Warner Archive Discussion Thread (FEEDBACK) - Page 56

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Here's my story on the Barker Tarzan set:

I called Cust Svc and I wasn't in their system. I tried to re-order on the phone but the Rep said that this set isn't in stock and to sign up for e-mail notification via the online store's Wish List when it's in stock. The only problem is that the online store says it's in stock so I don't expect to be notified. I'll call my CC card bank & cancel the previous pending charge. The Rep did say that they would honor the old discount code (XB592) if I decide to re-order down the road.

"That's the rest of the story" as a famous newscaster said.

I don't know....maybe others here are having better luck ordering & receiving their items?

This may turn out to be a blessing in disguise since I really only wanted 2 of the 5 Barker's from the set. I might wait on another discount code and order just the 2 movies from the set.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I did reorder and it seems to have gone through so far. Although on the WB website , on my currant order history, my new order is listed as in process. But if i click on the order it goes to a screen that states the order number isn't valid .I called and was assured that my order is all set and should ship tomorrow. I'm not holding my breath. The customer service rep also told me they are having problems with the website. No duh.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Hmmm -- My order went in early on 5/8 and I got the email order confirmation with an estimated delivery of 5/14. Nothing about this particular order shows up in my account history (except my 3 previous orders). I don't find any charges to my credit card either. I ordered the Tarzan's and two other titles. My confirmation states that all the titles were in stock and would ship together. I'm going to wait and see if they show up tomorrow and if not, I will call. It looks like there might be some major screw-up but I reserve judgement until tomorrow becausemy previous orders went through without a hitch. Let's all keep each other posted.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Ummm...if the titles are burnt to order then what does this even mean? They ran out of blank discs?

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I haven't seen too many of the other studios flooding the market with classic titles lately. Maybe they haven't gone the archive route yet, but they don't seem to be moving too quickly in the other direction either.
MGM just released TIME LIMIT, YOUNG BILLY YOUNG, NORTHWEST OUTPOST, and THE KING AND FOUR QUEENS. Amazon lists the aspect ratio for two of them at 1.33:1 and gives no aspect ratio at all for the other two, nor does it say they are widescreen, even though KING AND FOUR QUEENS is attributed a 2.35:1 ratio on IMDB. I read a review by a disappointed reviewer on another site who watched TIME LIMIT and said it was simply letterboxed and not widescreen. ALL of these four are widescreen movies, so it will be interesting to see how they were released. Maybe the DVD apocalypse is indeed upon us.
As for those who think Warners has some nefarious scheme to put these archive titles in the brick-and-mortar stores in place of regular DVD releases (I think Costco was one of the places suggested), I can't help but wonder why brick-and-mortar stores would be interested in stocking the classic archive titles at 19.95 when they had all but stopped stocking the regular DVD classic releases. And which ones would they carry? One copy each of every title in the Warners library?
I understand the concern, but I think it's premature to be second-guessing Warners' marketing strategy. They've been remastering and releasing classic titles on DVD at affordable prices for ten years. If the Walmarts and Best Buys aren't going to stock them anymore, what is Warners supposed to do? The market changes and successful companies have to figure out ways to adapt and survive. In the internet world of today, how long would a store specializing in DVDs and blu-rays survive with sites like Amazon and Deep Discount under-selling them?

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Placed order on May 8th, got shipping confirmation on May 12 and actually received them today on May13th. I guess that they were placed in the mail before the 12th. Tarzan and the She-Devil looks very good as does Bye Bye Braverman.

I do have a question, why do only about half of the MGM titles have the gut retching Turner Logo and the others do not. The Turner logo almost turned me off MGM laserdics. It is the most irritating logo I have ever seen or heard. I had hoped that we got rid of it long ago. I do suppose that they are using the same transfers that were made for the laserdisc, but I have found that the transfers are much better than the laserdiscs. Two Girls and a Sailor was almost pristine compared to the my old laser copy.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

THE archive would be a great opportunity to release official non-pd versions of THE LAST TIME I SAW PARIS, THE INSPECTOR GENRAL, VENGEANCE VALLEY, LIFE WITH FATHER, CAUSE FOR ALARM, FATHER'S LITTLE DIVIDEND, UNDERGROUND/EYES IN THE NIGHT.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Maybe this is all a highly sheltered clandestine plot to bring down the industry resulting from a Warners buy up of major stock in BluRay... that's got to be the logical explanation for all of this, right??

