DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Calendar Events / Announcements Archive => Calendar Events / Announcements '24 I => Calendar Events / Announcements '06 I => Topic started by: ClaudeNorth on April 30, 2006, 02:07:33 AM
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http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=5562
Interesting bit of information from TVShowsOnDVD.com. ::)
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Bah, I think that anyone who would spend $50 - $60 on a DVD set from ANY show would be a die-hard fan.
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Methinks they don't want people finding a better deal elsewhere. ::)
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Methinks a lot of people are gonna have it out with MPI at the Festival. And why do we have to wait until February for the pre-Barnabas episodes, anyway? It's a slap in the face to all DS fans. Is MPI THAT worried that people aren't interested in the first ten months? How stupid!
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This sounds like the same nonsense they told us about the new Pilot only being shown at the 2005 Fest in LA.
Now, of course, it's going to be shown at the 2006 Fest.
They know that the die-hard fans are going to buy the early episodes. Why do the faithful have to jump through hoops for the privilege of keeping this franchise alive?
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If I were a betting man, I'd say from the language used in that report, and MPI's subsequent lack of specificity on the retail issue, I'd bet that the pre B eps eventually become available on DVD without having to join MPI's little club. Probably all a matter of patience.
Petofi
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Okay, just called MPI and they said that what TVShowsonDVD has reported is wrong! She DID say that MPI *may* release them to club members earlier than the general public as a sort of "thank you" for their loyalty etc...but that everyone else would definately be able to get them at Best Buy or through Amazon.com. She didn't know however if they'd be available to *everyone* in February, or to the club members in February and everyone else later. So, non-club members may have to wait until after February.
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Okay, just called MPI and they said that what TVShowsonDVD has reported is wrong! She DID say that MPI *may* release them to club members earlier than the general public as a sort of "thank you" for their loyalty etc...but that everyone else would definately be able to get them at Best Buy or through Amazon.com. She didn't know however if they'd be available to *everyone* in February, or to the club members in February and everyone else later. So, non-club members may have to wait until after February.
I just got an official DS DVD club email from MPI that mentions the upcoming release of the pre-Barnabas episodes on DVD. It specifically mentions that they will *NOT* be available to non-club members...I hope that's not the case, but here's the entire paragraph FYI...
The Pre-Barnabas Episodes are Coming to DVD!
Look for an announcement in the coming weeks about the release of the pre-Barnabas episodes on DVD. Details are still being finalized for the release, but DVD Club members will be the only people able to get these collections when they are released.
If you have any questions regarding your membership, please feel free to contact MPI via email at customerservice@mpimedia.com or by phone at 800.323.0442.
Thank you for your membership in the Dark Shadows DVD Club!
MPI Home Video
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Thank you for sharing that with us, drwhotrades. And welcome to the forum. :)
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And why do we have to wait until February for the pre-Barnabas episodes, anyway?
I'm thinking they don't want competition with the November 2006 release of the 40th Anniversary DVD which is due in November, 2006. September 2006 is the last DVD Set that will complete the ending of the show. November is two months later and then February 2007 is three months after that. Why three months is anyone's guess.
I suppose we could attempt a stink with the customer service e-mail.
A hearty welcome to you drwhotrades.
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I just got an official DS DVD club email from MPI that mentions the upcoming release of the pre-Barnabas episodes on DVD. It specifically mentions that they will *NOT* be available to non-club members...I hope that's not the case, but here's the entire paragraph FYI...
Called MPI again and that email is NOT well written according to the person I spoke to! She said that they ARE going to release to the general public, but that they are PROBABLY going to let club members get it first to thank them for their years of loyalty to MPI. As the email states, 'details are still being finalized' and they don't even have a specific date for when club members will get these DVD's but again, they will more than likely get it first, then the rest of us will get them later, like a month or two later. So don't freak Shadowphiles, we will ALL get these DVD's eventually! ;)
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Hi All-
I just wanted to drop a line to clarify the confusion about the release plans for the pre-Barnabas episodes. The information in the e-mail to DVD Club members below is the correct information regarding the release plans for the series.
The information you received from our customer service representative was incorrect & they have been provided with the correct information.
Although final release details have not been completed, the tentative plan is to release these episodes in 6 collections with 35 episodes each plus all-new bonus material. These collections will be made available exclusively to members of the DVD Club & they will not be available at retail outlets other than the DVD Club at this time.
An "official" announcement on the availability of these Collections should be coming in a few weeks. Tentatively, we are hoping to have the first Collection available later this year for shipment to club members.
