Best Buy #59 dvd refund policy out of date, dvd's can't be copied now Madison Wisconsin

I would try going back to the store and getting it back (perhaps loss prevention kept it in a lost & found) I'm not sure the laws on abandonded property etc.

There's an important fact here everyone is missing. The Customer left the item at the store. You did NOT return it. You abandoned it. there is NO FRAUD. You were kind enough to donate the item by leaving it on the counter and walking out. Basically saying the store could do with it what they please. Throw it away. Resell it to another customer etc. If it comes to court, the store will say the customer service rep tried to stop you and ask that you take the item with you. But you ignored them, with 3-5 other employees to backup the statement. (regardless if that is true or not)

File a small claims court action against best buy for what? Because they sell a DVD from Disney that contains previews you can't fast forward through? They have 10,000 DVD's on the shelf. It's impossible for the store to know what every film contains. That's why they have ratings like PG PG-13 R etc. How about suing Disney? Remember the DVD standard (both the player & the actual DVD disc) are private licensing agreements. They could make the entire DVD that you couldn't FF or Rewind etc. You're not allowed to build your own DVD player without a license from Sony/Philips

I have not read the wisconsin attorney general's complaint, but it's probably in regards to service plans. It doesn't matter what the sales person tells you (either you forgot what he actually verbally said, or he never said that and he claims your making it up etc. It's all hear say) You get a printed copy of the contract. If you don't like it, don't buy from the store.

The DVD studio's usually offer a tech support line for things like "the dvd doesn't play. I've swapped out 3 at the local store. Same problem" sometimes they will have a refund on the title if you send in the store reciept. I was able to do this with one title. So call them. Maybe they will give you a refund.

Lastly, a retail store does NOT have to offer ANY return policy at all. There is no 72hr cooling off period. Under federal or state laws. Places like walmart (which I personally not a big fan of) change there return policy based on how many times you use it.

I would try going back to the store and getting it back (perhaps loss prevention kept it in a lost & found) I'm not sure the laws on abandonded property etc.

There's an important fact here everyone is missing. The Customer left the item at the store. You did NOT return it. You abandoned it. there is NO FRAUD. You were kind enough to donate the item by leaving it on the counter and walking out. Basically saying the store could do with it what they please. Throw it away. Resell it to another customer etc. If it comes to court, the store will say the customer service rep tried to stop you and ask that you take the item with you. But you ignored them, with 3-5 other employees to backup the statement. (regardless if that is true or not)

File a small claims court action against best buy for what? Because they sell a DVD from Disney that contains previews you can't fast forward through? They have 10,000 DVD's on the shelf. It's impossible for the store to know what every film contains. That's why they have ratings like PG PG-13 R etc. How about suing Disney? Remember the DVD standard (both the player & the actual DVD disc) are private licensing agreements. They could make the entire DVD that you couldn't FF or Rewind etc. You're not allowed to build your own DVD player without a license from Sony/Philips

I have not read the wisconsin attorney general's complaint, but it's probably in regards to service plans. It doesn't matter what the sales person tells you (either you forgot what he actually verbally said, or he never said that and he claims your making it up etc. It's all hear say) You get a printed copy of the contract. If you don't like it, don't buy from the store.

The DVD studio's usually offer a tech support line for things like "the dvd doesn't play. I've swapped out 3 at the local store. Same problem" sometimes they will have a refund on the title if you send in the store reciept. I was able to do this with one title. So call them. Maybe they will give you a refund.

Lastly, a retail store does NOT have to offer ANY return policy at all. There is no 72hr cooling off period. Under federal or state laws. Places like walmart (which I personally not a big fan of) change there return policy based on how many times you use it.

I would try going back to the store and getting it back (perhaps loss prevention kept it in a lost & found) I'm not sure the laws on abandonded property etc.

