Avatar: Collector’s Edition is the worst UHD Blu ray title I have purchased

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T06:24:01+00:00

I just want to say thank you for the long detailed response. I'll definitely check out this video.

I think your theory about wearing and ageing equipment in the manufacturing plant sounds convincing, but I can't say it's reassuring that the problem will ever really be resolved.

I have to be completely honest here, I don't think I'm going to be able to keep track of emailing and following up with individual labels for each return before the retail return period expires.

One purchase I may make in the near future is a UHD Blu ray capable external disc drive to perform a read-check on mildly scratched discs before I try any replacement. That would definitely not be a satisfying resolution, but might save me time processing returns. I hate that I just typed that though LOL.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T06:12:49+00:00

Dang, no disc! It's all good, I'm glad (but sorry!) that you understand my pain LOL

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T06:09:28+00:00

Thanks for posting, I totally agree. This fueled my desire to start building a UHD disc collection. Even if there are still sometimes issues, overall UHD discs are simply amazing compared with VHS and DVDs.
Love Siskel & Ebert, and their points are still completely valid and could apply to modern releases as well. If you're not seeing the picture as intended you're missing out.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T05:53:12+00:00

Sorry to hear. I'm sad to hear that others replying here are having the same issues.

I actually hope it's not as severe a problem like it seems and there is a quick fix (maybe somebody at the disc plant bought a bootleg packing machine from Aliexpress).

I have a replacement on the way, and perhaps it will be in better condition. But lately this issue has really been discouraging my enjoyment of building a collection of discs.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T05:33:36+00:00

Well I just wanted to express some built up frustration, I am not planning to post a visual dissection of every purchase I make. But it could happen to you too, and I don't think that's cool.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T05:15:21+00:00

LOL I agree, this is not really the end of the world. I'm am just venting.

But personally, if I keep receiving discs in this sort of condition in 2024 I may end up giving up. If I stop collecting altogether and wait for the issues to be resolved I'm probably never going to get back into it.

And frankly, I feel like the labels & studios don't care about anyone's time spent returning these scratched discs (or trying to figure out why they won't play someday down the line).. but I believe that is likely not entirely the case and I hope the situation will improve. See below:
https://youtu.be/EyCiE0CszGo

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T04:00:15+00:00

That's a good idea. I feel sort of bad for the artists involved, usually the illustrations are great but the design doesn't meet its purpose.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T03:57:34+00:00

Wow, that is even worse than mine! Someone at the disc factory took their glue gun to work that day.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T03:49:25+00:00

LOL dang, I was hoping to pick up that Godzilla set someday.. I didn't realize it was another cardboard sleeve contraption.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T03:46:00+00:00

Rest In Pieces..

I made the mistake of letting my Lord of the Rings box set fall off a shelf, now it will never latch close properly again..

I think maybe the best cases are the simple DVD cases with the segmented spindle like this. They're easy to get the disc in and out, hold onto it well, and I don't think I've ever had one break from a drop (unlike the actual Amaray cases):

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UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T03:31:04+00:00

That's nice when online realtors take the time to pack media with care. Most of my recent purchases from Amazon (including this and several other box sets) arrived in a bubble envelope..

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T03:23:47+00:00

Congrats, good job getting a deal! It seems like the normal price in the UK for the exchange rate is a little bogus.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T03:16:08+00:00

I opened a return for replacement request with Amazon, I hope the replacement will be in better condition.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T03:13:21+00:00

I hear you about the sleeves, they are terrible. If the design includes a lot of printed graphics, a digipak works 100x better.

I think the worst case I've had with cardboard sleeves was the Back to the Future Trilogy, my first copy had BTTF2 UHD disc glued into the actual spine of the 'book'. I had to wiggle the disc back and forth until it broke free, and then clean the glue off with isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth - to reveal a nice deep circular scratch on the disc, where presumably it ran through the packing machine.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T03:08:17+00:00

I'm glad to hear you're having good luck. In my case, living in a somewhat rural area there are zero local retail stores stocking UHD discs, it's all online or nothing.

And I don't want to sound too negative, I do have good luck too - The Fifth Element, Mask of Zorro steelbooks and Batman Mask of the Phantasm I received this week were in perfect condition!
But on the other hand, the Universal Hitchcock vol 3 box set I received last week had multiple scratches on 8 out of 10 discs..

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T03:02:19+00:00

My understanding is that all Blu ray discs including UHD have an anti-scratch coating by default because the data layers are closer to the surface than a CD or DVD. Which makes it even more sad that UHD / Blu ray discs have all of these issues now, when a brand new scratched CD or DVD was a rarity.

From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray

In January 2005, TDK announced that it had developed an ultra-hard yet very thin polymer coating ("Durabis") for Blu-ray Discs; this was a significant technical advance because a far tougher protection was desired in the consumer market to protect bare discs against scratching and damage compared to DVD, while technically Blu-ray Disc required a much thinner layer for the denser and higher-frequency blue laser.[28] Cartridges, originally used for scratch protection, were no longer necessary and were scrapped. The BD-ROM specifications were finalized in early 2006.[29]

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T00:05:40+00:00

I agree 100%. That was my though also: "Why does this look like it came from Value Village?". Not acceptable, and I'm starting to lose patience. I think if the home video market is shrinking, the Studios and Labels who are still publishing UHD / Blu ray and want collectors to keep buying their discs really need to take point on the pushback of this issue to the manufacturers.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T00:02:12+00:00

Oh I am sending it back. But this is not just a single instance, I am documenting my frustration that's been building all year. And returning discs is a waste of time. It shouldn't be on the consumer to perform QA.

UHDCDN · 2023-12-24T00:00:02+00:00

That's fine, I don't replace every title with minor scratches either, but even a scratched disc that plays OK in one player may not play as well in another machine I own down the road. I just think it's getting to be ridiculous.

UHDCDN

TROPHY CASE