Ebay and Tickling Videos

[pope11]

Selling videos on ebay

The fact of the matter is most people who sell on ebay are pretty honest folks. I do not accept that 95% of the folks are selling copies or making copies and selling originals. It's simply hogwash.
I have sold dozens of tickling videos on ebay, all originals. I do not make copies. The reason I sell it is the video is not to my liking, I got bored with it, or I simply just wanted some extra cash to help pay the rent. I have more than 200 Positives on my feedback.
The facts are 95% of people who sell on ebay are HONEST. I would say 5 % are the bad apples.

That being said, would I boycott TC Video? The answer is no. I'll respect their wishes and not sell their videos on ebay. I can always have a monthly yard sale🙂 For the most part, TC (and MTP) put out a good product. And always remember what Grandma says..."Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds You". For us Ticklephiles, atleast for this Ticklephile, I would not like to see them go out of business.

But lets make it very clear...95% of ebay sellers are not crooks. If that were true, ebay itself would have gone out of business a long time ago.

Now back to the ebay site I go to sell this book about a boy and his dog.......(Ohhh...but first let me make a xerox copy!) 🙂

 

[avethibaltus]

Microsoft Logic

I think TC is simply using Microsoft Logic which goes something like this - It belongs to us as long as you own it! We're not actually purchasing a video, we're buying a license to view a video for an indefinite length of time. Or maybe it is Credit Card Logic - this card remains the property of the issuer and may be revoked at any time?

If TC isn't really trying to put the blame on all the honest folks who buy their products and TC really wants to prevent the massive piracy that would threaten their livelyhood should they ***allow*** us to sell our property as we like, I think that they should show a little good faith and offer to buy back originals or give a credit on the next purchase instead of calling 95% of us criminals.

And if they are so concerned about piracy, where is the serial number or other unique identifier on their videos which would enable them to track pirate copies?

And has TC ever considered appealing to the T Community not to purchase pirate copies?

10% of the population will not obey the rules, regardless of what you do but that doesn't mean that you punish the other 90% for their conduct, it means you go after the 10% and jerk their chain - or have you ever been thrown in jail because the guy in front of you stole something and got away?

They call this guilt by association, I think. You buy our videos so you are guilty too...

Not with me.

 

[Chuckster]

I feel a little responsible.

"fact: what would you think if the same video title was being auctioned and sold every 2 weeks by the same person on ebay? hmmm. we dont remember selling them 10 copies of that video. "

I feel partly responsible for all this because it was me who emailed them and told them someone was selling their new one at the time (like never before) over and over. I told them that unless they sold them a bunch a copies of this video, they were making copies and selling them. Then I told them I was reporting this to them because I respected their company and didn't want them to lose profit. I got an email back saying "THANKS!" and that was it. 2 days later I hear we (the honest customers) can not sell our own videos??!! They would not have even known about this perpetrator if it weren't for me so I apologize to you people because I kind of feel as though that this is my fault. I guess it all boils down to what the previous posts suggets. Boycott. I have bought 6 so far. I had no immediate intentions of selling them, however I am upset that the right to do so has been taken away. It's kind of obvious...ya just go after the bad guys. And I'm sure that most of us would help...at least I did. That's what we get for my trying to be honest and helping them catch the REAL dishonest folks.

 

[SuperTickler]

So it would appear that based on ONE reported instance of a seller PERHAPS selling copies of ONE video (not proven because, as mabus said earlier, perhaps the video hadn't sold initially and was merely being relisted), TC has decided to violate the legal rights of every one of their customers!

eBay has a strict policy, WHICH THEY ENFORCE, against vendors selling copies of copyrighted works. All TC had to do was report the perpetrator to eBay and his/her selling privileges would have been revoked. Instead, TC has chosen to pursue a fascistic solution: deny their customers their legal rights to sell their property! And, to add insult to injury, claim that 95% of the people selling videos on eBay are crooks!

I just finished a very successful auction of videos on eBay. I had several requests from people to copy videos for them and politely refused each one. I guess I'm in the "5% minority."

