Take a breath everyone

[moviezzz]

Hi all,

Is it just me or has this board gotten out of control? Can we all just take a breath?

Like everyone else, I ordered months ago, right after Jason announced it and assured me and everyone else that Another Universe was for real. I was also charged way back when. And, I have put up with and have been upset with all the delays. (I mean, the Fox TV show 24 has been filmed, aired, and released on DVD in the time that this box set has been in the works).

The first delays were not AU's fault though, the rights clearances and such. Then the whole bonus disc, can't blame AU for that.

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't the current delays all because of BMG and not Another Universe? I don't quite understand all the attacks on AU (especially by Jason, does he know something he isn't saying?). They said they are just waiting on them from BMG so unless we aren't being told something, we really can't blame them for this delay (although yes, there is plenty of other stuff to blame them for).

The releasing the DVD to other retailers is VERY upsetting. It was sold and we ordered it from AU because we were told it was theirs exclusively. Now, to see it on other sites, and to see it for less, well, that is just wrong. But again, this isn't AU's fault. If they were only given a certain exclusive timeframe, something is off since from what we know, the past few months have all been delays by BMG and not AU. They should have some sort of action against BMG if that is what really happened.

And some of the personal attacks here are just too much. Do you really expect Ross or others to post information here when it is such a hostile environment? It isn't doing anyone any good. If you don't want it from AU, call them or email them and cancel it. If you got double billed, do the same and call your credit card company. But the name calling just isn't doing anything productive about it.

Anyway, I want to see the set as much as everyone else. I just don't feel the hate that is being expressed here is doing anyone any good. It surely isn't getting the DVDs out faster.

So settle down people. Take a breath before posting. And just give it time to hear what happened at that meeting today. If we don't hear by the end of the week, it may be time to give it up. But until then, just give it time.

Thanks.

[Denie]

The first delays were not AU's fault though, the rights clearances and such. Then the whole bonus disc, can't blame AU for that.

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't the current delays all because of BMG and not Another Universe? I don't quite understand all the attacks on AU (especially by Jason, does he know something he isn't saying?). They said they are just waiting on them from BMG so unless we aren't being told something, we really can't blame them for this delay (although yes, there is plenty of other stuff to blame them for).

The releasing the DVD to other retailers is VERY upsetting. It was sold and we ordered it from AU because we were told it was theirs exclusively. Now, to see it on other sites, and to see it for less, well, that is just wrong. But again, this isn't AU's fault. If they were only given a certain exclusive timeframe, something is off since from what we know, the past few months have all been delays by BMG and not AU. They should have some sort of action against BMG if that is what really happened.

Yes, it is AU's fault that the DVD was "released" to other retailers. BMG did that with the FULL APPROVAL of Ross.
The current delays are because AU has not paid BMG for the DVDs or GWhiz for the lunchboxes.

You might want to read the DVD FAQ. It is very informative and will probably answer most of your questions.

[MarkSWalker]

moviezzz-

Yes, there have been some delays not caused by AU. But let's take
a careful look, shall we?

1) AU as of Friday, has not paid the balance due to BMG for the DVDs.

2) The people who are making the lunchboxes resorted to posting in
here because THEY HAVE NOT BEEN PAID BY AU for the lunch boxes,
inspite of AU claiming they have been paid.

3) The only reason other retailers are getting this set, is because
Ross saved $2 per set BY AGREEING that it would not be exclusive
set after a certain window of time. (only the bonus DVD, which I am
highly doubtful will come off glich-free, and the lunch box are exclusive
to Another Univierse.)

Early delays, some of them, rested with BMG, and rights for images,
music, etc.

Delays on the BONUS disc are another matter, as this should've been
in the works as soon as AU got THE TOTAL RETAIL amount out of me
back on March 13...without letting me know they were doing it BTW.

The delays on the Bonus DVD and LunchBox are, well, just plain stupid
at this point.

We have heard so many stories that have not matched up, and one
delay after another for this reason and that, that there is every reason
to believe this fisasco will continue to be one unless we threaten to take
legal action against the people who took our money under false pretense.

Fraud is fraud. And there is no way any of us should be "calming down,"
until we all get our money back, or the DVD set is delieved as promised.


Mark

[so-called customer]

While there may be a bit of over reaction, there are very few to blame for this debacle other than AU.

It was AU's doing that the sets had to be paid for way in advance of the release.

It was AU's fault their servers were hacked and kiddie porn spam was sent to their customers.

The music rights issue is one of extremely sloppy business on both AU's and BMG's parts. BMG had absolutely no right selling the series when they didn't even own it, and AU was negligent for not having a contract that stipulated that BMG held the rights and had the authority to license it.

The overcharges are completely AU's fault.

The sluggishness in which refunds have/have not been handled is AU's fault.

