I found a listing for a "complete collection" of Carol Burnette shows listed at DCMagicBox.com. Their Google listing says, "DCMagicBOX.com - Your source for high quality DVD collections, and TV shows on DVD." I ordered the DVD's for $69.95 for 51 weekly shows. After about 3 weeks, I received a package from Ontario, Canada, from a company called "Media Monster". When I opened the package, I found bootlegged copies... Not any attempt to disguise them as genuine, except for the box cover. No identification of any sort to distinguish one show or set of shows from any other. The labels were not applied straight.
I knew immediately that these were bogus, and called my credit card company immediately. The charge had just come in. I lodged a dispute, and the company was put on hold until I can sign a form and get it back to the credit card company.
Then, out of curiosity, I tried the first disk. It was faulty... Broke up into pixels, stopped, skipped... Generally unwatchable. I tried the second disk. Same result—except that I did happen to hear a voice on the sound track say, "Stay tuned for more of the Carol Burnette Marathon." Good God! They didn't even invest in an original set of show DVD's!
I thought DCMagicBox would want to know they were dealing with crooks, so I alerted them. Imagine my surprise when I got a reply from DCMagicBox DEFENDING Media Monster. Here's what they wrote:
"For this particular DVD collection, there is no such thing as an 'original'
copy of this DVD collection, as it was never released by the original
studio. This is a collector's aftermarket collection, and is the only collection
available for this TV Series. This is not an illegal collection in accordance with the Berne's act, as it has never been released in its entirety."
No matter how they try to defend their supplier, I consider this a fraudulent act on the part of both companies. Why the heck should I pay a total of $76.95, plus $11 to UPS the duds back to Canada, for what I could record off my TV for nothing? Why pay that amount for copies that were obtained for free, and copied for pennies?
Now I need to know a few more things... Perhaps someone out there can supply some answers. (1) What is the Berne's Act; (2) is there some other place where these companies can be reported? (3) would this constitute postal fraud?
I'm very angry because of the arrogance of DCMagicBox in its answers. When I sent a reply noting that Media Monster already had complaints lodge on your site, I got a snotty reply back saying, "You can't believe everything you read on the Internet." OBVIOUSLY true, since I read their bull - on their Internet site!
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