BTW, isn't it interesting that TIB hasn't posted anything since this debate began? Not even an "update" on where things stand with the status of the "celebrity video fund" balance, which he promised to report regularly. Sure glad I didn't send any money for that scam! Some video producers are honest, and some...well, draw your own conclusions! 😎

 

[NYCity]

BTW, isn't it interesting that TIB hasn't posted anything since this debate began? Not even an "update" on where things stand with the status of the "celebrity video fund" balance, which he promised to report regularly. Sure glad I didn't send any money for that scam! Some video producers are honest, and some...well, draw your own conclusions! 😎

That's exactly why I decided to join the boycott Real Tickling, or Femfeet or TC or whatever they are calling themselves this week. If they were willing to engage in a discussion, I might feel differently, but since they are not, I will take my considerable business elsewhere. That is difficult since, I have never sold a video, or knowingly bought a copy of a video, nor do I have plans to, and their product is so good, but a man must have principles.

If they wish to change the rules on all future purchases, I would agree that they are dealing on the level, but this kind of shenanigans on previous purchases, which effectively screws all of us who made them every $ they have ever earned, is reprehensible. They are not acting in good faith. If this is how they demonstrate their loyalty to their customers, I will no longer be one of their customers.

Whether you choose to boycott this company or continue to do business with them is your decision. I will respect everyone's decision, and not try to influence anyone's decision.

For me though, if I were to continue to do business with a company with business practices like this, I would only have myself to blame for this kind of excuse for "customer service". No more, until they see the error of their ways. Then we'll see which way costs them more business.

No matter how amazing Priscilla James, and Julie Kyle are.

 

[SuperTickler]

...No matter how amazing Priscilla James, and Julie Kyle are.

Thanks for the support, NYC, but don't worry about missing out on anything here. TIB himself admitted that he has no way of reaching Priscilla (doesn't even have her phone number), and the only video Julie Kyle did for them was "Happy Hour" back in 1999. 😎

 

[mastickler]

this toppic

gee willickers. i thought private emails were private and not to be posted all over the net. guess not. no matter. this subject needs addressing.

ok. sigh. this is a sticky situation for us. why?
because if we dont reply some will claim we are not in touch with our customers and we think we're to good for them.
if we DO reply to this, those that are "uprising" will want to debate it indefinitely.

we have to choose one. so i'll choose to reply.
(but please know this: this is our only reply to this thread. we will not argue and debate this extensively. it'll do no good. we won't be replying again to this thread) 🙂

i'll try ta keep it short.

fact: we realize not everyone is selling "home made" copies of our movies. some are genuinely just selling the one original copy they have. those people are innocent.

fact: we strongly believe, and have reason too believe, that 95% of people selling videos on ebay are either selling copies they've made, or have made a copy for themselves to keep, and are selling the original. both of those scenarios are unnaceptable to us because one copy is then becoming many.

fact: what would you think if the same video title was being auctioned and sold every 2 weeks by the same person on ebay? hmmm. we dont remember selling them 10 copies of that video. 🙁

fact: there is no way for us to figure out who are the few that are not cheating us so we have to keep one rule for everyone. no reselling our product. taking someone's word for it these days is not overly smart. you would NOT believe the piracy of our material we've run across that was being done by people we never would have thought. by some pretending to be good freinds of ours.

fact: no we dont feel we should or need to control people. not at all. this is not a personal issue. we are just protecting our interests and product. we've seen comments like, "i'm gonna wait and check ebay for that new video they released." if people get used to bypassing us and going to ebay for all their tickling videos then...well...you know.

fact: we're completely surprised that no other tickling video producers who read and post here have not voiced their opinions. (not completely surprised. maybe seeing the competition strung up isn't so bad. LOL.🙂) but hey company's! do you really condone and want your videos sold all over ebay like they are this very moment?

fact: we are not monsters. many of you reading this post have had dealings with us many times in the past. we attempt to provide speedy and thoughtfull customer service. we seriously take to heart your ideas and comments about what we should try and do next. we try and tickle specific models and girls that you lead us too on the internet. we're easy to get along with and thats the truth. we're fun loving people and not "big brother" as we're being made out to be with this thread.
😀

thats about it. take care and smile a lot.

sirs. it seems they said here they will not talk about it for a long time with everyone. i noticed some of you might not have seen that because you are saying they should talk about it some more

 

[NYCity]

Re: this toppic

sirs. it seems they said here they will not talk about it for a long time with everyone. i noticed some of you might not have seen that because you are saying they should talk about it some more

Actually, Masticker, I HAVE read that, and addressed that, if you re-read the thread. That in no way gets them off the hook. That post listed some so-called "facts" which are not backed-up, (e.g. the "95%" figure, and then rather than provide proof of these so-called facts, the guy books town.

