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O.k. people, time to return your dvds.
	Topic by: sir78billy Posted: July 5, 2005 - 11:14 AM PDT Last Reply: September 21, 2012 - 11:55 PM PDT

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author	topic: O.k. people, time to return your dvds.
kaream	post #61  on July 11, 2008 - 1:53 AM PDT   Hey, the clock got fixed. It actually timestamped that last post with the correct time. I haven't been noticing recently, but it used to be 7 or 8 minutes off.
kaream	post #62  on July 11, 2008 - 11:59 AM PDT   > On July 9, 2008 - 5:47 PM PDT Vanamonde wrote: > --------------------------------- > > On July 7, 2005 - 3:40 PM PDT sir78billy wrote: > > --------------------------------- > > It's not so much that titles are red, it's the fact that titles are red and they remain that way for many many months. > > --------------------------------- > > Yes! I would call them the Infrared. I wish there was a way to know what order we are in the queue. Left me know if there is a chance in hell in getting a certain title before the next year. ... > But Greencine should be able to us where we are in line. I know, I know, a Small Matter of Programming (SMOP). > --------------------------------- Something like this would certainly be useful, but it's hard to imagine how it would actually work. As I understand it, there is no 'line' that we're in for any given title. It's been explained in a different thread that what counts is where a title is within your own queue. When you return a disc and thus free up a slot, the GC computer looks only at your #1 queue position to see first whether a copy is available in the warehouse, and next to see what other members also have that same title in their #1 slot, and only then does it check to see which member had requested it earliest. If you're first in line for the #1 slot it will send the movie to you; otherwise it moves down to your #2 request and repeats the process. Then you have the problem that many people keep rearranging their queues -- or at least I do, and I suppose many others do as well. So although it would seem straightforward for GC to be able to tell you how far down you are for a red-barred title that's been sitting in your #1 position for months on end, it actually depends entirely not on how many people requested the same movie before you, but rather on which of these people also have that title at the very top of their queues on the day it's returned and checked in. FWIW I'm feeling frustrated because I've had a movie at the top of my queue for quite a while now that stays yellow-barred, and every time I send in a return I keep thinking, maybe today is the day I'll actually get it -- but no, not this time. Again. *Sigh*
crazypaws	post #63  on July 11, 2008 - 1:15 PM PDT   > On July 11, 2008 - 11:59 AM PDT kaream wrote: > --------------------------------- > > On July 9, 2008 - 5:47 PM PDT Vanamonde wrote: > > --------------------------------- > > > On July 7, 2005 - 3:40 PM PDT sir78billy wrote: > > > --------------------------------- > > > It's not so much that titles are red, it's the fact that titles are red and they remain that way for many many months. > > > --------------------------------- > > > > Yes! I would call them the Infrared. I wish there was a way to know what order we are in the queue. Left me know if there is a chance in hell in getting a certain title before the next year. > ... > > But Greencine should be able to us where we are in line. I know, I know, a Small Matter of Programming (SMOP). > > --------------------------------- > > Something like this would certainly be useful, but it's hard to imagine how it would actually work. As I understand it, there is no 'line' that we're in for any given title. > > It's been explained in a different thread that what counts is where a title is within your own queue. When you return a disc and thus free up a slot, the GC computer looks only at your #1 queue position to see first whether a copy is available in the warehouse, and next to see what other members also have that same title in their #1 slot, and only then does it check to see which member had requested it earliest. If you're first in line for the #1 slot it will send the movie to you; otherwise it moves down to your #2 request and repeats the process. > > Then you have the problem that many people keep rearranging their queues -- or at least I do, and I suppose many others do as well. > > So although it would seem straightforward for GC to be able to tell you how far down you are for a red-barred title that's been sitting in your #1 position for months on end, it actually depends entirely not on how many people requested the same movie before you, but rather on which of these people also have that title at the very top of their queues on the day it's returned and checked in. > > FWIW I'm feeling frustrated because I've had a movie at the top of my queue for quite a while now that stays yellow-barred, and every time I send in a return I keep thinking, maybe today is the day I'll actually get it -- but no, not this time. Again. *Sigh* > --------------------------------- That all makes sense......but I have a few in my top 5 that I have not changed. In fact, I have one in particular that has been there I would say a year and I still have not had it shipped out to me. It remains RED.
kaream	post #64  on July 11, 2008 - 3:00 PM PDT   > On July 11, 2008 - 1:15 PM PDT crazypaws wrote: > --------------------------------- I have a few in my top 5 that I have not changed. In fact, I have one in particular that has been there I would say a year and I still have not had it shipped out to me. It remains RED. > --------------------------------- Suggestion: Look for the movie at Amazon. If Amazon has it for sale as one of their own items, that means it's still in print, so start hollering (nicely) at the GC folks to buy some more copies. If Amazon lists the movie, but as only available from Marketplace resellers, that almost always means it's no longer in print, and GC's hands are pretty much tied for restocking. And if Amazon shows it as being unavailable, or has no listing for it at all, you're really SOL. If it's not in print but copies are shown for sale by Marketplace resellers, you could sweetly ask GC to investigate buying a few of these -- occasionally they have done so when requested. Or if you're desperate enough, check over the prices asked, adding in Amazon's standard shipping rate, and also look at eBay and Half.com to check for better deals, and weigh whether it's worth it to you to just buy your own copy.