I hope this clears up any confusion & I apologize for the earlier miscommunications. If you have any further questions about the series, I will do my best to answer them in this forum or through my email at webmaster@mpimedia.com.
Thanks,
MPI Marketing
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Are they going to charge us an arm and a leg for these episodes- you'd think that after a while MPI would actually reduce the prices! Don't they realize they're gonna alienate a lot of people with their current plans???
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Just called MPI again and they are STILL saying that all fans WILL eventually get these DVD's and that the posting by MPI here if POORLY written!! >:( I've suggested to them that they may want to re-word another posting to ensure us all that we will all be able to purchase these DVD's eventually.
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Oh, good grief. Why does this have to be so difficult?
Good luck to the fans who've been waiting so patiently for this DVD release.
G.
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Just got an email from MPI who asked me for the email address of the poster from MPI. Maybe we're being scammed by a troll! >:( Anyway, I'll let you know what they say. Stay tuned....
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I just checked with Julie in our customer service department regarding the information they have been providing to the poster who posted after my clarifying post. I work in the marketing department here at MPI & I can assure you that the information I have provided in my post is correct.
While we are not ruling out a retail release for these collections ever, there are no plans to make them available anywhere but to club members. We felt that we owed the members of the club this exclusive chance to complete their collection since there were a few merchandise items that have been teased, but not officially released.
If anyone has any further questions about these release plans, please use the "Contact Us" form on either www.mpihomevideo.com or www.darkshadowsdvd.com or email me directly at either darkshadows@mpimedia.com or webmaster@mpimedia.com.
Thank you,
The MPI Marketing Team
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Notice that they didn't address the price issue!!! Just some corporate gobbledygook. If they really cared, they'd lower the price and widen the release. Mind you, I do want to complete my collection of episodes, but not with a virtual gun at my head!!!!!
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Just got an email from MPI who asked me for the email address of the poster from MPI. Maybe we're being scammed by a troll!
The identity of the MPI representative, as well as that of a second [inactive] account that was also created in 2002, has never been called into question by either MB or myself.
If anyone has questions about the validiity of claims made by a registered member, please contact one of the Forum administrators with your concerns rather than make public accusations. Thanks!
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This is from MPI's "Dark Shadows DVD" website (www.darkshadowdvd.com):
As a Dark Shadows DVD Club member, you'll enjoy:
- FREE SHIPPING (via US Mail) for all Dark Shadows Orders
- Exclusive Discount Offers on limited Dark Shadows Merchandise
- Exclusive Opportunity to purchase the soon-to-be-released
Dark Shadows Collector's Series DVD Collection[/u]
- And (like we already said!) exclusive advance preview shipping of
New Dark Shadows DVD Collection Releases[/i]
It is exactly what mpi_marketing has posted.
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I CANNOT believe they are doing this to us!!! I've bought every available DVD and now they are nickel and diming us by telling us we have to join their damn club to get the pre-Barnabas episodes! That's just the most blatant attempt to force us to join the club and pay $60 for them instead of $42 from Amazon. The person I spoke to ACTUALLY said, "But, if you join the club, you get a Barnabas bobblehead and a collector's case!" Like, why the hell would I want a stupid bobble-head??!! What kind of useless crap is that???!!! It's BAD BUSINESS, that's what it is!! I think those of us who do not belong to their club should start a petition saying we want these episodes too and like Charles said, we don't want a virtual gun pointed at our heads to join their club to get them. I get them from Amazon because I can save $18 on them! If I'd known they'd pull this crap I NEVER would have shelled out over $1,000 dollars for the 25 boxsets I have! MPI, you suck!
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Buzz, I agree with you, but I have just given in to the blackmail and joined the club (cancelling Volumes 24 and 25 on pre-order from amazon.com, and kissing $36.00 in savings good-bye).
Why should MPI care from what retailer the DVD's are purchased? I purchased every single volume on VHS directly from MPI. I call THAT being a loyal customer. And what "benefit" did I get for that? Reward me now by giving me a "club" discount on the DVD's!
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I am proud to say that I get my MPI DS DVDs from eBay!!!!!!!! And they're cheaper, too!
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Why should MPI "care" about anything other than selling DVDs?
As Grayson used to say, the thing about show business is, it's a BUSINESS. (and she was a socialist!)
I wonder how good the sales on the old "Collectors Edition" VHS tapes were? My guess is that among other things, they're hoping to generate some buzz for product that's viewed as not moving terribly well in the first place with the pre-Barn shows.
