DVD's
Jun 12th, 2005, 08:22 AM
#1
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DVD's
Has anyone ever had any problems bringing pirated DVD's back into the U.S.??....or do you know of anyone who has?? I hear of people doing this all the time and nothing happening to them, and yet you also always hear that you're not "supposed" to do it because Customs WILL nail you for it. They didn't do a thing as far as checking our luggage and I regret not buying more DVD's while I was in China! So is Customs really strict about this or do they not really care, or is it pretty much a hit and miss thing??
Jun 13th, 2005, 01:47 AM
#2
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I never have any problems coming back from Thailand.
Few months ago I brought back about 10 movies and I actually did get the full customs treatment. I came in on a full JAL 747 flight from Tokyo to Honolulu and I was the only caucasian on that flight. I think that was the reason for the treatment
.
Anyway, the agent looked at them but did not say anything.
Unless you are bringing in a full suitcase of these, I would not worry about it too much.
Few months ago I brought back about 10 movies and I actually did get the full customs treatment. I came in on a full JAL 747 flight from Tokyo to Honolulu and I was the only caucasian on that flight. I think that was the reason for the treatment
. Anyway, the agent looked at them but did not say anything.
Unless you are bringing in a full suitcase of these, I would not worry about it too much.
Jun 13th, 2005, 01:00 PM
#3
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The DVD's are only about a $1 a piece so I would not worry about it unless you are trying to bring in a whole bunch. The worst that could happen would be that they would be taken away from you and you would be out of a few $.
Jun 13th, 2005, 11:21 PM
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I highly suggest against getting pirated DVDs, especially from China, unless you have a all-region DVD player that can also convert PAL to NTSC. It's because the labels mean nothing, and you really don't know what you get when you buy it.
One of my cousins brought back 3 different bootleg versions of the same Hong Kong concert DVD here. Only one of them will play on regular Region 1 NTSC machine (like the name brands you can get here in Circuit City or Bestbuy).
But the biggest argument is that many of these discs are copy of the VCD version, and not the DVD version. Poorer picture quality, no surround sound, subtitles that can't be turned off, etc... One can buy authentic VCDs for not much more in Hong Kong. If one just want a cheap version of the movie, that's what I'd suggest.
And I'm not even going into the moral question, just the technical one.
As for U.S. Customs, if you look up the official website, it will explain that you're allowed one piece of counterfeit goods into the country of the same type. So, technically, you can bring one pirate DVD, one fake LV handbag, etc...
But if you're not a U.S. Citizen, but just an alien waiting to get naturalized or if you're a student or visitor, then you really really should think about the consequences of being caught. There are so many ways the customs officer can make your life really really miserable.
One of my cousins brought back 3 different bootleg versions of the same Hong Kong concert DVD here. Only one of them will play on regular Region 1 NTSC machine (like the name brands you can get here in Circuit City or Bestbuy).
But the biggest argument is that many of these discs are copy of the VCD version, and not the DVD version. Poorer picture quality, no surround sound, subtitles that can't be turned off, etc... One can buy authentic VCDs for not much more in Hong Kong. If one just want a cheap version of the movie, that's what I'd suggest.
And I'm not even going into the moral question, just the technical one.
As for U.S. Customs, if you look up the official website, it will explain that you're allowed one piece of counterfeit goods into the country of the same type. So, technically, you can bring one pirate DVD, one fake LV handbag, etc...
But if you're not a U.S. Citizen, but just an alien waiting to get naturalized or if you're a student or visitor, then you really really should think about the consequences of being caught. There are so many ways the customs officer can make your life really really miserable.
Jun 14th, 2005, 12:01 AM
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Talking about making things miserable. Was watching a lot of Lou Dobbs on CNN when in Tokyo. He was focusing a lot on the porous Southern border. Wonder why the hassles on people going into country legitimately versus the illegal visitors.