The lack of communication over the progress of this set is AU's fault.

If the vendors haven't been paid, that is also AU's fault, since they ought to have the funds to cover it.

The distribution to other retaillers is also on AU's shoulders, since they would have to sign off on the deal.

There has been 7 months since many of us paid in full for these sets, and time enough to get them shipped. Given AU's track record so far, I don't for one minute blame people for being pissed off at them. We did not sign up to be financeers of their company.

There had better be some pretty solid answers forthcoming, or AU's ship will be sunk.

[moviezzz]

Hi all,

Ok, I guess I posted too soon. I read some other topics after posting and now just will say ditto to what everyone else said.

Sorry for my confusion here. Didn't realize all this had happened.

HOPEFULLY, things will get worked out. I'll be waiting to hear on that. But otherwise, things are A LOT worse than I thought.

[vapspwi]

While there may be a bit of over reaction, there are very few to blame for this debacle other than AU.

The longer this drags on, the thinner my "benefit of the doubt" for AU wears. That said, I do understand what the original poster was saying and pretty much agree.

It appears that we've got plenty of reason to be angry (I'm currently out an extra $115 myself), but the hysteria and rumors and name calling is really counterproductive. There's a lot of good info to be had here, but sometimes it's unpleasant to wade through the vitriol (justified, but not necessary) to find it. I do wish everybody would take a deep breath and pursue the matter in a more professional manner, instead of kind of freaking out and ranting a lot.

Hopefully this will all be resolved one way or another soon. Once I get a copy of the DVD set, from Amazon or AU or whoever I have to get it from, then I can unleash the full brunt of my ire. For now, though, I wonder if the scattershot e-mailing and calling and nagging isn't just making matters worse.

JRjr

[Natasha (candygirl)]

I do wish everybody would take a deep breath and pursue the matter in a more professional manner, instead of kind of freaking out and ranting a lot.

I agree that in an ideal world, it would be nice for EVERYONE (not just people at this board) to behave in a more mature professional manner. Unfortunately, I think that this ideal (like world peace) is something we will have to dream about because it won't be a reality any time soon regarding the DVDs.

Consider who has been posting these messages: (1) people who recently learned of the debacle and are totally freaking out and (2) people who have been doing a slow burn for seven months. Both groups of people have a lot of pent up anger and they need to blow off steam. No, name calling isn't very nice, but neither is stealing money from a couple thousand fans who put their faith in a company that has STILL not produced the products that we ordered.

I am not trying to justify anyone's actions or words, just trying to explain why people are so on edge. For a while, I stayed away from the board because I couldn't deal with reading all the rumors and fingerpointing, but finally I came to the conclusion that it was better for me to be informed (or at least forewarned) rather than ignorant of the latest developments. Some days I only read the "update" sticky, other days I join in the fray.

Look at it this way - at least we haven't stormed AU's building yet or started burning Ross in effigy. We're just communicating our disappointment to other people who understand exactly what we're going through. In an ideal world, we would all post only nice things or constructive criticism. But in an ideal world, none of this would have happened. We would all be snuggled up on our respective sofas watching the DVDs for the umpteenth time.

[vapspwi]

Look at it this way - at least we haven't stormed AU's building yet or started burning Ross in effigy. We're just communicating our disappointment to other people who understand exactly what we're going through. In an ideal world, we would all post only nice things or constructive criticism. But in an ideal world, none of this would have happened. We would all be snuggled up on our respective sofas watching the DVDs for the umpteenth time.

Believe me, I'm not advocating getting walked on or pretending that everything's fine, or only posting "nice things." But being nasty in a professional way, by filing reports with the BBB and the Attorney General and so forth, rather than in a personal way, by posting unfocused rants and mocking AU, is much more likely to bring results and have a lasting, meaningful effect.

JRjr

[Natasha (candygirl)]

I agree - and for the longest time, I kept giving AU "one more chance" so I was reluctant to do anything too drastic like file reports with the BBB or the AG because, after all, some of the delays (like the music clearance) were understandable, unavoidable, and not AU's fault. I didn't want to jump to conclusions, but at this point I feel that my two choices are jump to that conclusion or sit by complacently while they do who knows what with my money. Soooo I am preparing to fill out exactly one gazillion forms - in triplicate.

[mog]

well, i know i've posted many of these "chill out" posts

and i am as patient as the next guy

i just think that maybe it's safer to just cancel and get it at Best Buy -- then i know it's out, because it's physically in my hands

and also, i'm trying to pay off my credit cards, and a payment of $115 would really lower it a lot -- $60 is much less to pay, and i really could care less about the bonus disc, and lunchbox (i keep my DVD's in a CD book anyway)

so i may cancel -- i'm just worried about getting a refund..... it's a risk :/

if i did want to, how would i apply for a refund? thanks!