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

"All of the movies had no extras and the prices were VERY high. Also if other studios do read this thread and are considering the same model that Warner's is now using we probably will NEVER see another classic."

So they become like the makers of that electric car, who slither about and steal back their product so that it can be melted into tomorrow's aluminum cans? They'd turn their back on a once profitable asset and erase the history of a great artform and walk up to their dividend shareholders and say 'Those dvd collectors are pricks. Let's show 'em who's boss."????
If the archive undersells, whether its price point is high or reasonable, will send a message alright. But I doubt it will be that they won't release another old movie. They'll just fire the guy who came up with the archive idea and try to sell their assets another way.
Hey, and I'm not forcing anyone to NOT buy it either. It's a free country (unless you are outside the good ol' US; then you don't have access)...

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Oh brother. I placed an order early in the morning on May 8th, and mine isn't showing up on their website either even though I got the confirmation email and having a pending charge on my CC. This is utterly ridiculous and they've just lost a customer. This was going to be my first order from the Archives program but now they can forget it. This type of service is unacceptable and they are not getting a second chance from me. The TARZANS being pulled from the TCM schedule was bad enough, but them not even being able to fulfill a valid order for the same is doubly bad.

Gary "even though I used the 25% off discount, I still felt it was too much money to spend for these 5 films - so I'll just save my money for other material" O.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Allen,

Just curious since you didn't have a problem ordering & receiving the Tarzan set: Did you place the order by phone or thru the online store?

What I see as a big problem here is the inconsistency of information from the WB Cust Reps over the phone. Since Allen (& others perhaps?) have received their Barker Tarzan's without a problem, it may be that there's a lot of mis-information distributed within the WB Cust Svc ranks. Perhaps they're not being provided with accurate information by their supervisors/mgmt.

When I called C.S. earlier today I had thought about calling again to get a different C.S. Rep to try re-ordering the set. I may try that tomorrow if they honor the previous discount code.

I did my part over the phone and was courteous, patient with the C.S. Rep since I can imagine how many calls they've been receiving lately. The guy was polite and kept emotion out of the conversation which was appreciated but definitely seemed to lack some basic information about the online ordering system. He was unable to locate the SKU# for the Barker Tarzan set and I was placed on "hold" several times during the conversation.

Hopefully, WB is in the position to receive feedback from HTF via these threads to debug the system in the near future.

I found one comment somewhat humorous when he said that the online site was "slow"

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

The WB phone customer service has been very pleasant to deal with. They keep telling me how sorry they are for the issue. With that said,they still seem to have no clue on how to fix any issues with the online orders. The only reason i was able to re order was because they waited too long to finalize the transaction and the pending charge came off my account. So i was able to place a new order without the fear of double charge. I hope.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

We're lucky that Warner spent two years preparing this program. If they hadn't devoted that much time to the prep work, the program might REALLY be screwed up!

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Hello, I am just chiming in in hopes of a decent reponse to this question. The response I got before was slightly rude and actually didn't tell me anything.

Like I said, depending on how i hook up my dvd player and which unit i use, i either have the discs looking perfect or them having the issue with the weird lines on anything red.

I know it is not that I am using shoddy equipment.

6 year old 55 inch 1080I Mitsubishi diamond series hdtv
either a mitusbishi 8040 dvd player hooked up with component cables and in progressive scan, or what I just got, an LG lry 517 dvdr/vcr combo with progressive p. My reciever is old but good, an onkyo 939.

Now in the above scenario, I get the interlacing lines. If I plug the units into the tv with s-video...no problem at all.

On my upstairs tv, a brand new samsung 26 inch lcd hdtv
I get one of two scenarios, ony my 360 hooked up with component...movies look great...on my ps3 hooked up with hdmi...the glitch.

so long story short. To everyone who is NOT seeing these interlacing lines. how is your dvd player hooked up?

