the box what regions they support although there are some people that don't research/take note what they're buying, and most people know what region we're in.

I guess they could educate the staff or stick a sign up by the counter in store, but none of this is new as DVD's have been around since the end of the 90's, and in NZ for what must be 10 years.

Good rule of thumb don't buy imports (unless you know you have a multizone player)

richms

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#427276 14-Jan-2011 21:10

Better rule of thumb - dont buy a player unless it is multizone.

Wonder why sony get away with selling the PS2/3 without being multizone to be honest.

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nigelj

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#427279 14-Jan-2011 21:20

Lurch: To be honest DVD's have been around for quite sometime now so people usually know what regions are. The sticker stating import and the label on the back stating region 1 or 2 should be enough.

DVD players usually state on the box what regions they support although there are some people that don't research/take note what they're buying, and most people know what region we're in.

I guess they could educate the staff or stick a sign up by the counter in store, but none of this is new as DVD's have been around since the end of the 90's, and in NZ for what must be 10 years.

Good rule of thumb don't buy imports (unless you know you have a multizone player)

I've found the markers on the back, often missing and/or hard to read, in the past. Sure DVDs have been around for a while, but a big orange "Imported" sticker could mean it's come from Mexico/Australia which generally will play on an NZ DVD Player (Zone 4).

Personally I stear clear of buying DVDs from the Warehouse, so I don't have this problem, but I can certainly see how other people get fooled/confused.

richms

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#427281 14-Jan-2011 21:24

I really only get imports. The NTSC ones are at the right frame rate which more than makes up for the slightly lower resolution of it. On the pal ones often the quality of the extras is pretty dire as well since they are often ntsc video to pal conversions on pretty crap gear.

Richard rich.ms

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#427287 14-Jan-2011 21:48

From memory, the red stickers the warehouse puts on the import dvd's clearly state import and also multizone dvd player required.

Most seem to be region 2 and there are some real bargains to be had with some of those.

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#427288 14-Jan-2011 21:48

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