There's an important fact here everyone is missing. The Customer left the item at the store. You did NOT return it. You abandoned it. there is NO FRAUD. You were kind enough to donate the item by leaving it on the counter and walking out. Basically saying the store could do with it what they please. Throw it away. Resell it to another customer etc. If it comes to court, the store will say the customer service rep tried to stop you and ask that you take the item with you. But you ignored them, with 3-5 other employees to backup the statement. (regardless if that is true or not)

File a small claims court action against best buy for what? Because they sell a DVD from Disney that contains previews you can't fast forward through? They have 10,000 DVD's on the shelf. It's impossible for the store to know what every film contains. That's why they have ratings like PG PG-13 R etc. How about suing Disney? Remember the DVD standard (both the player & the actual DVD disc) are private licensing agreements. They could make the entire DVD that you couldn't FF or Rewind etc. You're not allowed to build your own DVD player without a license from Sony/Philips

I have not read the wisconsin attorney general's complaint, but it's probably in regards to service plans. It doesn't matter what the sales person tells you (either you forgot what he actually verbally said, or he never said that and he claims your making it up etc. It's all hear say) You get a printed copy of the contract. If you don't like it, don't buy from the store.

The DVD studio's usually offer a tech support line for things like "the dvd doesn't play. I've swapped out 3 at the local store. Same problem" sometimes they will have a refund on the title if you send in the store reciept. I was able to do this with one title. So call them. Maybe they will give you a refund.

Lastly, a retail store does NOT have to offer ANY return policy at all. There is no 72hr cooling off period. Under federal or state laws. Places like walmart (which I personally not a big fan of) change there return policy based on how many times you use it.

I would try going back to the store and getting it back (perhaps loss prevention kept it in a lost & found) I'm not sure the laws on abandonded property etc.

There's an important fact here everyone is missing. The Customer left the item at the store. You did NOT return it. You abandoned it. there is NO FRAUD. You were kind enough to donate the item by leaving it on the counter and walking out. Basically saying the store could do with it what they please. Throw it away. Resell it to another customer etc. If it comes to court, the store will say the customer service rep tried to stop you and ask that you take the item with you. But you ignored them, with 3-5 other employees to backup the statement. (regardless if that is true or not)

File a small claims court action against best buy for what? Because they sell a DVD from Disney that contains previews you can't fast forward through? They have 10,000 DVD's on the shelf. It's impossible for the store to know what every film contains. That's why they have ratings like PG PG-13 R etc. How about suing Disney? Remember the DVD standard (both the player & the actual DVD disc) are private licensing agreements. They could make the entire DVD that you couldn't FF or Rewind etc. You're not allowed to build your own DVD player without a license from Sony/Philips

I have not read the wisconsin attorney general's complaint, but it's probably in regards to service plans. It doesn't matter what the sales person tells you (either you forgot what he actually verbally said, or he never said that and he claims your making it up etc. It's all hear say) You get a printed copy of the contract. If you don't like it, don't buy from the store.

The DVD studio's usually offer a tech support line for things like "the dvd doesn't play. I've swapped out 3 at the local store. Same problem" sometimes they will have a refund on the title if you send in the store reciept. I was able to do this with one title. So call them. Maybe they will give you a refund.

Lastly, a retail store does NOT have to offer ANY return policy at all. There is no 72hr cooling off period. Under federal or state laws. Places like walmart (which I personally not a big fan of) change there return policy based on how many times you use it.

I work with DVD's all the time and there is a little trick you can do to skip over the ads. What you do is hold the DVD up to a lighted area, count the number of circles that are used. They are usually a little darker than the blank section of the DVD, Also start counting from the inside of the disk, not the out side as most believe.

Then what you do is divide the number of circles by the number of minutes that the entire disk plays for. Say the disk is 50 minutes total playing time and there are 100 circles. If the part you want to skip over is in the beginning and the movie does not start until minute number 10 that means 10 minutes of a 50-minute disk is 20% and 20% of 100 circles equals 20 circles. Now take a sharp object such as a nail, a knife, a pop top, or anything else you can find laying around the house and vigorously scratch the living crap out of the first 20 lines.

Now when you put the Fantastic Four DVD into the DVD player, the laser will automatically skip over that section and go straight to the movie. Please remember though that the first 20 lines are smaller than the last 20 lines, so you may have to try it after the first scrapping and possible remove the disk and scratch a few more lines. The theory of the first 20 lines is only a reference point for starters.

