Need advice on buying a bootleg TV show on DVD.

[jds1911a1]

So here's the thing. There's a guy on Ebay selling a complete DVD set of a cancelled TV show. This show isn't available to purchase on DVD or other media, nor can it be downloaded anywhere that I've ever found. The show ran for ten episodes and was cancelled. It's an amazing show; I own VHS copies that are in terrible shape. Not many peoplle have heard of this show, and due to it being 16 years old, nobody is offering it but this guy. I've been looking.

However, he wants US $70 bucks for the set. Knowing his production costs to run off a copy, which are likely under $10, possibly under $1, I'm seriously offended by his profit margin. I offered him $40, which he rejected.

The imp in me wants to buy a set for full price, then sell two copies at $40 on ebay to recoup. I'm confident I have the equipment and know-how to produce copies, and it's not like this guy owns the rights to this show. However, I can see that going wrong in a lot of ways, and it's really an obvious and public middle finger to the guy. I don't really want to start a feud; I just want to pay what I consider is a fair price for something.

I suppose a better solution would be to recruit some folks who'd split a set with me, then make and distribute copies amongst ourselves.

What would you do in this situation?

The imp in me would report him selling bootlegs to ebay they'll pull the ad

[jds1911a1]

John is very good at saving the day

You give me too much credit Mike I just hate to see people ripped off.

[warlock664]

Cool!

check the tv & movies section on Sell.com there are tons of sellers there who specialise in dvd's of shows that have never been commercially released on any format (and many that have too)

Hey, I just found a set of one of my favorite "lost shows" from the late-80's : "Hardball" (cop buddy show with Richard Tyson and John Ashton) !

[mego73]

what is the show?

[spamn]

Cop Rock ?
No, that lasted 11 episodes. Hmmmm.

Ha!

No. Not Cop Rock.

I already have that.

[jwyblejr]

Cop Rock ?
No, that lasted 11 episodes. Hmmmm.

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe Sledge Hammer! ? No,I think that's on DVD,isn't it?

[Bill]

What a cool site! I found Get A Life both seasons for all of $13.

[cjefferys]

The imp in me would report him selling bootlegs to ebay they'll pull the ad

I would have strongly suggested that he sell it to me for $20 or I'll hit the "report item" button on the bottom of his page.

That's just greedy asking so much money for something that costs very little for him to duplicate. It's sure not like he's paying expensive licensing fees or anything.

[spamn]

PM me the show name and I bet I can find it cheaper

Nevermind - jds beat me. EBAY is usually not the best place for this type of stuff.

Thanks for the offer, though.

[spamn]

The imp in me would report him selling bootlegs to ebay they'll pull the ad

Yeah, thought about that. But I didn't want to put him out of business - I wanted his product. Just not a hella-markup.

[spamn]

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe Sledge Hammer! ? No,I think that's on DVD,isn't it?

Yep, it's been out for five years or so. And, no, that's not it.

[spamn]

I would have strongly suggested that he sell it to me for $20 or I'll hit the "report item" button on the bottom of his page.

That's just greedy asking so much money for something that costs very little for him to duplicate. It's sure not like he's paying expensive licensing fees or anything.

Now that I know I have alternatives for buying, I'm content to consider that guy free to be all the idiot he wants.

[sprytel]

So you really aren't going to spill the beans on what show it is? Is it something embarassingly bad? Like "Manimal" maybe?

[spamn]

So you really aren't going to spill the beans on what show it is? Is it something embarassingly bad? Like "Manimal" maybe?

I've been PM'ing anyone who asks. I don't want the show's name associated with the discussion about undermining someone who sells it.

[huedell]

To be fair, a bigger markup covers the guy's butt just in case some "imp" reports him and he has to take time away from making money to salvage his
whole business model