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Change of policy at Amazon?
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorStaid S Barr
Registered: Oct 16, 2003
Registered: May 9, 2007
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Until a few months ago, Amazon never made a point about shipping DVDs abroad, apart from the usual warning about regions. Recently, that seems to have changed.

A few months ago I ordered two seasons (3 and 4) of a TV-series of which I already owned the first two seasons (also through Amazon). About 10 days after the release date, I got Season 4, but Season 3 was delayed, needed confirmation, was delayed again, until after 2 months Amazon cancelled the order. After some exchange of emails, I was invited to order again, with (one month later), no result. In the meantime, Season 3 has a note on Amazon's website: This item cannot be shipped abroad.

Explanations (by email) are vague. The item is at a fulfillment center that cannot ship abroad. Unclear what keeps them from doing so (no Post Office around?) or why the order cannot be sent through another fulfillment center. Since I have bought hundreds of DVDs from Amazon US, there cannot be a real shipping issue.  Also, the DVDs of this series are actually region-free, so no legal issues? I can't order elsewhere, since this is an Amazon specific release (CreateSpace DVDs).

What frustrates me, is that this leave a gap of one season in a four-season TV series. Worse even than series where only the frist season is released on DVD. Like I suspect many Invelos customers, I am as much a collector as a viewer of DVDs.

Does anyone have similar experiences?   
Hans
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorTaro
Registered: February 23, 2009
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I've bought quite a lot of region A blu-rays from them in the past 2 years and never been confronted with these issues, even with region A locked discs. They just put a note at the end of the ordering process, telling me this item will only work on a region A player ... but they've always shipped them.

My guess is they either had too many returns from foreign customers (who didn't check the region of the disc and their player in advance  ) or it's as they say and the sets are at a warehouse that doesn't ship (or is too costly to) ship abroad.

Whatever the case, this seems to be a pretty rare occurance (I hope). Never happened to me before.
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar ContributorWinston Smith
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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Staid:

You don't provide much interms of detail. But it could be that the distributor for whatever the series is has decided to get serious and clamp down on the words that are written on the back of the majority of DVDS, "Not for for sale or rental outside of the Unisted States" or whatever the exact choice of verbiage is, not all distributors make such commets, but some do and perhaps someone has gottenserious about it.
For example Dreamworks states "Licensed for sale only in the U.S." Warner has a similar statement.

Skip
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Billy Video
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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Since the two sides of the sale are in different countries, it depends upon the different legal settings.

EU law says such a sale is considered to be a sale in the customer's country -- hence some US vendors feel obliged to charge VAT on sales to EU citizens. However EU law does not necessarily prevail over USA law (and vice versa), so by any USA law the sale could also be a sale in the USA. Only DELIVERY is an export to another country.
In most countries it is at least questionable to have a distributor limit export, because what's the practical difference from a touristbuying it physically in the USA... It is an impediment to the freedom of trade, where the law usually provides safeguards to retailers against distributors. At least in the EU it is.

Any laywer knows sale (specifications of contract, payment) and delivery (of goods) are two distinct parts of a sales contract. Anyone knowledgeable about the USA part?
Eric

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 Last edited: by eommen
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@Hans (Staid S Barr): Is the item also available via Canadian Amazon (amazon.ca), and have you tried that one?
Eric

If it is important, say it. Otherwise, let silence speak.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsamuelrichardscott
Registered: September 18, 2008
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Quoting Jubal:
Quote:
Staid:

You don't provide much interms of detail. But it could be that the distributor for whatever the series is has decided to get serious and clamp down on the words that are written on the back of the majority of DVDS, "Not for for sale or rental outside of the Unisted States" or whatever the exact choice of verbiage is, not all distributors make such commets, but some do and perhaps someone has gottenserious about it.
For example Dreamworks states "Licensed for sale only in the U.S." Warner has a similar statement.

Skip


I remember reading somewhere on another forum that because the exchange in money goes via a US card system, it counts as being sold in the US.  It was a rep from one of the big stores (maybe DeepDiscount @ DVDTalk?).  Whether true or not, I don't know...
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsamuelrichardscott
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Oh, and as long as they keep sending me them, I don't care about the law  
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMuckl
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Registered: April 9, 2009
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The other day I wanted to order a Johnny Depp Collection from Amazon.co.uk (that one), but they didn't let me. When choosing the shipping address, there was a notice that this item couldn't be shipped outside the UK.

So, what Skip wrote might be the right answer in that case. Perhaps shipping season 4 was just a mistake...
 
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DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantStar Contributorsamuelrichardscott
Registered: September 18, 2008
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Quoting Muckl:
Quote:
The other day I wanted to order a Johnny Depp Collection from Amazon.co.uk (that one), but they didn't let me. When choosing the shipping address, there was a notice that this item couldn't be shipped outside the UK.

So, what Skip wrote might be the right answer in that case. Perhaps shipping season 4 was just a mistake...