On with the motley!
G.
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AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I just spent 30 minutes writing a reply to katsfan and LOST IT when trying to preivew it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! >:(
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Why should MPI care from what retailer the DVD's are purchased? I purchased every single volume on VHS directly from MPI. I call THAT being a loyal customer. And what "benefit" did I get for that? Reward me now by giving me a "club" discount on the DVD's!
OKAY! I'm gonna RE-WRITE this!!!! This isn't what I originally wrote, but I'm too tired (and pissed that the other post went astray) to re-write the whole thing. Not to mention the fact that I don't remember everything I said.
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Right on katsfan! Why indeed should MPI care where we get our DVD's? They probably get some sort of kick-back or percentage anyway by allowing Amazon or Best Buy etc...to sell their product, right? How does it work anyway, anyone know? Anyway, you want me to join your club? Make it worth my while! Sell the DVD's to me cheaper than anyone else and/or allow me to get my boxset before non-members. But don't offer me a stupid piece of junk bobblehead that looks nothing like Frid! What the hell am I supposed to do w/that anyway!?
I feel that EVERYONE should be allowed to buy the pre-Barnabas episodes, not just so-called CLUB MEMBERS! I don't have a problem w/them getting them first, just so long as ALL fans eventually get to enjoy them. It's not fair, not to mention BAD BUSINESS, to screw over ppl who have supported your company for 16 years! Hasn't MPI made enough money off of ALL of us by not only selling an entire set on VHS but now on DVD? I know MANY fan who bought both, talk about double-dipping! Not that I'm angry about that, or think they shouldn't re-release them on another format. But don't screw us over now by offering a VAGUE promise to MAYBE release them to the general public at some UNSPECIFIED time! They're just trying to scare ppl into joining their club so they can make MORE money off of us! And THAT'S reprehensible, IMHO!! Hell, I didn't even bitch when they chopped out all my favorite bloopers (Bathia Mapes comes IMMEDIATELY to mind!) Mind you, I wasn't HAPPY about it, but it didn't deter me from buying the EPISODES so that I could enjoy them again and again on a more durable format.
Like Barnabas, I feel betrayed! They've betrayed all of us. I had to get a second job to pay for my DS 'habit' (DVD's, Festivals etc...) but that job ended at the end of 2005 and I took a $5,000 pay cut as a direct result. I'm HURTING for that 5 grand and if I can save $18 every two months by getting my DVD's through Amazon, why shouldn't I? Isn't that the American way---fair market competition? Why should *I* be punished because I can't afford to pay $60 for them. I'm not DISLOYAL to MPI by not joining the club, I'm just POOR!
The other thing that bothers me is that THREE different MPI reps LIED to me this week when they each assured me that they weren't going to w/hold the pre-Barnabas eps from the general public! I feel like a chump, especially since I posted here numerous times to try and re-assure my fellow cousins that they wouldn't do that to us. Up until today I was their biggest cheerleader! But no more! I guess I'll have to resign myself to NEVER owning these pre-Barnabas eps on DVD. Good thing I have them on tape! [eviltongue]
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Although final release details have not been completed, the tentative plan is to release these episodes in 6 collections with 35 episodes each plus all-new bonus material. These collections will be made available exclusively to members of the DVD Club & they will not be available at retail outlets other than the DVD Club at this time.
Well from what I understand to join the DVD Club one must have a credit card. At least it implies that on the application form.
But the thing is not every Dark Shadows fan has a credit card so they can't become a member of the club. So that is going to leave alot of the fans out because they aren't able to become a members of the club.
I wonder if MPI has taken that into account with this brilliant idea of theirs? Especially if I'm clear on the only way to become a member of the club is by having a credit card.
So is credit card customers the only ones who can become members of the DVD Club?
FireRose
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Thank you for sharing that with us, drwhotrades. And welcome to the forum. :)
Thanks for the welcome - longtime lurker (as well as DS fan), but I never post, mostly because I don't have much to say! :)
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To answer the above question, it is possible to join the DVD Club without a credit card. Members can sign up to join the club by calling our customer service at 800.323.0442 & requesting the DVD Club membership form.
Thank you to all for your feedback on these releases. You have all raised some interesting points, so I will make sure to bring these up at the internal meetings to finalize these releases.
Once we have an official release plan for these titles, I will make sure to return to the forum with that information.
MPI Marketing
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is credit card customers the only ones who can become members of the DVD Club?
I'm sure a checking account Check Card would work just fine.
