SEINFELD BLOG

Yeah, I'm looking at *******direct .com/seinfeld?b=1 right now.
It looks like it just sprang up...possibly the next URL of the company EJ bought from?
Post if you have had experience with these guys
thanks

There's a link on Amazon to http://www.*******direct .com/, where they're selling the collection on 23 DVDs. It says it was released in 2001, though, so I'm a little dubious. I'll write to them and see what they say. Stay tuned! (Did I mention the lobster bisque?)

GO to below site: they are offering 23 DVD set for $210 - ouch that's expensive but worth it. it has $20 discount.

http://www.*******direct .com/seinfeld?b=1

Tvshowsdirect.com IS dvdshowsonline.com. Same company,but they changed names. I sent them an e-mail asking for my order from when they were dvdshowsonline.com. They never responded. They are the same company. DO NOT BUY FROM TVSHOWSDIRECT.COM!!!

On my television station... I live in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia.. they have actually taken off a few of the Seinfeld Slots. It used to come on at 11pm.. and Fox replaced it with THE SIMPSONS.... I HATE THE SIMPSONS.. and they so do not deserve to take the place of Seinfeld. TBS has picked it up in two time slots.. but it is not always on. SO maybe the networks are preparing for the DVD to come out... ALl I can say is that it better be coming out if the simpsons is taking over the time slot. Errr..

This is the email i received from *****direct.com people.
Hello,

This set is the real thing, all 180 episodes on DVD. However it is not an
official release from NBC. I get this set from my UK supplier who owns the
temporary rights until it is released in stored in 18-24 months. The
quality is
like satellite, better then TV, but not quite DVD. The set comes with cases
and labels, they both have great artwork. The episodes are listed on the
back of the cases. If you are unhappy with the quality we would be happy
to refund your purchase price.

The guy is bogus. I'm waiting for the official thing. Has anyone heard anything new? What is the date they are coming out.

JP, note that the message you received is identical to the one, word for word, that a received as posted on Sept 29. Also see my comments a few messages down.

I ordered the 23 disk set from the mentioned company (see previous posts). I have finally finished watching the entire set. With the exception of about 4 episodes which are 8 out of 10, the set is excellent. You must have a DVD player that plays DVD-R disks. The episodes have either Fox17 WXMI or TBS Superstation on them, so they were copied from TV or Satellite. I know any Seinfeld fan would love this set and it is worth the $200. Too bad purchasing the set is so risky!

I'm waiting for the real thing. It's not worth the risk and I really want the commentary and deleted scenes on the DVD. I can't wait unitl they come out. Does anyonr have a ballpark when they are coming out?

This is cracking me up!! The links to the website selling all seasons is stared out in this discussion, but a direct link to the website is right to the right -->>> of this very website!?!!

I just wanted to take a few minutes to relate my experience.

For the past couple years I have been looking for the Seinfeld show on DVD. I was a late comer to the show only getting interested in it in the last two years, and of course loving it. I wanted to see all of the shows I’d missed, and preferably in order.

Periodically I would do a search on Amazon and Google for "Seinfeld DVD", but it was always the same old story – Seinfeld is not available on video or DVD yet.

Then on Friday, 9/19/03 I did a Google Search and to my surprise there was a link to a Canadian site called DVDSHOWSONLINE where the entire 180 episodes were available in a 23 disc set for $240 US plus S&H. I had just bought an MP3 player from another Canadian merchant on-line and had a reasonably good experience with them so I jumped on the chance to finally have not just a season or two but the ENTIRE Seinfeld series on DVD.

The site looked really legit and even showed the DVD cases and graphics of the set and had other TV shows on DVD too. So I ordered the Seinfeld set and filled out the InternetSecure form which as others have mentioned had the VeriSign seal. When I was through I was told that my order would arrive in two weeks on Friday, October 3, 2003. Great just in time for weekend viewing. I went about my life.

Then on Thursday morning, October 2, 2003 I got an email from a Hotmail account (sent at 3:30 in the morning) saying that there were problems with their credit card processor and that I would be issued a refund and would need to pay with 2Checkout instead. They offered free shipping for the inconvenience. This sounded really bogus but I didn’t have time to do much investigation since I was on my way to work. I did checkout the original link and noticed that the website had *disappeared* from the net! Off to work I went with all sorts of doubt in my mind. Why was the site gone? Why were they using a Hotmail account instead of their regular email address where I had got the original confirmation from?

At lunch time I did another search on Seinfeld DVD and found the same old saw – Seinfeld not available on DVD yet. I also found this thread on Stanthecaddy and read with intense interest. People were having a similar experience to mine but with some company called SOMEOTHERWEBSITE.COM – it took me awhile to realize that this was not a real site but censoring of the name of the real site – OK so I’m a slow learner!!

But I was heartened by one poster's comment “If this guy was a scam, I don't think he would have credited me my first payment.” It was then that I remembered that the email from the Hotmail said, “Please do not pay the new invoice until you have been refunded by Internet Secure.” And I said if they were really scamming me why would they tell me to wait? Why not scam we twice? Plus I was also hopeful because one poster mentioned that they actually had received the DVDs!! So I decided to play it by ear and see if I did get the refund and definitely not pay again until that came through. From reading this thread here on Stanthecaddy I came to realize that this was not an official release but that really didn’t matter to me so long as the quality was good. I was sick of waiting for the official release. This is so atypical of me because those people that know me know I won’t even let my best friend copy any of my CDs or software nor will I copy someone else’s CDs or software. But I was really sick of waiting and annoyed by the corporations were that were tying up the Seinfeld release.

When I got home that Thursday I got an email from the company’s regular email address with an InternetSecure form saying a refund would be issued and the receipt number for my refund. So I figured I'd write the company (at the Hotmail address) and ask how long after getting that email refunds were usually issued and what type of shipping would be used to see if they would answer or if the address was even a real email address.

