MSCL.com

Hi all,

Correct me if I am wrong, but when a lot of us ordered way back when, we were just ordering the DVDs, correct? The bonus disc and the lunchboxes were extras added later weren't they?

So, why is everyone talking about reporting them to all these different agencies for not yet delivering on the extras which are just that, extras?

Then the bonuses were announced and that was one of the explanations for the delays (although I guess they didn't have some of the music rights and the discs weren't manufactured by BMG as well).

I'm not sticking up for AU. The delays are just unforgivable. But, if the DVDs are paid for, and shipping next week, then that is what a lot of us ordered.

If we get a lunchbox in the future, cool. But like a lot of collectible packaging for discs, it isn't a make or break item.

If a bonus DVD comes, that is also great. But for a lot of us, we only paid for the DVDs and we should be getting those soon.

The exclusivity thing is the big thing to be complaining about. They were sold to us as exclusive of AU, not just exclusive for 2 weeks or so.

Anyway, for me at least, it is the episodes that matter. Anyone is free to cancel at AU if they want and forget the whole thing.

The lunchbox and bonus disc were included from the very beginning. Although, if memory serves, the lunchbox was originally only going out to the first 2,000 or 2,500 orders.

You're correct Denie.

Ok, I found the original Email that Jason sent out in February. While he mentions bonuses and special packaging, no specifics were mentioned. So, most ordered it without knowing (or in my case even caring) what came with it.

Here is the letter:

Hey Everyone! It's Miller Time!

I am very excited (ecstatic is more like it!) to inform you that the
My So-Called Life DVD Box Set is going to become a reality.

"How soon," you ask? You'll be amazed to learn that you can actually
place a pre-order now and reserve a copy with a $20 deposit. BMG has
agreed to license the DVD to AnotherUniverse.com as the exclusive source.

I, too, am amazed at how quickly things have progressed. To all those
who doubted this would actually happen, I say, "don't doubt the power
of prayer."

Here is a little information:
1) The complete set will be issued on DVDs with bonus material, special
collector's packaging, booklet, etc. Specifics will be coming to
http://www.mscl.com/dvd soon!
2) There will be no region coding. It will play anywhere. International
shipping is available.
3) The DVD is available exclusively online, at
http://www.anotheruniverse.com/mscldvd
4) You can pay by credit card, check, or money order.
5) I believe that there is a phone number to order from (on their site).
6) For those who already own episodes 1-3, you can buy a set without that
disc.
7) The price with all episodes is $99.98.
The price for episodes 4-19 is $89.98 (the set will be identical,
minus disc one. You can insert the old disc into the new set
package – but not the holder).
9) These prices may go down given a high number of pre-orders, as
production costs can be spread out over a greater number of units.
10) There is a lot more info at http://www.anotheruniverse.com/mscldvd .

Important: The number of box sets manufactured will depend on the number
of pre-orders received. There is no guarantee that there will more after
the pre-order period. There is no “evil” strategy behind this; it's just
that the set is being manufactured in response to our demand. In fact,
we are the only reason it is being pressed at all. The estimated turnaround
time is 3 months. However, if extra bonus material is located before
production, and it is worthwhile, it is possible that this could be
extended so that the extra material can be included.

This is pretty much the first time that I can remember that a DVD is
being made solely in response to overwhelming fan demand and believe me,
your signatures and hard work made all of the difference. There were almost
4,500 pre-pre-order signatures, so AnotherUniverse.com is just trying to
make sure that they don't make too many or too few. It would suck to make
4,500 copies, if only 2,500 bought the set.

Besides that, I will post more information as it becomes available,
including information on extras, sneak peaks of the packaging etc.
I know when I originally wrote to everyone, I had quoted a lower $ amount
for the DVD box set. I had underestimated the number of discs that would be
needed for all of the episodes, as well as some of the costs for licensing
the material. I still believe that the price is fair, and in line with
other similar sets. The set will be made to have special features for
ardent fans and collectors… do I really have to convince you why to get
this? It’s all 19 episodes of the show!

Jason Rosenfeld
“The guy who used to work for BMG”

moviezzz,

I've been a part of this process from the begining (as I'm sure you have) as an original petition signer and as a customer placing my order the first day it was available and throughot that time I've always been under the impression that there would be something "extra" included with ordering the set....originally it was not defined what that would be, but the lunchbox and bonus disc beacame PROMISED deliverables many many months ago.