Another way you can solve this problem, but is very time consuming is the take a roll of packing tape and tape up the entire face side of the disk. Duck tape will work also if you do not have any packing tape on hand. Then carefully take a utility knife and carve a circle on the 20th. line. Carefully remove the outer tape so only the first 20 lines are covered, and wala, pop your DVD in the DVD player and again, the laser will slide right over the commercials and previews, and your movie will start instantly.

The only disadvantage to using tape versus the scrapping method is if you leave the DVD in the DVD player too long and the tape gets too hot, the adhesive will drip down on the laser causing your DVD player to not work at all. The good news then though is even though your DVD player no longer works, at least you will no longer have that awful, not called for and very annoying commercial at the beginning of the Fantastic Four DVD.

I really do have to agree with you though on that commercial crap. I mean with as far advanced as we are in technology and when you finally get to that point in life when you can sit down and say life is great, and you can see that pot of gold at the end of the rain bow, Best Buy has to go and pull this crap and put a commercial on the Fantastic Four DVD.

You can't blame Best Buy in the least for your situation. It's not their fault that the dvd had the stuff that can't be FF at the beginning. Plus policy states DVDs and CDs can only be exchanged if defective and no refunds given. Under certain circumstances you may luck out and get a refund through a manager, but you ruined that by just leaving without the DVD. With the no refund policy a DVD just sitting there can't be put back in the system unless being exchanged so there wouldn't be a record of it. That's why you couldn't even get another copy because they can't link it to you since you just left it there. It probably just got tossed in the defective DVD bin and that was the end of that. Since you left it there they couldn't do anything else with it. So you can only blame the source not the distributor and yourself for leaving the DVD.

The reason that Best Buy has that no return policy in place is because of the copy-right laws in place today. I have worked up at the Customer Service Counter, and personally understand why that is. How are we (Best Buy) supposed to know if you (the consumer) has or hasn't made copies; and now decided to return it to essentially get a "Free" movie.

Now I do appologize if you were treated rudely, for rudeness is not the Best Buy Way, but please understand that the return policies are the way are to protect the consumer. So again I do appologieze for the store's rudeness; but please don't think down about best buy.

I have the Fantastic Four DVD, you get previews BEFORE you get to the menu. When you try to hit menu you get the hand or the disk with the circle and the line through it meaning you can't go to the menu. The way I got around it was hitting the fast forward button (not the SKIP, but Fast Forward). It worked on the two DVD players in my apartment like that just fine, as with all the other DVDs I rent/own.

are 22-23 minutes. That means there is only 7-8 minutes of commercials.

all 60 minute programs are actually 45-48 minutes of programming. 15-12 minutes are commercials.

seriously dont even exagerate.

"commercials" pay for those tv series you so like to watch. without them your favorite show may not be renewed next season. the products you see advertised help subsidize your network affiliate to air those shows.

otherwise, you'd have to pay to watch thse shows anyway. That's why HBO is turning to "weekly" serials as well, because they know people will pay for cable to watch them.

really, this is so trivial. in that ten minutes, you could do a world a favor.

I wasn't being a jerk, I was trying to explain some alternatives. You seem to be awfully PO'd about something so trivial.

You can write all the letters you want. But, do you honestly think that those huge movie studios are going to stop advertising their other movie offerings.

The movie studios are putting out a product for consumer consumption, if you do not like the product, as it is, then you, as the consumer, have the choice to not purchase said product.

As a previous responder stated, do you complain to the theaters and movie studios for putting ads and previews before the movie being shown on the screen?

I wasn't being a jerk, I was trying to explain some alternatives. You seem to be awfully PO'd about something so trivial.

You can write all the letters you want. But, do you honestly think that those huge movie studios are going to stop advertising their other movie offerings.

The movie studios are putting out a product for consumer consumption, if you do not like the product, as it is, then you, as the consumer, have the choice to not purchase said product.

As a previous responder stated, do you complain to the theaters and movie studios for putting ads and previews before the movie being shown on the screen?

I wasn't being a jerk, I was trying to explain some alternatives. You seem to be awfully PO'd about something so trivial.

You can write all the letters you want. But, do you honestly think that those huge movie studios are going to stop advertising their other movie offerings.

The movie studios are putting out a product for consumer consumption, if you do not like the product, as it is, then you, as the consumer, have the choice to not purchase said product.

