How many scratches are acceptable? - DVDfile.com forum for DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

DVDDiva · 01-03-2003, 07:36 PM

Hello!
I just have a general question in regards to DVDs and was wondering what you all think...

I am a MAGNET for defective DVD's. I just went through he** with Walmart over two boxed sets of Buffy. Anyway, to shorten my question...

How many scratches do you deem acceptable when purchasing a brand new, still shrink-wrapped DVD? Whether part of a boxed set, or a single disc. I just seem to attract the DVD's with scratches. I can't tell you how many stores now hate me for exchanging defective titles lol

Anyway, to me...a scratch is a defect whether it plays okay or not. I try to return each and every DVD that I come across with a scratch. I clean it first...to make sure it's not a smudge or scuff mark and then inspect it once again. Unfortunately, I really do seem to be a homing beacon for scratched DVD's. So, I guess what I really want to know is would you be as anal as me and return the DVD or would you turn a blind eye and see if it plays and then return it?

Am I being too fussy and should I just accept scratches and save myself some sanity?
Thanks!

FurryHumanBeing · 01-03-2003, 08:27 PM

If it plays fine I don't care. Though I hate it when I buy a DVD and the inside hub is broken and the disk had been sliding around

a.bunker · 01-03-2003, 08:44 PM

Agreed on the hub. But as long as it plays fine for me I could care less.

Crow T. Robot · 01-03-2003, 09:58 PM

i have the problem where if the disk is scratched i cant stop thinking about it

MoonSka0 · 01-03-2003, 09:59 PM

Count me as one of the anal. If I were to buy something used or from a friend, then I could understand why scratches are on a disc, but for something brand new, why shouldn't I expect the disc to be scratch free? I dunno, I guess that why they call it anal

feldon23 · 01-03-2003, 11:56 PM

limacharliewhiskey · 01-04-2003, 12:03 AM

Playability is all I'm concerned with. If a cat uses a DVD as a scratching post and the DVD still plays flawlessly, that's all I care about.

JakeLipson · 01-04-2003, 02:51 AM

Scratches become a problem for me only when and if they begin to effect the playback of the DVD.

Flash Ahhh · 01-04-2003, 04:55 AM

I like keeping my stuff in tip-top condition.

The playability is of course the most important concern.

If I buy a new disk and it has 1 or 2 mild scratches, I'll live with it. Any more then that, then I definitely take it back to the store.

I've have bought some DVD's previously viewed from a used retailer and a few of the titles I've picked up have had like 20 or more scratches on them. I mean it looks like someone used it as a brillo pad. But the disks have all played fine. I think a scratch is pretty harmless just as long as it doesn't effect the lasers ability to read the disk. Now a gouge in the surface would probably effect the playback.

-Flash

SkottDMD · 01-04-2003, 06:06 AM

I haven't had a disc that had scratches yet. I am paranoid about my discs so they only see my DVD player and their case

I only lend to people I know care as much about them as me. As for buying used, most places I go to where you can do this they won't take scratched discs at all. I could imagine Blockbuster being bad about that though

MickeyKnox · 01-04-2003, 03:02 PM

Im pretty anal about scratches on the dvd... Haven't had any yet...but I just exchanged a DVD (insomnia) at best buy because the case was dented. lol I got a couple weird looks, but i dont care.

bembol · 01-04-2003, 04:32 PM

I remember when I bought my Pearl Harbor (Vista Series) at Wal-Mart. They had to open six copies until I was satistfied, because sometimes it was disc one, sometimes it was disc 3, etc. that was defective...the guy was cool about he understood.

dork74 · 01-04-2003, 11:36 PM

Just do what i did invest in a dvd doctor it will run you 30 bucks but its worth it !!! My son had scrached up one of his dvds pretty awful so i went out and got one and i'll be damned if it didnt take every scratch off the disc to the point that it played beautifuly!!! The dvd doctor also coms in handy if you buy alot of used discs like i do . Or rent them ..i still to ths day dont understand how people can miss putting the disc back on its spindle when they are done with it

01-03-2003, 07:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
DVDDiva Supporting Actor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USA	How many scratches are acceptable? Hello! I just have a general question in regards to DVDs and was wondering what you all think... I am a MAGNET for defective DVD's. I just went through he** with Walmart over two boxed sets of Buffy. Anyway, to shorten my question... How many scratches do you deem acceptable when purchasing a brand new, still shrink-wrapped DVD? Whether part of a boxed set, or a single disc. I just seem to attract the DVD's with scratches. I can't tell you how many stores now hate me for exchanging defective titles lol Anyway, to me...a scratch is a defect whether it plays okay or not. I try to return each and every DVD that I come across with a scratch. I clean it first...to make sure it's not a smudge or scuff mark and then inspect it once again. Unfortunately, I really do seem to be a homing beacon for scratched DVD's. So, I guess what I really want to know is would you be as anal as me and return the DVD or would you turn a blind eye and see if it plays and then return it? Am I being too fussy and should I just accept scratches and save myself some sanity? Thanks!

