More than half of the vhs sellers on Ebay are selling bootlegs -  otherwise known as pirated  or copies. They buy a brand new sealed movie at top price and then they make copies and resell them  as used either stating in a rental box, or showbox, or hardcase or clamshell-

Most movies that come in clamshells and are not stated as rentals are bootleg and not only illegal, but against ebay policy- this is not to be confused with legitimate studio released videos that do come in clamshells ie: Disney and a lot of other Children's videos- always ask if it's in studio issued packaging, as opposed to...

Color copy artwork inserted is another hint- If it's a studio original, where's the original box?

Look for expensive/rare movies shown at an unbelievably low prices- if it's too good to be true it probably is.

Also look at quantities- 20 copies listed in clamshells is a good indicator- if the movies are rare, how did this seller get so many and why are they not in their original cardboard sleeve?

No box at all is suspicious

You need to email these sellers w/questions before you bid, for your own good- no reply? they are avoiding you!! Don't be a victim of these bootleggers- it cost them no more than $2 to make the movie, when the honest sellers pay top dollar for quality collectible merchandise

follow up 6/26/06

Firstly, I want to thank everyone who has emailed me on this subject, and now I think it's time to reveal the names of the worst offenders. UNFORTUNATELY THE NAMES HAD TO BE REMOVED -  so video buyers only, (not dvd) - please feel free to email me should you doubt the authenticity of a rare out of print video or seller of videos.

It is time everyone stops getting ripped of and PLEASE stop supporting these bootleggers who are illegally selling their homemade videos as if they were studio released.

SELLERS NOTE: I highly suggest you place all  bootleggers on your blocked bidder list, so that they cannot use/purchase your brand new or mint video, to run copies- do not  contribute to their illegal activities!

follow up 7/6

As I can no longer list the user names of bootleggers, I have decided to provide you with a list of the most frequently pirated movies, NONE of these are legally on DVD, unless otherwise stated, I am hoping you will do a search on these titles, thus recognizing the same user names over and over, week after week, check their misspelled words, their verbiage etc., and in that way become familiar with these bootleggers: Most of them are usually $9.99 or lower on rare, hard to find, out of print videos, and usually have a close buy it now offer. I will be updating this list a couple of days per week.

A New Leaf vhs

Something for Joey vhs

Full Body Massage vhs                                            

The Promise vhs

On Borrowed Time vhs                                            

Smoky Mountain Christmas vhs

The Secret of Santa Vittoria vhs                              

My Brilliant Career vhs

Summer Of My German Soldier vhs                            

It Happened at the Worlds Fair vhs

The Enchanted Cottage vhs                                   

Yellowbeard vhs

Eddie Murphy- Delirious vhs

A Summer Place vhs                                                  

Hell to Eternity vhs

Rome Adventure vhs

China Beach Pilot vhs

Honeysuckle Rose vhs

Full of Life vhs

Resurrection Ellen Burstyn vhs

Boys in the Band vhs

Reincarnation of Peter Proud vhs

April Fools vhs

Love Among the ruins

Midnight Lace

Ode to Billie Joe vhs

Cold turkey vhs

The Gathering vhs

Golddiggers of 1935 vhs

A Gathering of Eagles never on DVD

Scavenger Hunt vhs

My Foolish Heart vhs

Back Street vhs

Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean vhs

OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES vhs

Rad vhs

Thrill of a Romance vhs

Rich Little A Christmas Carol vhs

Night of the Grizzly vhs

Trader Horn vhs

The Oscar vhs

Elvis- The Movie vhs

Susan Slept Here vhs

Phar Lap vhs