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MPI has always lacked professionalism and imagination. For example, years ago they advertised the cast plaque as a "limited" edition. When many people like myself purchased the plaque, MPI subsequently and discreetly removed the term limited. Pure fraud. In terms of imagination- a team of five year olds can come up with better merchandising ideas. Is MPI still hawking that 1998 ornament? Or how about the boxer shorts? I guess something like collector plates are beyond its imagination? I am not surprised at MPI's latest tactic on the pre-Barnabas DVDs. Perhaps MPI can take this post to its internal meetings.
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I'm sure a checking account Check Card would work just fine.
Yes, but sometimes my checking account is abit on the sick side and MPI wants to automatically send those DVD's out every 2 months and they aren't going to be happy if the money is missing. I can't guarantee that the money will be there every other month due some of my medicine I have to pay for out of pocket. Because certain medicines my insurance doesn't cover.
I have ordered all the Dark Shadows DVD's from MPI, but the way I have been doing it. Is to send them a order along with the payment in full... Which was in the form of a money order.
This paying through a checking account more than likely won't work for me. Because I have expensive medical bills. That eat my checking account down to the bare bones in certain months. So joining the club is going to be problematic for me and alot of others.
FireRose
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I'm sure once they're all released, suddenly SURPRISE they'll show up in stores. So probably a year from now you'll find them in Best Buy.
If they are going to be 5 episodes lighter than the current sets, than they should be cheaper.
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If they are going to be 5 episodes lighter than the current sets, than they should be cheaper.
I was thinking the exact opposite. That they'd be higher since it would seem that fewer people are going to be able to purchase them.
Also I was wondering if Dan Curtis' passing had anything to do with the rules changing? This didn't seem to come up until after he passed away.
FireRose
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For what it's worth, it seems silly to me to take the episodes that could probably be considered the least desirable and make them more difficult to acquire than the others. Frankly, I'm not interested in them enough to jump through extra hoops to get them. I can certainly understand that other people's strong desire to have a complete set of episodes on DVD would motivate them to join the DVD club to finish out their collections, but I'm not going to sign up for the DVD club just for these episodes. I think it's silly.
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last time i checked in on these episodes mpi was slashing prices on the vhs "collector's series".now they are going to make these very same episodes difficult to purchase on dvd?
that is way stupid and annoying.
as one of the many here who has already handed hundreds if not thousands of dollars to mpi for the rest of the vhs and dvd range i certainly feel i belong to a "club" as much as anyone.
no other series in mpi's catalogue can even approach the volume of episodes produced by d.s.(1200+!).most of us have purchased all of that.in some cases twice.i can't believe mpi dosen't consider that customer "loyalty".
and who besides the most devoted fans are going to even care about purchasing the dusty first year of an old soap opera?
incidently at no time during my countless phone calls to mpi over the years did anyone even mention the dvd club to me or that there was perhaps some benifits to joining. >:(
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Truly, from a business and not emotional perspective it's like marketing 101 backwards. Instead of finding new distribution outlets for a product, they are imploding them inward and cutting out distribution channels. Now if they were marketing some really exclusive product for like rich people who like things exclusive, then the club only distribution angle would work. However, Dark Shadows has never been the rich person's market who need exclusive feel goods to buy the DVD products.
After a wider distribution, it strikes me as rather odd that the narrow distribution channel is being taken.
Some of us may very well have to join the little exclusive club to get the beginning of the series on DVD but many of us won't be able to afford to do so as has already been discussed. There are two choices: take a risk with this proposal that those whom are loyal DVD buying customers would stop buying this product or widen the distribution a wee bit and generate another revenue building channel or two. I would think a wider distribution release would produce more revenue and not alienate the fan base.
If I was selling a product and not a service, I would never engage in such a folly as narrowing my distribution channel ever. It would be product suicide.
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A last-ditch effort to cut out the middle-man and spook fans into paying full MSRP.
I know they're in the business of making money, and that's beautiful, but have their DS product been so unprofitable that they have to resort to this? I doubt it.
I'm insulted by these scare-tactics.
:P
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Also I was wondering if Dan Curtis' passing had anything to do with the rules changing? This didn't seem to come up until after he passed away.
Firerose, I thought the EXACT same thing and that question was in my post that went missing yesterday! But when I rewrote the post that DID make it to I'd forgotten to re-mention that! Thanks for mentioning it in YOUR post! ;)
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For what it's worth, it seems silly to me to take the episodes that could probably be considered the least desirable and make them more difficult to acquire than the others. Frankly, I'm not interested in them enough to jump through extra hoops to get them. I can certainly understand that other people's strong desire to have a complete set of episodes on DVD would motivate them to join the DVD club to finish out their collections, but I'm not going to sign up for the DVD club just for these episodes. I think it's silly.
