Anyone's having same damages at the barcodes on those 5 free hddvds? called toshiba & they told me that those damages were purposely made!!!

I have 5 free blurays too & they're like retail condition!

This is a common problem with the 5 free HD DVDs that people have recieved through this promotion, especially with the Universal titles.

The 3 I got have no damage of any kind.
Apollo 13,four brothers and, dukes of hazzard. Just looked at them the cases are flawless.. Odd

i guess alot of people have been returning movies for credit at retail

I'm sure it's intentionally done so you can't walk into Wal-Mart (for example) and "return" them for cash.

I've got more of gashes across the barcodes on The Rundown, U-571, and Seabiscuit. All Universal titles. The gashes are pretty deep too, damaged the box pretty good.

Universal could have easily printed up special covers just for this promotion that have a disclaimer on it stating that it could not be sold or whatever.

I can understand the reason they do it but it'd be cosmetically more appealing if it were just a hole thru the upc rather than the lengthly gashes they are doing. Guess you can't complain too much when they are in fact free. At least replacement cases are inexpensive.

I'm sure it's intentionally done so you can't walk into Wal-Mart (for example) and "return" them for cash.

Universal must think HDDVD player's owners are dirt cheap!!!:mad:

We do deserve a little respect, listen up Universal.

Universal could have easily printed up special covers just for this promotion that have a disclaimer on it stating that it could not be sold or whatever.

They could, but then what's the point of plowing through current inventory if you have to pay more to move it out (by making new covers)? And, there's nothing to say that you couldn't put these up on ebay and still make some cash off of it. Sure, you can do the same with the "cut" versions, but the value of it has just dropped because most people, especially with HD-DVD or BD crowd, like their cases to be pristine.

This is simply done to keep people from returning the items to say Wal-Mart or Best Buy. They've been doing this for YEARS with promotional CD's, DVD's, etc. I don't see why people find this shocking.

If the cases are that badly damaged, call the promotion people on the offer and ask for a replacement. If that fails, there are sites that sell the cases for pretty cheap.

.

That's what I did... went in to Circuit City and got a $106 credit for 4 movies... The only Universal title I had (with a damaged barcode), was Seabiscuit, which I wanted to keep...

nice job committing fraud..

by the way, for people that have cuts on the upc read the thread in the hddvd players forum - an archway rep posted a phone number to call and request replacements.

nice job committing fraud..

by the way, for people that have cuts on the upc read the thread in the hddvd players forum - an archway rep posted a phone number to call and request replacements.

replacements of same titles & same barcode cuts???

That's what I did... went in to Circuit City and got a $106 credit for 4 movies... The only Universal title I had (with a damaged barcode), was Seabiscuit, which I wanted to keep...

don't think any local store accept returns without receipts!

That's what I did... went in to Circuit City and got a $106 credit for 4 movies... The only Universal title I had (with a damaged barcode), was Seabiscuit, which I wanted to keep...

and this folks, is why they do it...

don't blame the manufacturer/distributor... blame your fellow buyers... because if there's a way to commit fraud, they will...

ps. i don't care about the case, personally... i don't put it in my player...

My Universals were, I was pissed.

I threw them in some spare HDDVD cases I had bough, so now the plastic on the rear is fine but the rear label is still visibly gashed (before I changed cases the plastic was badly damaged on them and was hanging off.)

None of my Blu Rays were.

Whatever. Free is free I guess.

My Universals were, I was pissed.

I threw them in some spare HDDVD cases I had bough, so now the plastic on the rear is fine but the rear label is still visibly gashed (before I changed cases the plastic was badly damaged on them and was hanging off.)

None of my Blu Rays were.

Whatever. Free is free I guess.You can print new covers.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=765165

I finally got my 5 free today. The Rundown had a little gash on it that's not too bad. The plastic is barely touched and its only on the UPC so I guess I ended up better than some people did since I was worried I'd have some mangled case. For some reason though The Chronicles Of Riddick which is also from Universal didn't have any cuts or anything. My other three films were from either Warner or Paramount and they were fine.

My Universals were, I was pissed.

I threw them in some spare HDDVD cases I had bough, so now the plastic on the rear is fine but the rear label is still visibly gashed (before I changed cases the plastic was badly damaged on them and was hanging off.)

None of my Blu Rays were.

Whatever. Free is free I guess.

Blame this guy and all the others like him.

That's what I did... went in to Circuit City and got a $106 credit for 4 movies... The only Universal title I had (with a damaged barcode), was Seabiscuit, which I wanted to keep...

Damaged barcodes have been common in media promotions for decades. (They used to be called "punchouts"... I don't know if that term is still in vogue.)

As mentioned, it's to prevent heavily discounted and/or promotional items from being returned back to a store (and, consequently, back to the studio) for full credit.

You can print new covers.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=765165

Well holy shi t, that's actually pretty useful. if I can somehow find decent ink and paper I just might, because as it is the backs are pretty mangled.

I don't know why it bothers me so much - it's not as if it affects playback, guess I'm just that friggin' anal.


