Search - Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition (Superman - The Movie/ Superman II/ Superman II - The Richard Donner Cut/ Superman III/ Superman IV - The Quest for Peace/ Superman Returns) on DVD

Warner messes up- fix not that "super"

AH-1Z | Sacramento, CA USA | 11/29/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Although this is a Great collection, Warner did mess it up and didn't warn in advance (they had to have known, but probably wanted to get this out for the Christmas season). Basically, the Superman III disk does not have any of the promised special features, as noted by some reviewers. In addition, disk one of the four disk Superman I part does not contain the 1978 Dolby 2.0 version, as promised. If you bought the standalone sets of four disk Superman I set or standalone Superman III that also came out on the 28th, this problem doesn't exist; only with the Ultimate or Christopher Reeve collections. As to whose fault it is, could be the company that printed the disk, could be that Warner supplied the wrong master, who knows? There was definitely a QA problem at both companies, though for this to happen. What's done is done.

Warner promises to fix it through an exchange, but it's not particularly "elegant". First, you must call 800-553-6937. After waiting your turn to get through, they ask for your information, including where you bought it. Then they will ask you for the "catalog code" (it's actually the proof of purchase code), which is near the UPC bar code. The UPC is on the sleeve the box came in. If you've already gotten rid of that, it is also on the bottom of the tin in very small numbers. This requirement is reasonable, in order to prove you really bought it. Then it gets interesting. In one or two weeks you are supposed to get, not the replacement disks, but some prepaid envelopes from Warner. You take the two "problem disks" and mail them back to Warner. When your disks arrive back there, they go into the queue for processing. Once they've verified they have your disks, and once they've remastered sufficient disks, they're supposed to mail the replacement disks you need. The estimate as of Dec. 1 was that the whole process would take four-five weeks from the time you first contact them (this is assuming that they print the corrected Superman I disk 1 on shcedule, providing you send back the disks as soon as you get the envelopes). They acknowledge that during this period you will not have any form of those two disks. This also renders the set unreturnable to where you bought it, by the way. When asked what happens if the disks you send back or the disks they send you get lost in the mail (a lot of stuff gets lost around big volume mail periods like Christmas), since you won't have any proof, they don't yet have a plan.

It seems that this is a cumbersome way to do this, and will cost Warner more what with having to pay double postage, extra processing and all, so one wonders why they did it this way (why not just send replacement disks to those who have proof of purchase?. Here's a Possible explanation: It's well known that most people don't return defectives if they can't take it back to the store where they got it (Amazon is unusual in tha they're taking care of people here). Maybe Warner made a business decision that it would be less exepnsive overall to set up a cumbersome mitigation process. By insuring a very small percentage of actual exchanges, their overall costs are much less. Then they could truthfully say that they have a process to take care of people, knowing full well that the process is sufficiently troublesome that the vast majority won't bother.

They acknowledged they're going to correct the problem in production and sets manufactured later will deliver what's advertised. The company that Warner has outsourced the replacement exercise to is saying the information that they have is that correct sets of the collections will not get to stores for two to three months. We'll see. Keep this and the exchange process in mind when making the decision when to buy.

To those chastising others for being petty complaining about this: Yes, it's a great collection. Yes, it's true that Superman III special features may not be that big a deal, and that the problem with Superman I's Dolby mix is not the end of the world (although the promised Dolby 2.0 mix is actually better) and that Warner promises to exchange (at least for domestic US sets). That's all true, but why should customers who have already paid for the product have to go through all these hoops just to get what they were promised?

UPDATE: I bought this set on Nov 28th and contacted Warner the same day. You'll note that in the above timeline I gave based on Warner's information, I should have gotten the prepaid envelope 7-10 days from then. As of today (Dec 24) there's no sign of the return envelope, so don't take the timeline I gave above as gospel. BTW, the phone number now shuts down at 7 PM PST M-F. I find it interesting that Amazon no longer sells the Ultimate Edition (maybe they're waiting for the corrected sets to avoid eating the cost of returns that aren't their fault) itself. Even more interesting, the Ultimate Edition is no longer listed on Warner Home Video's web site. Hmmmm...."

THE ULTIMATE DVD SET FOR THE ULTIMATE SUPERHERO!

Steven Hancock | Winston Salem, NC United States | 03/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The "Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition" is a treasure chest for all fans of the Man of Steel. Among the fourteen discs is all four of Christopher Reeve's films from 1978 to 1987, presented with outstanding picture and sound! Also found within the set is "Superman Returns," the latest film in the franchise that stands with "Batman Begins" as the best superhero film made in the last decade! The set also comes with a ton of extra materials, including behind-the-scenes documentaries, featurettes, and the 17 animated shorts from the Fleisher cartoon series. The best extra is "Superman and the Mole-Men," the 1951 short film that featured George Reeves in his debut as the Man of Steel! If you're a fan of Superman, then this collection is definitely for you!
Grade: A+"