Right ON MsCriseyde! I like the pre-Barnabas eps, but not enough to pay $60 for them, even if I could afford that price. These suckers should be $30 and available to everyone! And I will NOT be bullied by MPI into joining their stupid DVD club to get them. Are you LISTENING MPI?! Take this post to your 'internal' meeting! [eviltongue]
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last time i checked in on these episodes mpi was slashing prices on the vhs "collector's series".now they are going to make these very same episodes difficult to purchase on dvd? that is way stupid and annoying.
Hello? Okay? Why does MPI think this is a good idea when so many of the tapes had to be "bargain basemented"? I know that many fans will buy these tapes so that it makes them a tidy profit, but not all fans like these eps and won't bother regardless of the current circumstances. They should sell as many as they can to as many ppl as possible, and fast, before those who don't want them pass on them. I could certainly understand, given the fact that the pre-B eps aren't the most popular, if MPI wanted to do a limited release (i.e. only producing say 500 boxsets) then do a "as demand dictates" after those initial 500. Maybe that's not feasible or cost-effective, I don't know. But publishers do it all the time to ensure they get their money's worth from an "iffy" publication.
Truly, from a business and not emotional perspective it's like marketing 101 backwards. Instead of finding new distribution outlets for a product, they are imploding them inward and cutting out distribution channels¢â‚¬¦After a wider distribution, it strikes me as rather odd that the narrow distribution channel is being taken¢â‚¬¦I would think a wider distribution release would produce more revenue and not alienate the fan base¢â‚¬¦If I was selling a product and not a service, I would never engage in such a folly as narrowing my distribution channel ever. It would be product suicide.
Excellant points Victoria! Why piss off what is PROBABLY their most loyal customer base? I have to wonder how the meeting that produced this current situation went. "Okay, on to new business. The Pre-Barnabas episodes of Dark Shadows are coming up. How should we market them?" "How 'bout this boss, let's punish the fans/our customers by NOT letting everyone get the most unpopular episodes!" "Great idea! Put yourself down for a bonus!"
have their DS product been so unprofitable that they have to resort to this? I doubt it. I'm insulted by these scare-tactics.
I'm insulted too retzev! >:(
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MPI should know better- you don't go around stabbing you consumers in the back like this!! We should ALL have petitions out at the Festival regarding this. And where is Jim Pierson? Does HE know what MPI is doing to us all?
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I know a couple of people who watch DS via Netflix. It would seem that the 1966 shows won't be available via Netflix?
G.
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MPI should know better- you don't go around stabbing you consumers in the back like this!! We should ALL have petitions out at the Festival regarding this. And where is Jim Pierson? Does HE know what MPI is doing to us all?
THe question should be does he CARE??? ??
Ldyanne
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I love these episodes and I've been dying for them to come out on DVD for ages. I don't care who's selling them. It's a matter of price.
I'm not paying $60 for them. If I can pick them up on eBay for cheaper, sure, but I don't need to shell out $240 for 4 sets. Meanwhile? I've got my VHS tapes, which play just fine, thank you very much. The reason I usually buy DVDs are for the extras, an area in which MPI has been severely lacking.
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MPI should know better- you don't go around stabbing you consumers in the back like this!! We should ALL have petitions out at the Festival regarding this. And where is Jim Pierson? Does HE know what MPI is doing to us all?
THe question should be does he CARE??? ??
You may have noticed dear cousins that I've been SITTING on my hands since Charles posed this question yesterday! ;D
Hopefully MPI is monitoring these replies and will see the error of their marketing ways!
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I love these episodes and I've been dying for them to come out on DVD for ages. I don't care who's selling them. It's a matter of price.
I'm not paying $60 for them. If I can pick them up on eBay for cheaper, sure, but I don't need to shell out $240 for 4 sets. Meanwhile? I've got my VHS tapes, which play just fine, thank you very much. The reason I usually buy DVDs are for the extras, an area in which MPI has been severely lacking.
Here's a question that has always bugged me... in the "Collectors Series" of VHS tapes, the pre-show slate was included before the episode aired. I always thought that was a nice addition. What I'm wondering is does the pre-show slate exist for every episode, and why don't they include them? That would be a nice set of extras.