As a previous responder stated, do you complain to the theaters and movie studios for putting ads and previews before the movie being shown on the screen?

Can't win for losing. People stopped going to movies because they've gotten so expensive. Attendance is down. Last movie I went to they had commercials at the start of the movie. On TV, a 30 minute show is down to 15 or 17 minutes with all the commercials. A one hour program is down to 30 or 35 minutes. People went to Tivo? and such to eliminate commercials. Now the companies are putting their products into the scripts. Watched Vegas one night and a**hole nbc puts a 10 minute plug for the olympics in at 40 minutes into the show. Now they're putting commercials into dvd's. I don't buy dvd's, that's another good reason. If we don't stand for it, they'll stop it.

Mitch,

The person who wrote the question about writing to Fox wasn't me. But good idea.
Yeah, your fustration should've been directed to the studios who created this problem in the first place. Hindsight really kills ya. But I also know when you're po'd about something, you first reaction is go to the store to shout and complain, knowing full well it won't accomplish a d**n thing. But it sure does feel good!

However, I don't believe we'll be seeing this trend end any time soon. So what can we do?

Next time, maybe you could make a sandwich or popcorn while the previews/ads are on? Throw a load of laundry in the wash or dryer? Find something to waste about 10 minutes or so and then sit down, relax, and enjoy your movie.

Robert thanks for your feedback, that's what Im looking for, like I said, my dvd player can fast forward thru preview on Disney dvd's, a couple of really early dvd's I have, I can fast forward thru the FBI warning. so with being able to do it, I'm reallu curious about the dvd I had, but can't try it, gave it back to best buy and told them what they could do with it... Thanks

Denise, I did write 20th century fox, asking why, no answer, I also explained that I had a couple of dvd's from other studios that had put the previews in there own separate sud-directory. Again no response, I also reported it to the Better Business Bureau in CA., they did send a form back for me to finish a couple of questions, one was what would I like done, I said a new dvd or on all dvds from the studio put the previews by themselves. I haven't heard a word.. Thanks

At least some of us care and are trying to stand up for a cause, unlike scott and others that just want to be a jerk about..

It doesn't stop with jerks does it, so your saying I didn't put the dvd in the player, see people, here's another that didn't read everything or he doesn't understand what is written or just being a smarta**..
I don't to watch on pay-per-view, what if I want the dvd for my collection, why should people have to watch previews and soon ads, you know I finally realize something here, all these nitwits are liberals, they want to push whatever they can down your throat, oh we are suppose to accept their ideas and ways, but if we don't do things their way, they are using mean langauge and being downright nasty..

P.s. I know that some studios have put previews under a separate menu bar, I have a couple of dvd's like that, i also wrote to 20th century fox to do just that and everyone would okay with it..

I had no problems. I did just like I said I do. I go straight to "scenes", select "scene1" and hit play.

The movie was okay...about what I expected. The comic books were better.

I had no problems. I did just like I said I do. I go straight to "scenes", select "scene1" and hit play.

The movie was okay...about what I expected. The comic books were better.

I had no problems. I did just like I said I do. I go straight to "scenes", select "scene1" and hit play.

The movie was okay...about what I expected. The comic books were better.

What did you tell Best Buy the reason was for wanting the refund. I would like to know. Please Respond.

Mitch I have a question for you. What kind of response did you get from 20th Century Fox when you asked them about the DVD doing this? And if you didn't ask them, then WHY NOT? THEY were the company that made the movie. NOT Best Buy. All Best Buy did was sell the DVD, thats it. And YES when I had rented the movie, I do remember that you couldn't skip the previews. But I didn't see it as a problem. One last question for you, The last time you went out to the movies, that is IF you ever do, did you go and complane to the management about having to sit through the previews? Please respond.

Some DVDs have previews in a separate category (like bloopers), but you never really know until you put the DVD into the player.

Since you are so deadset againt watching previews, then don't buy the DVDs. Use the pay-per-view feature of your cable or satellite provider (no previews).

