Very off topic but need advice

Community Introductions & Off Topic
1

I want to start a doctor who collection. I was planning on doing this by getting the region 2 (uk) versions as they are way cheaper and available. unlike most the region 1 (u.s.) is out of print or sellers are jacking the prices.

Now my issues is:

  1. is it illegal to buy from amazon.co.uk if I’m in u.s.a. for example? to get region 2 movies
  2. is it illegal to have region free dvd players?

I have spent many hours looking and can’t find a definitive answer. any help would be appreciated

2

Hi William:

  1. About five years ago, I ordered an NTSC tape from amazon dot COM - and I live in the UK. I was able to use my regular amazon dot co dot uk account. I did have to pay import duty on the tape, which came to rather more than the tape itself. Curiously I didn’t actually know if the tape would play on my PAL VCR, but I discovered that it did.

2: I don’t think it’s illegal, although I have heard tales of some discs refusing to play properly on region free players. If that is a problem, then I can think of two solutions:

  • get a region 2 DVD player and (if necessary) a plug adapter pin so that you can plug it into your own sockets
  • get a computer brand new and set the region on the DVD drive to region 2. New computers’ DVD drives don’t initially have any regional encoding, so you could get one especially for these discs.
3

Thank you for your input…is the import duties come after purchase or is it included time of sell?

I ask bc I want all the 1st doctor dvds and it said it would cost 170 us currency for all 1st doctor (william hartnell) dvds but doesn’t say anything about import or duties. does however mention “VAT” which is 0.00

Total in gb. is 129.59 which is 136.85 u.s. so would the additional estimate 35 dollars be the import charge?

4

Which is still cheapest place I found so far for the same dvds

5

I remember it was added to the basic price when you made the purchase. It’s not something you’re chased up on afterwards.

1 Like
6

Then that’s probably the 35 extra dollars I see as my total. like I said still cheapest place I found. on ebay it would cost almost twice that for same dvds lol

7

Thank you again..oh your computer idea I looked into that before but found you can change region code 5 times before it’s locked unless I use a region unlocked app but won’t get into that lol

1 Like
8

Here’s something else my research has got me puzzled. my tv…will I need a pal to ntsc converter since it’s an American t.v.?

9

I don’t know. My PAL screens play NTSC perfectly well. I don’t know whether NTSC ones will play PAL. One feels they ought to these days.

10

Your TV should be fine. I own a multi region DVD player and my TV is just a standard UK TV. But as Liam said it might be different for NTSC TVs.
Most DVD players can be made multi regional with a simple code. Look on google for the multi region code for you make of DVD player. All you have to do is select region 0 then it will play DVD from all over the world.

1 Like
11

America is the crap hole we one of the only non compatible pal countries (along with Canada) tv’s made here are strictly ntsc from what I see as the rest of the world can handle both. I’ve tried looking for codes for my bluray players but no luck i can always buy a multi region dvd player or just use my laptop and a region bypass application and hdmi to my tv…I’ve read that might work. but I’ve never tried as I’ve never had a dvd from another region .

1 Like
12

I have a Sony Multi Region DVD player I got about 6 years ago and it’s still going really good. You could always just buy a cheap region 2 DVD player for about £15. :smiley:

1 Like
13

That be a thought but I’d also need a power converterror as our outlets or different from what I have read lol.

14

What I may have to do is bite the bullet just order me at least one region 2 DVD and just test my computer theory. if it works great if not I’ll get a cheap multi region player and test again.

I just hate that there’s so many restrictions over here

2 Likes
15

I wish all DVDs and players were just multiregional. It would make getting DVDs a lot easier.

1 Like
16

The concept of different regions for DVDs is already outdated when you think about it.

2 Likes
17

I’m not too worried about the player much as I am my tv now being American made which means ntsc video only to my knowledge. north America players and tv’s are supposed to be locked to ntsc I know I can get multi region dvd player but I don’t want to have to go on hunting spree for a pal compatible tv

18

How old is your TV? I can’t imagine a newish one having to be switched from NTSC to Pal through the menu screen every time.

19

Sanyo DP46849 46" 1080p LCD HDTV w/ ATSC Tuner, 3 HDMI and 2 Component.
got it in 2010. I could a new one but It still works great unless I really have to

20

I fixed my region isqueeze buying multi region player. Just waiting on first shipment of of complete first doctor who region 2 dvds.

2 Likes