What about the old commercials for the toys? I was reading in an old 16 magazine I bought of ebay (God bless you ebay) that Terry Crawford was in the original commercial for the Dark Shadows Board game. They've got the commercial for the damn stuffed heads (Barnabas, Quentin... and the Witch!) how about the board game commercials?
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What about the old commercials for the toys? I was reading in an old 16 magazine I bought of ebay (God bless you ebay) that Terry Crawford was in the original commercial for the Dark Shadows Board game. They've got the commercial for the damn stuffed heads (Barnabas, Quentin... and the Witch!) how about the board game commercials?
The commercial for the Milton Bradley "Barnabas Collins Game" is on the DARK SHADOWS SPECIAL EDITION DVD. The version here is a black and white kinescope. The commercial was shot on the drawing room set, which makes me wonder if it was originally shot on color videotape using the equipment already in place. Regardless, it is a treat, especially because it offers a rare glimpse of Terry Crawford in contemporary late 1960s clothing.
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Ah ha! Thanks! Now I must get my hands on that DVD!
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Regardless, it is a treat, especially because it offers a rare glimpse of Terry Crawford in contemporary late 1960s clothing.
And we can all thank Bobubas for finding that commercial for us to enjoy. God knows Pierson and MPI didn't and won't! >:(
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in general i'm very disappointed in the lack of innovation coming out of mpi's products department.
i haven't recieved the catalogue recently but the last time i did they were still hawking that stupid ornament from the 1990's and those boxers.and every year those sad wares end up on mpi's table at the fest.who wants that junk?
knowing what a devoted fanbase d.s. has i'm amazed they don't issue new products every year.the possibilities are endless.jigsaw puzzles,word games,paper dolls,bound episode guides.how about a re-issue of the board game or the trading cards?there is really nothing new.
on another note i'd love to see that commercial featuring terry crawford.because her character appeared as a ghost in the present she is one of the very few actresses on the show we never get to see in contemporary clothing.because she is so tall i'll bet she was a knock-out in a mini and she probably had really pretty hair as well.
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I'm very upset to learn that the DVDs will not be wide-released. The pre-Barnabas episodes were the only DVD sets I was planning to buy, and I was looking forward to owning and watching them. Ever since the series began to be released to DVD, fans have always asked after the pre-Barnabas episodes: will they be released? how soon? etc. That tells me that there is definitely a market for the product, but for various reasons--low finances or objection to the principle of the way this deal is being handled--the interested would-be buyers would not want to join the DVD club. Personally, I think it's ridiculous to restrict availablitiy of these DVDs. When the episodes were on video, everybody had the opportunity to buy them. I also think this marketing strategy will backfire and alienate a lot of non-club-but-loyal-nonetheless customers. I refuse to join a DVD club just to get these episodes. I may end up hunting on e-bay, or sharing with friends who do own the DVDs if that's how I have to see them, but I will not play along with this scam. >:(
ProfStokes
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Ah ha! Thanks! Now I must get my hands on that DVD!
Two screen captures to whet your appetite...
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Two screen captures to whet your appetite...
Ah! Thanks! I must go a hunting on ebay now!
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I think it's reprehensible for MPI to treat us fans this way. [angryf] I have purchased all of the pre-Barnanbas episodes on VHS and all of the DVD Sets. I WAS intending to buy the pre-Barnabas DVD's as well, to complete my collection. However, I am VERY dismayed to hear that ONLY DS DVD Club Members will be able to purchase them. That really sucks. [angrg] We don't deserve to be treated this way. I refuse to be blackmailed into joining a club to purchase them. [vryangg] It seems to me that they just want to make more money. They are greedy SOB's who don't seem to care about their fans. [6042] I sincerely hope they change their minds. I will NOT be purchasing the DVD's through their club. I am glad I have them on VHS, at least. [cheesyg] I would gladly sign a petion at the Fest or anyplace else to protest this. [82b5]
----- Sally -----[/size]
[coolg]
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I think it's reprehensible for MPI to treat us fans this way. [angryf] I have purchased all of the pre-Barnanbas episodes on VHS and all of the DVD Sets. I WAS intending to buy the pre-Barnabas DVD's as well, to complete my collection. However, I am VERY dismayed to hear that ONLY DS DVD Club Members will be able to purchase them. That really sucks. [angrg] We don't deserve to be treated this way. I refuse to be blackmailed into joining a club to purchase them. [vryangg] It seems to me that they just want to make more money. They are greedy SOB's who don't seem to care about their fans. [6042] I sincerely hope they change their minds. I will NOT be purchasing the DVD's through their club. I am glad I have them on VHS, at least. [cheesyg] I would gladly sign a petion at the Fest or anyplace else to protest this.