01-03-2003, 08:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
a.bunker Actor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Northeast US	Agreed on the hub. But as long as it plays fine for me I could care less. __________________ "I'm so hungry I could eat a sandwich from a gas station." -Clark W. Griswold

01-03-2003, 09:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
MoonSka0 Actor Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Aurora, Colorado	Count me as one of the anal. If I were to buy something used or from a friend, then I could understand why scratches are on a disc, but for something brand new, why shouldn't I expect the disc to be scratch free? I dunno, I guess that why they call it anal __________________ "A single fact can spoil a good argument."

01-03-2003, 11:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
feldon23 Actor Join Date: Oct 2000	42

01-04-2003, 12:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
limacharliewhiskey FryMaster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The O.C.	Playability is all I'm concerned with. If a cat uses a DVD as a scratching post and the DVD still plays flawlessly, that's all I care about. __________________ "Believing oneself to be perfect is often a sign of a delusional mind." - Data in Star Trek: First Contact DVD Aficionado collection.

01-03-2003, 08:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
FurryHumanBeing Actor Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Long Island	If it plays fine I don't care. Though I hate it when I buy a DVD and the inside hub is broken and the disk had been sliding around

01-03-2003, 09:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Crow T. Robot Actor Join Date: Feb 2002	i have the problem where if the disk is scratched i cant stop thinking about it

01-04-2003, 02:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
JakeLipson All Hail Peter Jackson! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry	Scratches become a problem for me only when and if they begin to effect the playback of the DVD. __________________ Proud Supporter of Blu-ray Disc! My modest collection of little silver movie discs

01-04-2003, 04:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
Flash Ahhh Moderator Emeritus Well Worth the Double Dip! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: 8.4 Miles from the newest Hooters Restaurant	I like keeping my stuff in tip-top condition. The playability is of course the most important concern. If I buy a new disk and it has 1 or 2 mild scratches, I'll live with it. Any more then that, then I definitely take it back to the store. I've have bought some DVD's previously viewed from a used retailer and a few of the titles I've picked up have had like 20 or more scratches on them. I mean it looks like someone used it as a brillo pad. But the disks have all played fine. I think a scratch is pretty harmless just as long as it doesn't effect the lasers ability to read the disk. Now a gouge in the surface would probably effect the playback. -Flash __________________ Flash - Moderator Emeritus - Savior of the Universe Criterion (krî´tir´èæn) Greek [kritËreon], *Noun.* (circa 1622) - Definitiveness. Set standard. Principle, rule or test upon which value or decision can be based. Characterization in which all others are judged.

01-04-2003, 06:06 AM	#10 (permalink)
SkottDMD Actor Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: St. Catharines, ON	I haven't had a disc that had scratches yet. I am paranoid about my discs so they only see my DVD player and their case I only lend to people I know care as much about them as me. As for buying used, most places I go to where you can do this they won't take scratched discs at all. I could imagine Blockbuster being bad about that though

01-04-2003, 03:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
MickeyKnox Actor Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Milwaukee, WI	Im pretty anal about scratches on the dvd... Haven't had any yet...but I just exchanged a DVD (insomnia) at best buy because the case was dented. lol I got a couple weird looks, but i dont care. __________________ Mister rabbit says, "A moment of realization is worth a thousand prayers."- (Natural Born Killers) "We'll be living in all the oceans now"

01-04-2003, 04:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
bembol Actor Join Date: May 2002 Location: gta\|brampton	I remember when I bought my Pearl Harbor (Vista Series) at Wal-Mart. They had to open six copies until I was satistfied, because sometimes it was disc one, sometimes it was disc 3, etc. that was defective...the guy was cool about he understood. __________________ Shaolin's Finest

01-04-2003, 11:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
dork74 Actor Join Date: Aug 2002	Just do what i did invest in a dvd doctor it will run you 30 bucks but its worth it !!! My son had scrached up one of his dvds pretty awful so i went out and got one and i'll be damned if it didnt take every scratch off the disc to the point that it played beautifuly!!! The dvd doctor also coms in handy if you buy alot of used discs like i do . Or rent them ..i still to ths day dont understand how people can miss putting the disc back on its spindle when they are done with it

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