I can't believe what I'm seeing for replies, use the remote, could be the dvd player; anyway the last three replies, I need to respond, wish I could tell them directly but can't, so far, Denise has been the only that understands..
So here goes, I'm not some country hick, I've computers and worked with some software, I buy mostly top of the line equipment, my dvd is one of the top of the line, so let me say again, I tried every button on the machine and on the remote, couldn't fast forward on the fantastic four dvd, let me give you more info on how good my machine is and how it's the studio that is programming the dvd's..

We all know that Disney was the first to start putting previews on their VHS tapes, well I have some Disney dvd's, guess what, my dvd player can fast forward thru the previews. I have a couple of dvd's that you can't actually fast forward thru the FBI warning, these are really early dvd's. So it's not the player and it's not me being a stupid operator, it's the studios programming the dvd's and it's going to get worse. Yes, I could buy them and copy them, but as consumers, we shouldn't have to put up with studios trying to shove their previews and some day ads, down our throats. Like I said above, I caught a article about networks being able to make people watch the ads (I think on the TiVo machines, but I'm not sure)...

So does everyone understand better now, I wrote Best Buy, telling them how stupid their policy was and if they would change it, they could make more money, but those college people think they know more. I said let people return dvds for a refund, give them a store credit, but can't be used for another dvd and must be used for a product than the purchase price of the dvd. Peopl might just turn around and buy computer equipment, tv's, appliances and they would make more money...

So anyone else, please no more comments on what to try or do, the only ones that should reply with a helpful hint is someone that has the fantastic four dvd and the same problem or no problem..
Thank You,
Mitch

Here's a little unit that Best Buy sells for analog recording:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6296572&type=product&id=1074788270290

Because I have noticed that what my DVD player in my family room allows, is not what the DVD player in bedroom allows.

It's not the DVD it's the player.

Try this. hit the skip button. (not FF) And keep hitting it until you get the the screen telling you about all the laws, it has worked for me on many machines. (you may not be able to get the menu when push the button, but you can use your remote amd skipped through the previews.)

Mitch -

Many times, the inablility to FF though certain sections of the DVD are a function of the player, and not the DVD itself. Next time you're shopping, ask the salesperson if the DVD has this ability. Also, I frequently copy my DVD's and edit out the commercials.

I have to respond to Robert & Denise, Thanks, Robert, your right dvd's can be copied, the easiest way is with two machines, but not the best for quality, yes there's software, but from what I research, most of it is banned, the best software was from Canada but that's been cut to people in the US. Plus you didn't read my statement that close, I tried fast forward and the "menu", but nothing. They are making dvds so you can't fast forward, just look at the FBI warning, if they can program the dvd to not be forwarded thru that, they can do anytime on the dvd....
Denise, very true, I tried the >>, didn't work, it's only going to get worse, everyone, wait till the studios decide to sell ads on dvds.. I didn't know about the bill you stated, but I did come across something else within the last week, I think it has to do with TiVo, that it read something like the networks can make it so that the ads have to be watched. I'm not sure of the whole thing, because I didn't read it close enough because I don't have a machine, so I breezed thru it.. but they are going to try everything in every market to get people to watch the ads and previews....

Everyone, it is only getting worse, look at some of the movies on channels like AMC, TNT, TBS, A&E and others, they take a 2 hr movie and show it in a 3 hr time slot, I've even seen a 2 hr movie in a 3 1/2 hr time slot. Maybe when people can buy only the channels they want, these networks will wise up but until then, they are going to shove it down our throats every minute..

DVDs can still be copied either for personal or illegal use (Not Recommended). It can be done with decryption software. Clone DVD 2 and software of the like work as well.

Anyway, some DVDs have been coded to disable the fast-forward feature on DVD players. Try to press >> and it will tell you this feature has been disabled or not available. You can't reach the Menu until all the previews/ads are finished.

However, the previews/ads, FBI warnings can be deleted by software when making your copy. (Again, Not Recommended).

Just think, there's a bill before Congress to make fast-forwarding through previews/ads illegal. It won't pass, but just something to ponder.

Who lied to you and said DVD's cannot be copied? I have a burner, and can make all the copies I want(I don't though). I haven't found one yet that cannot be copied. Some people make hundreds of copies and sell them. You can fast forward through the ads.

Go to the menu, and choose "scene" selection. Start at the first scene, and the movie will start from there.