It's like if someone accused you of comitting a crime, saying it was a "fact" that you had done it, but provided no proof, and in the same breath, saying that they wouldn't discuss it anymore, thinking that that excuses the accusation. Would you just shrug, and say, "OK, since they said they didn't want to discuss it anymore, fair enough." ?!?!

I wouldn't.

 

[Chuckster]

Yep...I'm glad too.

Glad that I didn't contribute to that Celeb vid as well. That whole thing seemed real fishy to me from the start.

 

[CDFGA]

Well, if you can't sell your tapes, (I'm sorry, their tapes,... I'm confused) then is disposal the only option you have? I should be a used car dealer with their philosophy: "Sure, here's the keys, but you can't ever sell it to anyone else. Someone else might want it, but they have to buy from ME"
Hmmmm.

 

[SuperTickler]

Well, I guess we'll have to be buried with them! 😎

 

[BigJim]

FACT: Without the correct licensing rights applied for, TC have no right to stop seconds hand sales of originally supplied tapes.

FACT: eBay are scared shitless by the thought of any legal implications and are simply running scared.

FACT: Any legal challenge to TC's stance, will result in said company's legal defence falling to pieces like a house of cards in a Floridian gale, and emmigrating to Columbia.

FACT: Anyone who wants to legally sell original tickling videos, can do so by offering them to aquaintances they have made on the TMF. (Not offering to sell them ON the TMF I hasten to add! I know that is against TMF rules)

FACT: TC will be out of business sometime in the next 2 or 3 years if they don't manage to sort out the problems they've got with a lot of their existing and potential customers.

FACT: I'm off to the pub for a pint of beer.😀

 

[shark]

Only a pint? is there some kind of problem? lol

 

[Purvis]

Just an observation, but it would seem to me that the people to make complaints to in this matter would be the people at Ebay. It is ebay who has chosen to implement this policy, even though it is completely legal for any individual to sell their own property if they wish to do so. So if people who have posted or read here, and who have concerns about this policy, would contact ebay and ask them why ebay has made this change in policy, then perhaps they would address the issue. After all, you people who are paying customers of ebay (either as buyer or seller) are the ones they should be concerned with,..... not a producer of a product (in this case TC) that is being legally sold by it's owner. TC isn't making money for ebay, you, the ebay user are. So, in a strange way, ebay and TC are in competition with each other. Why on earth ebay would agree to TC's request in this regard is beyond me. Now if TC could provide ebay with proof that it's customers had agreed to a binding "no resale" agreement upon initial purchase of the video, then I can see where ebay would want to abide by the law in that regard. But that isn't the case here. The only vid producer I can recall who demanded a "no resale" agreement was the now defunct TJ productions, of the early 90's. You had to sign an agreement baring resale of your original (among other things) when you placed your order. They claimed to be very aggressive in their enforcement of that agreement. Which was ironic because's TJ's owner would readily sell and trade the copyrighted material of others (but I digress).

I personally totally understand TC's stance on this issue. They obviously want to sell videos, and the more those vids are purchased through some other means, the fewer they sell. I'm sure if Schwinn, or Time/Warner home video, or General Motors could prevent original purchasers from reselling their products, they would. But they can't, and neither can TC. 'Cause like they say on wheel of fortune, "once you buy a product, it's yours to keep" (or sell). So to my mind the blame here lies with ebay, and their nonsensical refusal to do legal business with potential paying clients.

So whatever anyone here may think of TC's stance in this matter, you kinda have to understand their point of view. Ebay's decision, however, is mystifying,...... and the main source of complaint here. Perhaps it's time those who have concerns about their policies let them know about it. Again, just my observation.

Purvis

 

[BigJim]

Just an observation, but it would seem to me that the people to make complaints to in this matter would be the people at Ebay. It is ebay who has chosen to implement this policy, even though it is completely legal for any individual to sell their own property if they wish to do so. So if people who have posted or read here, and who have concerns about this policy, would contact ebay and ask them why ebay has made this change in policy, then perhaps they would address the issue. After all, you people who are paying customers of ebay (either as buyer or seller) are the ones they should be concerned with,..... not a producer of a product (in this case TC) that is being legally sold by it's owner. TC isn't making money for ebay, you, the ebay user are. So, in a strange way, ebay and TC are in competition with each other. Why on earth ebay would agree to TC's request in this regard is beyond me. Now if TC could provide ebay with proof that it's customers had agreed to a binding "no resale" agreement upon initial purchase of the video, then I can see where ebay would want to abide by the law in that regard. But that isn't the case here. The only vid producer I can recall who demanded a "no resale" agreement was the now defunct TJ productions, of the early 90's. You had to sign an agreement baring resale of your original (among other things) when you placed your order. They claimed to be very aggressive in their enforcement of that agreement. Which was ironic because's TJ's owner would readily sell and trade the copyrighted material of others (but I digress).