I really would like to watch these on my bigger tv as its also hooked up to my reciever but i think hooking it up with s-video will look terrible.
In leiu of telling me to send them back for a refund. COould anyone make any suggestions as to how to set this up to reduce or remove said issue. I have heard that it all depends on the player.

I was thinking about getting a new dvd player anyway...possibly a blu-ray player for when i get a new tv that does 1080p.

Also, could anyone possible tell me why the 360 in component does not have any issue whereas the ps3 a supposedly better player does?

i appreciate any valid suggestions. Let me know how you have these hooked up. Any recommendations for new players are fine...but please note...I'm not spending thousands of dollars just for the archive discs...lol
thanks
-mark

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I ordered the Tarzan set on the 7th and they are not showing in my account. What is the phone number to CS? I did email them asking when i will get the dvds. I included the order number and the SKU for the Tarzan set last night, but have not gotten a response yet.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

The frustrating thing about these lost orders is that it's obviously a widespread problem. You think the customer service reps would actually talk to one another, or some supervisor would alert them to the situation. But every time you call, they act like they don't have a clue what you're talking about -- as though you're the only one who's having trouble.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Willard,

Here's the Cust Svc # 866-373-4389. Thanks to Frank for posting this earlier.

Hope your order gets cleared up.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/...-post1654.html

Seems like their ordering system must've had a pretty big hiccup on May 7th. You WOULD think their CS reps would have been schooled on that issue since there are going to be any number of frustrated customers approaching them about it.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I have placed four orders since the beginning of the Archives collection of about five or six titles each. All orders have been placed through the online store and have received everything that I ordered within five to six days. I also have used the discount codes and they took. I have not been fortunate to stack the orders with the codes as some of the other more intelligent members here have, but I did get discounts. I have also received confirmations of all orders and when shipped. I also have received other emails with the new title announcements and discount codes. In reading all the problems other people have had I feel that I am living in a perfect world.

I do have grips about the online store as everyone else does. Slow to load, the pesky pop-ups when are trying to read something, and it is starting to be overloaded with information. A week ago there were 190 titles, now they show 193. One of those is the Tarzan set, but what are the other two. They are evidently not in the new release section, for in reviewing that section I find nothing new among the ones that I have already seen. I truly think that by the time the number reaches 250 it is going to be hard to navigate. The genre categories are all messed up if you hit western you get the western titles, but when you hit another genre title, you get the western and what ever genre you hit the second time combined titles. Hopefully they see some of these problems and will do something about it.

I have been happy with the transfers so far except for "The Mad Miss Manton." I found the Tarzan's to be fresh and clean along with "Two Girls and A Sailor." "Bye Bye Braverman" looks exactly as it did in the theatres in the late 60's with soft colors. "Broadway Rhythm" has great color. I am happy that WA is using this outlet to let out some of the Allied Artists films. Those films were not represented very well in the past. Now if WA would just add "Sh, The Octopus!" to the line-up I would be a very happy person. (and also get rid of those damn Turner logos}

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

For the two or three Archive titles that I still want, I think I'll just wait until they show up at Movies Unlimited or Amazon.com (both of those are rumored to be future outlets for the Archive releases, but neither are etched in stone at this point). Probaby wouldn't get discounts from those folks, but probably would get much, much better service.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I've placed an order on the 11th. Yesterday I checked the order status and the order wasn't listed in my order history. I contacted the Warner service and the guy wrote back that he couldn't find my order in the system but that sometimes it would take 24-48 hours until the systems shows a new order (Huh?).
He asked me to wait a day or two.
I replied that MORE than 48 hours had already passed since I placed my order.
As a proof I sent back the order-confirmation mail and asked them to advise me what I should do.
That was 22 hours ago and I'm still waiting for an answer.
These guys seem to be totally clueless.

Oh yeah...I also used a discount-coupon. Hope they will honor it.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Well to be honest it was available for about two days or so... But really even if it was available in the form they had then, there would be no point anyway--having to pay UPS fee more than the price of discs plus shipping? No thanks, no matter how much I want a movie, I will not accept that.