What is annoying to me is that for some strange reason MPI is under the impression that only the DVD Club Members deserve to complete their collection because MPI seems to think that they are the only loyal customers they have. That is the most stupidest idea I have ever heard.
FireRose
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What is annoying to me is that for some strange reason MPI is under the impression that only the DVD Club Members deserve to complete their collection because MPI seems to think that they are the only loyal customers they have. That is the most stupidest idea I have ever heard.
I agree, FireRose. The DVD Club Members are NOT the only loyal customers they have. After all, I bought lots of videos from them -- and, even though I bought many of my DVD's elsewhere, they got money for them, too - so I consider myself to be a VERY loyal customer. [winkg]
By the way, I just realized that I spelled a word wrong in my last post. [6184] The word, correctly spelled, is petition. Sorry I missed that.
----- Sally -----
[coolg]
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I'm another one not happy about this news.
I have 22 volumes of the dvds and I was looking forward to getting the pre-Barnabas episodes on dvd. I didn't want to buy them on vhs since I had collected the Barnabas episodes on dvd, and also because of space reasons. I don't think it's unreasonable to want to be able to buy the rest of this show the same way I always have and not have to join a club to own them. Dvds shouldn't be exclusive - especially when they are part of a series that's already been released. They aren't "special", they're just more episodes of the show that should be available the same way the other dvd volumes were.
I don't know what I'll do about this. Since I don't have them on vhs, I obviously want them on dvd, but I don't believe I should have to join a club to get them.
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All this talk makes me think of the time when a DS fan had to network with other fans or trade eps through the back of the old fanzines, or hope their local station would pick up the LIMITED number of Worldvision eps, just so they could glimpse a few episodes of DS. Times sure have changed, haven't they?
Petofi
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Indeed they have! I remember buying (and watching!) Dream Curse episodes on Beta tape "on the black market" in the early '80s before I got to see 1795 on PBS!
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Back in 1982, an out-of-market tv station in Poland Springs, Maine was carrying the '67 episodes. I was in Bangor (pre-cable for us), where I could only get the sound from the Poland Springs station, so I audiotaped several episodes off of the tv!! That was the extent of my DS exposure for several years.
Petofi
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Quote from: EmeraldRose on May 07, 2006, 07:02:31 pm ... I would gladly sign a petition at the Fest or anyplace else to protest this.
I (JosettesMusicBox) will not be able to attend the Fest this year, but I'd like to sign a petition about this.
Can we start one here on our Forum?
Or maybe an informal Questionaire asking how many of us will join the club to get the Pre-Barnabus DVDs and how many of us will not?
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I agree with Victoria Winters - this is marketing idiocy. There is a whole world of fans out there who aren't members of the club. It would be like Ford Motor Company announcing that from now on, only people who currently own Ford vehicles would be allowed to buy them in the future.
I've spent $400 on DS DVD's, isn't that enough loyalty for them? I don't have the money to pay $50 or whatever every two months. I buy a few sets whenever I've got some extra cash. I'll eventually complete my DVD collection, and then I'd like to get the pre-Barnabas episodes. But I guess now I won't be sending my $240 to MPI. I'm not loyal enough, only buying their DVD sets when it's convenient for me, not when it's convenient for them. I guess when I end up buying them off Ebay, the seller will send me a note saying "Hey, you're plenty loyal for me, buddy!"
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Apparently, the MPI people do read the boards, so I'm guessing that they're picking up on dissatisfaction with the plans for the pre-Barnabas episodes on DVD. However, the MPI rep did write that plans have not been finalized, so perhaps they're just testing the waters.
I'm not sure if petitions do any good. My suggestion is to write a calm, carefully worded letter of complaint to MPI. Written letters sent by postal mail are probably the most effective because they require a bit more effort than an e-mail and, therefore, carry more weight.
Also, accosting the sales reps at the Fest most likely will not help matters. I suspect that the people MPI sends to the Fests have very little executive power.
The key is to express dissatisfaction in a calm, reasonable manner to the people who make these decisions.
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Also, accosting the sales reps at the Fest most likely will not help matters. I suspect that the people MPI sends to the Fests have very little executive power.
I'm quite sure they are the hired at Fest help and really don't know anything.
I agree with you Claude about the letter writing. I think a repetition of the same message to MPI might get through.
