Have been stepping on toes - again!
Higgins
GermanyPosts: 16,619MI6 Agent
Just wanted to share my recent experience which embarrassed me while I think, that I've not been doing anything wrong.
As many of you know, I am also a massive Magnum PI fan since over 30 years. Of course I have all the episodes on DVD, I've bought every single season as soon as it was released.
Now in december I saw a Magnum PI Blu Ray set bein announced on Amazon UK and I've preordered it for GBP 170 for the set.
I was quite thrilled as the picture quality on the DVDs is not really great! Lots of grain and hiss and colors are very off as all episodes where shot on real film. I was assuming that the Blu Rays would be a similar step forward like the 007 movies where.
Couple of days ago, I have received my set, watched one of the first episodes (which I remember having a lot of quality issues) and was more than disappointed! Colours where not adjusted, sharpness not significantly improved, grain all over the place and hiss has even gotten more.
I've returned the set immediately to Amazon and left a 2 star review.
2 days ago, I have checked that review seeing that I've received 2 replies - one from a guy named Richard Walker and it was pretty nasty. It was basically about me having no clue and having posted an uneducated and idiotic reply.
I've replied to this asking if he had anything constructive to say besides personal insults.
Yesterday, I've checked the comments again and this guy posted even stronger insults (well yes, I am used to them, but...) saying that he won't review his own product.
Bearing that in mind, I've googled his name and found out that he's the owner of Fabulous Films, as company that deals with niche 80s series in the UK.
Called the guy up and have been flooded with anger and some really bold words.
I became to realize, that it's a very small company and they received the improved Masters by Universal Studios and have done a small run of 500 sets after having invested 100.000 quid.
My review was the only one and ovbiously is keeping almost everybody off from buying it and that this run was one of the largest that they've done so far.
He told me, that they can't improve the quality further without really restoring the masters, which will be out of their budget. Grain they could filter out but it'd leave the images "flat".
At the end of the day - and selling professionally on amazon and knowing how much a bad review can influence your sales (my competitors are using their "friends" to post negative reviews about my items - they are the only negative reviews so far) - I have removed my review but told him, that I was disappointed with his product and that it was my subjective opinion.
So, I am now not harming a small company anymore but others will buy this set with similar expectations and may be disappointed as well - and problably feeling ripped off in the face of the high price.
What are your thoughts?
As many of you know, I am also a massive Magnum PI fan since over 30 years. Of course I have all the episodes on DVD, I've bought every single season as soon as it was released.
Now in december I saw a Magnum PI Blu Ray set bein announced on Amazon UK and I've preordered it for GBP 170 for the set.
I was quite thrilled as the picture quality on the DVDs is not really great! Lots of grain and hiss and colors are very off as all episodes where shot on real film. I was assuming that the Blu Rays would be a similar step forward like the 007 movies where.
Couple of days ago, I have received my set, watched one of the first episodes (which I remember having a lot of quality issues) and was more than disappointed! Colours where not adjusted, sharpness not significantly improved, grain all over the place and hiss has even gotten more.
I've returned the set immediately to Amazon and left a 2 star review.
2 days ago, I have checked that review seeing that I've received 2 replies - one from a guy named Richard Walker and it was pretty nasty. It was basically about me having no clue and having posted an uneducated and idiotic reply.
I've replied to this asking if he had anything constructive to say besides personal insults.
Yesterday, I've checked the comments again and this guy posted even stronger insults (well yes, I am used to them, but...) saying that he won't review his own product.
Bearing that in mind, I've googled his name and found out that he's the owner of Fabulous Films, as company that deals with niche 80s series in the UK.
Called the guy up and have been flooded with anger and some really bold words.
I became to realize, that it's a very small company and they received the improved Masters by Universal Studios and have done a small run of 500 sets after having invested 100.000 quid.
My review was the only one and ovbiously is keeping almost everybody off from buying it and that this run was one of the largest that they've done so far.
He told me, that they can't improve the quality further without really restoring the masters, which will be out of their budget. Grain they could filter out but it'd leave the images "flat".
At the end of the day - and selling professionally on amazon and knowing how much a bad review can influence your sales (my competitors are using their "friends" to post negative reviews about my items - they are the only negative reviews so far) - I have removed my review but told him, that I was disappointed with his product and that it was my subjective opinion.
So, I am now not harming a small company anymore but others will buy this set with similar expectations and may be disappointed as well - and problably feeling ripped off in the face of the high price.
What are your thoughts?
President of the 'Misty Eyes Club'.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Comments
But as I have learnt, Blu Ray is not per se better, it very much depends on to what degree the Masters have been restored.
In the case of Fabulous Films, the owner convinced me, that they took the optimum out of what they've been given by the Studio and that they alone with their small numbers have no way of financing a true restauration to a degree like the 007 movies have been done. And we are speaking about 170 Episodes versus ca. 15 movies.
If I destroy this project to them with my review, it's likely that they won't issue other series (that may be long awaited by fans) in the future.
I came to the conclusion that in this case, I'd only be buying the Blu Ray, if the Masters have been restored by the Studio themselfs (which probably never will happen).
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
In my opinion there is nothing more dissapointing then a blu ray transfer that is little to no improvement then a DVD
It sounds like you feel bad as do not want to ruin a small company (which is very good of you) however I still think you have a right to complain that its poor / non improvement. After all blu-ray is marketed as superior.
I fully understand you "cant polish a turd" and cant do much improvement if the masters are poor to begin with etc however studios or distributors should warn the buyers if there is little improvement - especially if you have paid £170!!
Im sure more negative reviews will appear soon for a box set at that price
But we all know how journalistic articles are fabricated in those days.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
In my opinion what is the point of the blu ray transfer to begin with if you cannot improve the dvd version?
I remember when blu ray first took off - many studios did "lazy" transfers which were literally the same as the DVD counterpart. Years later they finally released a better "transfer"
I agree -{
If I'd paid £170 for this set I'd expect a 'true' bluray transfer...anything less is just robbery ! I don't accept his excuses either, he sounds like a conman X-(
I am also convinced that there is a lot of heartblood in that company and that they honestly do everything in their capabilities to give people the best product!
And I am sure that he's not making Aston Martin money out of this if you understand what I mean.
I've also copied him with the thread url to give him further unbiased opinions from other mad fans.
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!
Well done Higgins you've been overly decent about the whole thing {[]
Mind you, I don't think you're one to comment on colour quality, bearing your footwear history in mind
Dalton - the weak and weepy Bond!