I personally totally understand TC's stance on this issue. They obviously want to sell videos, and the more those vids are purchased through some other means, the fewer they sell. I'm sure if Schwinn, or Time/Warner home video, or General Motors could prevent original purchasers from reselling their products, they would. But they can't, and neither can TC. 'Cause like they say on wheel of fortune, "once you buy a product, it's yours to keep" (or sell). So to my mind the blame here lies with ebay, and their nonsensical refusal to do legal business with potential paying clients.

So whatever anyone here may think of TC's stance in this matter, you kinda have to understand their point of view. Ebay's decision, however, is mystifying,...... and the main source of complaint here. Perhaps it's time those who have concerns about their policies let them know about it. Again, just my observation.

Purvis

Some good points Purvis and ones that merit comment. I agree that eBay are the ones to address this too, but in the end tey are like a shop that refuses to sell to a customer who won't wear shoes or a shirt. A trader invites members of the public into their "abode" to buy goods. A trader can rescind that invitation and does not have to give a reason. They may be acting that way utterly illogically, but it's their right to be illogical and unfair if they so desire. I agree with all your comments about eBay. I can also understand, if not agree with TC's stance. Sure they want to sell as many videos as possible because hey, that's good business! In the process of trying to do that though, they're pissing off a lot of genuine, law abiding customers of theirs in the pursuit of trying to stop pirates. My personal opinion is that they are only doing themselves harm, because stopping sales on eBay will only send a pirate elsewhere to do business; whilst having the effect of seriously annoying their genuine customers. (Myself included, but not on the second hand tape issue, mine is on another thread.)

Nowhere on the Femfeet.com site and nowhere on any of their sales agreemnents is there a clause that states that we the customer, are only buying the rights to use their product, as you'd get by buying a copy of XP from Microsoft. This means that there is no legal or moral reason for not reselling second hand tapes. An expiditious one yes, because if everyone kept their old tapes they no longer wanted to watch and every new customer was forced to buy their own new copy, it's be good for their business. What makes me particularly annoyed in this case however is TC's policy of retiring older titles. TIB's reason for this, that he and Kathy don't want the business to get too big and unwieldy for administrative (and probably tax) purposes I find to be utterly devoid of logic. MTP is quite literally a one-man-operation and Jeff has titles going back 4 YEARS, never mind 12 months. MTP isn't a big business by any stretch of the imagination and any larger profit margin Jeff might have is purely because of his good business sense and excellent customer service.

To conclude, I think eBay were just frightened off by a lot of long words and empty threats and could'nt be arsed to pursue the matter, because tickling videos are a miniscule part of their market. Yes, they are wrong to cave in to TC's demands, but hey that's life!

Good post P, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

[tklxprt]

What makes me particularly annoyed in this case however is TC's policy of retiring older titles. TIB's reason for this, that he and Kathy don't want the business to get too big and unwieldy for administrative (and probably tax) purposes I find to be utterly devoid of logic.

i have to step in here. this is ridiculous! look at what you wrote above. just look at it and think. sure TC is a little bit strange lately but they are not our puppets.
you talk is if they have joined the mafia and can never get out.
you act like just because they have made tickling videos in the past, that you wont allow them to stop selling them!? YOU are annoyed that they decided to trim down? YOU? it's there company. its there videos. if they wanted to stick them up a cows ass they could. its none of our business if they want to retire or discontinue their older titles. sheesh! should i go nuts because "stretch armstrong" (cool toy from early 80's) is not made anymore and i think my nephew should have the rights to buy one? should they have kept a stretch armstrong in a drawer somewhere to wait for the day when I was ready to buy it? thats basically what you are saying here. big jim, its nonsense. 🙁

 

[NYCity]

its there videos. if they wanted to stick them up a cows ass they could. its none of our business 🙁

Tklxprt, those are excellent points. Isn't it a shame though, that Femfeet/Real Tickling/TC doesn't see it the same way, when it comes OUR rights to do with OUR videos that we have already bought?