Here is what looks to be the address: MPI Media Group, 16101 S. 108th Ave., Orland Park, IL 60467. If anyone has a better one, please let us know.
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It would be like Ford Motor Company announcing that from now on, only people who currently own Ford vehicles would be allowed to buy them in the future.
I don't see that as an accurate analogy. I signed up for the DVD club shortly before Vol. 19 was released, was asked which volume would be my first, and was not required to purchase any earlier releases. And I don't see anything in MPI's announcements that indicates you have to be a member for any designated period of time before you can begin receiving the DVDs of the series' first year. In other words, to purchase a Ford vehicle you merely sign up for a Ford club on the spot that you can quit at any time.
While I think this is a strange marketing strategy for MPI to undertake, I've also wondered why club members don't get our DVDs any earlier than non-members who are price comparing and pre-ordering, or heading to stores on the release dates. And in most of those cases, I'm shelling out more for them. And all I have to show for it is a Barnabas bobblehead, a case to store it in (following a certain period of membership), and a small collectible here and there like a keychain or photo. For me, being a member is simply a matter of convenience, but perhaps MPI has finally caught on that there isn't much of an incentive to join. Or perhaps they anticipate that the Pre-Barnabas eps won't be as popular and they don't want membership to decline? [idontknow]
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Well, that's sort of the question. Can I wait to join until February of next year, then only get the pre-Barnabas episodes from them? But that's not really rewarding the club members for any loyalty, that's just saying that the club will be the only place you can purchase the DVD's. The way they seem to be wording it, as some sort of "reward for loyalty", it makes it sound - at least to me - like you would need to have been a member for some period of time, i.e. have purchased DVD's from them in the past in order to purchase those specific DVD's in the future.
I guess I wouldn't mind it too terribly much if they let a person join just to get the pre-Barnabas DVD's, but it would be really inconvenient because that's $60 every other month. Like I was whining and griping and generally throwing a fit about before, I prefer to buy them when I've got some extra cash, not forego other "fun" purchases because I'm contractually obligated to send my money to MPI. It's also about $15 more per set than I've been paying.
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on another note i'd love to see that commercial featuring terry crawford.
I tried to answer this earlier, but it seems my post got lost in cyberspace. ;) As BuzzH mentioned in an earlier post, I did "unearth" the 1 minute b&w Barnabas Collins Game commercial. I found it back in the mid 1990's, and before giving it to M.P.I., I placed it on the tail end of my Interview With A T.V. Vampire Video featuring Jonathan Frid. UNEDITED and lasting app. 1 hour in length, this interview was conducted by a Public Television station in the Wash DC area circa 1986 or 1987. Mr. Frid talks about how be initially became involved with Dark shadows, his time on the show, and other personal views about events surrounding the show. At the end he does a series of promos for the stations upcoming airing of Dark Shadows. These are very entertaining, as Mr. Frid does several takes to try and get them just right. I've recently transferred the interview and commercial from VHS to DVD. The DVD is now available for $15.00 + postage. Anyone interested in a copy can e-mail me at Bobubas@aol.com for further details.
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But that's not really rewarding the club members for any loyalty, that's just saying that the club will be the only place you can purchase the DVD's. The way they seem to be wording it, as some sort of "reward for loyalty", it makes it sound - at least to me - like you would need to have been a member for some period of time, i.e. have purchased DVD's from them in the past in order to purchase those specific DVD's in the future.
Hi, Willie,
Well, as their membership registation stands now, you're able to come and go as you please (bobbleheads and other extras aside). And they haven't used the words loyalty or reward in their announcements-- they've only said that club members will have exclusive access to the DVDs when they're released. This also doesn't rule out that the DVDs will eventually be available elsewhere.
Like I said, I'm not wild about this strategy. Making the DVDs available to members a little sooner is one thing (though I'd prefer to, hello, pay less for them than non-members), but the exclusivity thing, with its time limit up in the air, is obviously not going over well with fans.
I guess I wouldn't mind it too terribly much if they let a person join just to get the pre-Barnabas DVD's, but it would be really inconvenient because that's $60 every other month. Like I was whining and griping and generally throwing a fit about before, I prefer to buy them when I've got some extra cash, not forego other "fun" purchases because I'm contractually obligated to send my money to MPI. It's also about $15 more per set than I've been paying.
I hear you. I would think they would cost less than that since the pre-Barnabas volumes will contain 35 eps vs. the 40 eps that currently cost $59.98 through the club. One indicator of this should be their pricing for Vol. 26 with its 20 eps.