Initially I didn't care about the extra's because all I really wanted was the lost episodes of the show, but since these things are now the ONLY things that differentiate this set from the one being sold by tons of other REPUTABLE retailers for HALF THE PRICE, I'm going to be pretty pissed if AU doesn't come through with them.

So I understand where you're coming from, the point you're trying to make....but honestly by posting a question like that with all of us in the state of frustration that were in, you're only asking for a ton of people to post back a bunch of angry replies.....and we really don't need any more angry pissed off treads going on here

I'm not trying to argue with moviezzz, but we were promised A LOT of things by AU, among them that we would receive bonus materials.

Although the details of what would be included on the bonus disc were not firmed up until recently (and even that statement is debatable), we were under the impression that at the very least the bonus disc would exist. As early as February, forum members were asked for suggestions that we would like to see on the bonus disc, so we knew it was a matter of collecting ideas, getting clearance, etc. for material to be put on the disc.

I don't know exactly when the lunchbox was officially announced, but that is the "special collector's packaging" referred to in Jason's email which you quoted. It was going to be a secret (or a surprise) but word leaked out quickly and Jason confirmed that GWhiz was manufacturing the lunchboxes on March 25 http://www.mscl.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=436

Like Leslie said, the bonus materials are now the ONLY thing that distinguishes AU's so-called exclusive collector's edition set, so most people who haven't cancelled their AU orders are counting on the lunchbox and disc to be worth the extra $40+.

I mean, why would anyone pay $115 to AU instead of a little over $50 to Amazon or other retailers if not for the bonus materials?

When I ordered in February, the bonus disc and lunchbox were DEFINATELY part of the deal, as was the set being EXCLUSIVE to AU. The lunchbox was limited to those who preordered, free shipping was limited to those who ordered by March 1. Had the set been announced as being available anywhere else I never would have ordered from AU, a company I'd never heard of, and now WISH I'd never heard of.

Of course, we were also supposed to see the entire package in June.

Hi all,

I wasn't trying to start anything, just to try to see everyone calm down a bit. The discs should be on the way soon (hopefully) so that is the most important thing.

AU has screwed up a lot, I'm not defending them. But wasn't a huge part of the delay due to BMG not having the necessary music clearances for the episodes? Jason didn't even get to see the check discs until September. From September to now for production isn't all that outrageous. Unless I don't know something, there is no reason to blame AU for that.

As for the lunchboxes, like I said, collectible packaging is fun, but would any of us have not ordered if this wasn't part of the deal?

And the last we heard, there weren't the necessary clearances for some of the stuff on the bonus disc. Then after it is cleared, they have to make up the disc, manufacture it and all that. That will all take time.

Again, the worst part of this whole thing for me was the exclusive thing. I would have never ordered a DVD full price from a place I had never heard of if I knew that all the discount retailers would have it. I buy enough DVDs to know that you have to shop around to get the lowest price. This was false advertising on AUs part and they should do something to rectify this situation.

Like I said, the most important thing is the DVDs and they should be here within the next couple weeks. That is what we all signed the petition for so we should be happy about that. I'm sure we would have done the same without any extras at all.

BTW, this wouldn't be the first time MSCL fans had problems with Life related merchandise. Did anyone else here place an order for the MSCL book from Operation Life Support only to have it never published? I did.

I guess I'm just used to this.

moviezzz wrote:As for the lunchboxes, like I said, collectible packaging is fun, but would any of us have not ordered if this wasn't part of the deal?

True, I didn't originally order the set just for the lunchbox, but now that the set is available for less than $60 at some retailers, the question is: how much are a lunchbox and a bonus disc worth? In my opinion, they are not worth $40 extra. I was fine with paying $99.95 for the set when it was the only way to get MSCL on DVD, but now that I have options I can't stomach paying almost twice as much for the possibility of two items.

GWhiz has not confirmed that they received payment from AU as of 10/19/02 and even if tomorrow Robert says they have the money and are ready to move to production, I find it inexcusable that AU waited until production was stopped to pay this vendor. GWhiz has already said that shipping from Hong Kong to California will take 20-30 days after production is completed.

In addition, we don't know the details of the payment. It is entirely possible that the money Ross Fed Exed to AU was another payment, not the entire balance. Imagine if the lunchboxes are produced but not released due to AU's lack of payment once again.

And the last we heard, there weren't the necessary clearances for some of the stuff on the bonus disc. Then after it is cleared, they have to make up the disc, manufacture it and all that. That will all take time.