Jun 14th, 2005, 05:49 AM
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To answer the earler question about quality. I have been bringing back DVDs from Thailand for some time now. On the average I pay ~$2.50-$3 per. In February I bought the "Aviator" - EXCELLENT quality, actual copy of a studio copy. Every 45 minutes os so there is a studio message at the bottom of the movie that this is a studio property and for approved viewing only. Full Dolby, widescreen, beautiful picture quality, no less than the official copy released couple of weeks ago here in US, except for the little print at the bottom showing up for few seconds. I also bought the 5th season of "Sopranos". Not as good quality, but very much watchable. Sound - excellent, picture - little grainy, but nothing that takes away from watching the show. "National Treasure" - sound and picture very close to perfect. About 9 out of 10. I also bought couple, less known foreign films. One was ok to watch, but disappointing as a movie, the other did not play at all, and I've tried it on 3-4 different players (sometimes the DVDs will play on certain players and not on others and it has nothing to do with the coding, it's just a bad disk).
So, I paid something like $25 for all the above and I was very satisfied, extremely satisfied in few cases, and only 1 disc did not play, not a bad deal.
As I posted above, the last time I did get the fun customs treatment, the agent had all the disks in her hand, looked at them and did not say anything. They do come with a printed jacket so she knew exactly what they were.
Unless you have a full suitcase, there is NOTHING to worry about. In Bangkok there is a huge electronics mall that I go to and I get the movies from couple of stores there. I know them and although on occasion I will get 1 or 2 disks that won't play the other 8 or 9 are excellent to very good quality.
So, I paid something like $25 for all the above and I was very satisfied, extremely satisfied in few cases, and only 1 disc did not play, not a bad deal.
As I posted above, the last time I did get the fun customs treatment, the agent had all the disks in her hand, looked at them and did not say anything. They do come with a printed jacket so she knew exactly what they were.
Unless you have a full suitcase, there is NOTHING to worry about. In Bangkok there is a huge electronics mall that I go to and I get the movies from couple of stores there. I know them and although on occasion I will get 1 or 2 disks that won't play the other 8 or 9 are excellent to very good quality.
Jun 14th, 2005, 02:57 PM
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I've found that the quality varies tremendously, some are very crisp and clear with good sound, others are basically taped off of a movie screen and practically unwatchable. These are ones purchased in China (average cost $1) and that's not getting into compatibility issues (but all region players are pretty cheap now).
Usually the newer, still in theatrical release movies are the poorest quality except at the time of year where studios send out their Academy screeners. Then you can get good copies but with the text blurb at the bottom. Regardless of what the jacket says, it will most likely not have any special features, just the movie.
I wouldn't bring too many copies of the same movie. Then it could look like you have intent to sell or distribute.
Usually the newer, still in theatrical release movies are the poorest quality except at the time of year where studios send out their Academy screeners. Then you can get good copies but with the text blurb at the bottom. Regardless of what the jacket says, it will most likely not have any special features, just the movie.
I wouldn't bring too many copies of the same movie. Then it could look like you have intent to sell or distribute.
Jun 14th, 2005, 11:59 PM
#11
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I'm kicking myself for not bringing back more of them either! So far, I haven't had a problem at all with the quality of the DVD's, which is amazing. Even if I did, I wouldn't worry about it as I only paid about $1 USD for each of them. Everybody I've talked to has said the quality of the DVD's in China are usually very good, regardless if you buy them off the street or in the stores.
But to answer the post above, yes, there is supposedly a hefty fine if you're caught bringing them into the country. But I guess like with anything else connected with the airport and customs, it's a hit and miss thing and you just take a chance doing it. It sounds like the majority of the time, they don't really care.
But to answer the post above, yes, there is supposedly a hefty fine if you're caught bringing them into the country. But I guess like with anything else connected with the airport and customs, it's a hit and miss thing and you just take a chance doing it. It sounds like the majority of the time, they don't really care.