As a matter of fact, the whole point of this thread, is that we, the consumers, having purchased the product without these re-sale rules in place, should have the exact same rights to do with our original videos (although your example sounds kind of painful for the cow).

 

[tklxprt]

NYORK CITY i read your reply. thats a different subject to me. i was speaking only about the subject of companies having the right to discontinue a product if they want. you kind of altered what i was talking about back to the ebay thing. i was only discussing them retiring their videos.

 

[NYCity]

Tklxprt, I understand your point and I agree with it. Femfeet has the right to do with THEIR OWN PROPERTY whatever THEY see fit.

But I was addressing your point in the larger context of the entire thread, which is that the company is trying to deny us this same right to do with OUR OWN PROPERTY whatever WE see fit.

Whether we're talking about retiring titles, selling them at a garage sale, selling them at an electronic garage sale (ebay), making a sculpture out of them, or even that cow thing, is irrelevant. The point is the same for BOTH. Everyone should be able to with their own property what they see fit.

Too bad they don't see it that way.

 

[BigJim]

i have to step in here. this is ridiculous! look at what you wrote above. just look at it and think. sure TC is a little bit strange lately but they are not our puppets.
you talk is if they have joined the mafia and can never get out.
you act like just because they have made tickling videos in the past, that you wont allow them to stop selling them!? YOU are annoyed that they decided to trim down? YOU? it's there company. its there videos. if they wanted to stick them up a cows ass they could. its none of our business if they want to retire or discontinue their older titles. sheesh! should i go nuts because "stretch armstrong" (cool toy from early 80's) is not made anymore and i think my nephew should have the rights to buy one? should they have kept a stretch armstrong in a drawer somewhere to wait for the day when I was ready to buy it? thats basically what you are saying here. big jim, its nonsense. 🙁

Hmmm, nice comments tklxprt. By the way, it's "THEIR company" and "THEIR videos." Not THERE. Please try to get your spelling right old chap.😀 Also, you might want to try putting a few capital letters at the start of sentences.

Anyhow, to the crux of that matter. The gist of what you are saying is, that I have no right to feel peeved/disjointed/annoyed/smegged off/cheesed off/pissed off/brassed off/angry/morose/or cracked because TC have stopped selling tapes I wanted to buy. You then go on to say that it compares to you wanting to buy a Stretch Armstrong doll for your nephew, and not being able to because it isn't available any more. Well that point isn't relavent because something like Stretch Armstrong is a concept within a genre, (in this case fictional, action-hero films) and therefore has only a limited life span as a concept because it's a passing fad and sooner or later the majority of the target audience will lose interest. (Damn! A very long sentence! Now my grammar and syntax is going to pot!) Tickling videos aren't like that. They're something that can't be classed as a subsection to a genre because they ARE the genre. Happy Hour or Amanda's Challenge (two retired TC videos) won't lose their appeal to the target audience with time, wheras a particular character from a particular film would.

As for the moral point about them being able to do what they please with their own material, well of course you're right. They CAN do what they please. If they want to pile all their old tapes in the yard and cover them with kerosene before setting fire to them, they can. If they wanna take an old tape........shine it up real nice....turn it sideways......and stick it straight up George Bush's trouser leg, they can. If the TIB wants to insert a walking stick into his bum and do an impression of a toffee apple.....he can. Jason and Kathy are free people in a free world and no-one is disputing their right to do what they want with what they create, least of all me. Whether that makes good business sense, or whether it pleases their loyal customers or not, is another matter.

As someone who has spent between $350 and $400 on TC tickling videos I reserve my right to express my ecstaticness or discomfiture with anything they do, that affects me as a customer. Retiring old videos, refusing to permit eBay auction sales and banning international orders are three things they've done that do affect me this way and for you to say that expressing my displeasure about it constitutes stupidity, is about as logical as Mr. Spock having plastic surgery on his ears. (These sentences get longer and longer, don't they? 😀 )

I will clarify one thing I've said about TC though. "What makes me particularly annoyed in this case however is TC's policy of retiring older titles."
By this I didn't mean that this action particularly annoyed me, I meant that this action in particular annoyed me. It was the first thing that came to my attention, even before they stopped orders to anyone not in the US.