It might take more time than you think. According to Jason, Bedford Falls has not signed a release for the footage that was shot AND the company who filmed the footage has not been paid by AU. Who knows if any of it will make it onto the bonus disc? Considering the fact that the DVD release was changed from June until TBA, AU should have been using that extra time to complete the bonus disc and have the lunchboxes finished. Instead, they used those extra months to NOT pay their vendors.

I am just sickened by AU - they have screwed up EVERY possible detail of this deal. Cancelling my order does not rectify the fact that AU lied to us, stole our money, and let us wait months without notifying us of the status of our orders so at this point, I am unable to calm down. I am not directing my anger at you moviezzz - I am just trying to help you understand why the fact that AU hadn't announced what would be on the bonus discs by the time I preordered doesn't justify their actions.

I agree that the important thing is for us to get the DVDs. I am through with AU though - I am getting my set somewhere else, even if that means waiting an extra week. I've waited this long, so I would rather wait an extra week and know that my money is going to a company that is more trustworthy and competent.

moviezzz wrote:Like I said, the most important thing is the DVDs and they should be here within the next couple weeks.

I know mine will be in my hands in 3-4 weeks. And I was not overcharged by $70, and there is no uncertainty whether or not the extra $40 paid will be for a dvd and lunchbox, or if I was just bilked out of that money for the same thing other people are paying $60 for.

ps. I'm SOOOOOO happy my bank decided to dispute the charges. It means I'm DONE with the AU B.S. and I can order through Amazon with a good concious.

moviezzz wrote:The discs should be on the way soon (hopefully) so that is the most important thing.

I have to disagree. The most important thing is the $115 i was overcharged clear back in July and haven't received a refund for!

Even then it really pisses me off that i would still be paying about $50 extra for a lunchbox, a bonus disk, and possibly a couple other pidly things, all of which may not even show up

moviezzz wrote:Ok, I found the original Email that Jason sent out in February. While he mentions bonuses and special packaging, no specifics were mentioned. So, most ordered it without knowing (or in my case even caring) what came with it.

9) These prices may go down given a high number of pre-orders, as
production costs can be spread out over a greater number of units.

I guess that never happened!

About the bonus discs, DVD production takes time. I heard for another project that the audio commentary for a disc was recorded a couple weeks ago for a disc that isn't going to be released until next year. They take a lot of time to put together. So, for all the bonus materials and interviews that were shot over the summer, it is rather impossible to see all that cleared, edited together, and manufactured by some of the early dates that were given to us.

And about the overcharges, if you were double charged in June, did you call your credit card company immediately and dispute it? That is what you should have done right away, don't rely on AU to do it for you. They would have taken care of it (or you should get a new credit card company). If by July it wasn't taken care of, you should have called them back and called them every day thereafter until it was done.

moviezzz wrote:And about the overcharges, if you were double charged in June, did you call your credit card company immediately and dispute it?

But what's funny is the people that did to that had thier order canceled by AU. AND AU told people it would get done. Remember, at that point, AU had only made the one mistake.

I think I understand what you're trying to say. However, my entire problem with au is their lack of communication throughout this entire fiasco. . The bonus disk isn't ready? It's going to take some more time? Ok, then LET ME KNOW. The DVDs aren't going to ship in June? Ok, LET ME KNOW. I paid good money for this product, and therefore deserve to be told about the status of it.
I don't think anyone on this board cares any longer about why this or that didn't happen - because frankly, we've heard every excuse in the book, and nothing ever comes of it. So, as far as I'm concerned, AU can take their excuses and shove 'em. They have screwed ALL of us, WHY they did it doesn't matter. We were f*cked over - that's the bottom line.
All of these other 'well it's the fault of BMG/Disney/God/The Government' posts are quite useless. I didn't order from BMG or anyone else. I ordered from AU. Any other companies they are involved with concerning this project are their problems. I ordered from AU, so my only concern, is AU!

moviezzz wrote:About the bonus discs, DVD production takes time. I heard for another project that the audio commentary for a disc was recorded a couple weeks ago for a disc that isn't going to be released until next year. They take a lot of time to put together. So, for all the bonus materials and interviews that were shot over the summer, it is rather impossible to see all that cleared, edited together, and manufactured by some of the early dates that were given to us.

And about the overcharges, if you were double charged in June, did you call your credit card company immediately and dispute it? That is what you should have done right away, don't rely on AU to do it for you. They would have taken care of it (or you should get a new credit card company). If by July it wasn't taken care of, you should have called them back and called them every day thereafter until it was done.