I wrote. They answered about 8 hours later (sent 2 a.m!) and said it usually took about a day for the refund to actually be credited to your card and that the order would be shipped 2 day FedEx.

That was Friday. I waited and finally on Tuesday the refund appeared on my credit card. So I went to the 2Checkout and paid the company. Then wrote to the Hotmail account and said, "OK here's my receipt, I've gotten my refund and paid at the new site, please let me know when my DVDs ship. I'm hoping I can have them by this weekend."

No response. Meanwhile people here on the discussion board were saying that the company was a scam and that the company had come back on the Internet with a new address TVSHOWSDIRECT and I was beginning to think that I had been scammed after all. And I was thinking what a pain, I will have to contest this with my bank and get them to investigate and issue me a refund, etc. etc.

But still I had hope because one person here said they had received their set. So I wrote to them at the email address they gave and said here's what's going on with me sounds like what happened to you and since they are censoring the name of the site here on the board can you take a minute to drop me a line and let me know if the company that I ordered from which is the same one you dealt with?

I sent that he mail and 2 minutes later I got an email back saying that email address didn’t exist. I though oh I'll bet this person is working in conjunction with the other guy selling the DVDs, or possibly the same guy is just helping perpetrate the scam. DRAT - how could I be so stupid!

Still I waited and I thought well I've been scammed and if I haven't that's that there's no way that those DVDs will be here THIS weekend because even if they ship them today it's take 2 business days and I won't have them until Monday, which is the Columbus Day holiday, so probably not before Tuesday – if at all.

Then miracles begin to happen! When I woke up on Friday I checked my email and I got a message from the Hotmail account saying that the DVDs had shipped and telling me what the FedEx tracking number was. So I went to the FedEX site and it said the number wasn't in their System. I kept thinking why would they spend all this time giving me this update if they were scamming me? Why not just take the money and run?

I checked the FedEX site throughout the day on Friday and then about 9 p.m. on Friday night the number was there!! And I said well let's see if this is going to arrive Monday or Tuesday. And it said, Expected Delivery October 11. And I looked at the calendar and said WOW that's Saturday. I had forgotten that FedEX could deliver on Saturday!! The guy was indeed honest and had even sent the DVDs overnight priority so that I would have them this weekend. They are in good condition, except that a many of the cases have broken hubs so some of the DVDs were loose and some of the DVDs look a bit marred, but so far the 2 I have tried played flawlessly. If any defective ones appear I will ask for them to be replaced. I’ll post back and let you know if any are defective and how replacement goes if that’s necessary.

One other comment – one of the episodes (believe it was 177 or 17 was recorded right after the 9/11/02 attack so there is a band at the bottom of the screen displaying memorial events. Not the cheeriest thing to see on a comedy!

Sorry this is so long. But I did want others to know about my mostly positive experience.

As I said I will repost with updates on quality and such.

Paul

P.S. I think it's pretty fun too that to the right the link to the DVD site is displayed in the Google Ads.

Ok Pallbear, I had the exact same experience except I did not receive my order. I never even got a reply. it really sucks and I was really depressed. I am glad that i am not the only one who has gone through this. i will try talking to *******direct and seeing how that turns out.

cdog - Bummer. When did you originally order, was it before 9/19? Did you order from the old web address and get the emails saying you were getting a refund and to pay at the new site, etc. etc? Sounds like you did. What country do you live in? I have contact info (from both sites - the 2nd indeed seems to be a replacement of the first site with new URL and minor revamp) and stuff from I copied from the Google cache and doing a whois search as well as from the FedEx package. Drop me a line (just take the NOSPAM out of my email address here) and maybe I can share some info that will help resolve this. Good luck. I know how bummed I was waiting.

Paul

I'll also try to drop you a line.

i emailed you pallbear. thanks for your help.

The Curb Your Enthusiasm DVD has just been announced. Click here for more info and discussion.

I have the unofficial 23 dvd set. I would say that, with the exception of 3 or 4 episodes, the quality is pretty good. I will of course buy the official set if it ever comes out, purely for the extras.

Patrick,

I agree so far with both your points. The 23 DVD set is very good quality so far from the discs I've watched. Looks pretty much like the best quality you can get with cable/satellite - I haven't gotten to any of the 3 or 4 exceptions yet, but I'm sure I will. And I will also buy the "real thing" when/if it comes out.

Paul

P.S. cdog how's it going any progress?

Just my two cents about a DVD Release...

After watching the show (and taping all the episodes on VHS several years ago, many from NBC) I've noticed a lot of editing from the original runs on NBC.

It appears that most "bootleg" DVDs or VCDs, and even VHS copies, have episodes recorded off of the syndicated reruns, which aren't anywhere near originals.

I've noticed on dozens of episodes (and increasingly lately) that the intros, certian scenes, dialogue, and other parts are being edited out for TV. Presumably to make more time for commericals. I've seen several versions lately where individuals lines were taken out, seamlessly, and unnoticeable to most viewers. Almost all of the "comedy-club" intros from the NBC original runs are gone, and the shows just start with the first scene.

I hope that when an official DVD release is made, the full un-cut versions of the episodes are shown. I'm waiting until then.

Also to add, I've noticed the recent oversaturation of the syndicated episodes, and frequent time slot changes. Almost in an effort to keep it alive, as if it is slowly losing popularity and ratings. It may be the perfect time to make a move to preserve it on DVD.

It looks like that site has shut down again: http://www.*******direct .com/home. The question is, will it reappear again under a new name?

Stan,

I just clicked on the link in your email and the site was there. Perhaps it was just off-line when you checked. Try it again and see - I'll do the same tomorrow.

Paul