By the way, if you really do want to get a Stretch Armstrong doll for your nephew, I can thouroughly reccomend eBay auctions. They're great for things like that. Sadly not for tickling videos any more...... 🙁

 

[CDFGA]

I think the comment about the discontinuation of videos may be directed at TC's stance of trying to impede us from re-selling the tapes. I mean, we can't sell the ones they've discontinued on ebay, either?? They have said they no longer offer (retired) certian videos, so does that mean we can now sell these on ebay??

 

[BigJim]

I think the comment about the discontinuation of videos may be directed at TC's stance of trying to impede us from re-selling the tapes. I mean, we can't sell the ones they've discontinued on ebay, either?? They have said they no longer offer (retired) certian videos, so does that mean we can now sell these on ebay??

Good point, but I seriously doubt that eBay would be able to discriminate between running and discontinued stock. I may be doing them a disservice by saying that, but judging on their common sense faculties so far, I would'nt bet my pension on it.

 

[Frink]

no good deed goes unpunished.....

TiB has committed the sin of doing a good deed: He ran his business well, and responded to customer concerns promptly, directly, completely, and publicly. His punishment: more criticism...from the same (and other) customers. "Not fast enough," "That's not good enough for me," "Yes, but what about...." "That brings up another thing, why don't you just...." "You shouldn't..." "That doesn't explain..."

Had he never responded at all he'd be accused of being arrogant and not caring enough about his customers to address their concerns. Since he did, he's been greeted with more controversy, questions, and heated debate.

And what if TC Vids doesn't respond to the latest round of questions/issues? They'll be (and are being) called, again, arrogant and uncaring/undeserving of their customers. If they do, what can they possibly say that would make people respect their decision to run the business as they see fit and still not bring down another onslaught of criticism? Example: I (and others I know) get pissed everytime I can't get breakfast at 11:01am at McDonalds. They have the food. They have the personel. They have the ability to sell a customer a breakfast just as easily as a burger at any time of the day. Why can't I get one? Simple. They have a business model they've worked out that clearly works well for them. I'm sure that in the end, they make more money this way. Anyone wanna write the CEO and complain to them how unfair it is? Wanna mention that other places do this or that, but theirs does not? Wanna then complain if/when they don't respond to your satisfaction? Wanna then complain some more if/when you don't like the response? Wanna do some grassroots organizing to change the policy? Or do you wanna just remember to either get a Big Mac or go next door to IHOP for pancakes after 11am? 🙄

Already a conspiracy theory has arisen suggesting a link between the technical problems they're having selling their newest, possible hottest-selling vid to eBay sales. Are you kidding me? Not selling now hurts them plenty! Some who have the money to buy now, might not have it later. What's next? TiB standing on the grassy knoll?

Anyone that has a tape can sell it--independent of eBay. It all depends on your moral compass...not TC. If TC Vids ends up having problems due to piracy (e.g., imagine 10 or 20 copies of Ariel's Tk Torture on Ebay...or another online auction right now going for 20 bucks), forcing them to close shop...and you can live with contributing to this in the "community" we're all supposedly supporting...then it's not hard at all to sell any tape you own. TMF is tickle-central for chrissake. But gimme a break... unless TC's the only ones you buy from AND eBay is the only means you have of selling AND you need the money to pay rent, child support, bail, etc AND you foolishly wasted it already on a tickling video to begin with....You have no problem!

International orders? This one I thing TiB addressed particularly well. TC evidently tolerated subsantial losses for a long time--perhaps longer than some of us would have in their place. If I were affected, and I *really* wanted the tapes, since TC said they were looking for solutions I'd be proactive. I'd find someone (probably on the TMF) who ships to my country all the time...and has NO problems. I'd find out what I needed to do to (or help TC to do) to <i>guarantee</i> my packages would get thru. (Perhaps that could mean sending it through someone else.) I'd pass the info on to TC. Then I'd take it one step further. I'd say, I'll buy it <i>at my own risk</i>. In other words, I'm SO sure it will make it, that if it gets there, fine. If not, TC does NOT have to resend/repay or I'll pay all the costs associated with any resends. That way TC only pays shipping once. This is just an idea or two, but all the issues are somewhat mysterious to me. Someone who knows more about it than me and WANTS the tapes should learn what they need to and propose a solution to TC--in email preferably. They WILL respond graciously as they always have.