kaream	post #65  on July 11, 2008 - 3:12 PM PDT   > On July 11, 2008 - 1:15 PM PDT crazypaws wrote: > --------------------------------- It remains RED. > --------------------------------- Just guessing, but I've assumed that RED means GC is still carrying one or two copies in their inventory that they haven't yet given up on, and they might even have seen a copy come back fairly recently. But it could be just a single copy that's been out for a while, and they're still hoping might show up eventually.
kaream	post #66  on July 11, 2008 - 3:39 PM PDT   > On July 11, 2008 - 3:12 PM PDT kaream wrote: > --------------------------------- > Just guessing, but I've assumed that RED means GC is still carrying one or two copies in their inventory that they haven't yet given up on, and they might even have seen a copy come back fairly recently. But it could be just a single copy that's been out for a while, and they're still hoping might show up eventually. > --------------------------------- Which reminds me of a suggestion I've made before, and still think would be a good idea: Whenever GC gets down to their last few copies of anything that's gone out of print and is irreplaceable -- especially more important titles in the 'Movies Matter' sense, and the good folks at GreenCine are uniquely qualified to make this kind of judgment -- they ought to start looking at which members have good track records of returning discs quickly and in good condition, as opposed to members who return slowly or not at all, or who tend to return discs damaged. And just make those irreplaceable movies unavailable to members who can't be trusted to be responsible. This isn't such an off-the-wall idea; a different much smaller rental service told me flat out that they wouldn't send me some hard-to-find movies until I had established a track record with them. I appreciated the manager's honesty; but GC wouldn't need to advertise such a policy, just implement it.
kaream	post #67  on July 12, 2008 - 10:22 AM PDT   > On July 11, 2008 - 3:39 PM PDT kaream wrote: > --------------------------------- > Whenever GC gets down to their last few copies of anything that's gone out of print and is irreplaceable -- especially more important titles in the 'Movies Matter' sense, and the good folks at GreenCine are uniquely qualified to make this kind of judgment -- they ought to start looking at which members have good track records of returning discs quickly and in good condition, as opposed to members who return slowly or not at all, or who tend to return discs damaged. And just make those irreplaceable movies unavailable to members who can't be trusted to be responsible. > > This isn't such an off-the-wall idea; a different much smaller rental service told me flat out that they wouldn't send me some hard-to-find movies until I had established a track record with them. I appreciated the manager's honesty; but GC wouldn't need to advertise such a policy, just implement it. > --------------------------------- Or is this policy in fact already being implemented? (Of course I don't really expect you to post a yes or no answer here. But if it isn't yet being done, you ought to think long and hard about it. Some members appear to believe that because they are conscientious and responsible, all other members will be as well -- which you know perfectly well is unfortunately not true.)
kaream	post #68  on July 16, 2008 - 3:03 PM PDT   Would it be possible to confirm that Dreyer's 1943 Day of Wrath is really supposed to be yellow-barred? It's stayed that color for quite a long time time now, at my #1 queue position. I could understand if it was red or even orange, but yellow would seem to indicate that GC does have several copies -- so am I just way down on a long waiting list, or are all of your copies being held by members who can't be bothered to return discs? (For that matter, whereas I had been receiving a good mix of yellows and oranges since joining, since early June I've received only greens together with a couple of blues, even with my extremely quick turnaround.)
weezy	post #69  on July 17, 2008 - 11:56 AM PDT   Hi Kaream, Day of Wrath is indeed checked out by other members right now, and I've sent a gentle reminder to members holding those films to send their copy back once they've had a chance to view the film. I did the same for a few other orange titles on your queue as well. Hope you get them soon!
kaream	post #70  on July 17, 2008 - 1:50 PM PDT   > On July 17, 2008 - 11:56 AM PDT weezy wrote: > --------------------------------- I've sent a gentle reminder to members holding those films to send their copy back once they've had a chance to view the film. > --------------------------------- Oh, weezy. thanks ever so much! Underdog had previously said that GC never does that -- or maybe I misunderstood what he was saying? -- that you don't routinely send reminders but will for specific requested titles? Anyway, I'm very glad to know that it's not against the rules, and thrilled that you're helping free up my queue.  <3   ^_^
tungwaiyip	post #71  on July 31, 2008 - 4:49 PM PDT   Berlin Alexanderplatz. It is a 7 disc series. After sveral months I have never been able to get the first disc. But even if I do, I notice that someone seems to hold on to the part 4 forever. Really hate to get stuck in the middle once you have started. I hope GC will send out reminders more often to those who have holding on one disc for too long.
