Expert: Rob James - 12/8/2007

Question
Hi Rob.  I see a lot of people or companies selling "wholesale lots" of
"original, factory sealed DVDs."  My question is, are ANY of these legitimate?  
I'd like to try buying a small lot and reselling, and I would have already done
so except I've heard most of these are fake movies.  I will not partake in the
exchange of any bootleg material.  What's the best way to research legitimate
sellers for sure?  What sites do I look on, who do I contact, do these people
have references?  Is there a professional organization (like they have for
hypnotherapists and antiques appraisers) that will give me a referral to any
ebay seller?  Not even just for movies, for anything.

Answer
Hello Meg!

That's a great question. I took a look at some of the listings that you refer to and see what you mean. I don't think that you will find many "fake" or duplicated movies out there on eBay. The reason being that once eBay Trust and Safety catches wind of it they will pull the listings and cancel the sellers account.

However, what I did see was a lot of the budget movies that you commonly find for a buck or two at discount stores. These are basically the "B" movies or old TV shows etc. that have entered into the public domain or are distributed by smaller companies as opposed to the large studios. The quality of the DVDs is marginal at best they are pretty much only worth the dollar or so they sell for.

If you are really serious about a lot that is for sale don't be afraid to ask the seller for some title examples. If they will not supply them then you may want to move on. I saw a couple that said some "blockbusters" were included. However, they didn't mention any specific titles. Ben Hur was a blockbuster back in it's day so if you got that in the set they wouldn't be lying. But then again, not many people would be looking for that movie either.

Another thing you should do is examine the feedback of the seller closely. Look back to find similar items they have sold and see what kind of response they got from the buyer. If you see a buyer who was happy with their purchase you may want to send them a message asking how they liked the merchandise. I've done that before and found it to be very helpful.

As far as any organizations etc. that would recommend any particular sellers, I know of none. You are pretty much on your own when it comes to researching sellers on eBay. And while it may seem a daunting task, it really isn't as most of the sellers are legitimate and honestly do want to have happy customers.

I hope this information helps a little and good luck on your future purchases!

Rob