I can't see it being by request of Optimum because they only release in the UK so any additional sales would be a bonus.
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorDJ Doena
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Quoting Muckl:
Quote:
The other day I wanted to order a Johnny Depp Collection from Amazon.co.uk (that one), but they didn't let me. When choosing the shipping address, there was a notice that this item couldn't be shipped outside the UK.


I just tried it and the process went until "place your order" at which I aborted. There was no indication that it wouldn't let me buy it with a german adress. Maybe you inadvertently tried to by via MarketPlace?
Karsten
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Registered: March 13, 2007
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Quoting Muckl:
Quote:
The other day I wanted to order a Johnny Depp Collection from Amazon.co.uk (that one), but they didn't let me. When choosing the shipping address, there was a notice that this item couldn't be shipped outside the UK.

So, what Skip wrote might be the right answer in that case. Perhaps shipping season 4 was just a mistake...


As your flag shows your living in Germany: if Amazon.co.uk says they can't because of distributor conditions, both the distributor and the retailer act in direct violation of EU law. Remember this is completely similar to car companies blocking cross-border (but within the EU) sales of their cars, which resulted in hefty fines (if memory serves me right 90 million euro alone for Peugeot...).
Of course you would have to report it to the autorities. Then again, you could inform Amazon before and see if the shock helps. I think even the reason is irrelevant, but perhaps a UK laywer can help here if there is one on the forums here.

There are tons of internet retailers in the UK. Tried any others?
Eric

If it is important, say it. Otherwise, let silence speak.
DVD Profiler Unlimited RegistrantMuckl
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Registered: April 9, 2009
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Quoting DJ Doena:
Quote:
Quoting Muckl:
Quote:
The other day I wanted to order a Johnny Depp Collection from Amazon.co.uk (that one), but they didn't let me. When choosing the shipping address, there was a notice that this item couldn't be shipped outside the UK.


I just tried it and the process went until "place your order" at which I aborted. There was no indication that it wouldn't let me buy it with a german adress. Maybe you inadvertently tried to by via MarketPlace?

Fascinating... tried again, worked fine. But I'm sure I haven't ordered via MarketPlace last time either.


Quoting eommen:
Quote:
As your flag shows your living in Germany: if Amazon.co.uk says they can't because of distributor conditions, both the distributor and the retailer act in direct violation of EU law. Remember this is completely similar to car companies blocking cross-border (but within the EU) sales of their cars, which resulted in hefty fines (if memory serves me right 90 million euro alone for Peugeot...).
Of course you would have to report it to the autorities. Then again, you could inform Amazon before and see if the shock helps. I think even the reason is irrelevant, but perhaps a UK laywer can help here if there is one on the forums here.

There are tons of internet retailers in the UK. Tried any others?

That's a good point I honestly haven't thought of. The box isn't as important to me as let's say filling a gap between seasons, so I neither have contacted Amazon about this issue nor tried another retailer yet. The notice before checkout only stated that it's not possible to ship this item, without any explanation why.

Didn't want to hijack Staid S Barr's thread, this just came to my mind and thought it could have been a similar case
 
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DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorStaid S Barr
Registered: Oct 16, 2003
Registered: May 9, 2007
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Quoting Jubal:
Quote:
Staid:

You don't provide much interms of detail. But it could be that the distributor for whatever the series is has decided to get serious and clamp down on the words that are written on the back of the majority of DVDS, "Not for for sale or rental outside of the Unisted States" or whatever the exact choice of verbiage is, not all distributors make such commets, but some do and perhaps someone has gottenserious about it.
For example Dreamworks states "Licensed for sale only in the U.S." Warner has a similar statement.

Skip

If that were the case, why ship Season 4 (released on the same date), and earlier Seasons 1 and 2, and make an exception for Season 3? As for the distributor, that would be Amazon.

As for the details, this is about Zoey 101, Season 3. And of course, I only want it for profiling...
Hans
 Last edited: by Staid S Barr
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorStaid S Barr
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Quoting eommen:
Quote:
@Hans (Staid S Barr): Is the item also available via Canadian Amazon (amazon.ca), and have you tried that one?

It's not available there, but thanks for the tip (I did check at Amazon's UK and German stores).
Hans
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorStaid S Barr
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Quoting samuelrichardscott:
Quote:
Oh, and as long as they keep sending me them, I don't care about the law  

That's my point. Until recently, nobody cared and anybody's money is good enough. Even now the particular selection of what is sold and what is not is not understood.
Hans
DVD Profiler Desktop and Mobile RegistrantStar ContributorStaid S Barr
Registered: Oct 16, 2003
Registered: May 9, 2007
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Quoting Muckl:
Quote:
The other day I wanted to order a Johnny Depp Collection from Amazon.co.uk (that one), but they didn't let me. When choosing the shipping address, there was a notice that this item couldn't be shipped outside the UK.

So, what Skip wrote might be the right answer in that case. Perhaps shipping season 4 was just a mistake...

Season 4 is still offered for sale without the notice.
Hans
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