Do you sell discs?
Unfortunately no, I don't want to risk my collection by selling discs for profit so all items are for trade only.
Do you trade for blank discs?
Again no, collecting and preserving these films is a hobby that takes up enough of my spare time as it is, I also have no need for blank discs.
What brand of discs do you use?
For single layer discs I use either TDK or Verbatim. For dual layer discs I only ever use Verbatim.
Why is it you require two discs in exchange for a dual layer disc?
Dual layer discs cost a lot more than single layer discs and they are effectively two discs - the titles I have as dual layer originally came from someone as two single layers. I combined them as I prefer to watch them this way, but any other site listing them as two seperate discs would want two in exchange - so I do as well.
Will you compress a dual layer title to a single layer disc?
Sorry but I do not do this. The decision to make a title dual layer is not taken lightly, but if I have done this it is because I believe the quality will suffer too much if the title is compressed to a single layer. Although this may not concern you it might concern someone you trade with in the future and I want everyone to know that my discs are as high quality as I can make them.
These titles should be for fans to enjoy!
I agree completely but I only have a limited amount of time and I'd prefer to spend it comparing/restoring/collecting these versions and noting the differences. In the future I may chose to make these titles more avaliable but that is not the case at present.
Who sends first?
I ask all traders who I am dealing with for the first time to send their discs first due to the large number of people out there who never send discs in return. I can assure you that I have been a legitimate trader, with people from all around the world, for the last ten years. If you send discs to me, you will always receive yours in return.
I've read somewhere else that a title is longer than you say it is on your site or that a title has differences when you say it has none?
When working out the time differences I compare the time just after the opening credits against the time just before the closing credits, I also adjust the times if they are running at different frame rates. Some people seem to just compare the entire running time against the time on the back of the DVD, but if the workprint is missing the opening and closing credits and these last 5 minutes it is going to impact on the time difference. I've also read about titles people claim are longer when they are not, and the time difference is due to reel countdowns throughout the movie or periods of black space - it's just not accurate to simply compare the two running times without watching them both. Any title on my site I claim has either extra footage or no differences at all and been physically checked by myself to confirm.
How can I trade if I have nothing rare?
At one point I also had nothing rare and managed to gradually increase my collection, here are a few hints and tips:
- Check ebay, although it's rare to find these sort of titles on there but it does happen, make sure you check once a week and also check the different versions, i.e. Ebay UK, Ebay US etc.
- Check ioffer but be very careful, there are a lot of scammers out there and they tend to frequent ioffer. If it sounds to good to be true it probably is, if they are asking $100 for a title no one else has and refuse to provide screen shots then stay clear. However there are good traders on there and rare titles do turn up.
- Check torrent sites, some of the less rare titles appear on there but every now and then something extremely rare does.
- Check google for trade lists, sites selling titles, message boards discussing them etc, you can even set up google alerts to email you each day giving you a list of specific words such as 'Workprint' or 'TV Version'.
- Make sure you create a want list and post it to a website, people might randomly contact you (again just use common sense) but it also reminds you of the titles you are looking for. Advertising your trade list will also allow other traders to contact you.
- If you have a website look into search engine optimisation, you want other people to be able to find it easy so get the word out there and be sure to update it regularly so people know you are still active.
- Every time you come across a title on someones list, read about on the net, see advertised etc update your want list.
- Save the contact details of every trader you come across, keep an eye on their want lists and update yours with any new titles they get that you want.
- Google specific titles on a regular basis and check IMDB's message board, someone might be selling one, trading it or discussing it and this can narrow down your search.
- Check youtube, if someone has uploaded a clip on there they must have had the version at some point, email them.
- Some of the titles on my list and other lists are from old VHS's, laserdiscs and out of print DVD's, you can still buy these from places like Amazon or Ebay and have them transferred to DVD. There are also many sites that sell Japanese Laserdiscs.
- Make sure you check your want list against the TV schedules each month, there are many TV versions of movies and some of them are still shown on TV.
- Never advertise a title as having extra footage unless you have checked it yourself or the information comes from a reliable source.
- When you get the chance to trade with someone who has a large list of titles pick the rarest thing on their list, straight away contact every trader you have come across and offer the title for trade. If you don't do this then someone else will, you want to ensure you get the maximum amount of future trades so don't pick something that everyone else has.
- In summary if you really want a particular title you can't expect to have it handed to you for nothing, if you want to trade with someone you need to make the effort to get something that they are going to want - if you can tell them what is different it's even better.
- I cannot count the number of times that I have been scammed over the years, here are a few hints and tips:
- As above if it sounds too good to be true it normally is, either ask for a screenshot or for a reference from another trader - if they can't do either of them it's probably a scam.
- Check the title actually contains alternate footage - if there is no difference from the regular version it's pointless trading for it.
- When dealing with someone new, always let the person initiating the trade send first.
- Google the name of the trader and email address to see if any bad comments have been left about them.
- Check out my own bad traders page.
- Sell titles at your own risk, you never know who you are selling to and copyright agencies will not take kindly to it.
- If someone takes forever to reply to an email imagine how long it is going to take to send your discs - think twice in this scenario.
- As with any transaction on the internet broken english, capital letters, PO boxes, foreign email address etc all trigger alarm bells.