Hi , have bought a dvd off ebay  , hasn't arrived yet though! Chhecked the sellers 1st page of feedback before i bought and was ok but have beem flicking through previous pages of feedback and other buyers have mentioned about the films being copies.

The seller has not stated anywhere that it is a copy and the picture is of the actual dvd and case.

I thought it was illegal to sell copied dvd's - although i believe it is ok to make copies if you still have the original film?

Does anyone know , or have any advice please?

Thanks , Kate

Hi, if anyone is selling copied DVD's, I would think that they are risking a big fine.  If it does turn out to be a copy, I would report them.

If it is a fake but you weren't told I would firstly contact the seller when you recieve it and it is more than likely they will refund you straight away, once they have refunded you leave very negative feedback. Trouble is if you report them it would be more difficult to get your money back

I would just put it down to experience and make sure to ask next time that the DVD is an original. There is a loop hole that means they can sell you a copy, you just have to confirm that it is so you can back up your own collection and that you will destroy the copy within 24hours.
I got Lost season 1 for a bargain price and it was only when I got it that I realised it was a copy...will be more careful in future...felt sooo guilty :D

I got Season one of Lost from ebay that was a copy aswel. But what did i expect the series wasnt out to buy yet over here yet as it hadnt finished being aired on tv. But if i was you when you get it and it is a copy contact the seller, see if you can get your money back, then leave negative feedback.

>>But what did i expect the series wasnt out to buy yet over here yet as it hadnt finished being aired on tv

Exactly! The seller also included 4 episodes of season 2 (can't wait for it to start on channel 4 soon!), I wish they hadn't bothered but next time I'll just wait til they've been  on TV and get them in the shops!

I couldnt wait till it aired over here so i went and brought the 2nd series off ebay :rolleyes: ....Well the 19 episodes that have been aired in the states!

OMG, so you've seen most of season 2?!!! I don't wanna know any details but is it good...do we find out some proper info?!!

My friend said although its still good its not as good as the first series. But me, i think its great so far and prefer it to the first series. Questions are answered but at the same even more are asked!!

I've seen about half of season 2 now and I am finding it much better than the first!!I am watching it on the (Irish) RTE channel which I can get via Sky Digital :)

Selling copied DVDs can actually mean prison. In magistrates court either a hefty fine or 6 months in prison, in crown court heftier fine or up to 10 years in prison. (Just looked it up!)

I never buy copied DVDs. Where i live, most copied CDs and DVDs are produced and sold to fund paramilitary organisations and organised  criminal activity so I'd rather pay full price from Amazon than take chance that the profits are going to line the pockets of scum :( They used to be sold quite openly on the street and on market stalls but police have really clamped down so it wouldn't surprise me if they were using auction sites as an outlet now.

Well, they reckon that organised crime is all linked, so drug dealing, armed robberies, pirate DVDs/clothing and I guess dog fighting too. I still feel guilty that I bought a copy and all I can say is that Amazon and HMV make alot of money from my family, we are CD and DVD mad. The majority of the time the copies are so bad they just aren't worth it, I'd rather wait and pay the full price, at least you know what you are getting is worth what you paid for it :)

I buy from tesco normaly you cant beat there prices but yea copying and selling fake dvd's is illegal

I am just fussy, I like the real thing as I like to collect alot of DVD TV sets and want the real thing. I have been duped before though on Ebay when I bought a season of CSI to receive an Asian version. Although it wasn't a copy the box was awful so I complained as it didn't say it was Asian on the listing, the seller gave me a full refund and told me to keep it too !!

I bought a CD off Ebay a couple of years ago for over £5 on Buy It Now.  When it came it was a copy with handwritten artist and title on it in a plastic case.  Nowhere in the listing did it say that I was bidding on a copy   I've never bought CDs/DVDs from there since which is a shame cos the majority of sellers are genuine...

Edit to say - yes it is illegal to sell copies which is why they don't state that it is a copy.  But if you ask they are obliged to tell you

I bought a selection of karaoke cd's from ebay that were copies.  I emailed ebay and reported them to FACT (federation against copywright theft) but the seller is still listing the same cd's and taking a regular income from them.  Ebay did nothing.

In hindsight, for the price I paid, it should have obvious I wouldn't get the real thing but there was nowhere it stated they were copies.  His feedback was good so perhaps I was the only one who was unhappy.

i bought a Karaoke CD for my sons birthday off ebay. Turned out to be a copy :(
reported her to ebay and paypal.
Ebay had already banned her an Paypal said if she ever got funds in her account they would reimburse me. Not a hope on hell :(
Lea :)

I was looking on ebay earlier and people are getting around selling copies. One example, they say you are bidding for a used pbrown envolop BUT with this envolope you get a free DVD (for say a copied film). So people are willingly paying say £10 for 'a used brown envolope and FREE gift DVD). They are even quoting Ebay rules to show they arent breaking them.

I dont know know anything about e-bay.But would sellers be able to give themselves feedback? Can they come on under different names and leave loads of positive comments?

Trouble is that so many people sell copies....or VCD as they sometimes call them and ebay cannot monitor them all. I still buy DVD's on Ebay but check feedback first, if unsure I ask the seller as they will be honest with you if you ask in fear of getting reported. I have reported sellers in the past to Ebay but they just change their ID and carry on.

When I sell DVD's I make it clear that they are originals and not copies but people still ask

As pirated (copied) CDs are illegal, IMO, you should notify the police as well as e-bay ....one person may lead back to a complete web of illegal activities.

Margot