Boxed sets from Wal-Mart

Previously I had decided to stop buying movies and CDs from Wal-Mart due to their policy of selling censored versions.

But I don't see any national chain - and I hate to buy stuff online - with a better price on Futurama boxed sets ($36.38 for seasons two through four).

So my questions are, sweet zombie Jesus, is Wal-Mart selling censored or altered versions of Futurama? Second question, does anyone know of any national chain where I can get Futurama season two through four cheaper than $36.38 each?

What policy would that be? I doubt Walmart has any say in what the content should be. They may refuse to carry something, but they don't go around telling the studios to produce a "Walmart version"...

As a matter of fact they do. When you are the largest buyer, you can dictate terms to sellers.

In fairness to Wal-Mart, they seem to be in a no win situation. They are criticized for selling censored CDs, and yet they are also sued for selling CDs that say "fuck".

References (Google is your friend):

http://www.jordan.dpsnc.net/fc/dec2000/WalMartcolumn.html

http://www.boingboing.net/2004/12/12/walmart_sued_over_th.html

Tony Sivori wrote:

See also: http://www.widescreen.org/commentaries/2002_10_oct.shtml http://www.widescreen.org/commentaries/2004_09_sep.shtml

(In each, just search for "Wal-mart" - with the hyphen - the relevant sections start at the first instance of the name, and end eventually.)

"Matt Garvey" wrote in message news:[email]...

Ok, maybe I didn't phrase this exactly as I meant...

Let's say that Wal-mart does have enough influence on the studios to force them to alter the content of their movies (I *could* be convinced this is the case). The studio caves in. *My* point was that every retail store gets the same edit of the movie, whether you buy it from Wal-mart, Best Buy, Costco, whatever. There is no "2-minute shorter" version of any given movie that can only be purchased at Wal-mart.

If there is, then by all means, enlighten me, name one, and show me a link reviewing "the Wal-mart version" vs "every other retailer's version".

Does this distinction make any more sense?

In news:[email], Homer J. Simpson typed:

And if Wal-Mart could get a special edited pressing it would cost them so much (due to 20th costs in producing another version) they would have to charge more than Best Buy, Circuit City et al.

"drewdawg" wrote in message news:wPbId.20$[email]...

You'd be amazed...

Very often studios produce two versions of whatever they're producing, both for sale to retailers and rental houses... some companies (Like Wal-Mart and blockbuster) will sell/rent the censored version, some will sell/rent the uncensored version.

Given the quantity in which these items are sold, and the markup on them, no, Wal-Mart would not have to charge more then Best Buy, circuit city, etc, they'd just have to sell in great quantity.

Chris wrote:

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Multnomah County Public Library (the county library system that sued the federal government over the patriot act and had their funding cut until they couldn't afford to keep up the case) frequently carries the uncensored version of recent releases. Thanks to my library card, I got to see Full Metal Jacket, 2001 and A Clockwork Orange in one sitting when I was in high school without a whole lot of hassle, just a fast, easy, automated checkout.

But this is why there is Suncoast, no?

Interesting.

Here's another page that reveals in broader terms - yet detail rich - quite a bit regarding the power of Wal-Mart's purchasing department and the terms they can dictate to even large corporations, not to mention what the result is to worker's pay and even thier jobs.

http://fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

Well, which side do _you_ want to be supporting?

Matthew Miller wrote:

"Support" would be too strong a word for what I think about it. If someone wants a censored version of a CD or DVD for themselves and or their kids, and someone else wants to sell it to them, I have no problem with that. If it pleases you, you could say that I support it.

As for myself, if I buy a CD or DVD, I want it the way it was originally created. In the case of Futurama, that means with the suicide booth. With the vending machine that dispenses refreshing crack cocaine. With the utterance "sweet zombie Jesus", and with the mad and murderous Santa Claus.

Personally, I've never encountered any talking CD's, obscene or otherwise. :)

are

Mine whisper to me in the night, "kill,kill,kill...and be...sure...to...drink...your...ovaltine"

In alt.tv.futurama on Thu, 20 Jan 2005, Wizard of Wor wrote :

Either of the above has the same effect. :)

=v= Nobody should give a hoot about Wal-Mart's "no-win situation." They have been censorship-friendly for a long time, without even any lawsuits. There are indeed special censored editions of music and DVDs made specifically for Wal-Mart, though they focus on the huge sellers.

=v= Which means that a censored _Futurama_ doesn't exist, but you shouldn't give Wal-Mart your money anyway. Freedom of speech is worth the extra $5 or $10 bucks. <_Jym_>

You are so right! So send that extra 10 bucks to: Tony Sivori PO Box 123..

That's right, buy from Wal-Mart and it may save you some money but also COST YOU YOUR SOUL BURNING IN THE RELENTLESS HELLFIRE FOREVER!

Nah, I'm just yankin your chain. Wal-mart's OK!

To reply delete "MSWORMS" from [email] writes:

Dunno.

If it's worth it to you to ignore your principles to save a few bucks, go for it.

If I had any principals at all, I wouldn't buy the boxed set and thereby give money to Fox.

Order them thru a book store. They can get them in. The price will be higher.

~Clangador