There really is a distinct air of ineptness about this whole program, starting with the awful website and so on to other details. Luckily other than that one order I managed to catch most of the movies that would interest me at some point or another on TCM so already have recordings of comparable quality.

As somebody said above... who knows what this would have been like if they hadn't just spent two years preparing it.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Similar story here -- I placed my order on 5/8 -- The TARZAN's and two

other titles. I also got a confirmation e-mail with an estimated delivery of

today and I also used a discount. I called to check my order since it doesn't

show up online in my account. Needless to say, they have no record of it. I

was also told that someone would get back by email or phone.

They've got to know by now that there's a problem. It seems to me it would

be better for them just to admit that there's been some kind of glitch and

that they will rectify it rather than telling people that someone will get back

to them (and then, seemingly, not do it.)

I assume that Warner has farmed this ordering system out to some

outside company -- that seems to be the rule these days. I hope they're

keeping close watch on what's happening because they are potentially going

to lose a lot of formerly loyal supportive customers.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

Just got this mail from Warners:

"I'm very sorry for the problems you are seeing looking up your order online. There was a small hiccup in our system that interrupted the way that order history shows up when you check your order online specifically for the Tarzan DVD set. However, your order IS in our system, and we'll be processing it as normal. I apologize that you aren't able to view this over our site right now, but your order will ship and process on schedule. Our tech team is aware of this glitch and is working on it now. Thanks for your order!"

Finally some good news, at least for MY order.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I'm confused. I went and checked my online orders, and they had all the ones I ordered and received listed, but not the Tarzan's, which I haven't received yet. They did send me a confirmation email with an estimated delivery date as 5/13, yesterday, but so far, no discs. I ordered on the 7th. So, I guess I will wait a couple of days before doing anything. I got the 50% off, but this is the first time they charged me for postage...$6.95.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I think the free postage kicked in if you spent more than $60.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I am really thinking the title "Goodbye, My Fancy"is appropo for my luck with this title in the Warner Archives. My replacement copy I requested from them has the same defect (which I am guessing is in the authoring of the disc). At 26:39 into the disc the picture pixelates and the volume drops. Its a terrible defect and ruins are great scene. Warner was very responsive with my request for a replacement but I am seriously thinking there is something wrong with this title no matter what copy I receive. I asked what can be done and will see here shortly. Anyone else have GOODBYE, MY FANCY? I am starting to think an even better title would be GOODBYE, MY ELUSIVE JOAN CRAWFORD DVD!

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

with everyone in heated discussions regarding the shipping errors, i think everyone glazed over my question about how people are viewing these.

i'm thinking that maybe if i get a newer player i may not have as many viewing errors.
granted...yes the discs will still have interlacing issues, but maybe with a different connection or a better player, i can hide the errors as perhaps a better player would mask them.

thus i ask how you all who are not getting terrible interlacing chroma effects (anything red has like a stained glass look) like i am are watching these.

as i stated earlier, when tested on my 360 with component...no errors

but with my two standalone players (both 4-6 years old) on component...the errors
with my ps3 on hdmi..the same error

putting the player through s-video..no errors


is there any other way or player to fix this without downgrading to s-video just to play those?

any info would be great.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I can't answer your question because I don't have these discs, but I do have both an s-video as well as component cable connection going into my display for just this sort of stuff. If I'm getting a problem with the component video, I just use the remote to switch the tuner over to the s-video input feed. If I'm watching B&W, I can't see any difference in the picture quality.

Re: Warner Archive Discussion Thread

I checked my CC acct online and the previous WB archive "pending" charge for the Barker Tarzan set is gone so no worries for me about possible CC cancellation issues.

"To re-order or not to re-order....that is the question...."

I can't decide on whether to try again for the Tarzan set. I did like to read where another member's picture Q was good with "Tarzan & the She-Devil".

If they will honor that old discount code I might try again tomorrow but I'll order over the phone this time, unless I get the same Cust Svc Rep that said this item was out of stock and I couldn't order it I see from the posts here that this info was inaccurate from the Rep that I had on the line that day.