kaream	post #72  on July 31, 2008 - 11:03 PM PDT   > On July 31, 2008 - 4:49 PM PDT tungwaiyip wrote: > --------------------------------- > Berlin Alexanderplatz. It is a 7 disc series. After sveral months I have never been able to get the first disc. But even if I do, I notice that someone seems to hold on to the part 4 forever. Really hate to get stuck in the middle once you have started. I hope GC will send out reminders more often to those who have holding on one disc for too long. > --------------------------------- I absolutely agree that GreenCine should be much more proactive in sending out reminders, generally. No one needs more than one month to watch any movie; if they take over a month they're just sitting on it, keeping it away from others. Which I suspect may be a large part of the problem with this particular series -- somebody holding onto a middle disc waiting for earlier ones to free up. And this is a series that's important to watch in sequence; it's much more like one very long movie than a standard TV series. What pops up right now is: --Disc 1: orange (opening 2-hr episode 1 + 1-hr episode 2 --Disc 2: green (episodes 3-5) --Disc 3: yellow (episodes 6-8) --Disc 4: yellow (episodes 9-11) --Disc 5: green (episodes 12-13) --Disc 6: blue (final episode 14 + a documentary) --Disc 7: green (original 1931 film version + various extras) In other words this can be a real bear to get hold of in the correct sequence, without having to wait so long you've already forgotten what came before. I'm going to be subversive here. First, recognizing that Berlin Alexanderplatz is a very expensive set from Criterion, it's also a very important set; and with this many yellows and oranges on it so far out in time from its initial release, GC ought to consider biting the bullet and buying a few more copies. But my considered advice to tungwaiyip, in the meantime, is that another rental service that-shall-remain-unnamed currently has every disc of the entire series 'available now'. It would surely be worth your while to sign up for a single month, or even a free trial period if that's still available, just to get this important movie in and back out without driving yourself crazy waiting for all the discs to finally dribble in in sequence.
weezy	post #73  on August 1, 2008 - 12:32 PM PDT   Berlin Alexandreplatzians! - We have ordered more copies of this set. Kaream, you're right, it's an important set we'd like to get out to our members with some speed, so, thanks for your patience so far!
underdog	post #74  on August 1, 2008 - 1:53 PM PDT   I think people have been taking the first "BA" volumes to Berlin with them before watching. ;-)
tungwaiyip	post #75  on August 1, 2008 - 6:51 PM PDT   kaream, I have never considered the other rental service so far. Thanks for your tips. Maybe that's the way to unclog my queue. I think GC should be even more proactive in their initial email. Just say "We are glad to mail you the xxx movie you've been waiting for. Please enjoy. There are 12 other people waiting on this movie. When you are done please return it promptly so that we can share the movie." I'm a conscientious person. Had I know it is in demand i would prioritize accordingly.
kaream	post #76  on August 1, 2008 - 8:25 PM PDT   > On August 1, 2008 - 6:51 PM PDT tungwaiyip wrote: > --------------------------------- > Maybe that's the way to unclog my queue. > --------------------------------- Another thought that I'm certain is frequently overlooked is simply checking with your local public library. I'm in Albuquerque, and our library has its entire catalog online. If something I'm looking for is at an inconvenient location I can just call them up and request the item to be sent over to my own neighborhood branch. Occasionally a disc will need some cleaning up before it will play properly, but I rarely have problems. It's easy, it's quick, and it's free. And I'm always finding stuff there that's gone out of print and unavailable elsewhere.
kaream	post #77  on August 1, 2008 - 8:40 PM PDT   > On August 1, 2008 - 8:25 PM PDT kaream wrote: > --------------------------------- > ... your local public library. > --------------------------------- If you happen to be in San Francisco, for instance, they have 16 copies of the set, with 10 holds today waiting in front of you. I didn't look at their due date policy, but it shouldn't be too long before one comes up. And this way you get the entire set at once instead of having to receive the discs individually.
tungwaiyip	post #78  on August 2, 2008 - 8:37 PM PDT   Thank you. This is brillant! I'm indeed in San Francisco. I have put my request. Their DVDs policy due in one week. So it is going to be a push to go through all 7 of them. But I prefer this to waiting on a disc in the middle for undetermined period of time. > On August 1, 2008 - 8:40 PM PDT kaream wrote: > If you happen to be in San Francisco, for instance, they have 16 copies of the set, with 10 holds today waiting in front of you. I didn't look at their due date policy, but it shouldn't be too long before one comes up. And this way you get the entire set at once instead of having to receive the discs individually.
weezy	post #79  on August 6, 2008 - 1:18 PM PDT   > On July 11, 2008 - 3:00 PM PDT kaream wrote: > Suggestion: > > Look for the movie at Amazon. If Amazon has it for sale as one of their own items, that means it's still in print, so start hollering (nicely) at the GC folks to buy some more copies. Just to clarify, this isn't necessarily true. Amazon will still carry items for sale even when the disc is no longer being made by the manufacturer. We regard a disc as out of print when it is no longer available through our vendors and the manufacturer is no longer producing more copies.
crazypaws	post #80  on September 9, 2008 - 10:07 PM PDT   I am curious to know if there is an idea on where I stand in line to receive this dvd The L-Word: Season 4 (Disc 1 of 4) (2006) I have waited patiently for quite some time. And I am dying to continue viewing the episodes in order. Thanks for any help you may be able to offer.

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