We all know they care about our concerns. We all know they can't please everyone all the time; we all know they would if they could. We also know they need to run a business, make a living and still have a life to speak of. Does anybody besides me feel like we should let TiB and Kathy get back to making vids instead of dealing with this stuff? Heck, I'm still waiting for my copy of the latest vid! 😀

 

[Kjiron]

Re: I seen some there

I just went to the Ebay site and typed "tickling" in the search bar and got a bunch. I wouldn't see any reason why you can't sell the originals. I mean legally it's yours to sell right? Unless your making copies...now that is a different story. The only way something like that could happen is if the producers went and cried to Ebay,,,but even then...you own it...you may do as you please with it. At least that is how I see it.


C

Well, you might be supprised. For example, you all know that little window that pops up when you install a new progarm that you have to click agree to right? Ever read it? I'll bet that very few if any of you even "own" any of the programs on your computer. You don't "buy" any windows product. You are actually "renting" the item forever. Each and every windows cd out there is actually the property of Microsoft. THAT is why copying software is illegal. This same situation can be applied to lots of things, including video tapes.

 

[SuperTickler]

Frink...

Your defense of TIB could have been written by the TIBster himself. I won't go into great detail on all the logical flaws in your analysis, but here are a few highlights:

1. I have auctioned a number of videos on eBay recently. They are all originals and I didn't keep a copy of any of them. My goal was to eliminate some of the clutter in my life and make some money off it. I also checked out the auctions of many other people who were selling videos, and it appeared that virtually 100% of them were originals. I have no way of knowing whether these people made copies to keep for themselves, but I doubt it. Making copies requires two VCRs and is generally a pain in the ass. Also, the analog-to-analog copies are just not that crisp-looking. I think that these people were doing the same thing I was doing--getting rid of some vids that they just don't watch anymore (about 10 viewings is enough for me before I get bored with a video and want to move on--and that's for a GREAT video), generating some dough, and re-cycling their vids to other ticklefans. helping them out. So the whole red herring of "people are selling pirated copies of TC videos on eBay" is bullshit! TIB just wants to make sure everybody who wants a copy of "Like Never Before" has to pay nearly $50 for it (when you include shipping and sales tax in CA) and has to pay it to him!

2. Where the hell do you get off criticizing how people are managing their financial affairs? If people decide to sell their videos, it's their right! They PAID good money for the friggin' things! I don't know if you've noticed, but hundreds of thousands of people are losing their jobs every month in this country. If someone bought a video when he was flush and now wants to sell it because he needs $20 to pay the phone bill, it's nobody's business but his!

Why sell it on eBay? Because it has PHENOMENAL traffic. It's the easiest, most remunerative way to sell just about anything you have to literally a WORLDWIDE market! By bullying eBay and other auction sites to de-list TC's videos, TIB is making it extremely hard to sell these items. These videos aren't exactly something you'd put out at a neighborhood garage sale, y'know!

3. Your analogy to McDonald's just doesn't hold water. Obviously, there are alternatives to McDonald's (there must be, because I never eat there and I haven't died of starvation). However, British TMFers do have a point--why should their supply be cut off because of some stupid, corrupt customs "officials" in some backwards Third World countries? I recently shipped orders from my auctions to Canada and Australia with no problems--the customers payed the extra shipping, the packages got there (I know that Canada and Australia have customs departments because I had to fill out customs forms to attach to the parcels--in describing the contents, I wrote "Videotapes," not "PORNOGRAPHIC VIDEOS FILLED WITH NAKED BOUND WOMEN BEING TICKLE-TORTURED"), and everybody was happy. I don't do this professionally, but I put a little extra effort into serving my customers and was rewarded for it. Considering the fact that TIB has griped in the past that he hardly breaks even on every video he produces, you would think he might be persuaded to make a little extra effort to serve a loyal customer like BigJim, who is literally BEGGING TIB to sell him videos!

And what about the other video producers? How come most, if not all, of them ship internationally and it's no big problem? FM Concepts has shipped worldwide for years and they are basically a two-man operation (Eliot and Eric) with one or two administrative employees. Despite the fact that TIB has referred to them as a big company with lots of money (which enables them to "steal" all "his" models--like he OWNS them!), they're not General-friggin'-Motors! CalStar prints the video descriptions (on their FULL-COLOR professionally-printed boxes--not some hand-written initials on a raw videotape in a box) in THREE LANGUAGES (English, French, and German), and almost everyone on this Forum says that their videos are OVERPRICED and SUCK! Are you going to tell me that FRANCE has a problem with sexy videos coming into their country? I'm always hearing how the Europeans LAUGH at the U.S. because they consider us so sexually uptight! 😎