 | FACT's Guide to buying and selling DVD's safely
| FACT's Guide to buying and selling DVDs safely |
What is FACT?
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What is FACT?The content of this guide is provided by FACT, the UK’s leading trade organisation established to protect the film industry against piracy. Film piracy in the UK is a serious problem, generating over £270m a year for criminals. It is a crime that brings harm and crime to local communities and is linked to other crimes involving firearms and offensive weapons, benefit fraud, people smuggling, drugs and other serious criminal acts. Film piracy is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine, as well as seizure of assets. FACT, the Federation Against Copyright Theft, is the film industry’s enforcement body and investigates film piracy across the UK, working with Police and Trading Standards. eBay regularly works with FACT and with Trading Standards to prevent and deter piracy on eBay.co.uk. |
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FACT’s Guide: How to avoid buying a pirated DVD
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FACT’s Guide: How to avoid buying a pirated DVD Many eBay users may be tempted to buy DVDs from sellers on eBay offering cheap, brand-new, and seemingly hard-to-find DVDs. But the message is, if it seems too good to be true it often is, and the chances are that buyers may be left with a poor-quality and illegal copy. Below is FACT's checklist for what to look out for before bidding on a DVD: Is the film still being shown in the cinema? Has the film been released on DVD yet?
If a film is still being shown in the cinema then it is likely to be a counterfeit. You can check here to see whether the film has been officially released on DVD: www.officialdvd.co.uk Does the film have a company hologram on the inner sleeve?
If this isn’t obvious from the listing, ask the seller to send you an additional photograph which shows the hologram. Most legitimate DVDs now carry a hologram. Does the DVD come in a plastic case or card box?
Illegal copies often are packaged in a polythene wallet with no hard case. Official DVDs come in well produced packaging in heavy duty card or plastic hard cases. Is the film title hand written on the DVD disc itself?
If so, it is likely to be a pirated DVD. Official DVDs have properly printed artwork covering the whole of one side of the disc. Is the DVD’s release date the right one?
Pirate DVDs may display incorrect dates. You can check here to see whether the film has been officially released on DVD: www.officialdvd.co.uk Does the DVD claim to be from ‘All’ Zone region code?
DVDs from the UK should be from Region 2. If a DVD is sold as "all region" it is a good indicator that it is a pirated DVD. You can check the correct region coding at www.officialdvd.co.uk
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Additional Advice from FACT for buying DVDs safely on eBay
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Additional Advice from FACT for buying DVDs safely on eBayTo minimise the risk of buying a pirated DVD through eBay, FACT recommends some basic steps. Many of these steps are those that are recommended as part of any eBay purchase: Read the item description very carefully and make sure that you know exactly what you’re buying. If you’re unsure, ask the seller to clarify any questions or concerns you may have. They are normally very happy to help you if it means they will get a sale. Learn as much as you can about the seller. Check their feedback – not just the score, but also dig deeper and look out for some of the following:
- whether the person has been buying a lot of low-value items, because they may have been doing so to build up their feedback score.
- the kinds of items that they have been buying or selling – make sure that the person’s eBay record makes them look like either an established DVD retailer or a private individual selling a used DVD.
- how long they have been registered on the site – if they have been trading for a reasonable period of time, with a positive feedback score, they are more likely to be a trusted seller.
Ask the seller questions – where they bought the DVD from, whether they have a retail shop or what their company number is. Unscrupulous sellers will tend not to answer such questions or their answers will be evasive. If you are buying, make sure that you are paying with PayPal. It is a much more secure way of paying on eBay than any other because it offers purchase protection to buyers.
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General Tips from eBay on Buying with Confidence
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General Tips from eBay on Buying with ConfidenceThis content is provided by eBay Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you’re buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you. Know your purchase Carefully read the details in item listings. Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you want more information, ask by clicking the “Ask seller a question” link under the seller’s profile. Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs. Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.
Know your seller Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction. What is the seller’s Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have? What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise? Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they accept returns? What are the terms and conditions?
Buyer protection In the event that a problem arises during a transaction, both eBay and PayPal have programmes and processes that can help. Find out more about eBay's Standard Protection Programme. Using PayPal may also make you eligible for additional Purchase Protection. Find out more. Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers eBay Safety Centre: Visit the Safety Centreto learn how to protect your account and use eBay’s quick and efficient resolution tools.
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