I also see that Equilibrium is on that list. Good deal, because the fact that my Japanese copy has a standard DVD-sized case has always made it look odd among the other HDDVD's.

Don't know how I missed that thread. Thanks man.

They could also just remove the shrinkwrap that way no store would take them back either. I suppose that would be more labor intensive then quickly slashing the UPC and case though.

I still think it is funny that people are complaining about FREE stuff. It didn't hurt the movies...it only hurt you chances of ripping off one of your local stores.

I still think it is funny that people are complaining about FREE stuff. It didn't hurt the movies...it only hurt you chances of ripping off one of your local stores.

The 5 free HD-DVD offer was an enormous incentive for a huge amount of people to buy a new player (myself included.)

I didn't expect 3 of them to look like they were put through a shredder.

It's dishonest. Why not save money on packaging and just send them in bare paper sleeves? Still technically "free," right?

Please.

I had no intention of trying to reurn them, but I didn't want them looking like they got in a cage match with a bear either. They look like shi t, and that bothers some people.

I would not blame them at all. Imagine how many potential returns that could be. I won't freak if mine are cut...as long as the discs work.

The 5 free HD-DVD offer was an enormous incentive for a huge amount of people to buy a new player (myself included.)

I didn't expect 3 of them to look like they were put through a shredder.

It's dishonest. Why not save money on packaging and just send them in bare paper sleeves? Still technically "free," right?

Please.

I had no intention of trying to reurn them, but I didn't want them looking like they got in a cage match with a bear either. They look like shi t, and that bothers some people.

....put thru a shredder. I'd return them to Toshiba.

Damaged barcodes have been common in media promotions for decades. (They used to be called "punchouts"... I don't know if that term is still in vogue.)

As mentioned, it's to prevent heavily discounted and/or promotional items from being returned back to a store (and, consequently, back to the studio) for full credit.

yup, punchouts... you'll see cd's floating around that way too...

i really don't understand the caterwauling here... again, you don't put the case in the player... i guess i can find more things in life to stress about than a dvd case...

Just out of curiosity, when did most of you start receiving your 5 free hd-dvd movies in the mail? I purchased my HD-D1 about 8 weeks ago, and still nothing....

Damaged barcodes have been common in media promotions for decades. (They used to be called "punchouts"... I don't know if that term is still in vogue.)

As mentioned, it's to prevent heavily discounted and/or promotional items from being returned back to a store (and, consequently, back to the studio) for full credit.

Correct, althought I think 'cut outs' is the proper term.

A lot of my LP collection had cut corners, dime size punch holes and/or BB holes punched through the label......anyway, the burn mark on the DVD cases didn't bother me.

At least you folks got in on the 5 free deal. Many of us got nothing for being early adopters. I'll gladly take any HD DVD with slashed barcodes... Looking to donate them? I'll take them! ;)

Blame this guy and all the others like him.
Exactly, always have to take into account the lowest common denominator.

The 5 free HD-DVD offer was an enormous incentive for a huge amount of people to buy a new player (myself included.)

I didn't expect 3 of them to look like they were put through a shredder.

It's dishonest. Why not save money on packaging and just send them in bare paper sleeves? Still technically "free," right?

Please.

I had no intention of trying to reurn them, but I didn't want them looking like they got in a cage match with a bear either. They look like shi t, and that bothers some people.

I'll buy this argument. It sounds like Universal is sending out discs with cases that are pretty damaged. I've got a lot of CDs and DVDs that are punch-outs, and they're all done pretty indiscreetly - just a small innocuous cut in the barcode. If the Universal titles are coming out pretty damaged, then yes, I think that is evading the impression that's given by offering 5 free HD-DVDs. "Free" isn't equivalent to "FUBARed."

They could also just remove the shrinkwrap that way no store would take them back either. I suppose that would be more labor intensive then quickly slashing the UPC and case though.

Agree! Just remove the damn shrinkwraps!!! Stupid Universal!!!

Agree! Just remove the damn shrinkwraps!!! Stupid Universal!!!

It's quicker and cheaper to do what they did. The less they spend on these items, the more money they can use elsewhere (i.e. better disc features or whatever). At least in theory.

It's quicker and cheaper to do what they did. The less they spend on these items, the more money they can use elsewhere (i.e. better disc features or whatever). At least in theory.

Actually I figured it would have been quicker just to print out replacement covers for the HD-DVD titles (all of them), as a "Special Run" cover insert on the case. Make sure these new "Special Run" covers have no UPC code printed on them, and no muss no fuss. You could have had all the work done AT the actual HD-DVD Printer/Distributor easy peasy.

Either way tho, I'm used to "Cut Outs". Free is free. If the label / case is mangled and it bothers me.. I'll just print out a replacement custom insert cover and put it all in new HD-DVD Cases. No big deal, and it still cost me WAAAAY less than if I had to BUY all 5 titles.

As a "collector" - I want my cases/sleeves pristine. I Don't care if they're free or not. If I get damaged/barcode scratched discs - I know I'll end up just replacing them. And selling the damaged ones to try and recoup my loss.