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Sure you can DREAM, PLAN, BUILD...BUT ONLY IN THE USA!!!!

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Sure you can DREAM, PLAN, BUILD...BUT ONLY IN THE USA!!!!
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Thursday, January 17, 2008 7:50 PM

Angry [:(!]

So I said to myself.  I would like to dream, plan, build too.  I was advised by a helpful forum member to contact Model Railroader because I was interested in getting the DVD's.  Model Railroaders answer.  ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE US!

Thanks alot.  Gee I'm glad I became a subscriber. Black Eye [B)]

Apparently Canadians and others around the world are good enough to buy subscriptions but only US citizens are privledged enough to be included in everything else.

This really Censored [censored] stinks!  

Sigh [sigh]

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Posted by andrechapelon on Thursday, January 17, 2008 7:56 PM
 BlueHillsCPR wrote:

Angry [:(!]

So I said to myself.  I would like to dream, plan, build too.  I was advised by a helpful forum member to contact Model Railroader because I was interested in getting the DVD's.  Model Railroaders answer.  ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE US!

Thanks alot.  Gee I'm glad I became a subscriber. Black Eye [B)]

Apparently Canadians and others around the world are good enough to buy subscriptions but only US citizens are privledged enough to be included in everything else.

This really Censored [censored] stinks!  

Sigh [sigh]

Does Canada use the NTSC standard or PAL? That could be a reason.

Well, that's not it. Apparently Canada uses NTSC. Shoulda Googled before asking the question.

Andre

It's really kind of hard to support your local hobby shop when the nearest hobby shop that's worth the name is a 150 mile roundtrip.
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Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:10 PM

Nope, North America uses NTSC.  There was no explanation...and no indication that they would be available anytime soon.  It seems ridiculous to me.  Is it possible that what I was told is incorrect?  Can any of the Canadian guys verify that they are getting the DVD's?

I feel so left out... wah! Sad [:(]

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Posted by AntonioFP45 on Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:18 PM
Contact the Bergie, or the staffers at MRR on the e-mail links provided and ask for an honest, detailed explanation.  I can't see how they would not try to work with a customer.  

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


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Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:20 PM

Shannon from Kalmbach did say that they hope to extend the series outside the US in the future...forgive me if I don't start dancing but I have heard that one before.

 SoapBox [soapbox]

 

Well, guess what.  Joe Fugate plans to start selling his videos in segments available for download for a very reasonable price, IMO.  He will even help a guy burn the segments to DVD so you can watch them on TV.  Available in HD too!  I think I might just go Dream, Plan, and Build with Joe!Evil [}:)]

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Posted by on30francisco on Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:21 PM
 BlueHillsCPR wrote:

Nope, North America uses NTSC.  There was no explanation...and no indication that they would be available anytime soon.  It seems ridiculous to me.  Is it possible that what I was told is incorrect?  Can any of the Canadian guys verify that they are getting the DVD's?

I feel so left out... wah! Sad [:(]

North America does use NTSC, however, many modern DVD plavers have a built-in converter that will convert NTSC to PAL and vice versa. Many DVD players are also region-free and play DVDs from anywhere.

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Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:24 PM

 AntonioFP45 wrote:
Contact the Bergie, or the staffers at MRR on the e-mail links provided and ask for an honest, detailed explanation.  I can't see how they would not try to work with a customer.  

Thanks for the tip Antonio.  Maybe I'll think on that.  Right now I'm just so Censored [censored] about it...I already contacted MRR to try to buy the videos...MAYBE Bergie should call me Sign - Dots [#dots]

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Posted by Conrail5 on Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:40 PM
 BlueHillsCPR wrote:

Shannon from Kalmbach did say that they hope to extend the series outside the US in the future...forgive me if I don't start dancing but I have heard that one before.

 SoapBox [soapbox]

 

Well, guess what.  Joe Fugate plans to start selling his videos in segments available for download for a very reasonable price, IMO.  He will even help a guy burn the segments to DVD so you can watch them on TV.  Available in HD too!  I think I might just go Dream, Plan, and Build with Joe!Evil [}:)]

I'm sure once Kalmbach gets through milking us here in the lower 50 they'll start tapping other sources.

 

Empire under construction !

The early bird catches the worm.

But, the second mouse gets the cheese!

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Posted by mobilman44 on Thursday, January 17, 2008 8:49 PM

Hi,

Not trying to be a wise guy (or minimize your complaint), but I suspect the DPB tapes will surely be on Ebay soon - if they are not already.  Actually, that might be preferable as you can pick what you want.

Mobilman44

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by mearrin69 on Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:03 PM

DVDs have, I think, a regional code that keeps them from playing elsewhere. I would have thought that Canada and the U.S. were the same, but maybe not?
M

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Posted by selector on Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:39 PM

First I've heard of this if it is true.  I can play, buy, rent, and print DVD's anywhere in Canada with the one player/recorder that we use, and I don't see that it would change if I were to move to the USA.

The format makes a difference, but many players these days know how to work with two or more of them.  For example, there are DVD-R, DVD+R, and so on...different formats.

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Posted by Artur on Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:50 PM

If you have a high end DVD player like sony, panasonic or JVC it will only play NTSC format, but if you buy a cheep no name $40 DVD player it will play all formats from around the world. You can also convert the DVD from NTSC to PAL by using CloneDVD.

North America is NTSC.

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Posted by leighant on Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:50 PM
I have done broadcast video production.  Sometimes elements such as music background, talent agreements, etc. are licensed only for use in programs being shown in US.  Producer would have to pay again to be allowed to sell in other markets, or simply not be allowed any price if that is the policy of provider from which element was contracted.  Don't know if this applies.
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Posted by steinjr on Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:51 PM
 mearrin69 wrote:

DVDs have, I think, a regional code that keeps them from playing elsewhere. I would have thought that Canada and the U.S. were the same, but maybe not?
M

 Rough division: 
 Zone 1 is US+Canada
 Zone 2 is Europe, Middle East, Japan and South Africa
 Zone 3 is SE Asia (Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Hong Kong)
 Zone 4 is South & Central America, Australia & NZ
 Zone 5 is rest of Africa, India, ex-Soviet, North Korea & Mongolia
 Zone 6 is China

 I don't care what zone a DVD is made for, as long as it show trains Big Smile [:D]

 Grin,
 Stein

 

 

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Posted by philnrunt on Thursday, January 17, 2008 9:58 PM

   It always amazes me when we visit the UP of Michigan and we watch the weather report, Canada actually HAS weather! Everyplace else in America, weather stops at the border, at least down here. And Mexico? Forget it.

    It's a global market, and if MR is going to review Marklin engines from Germany, they should at least be able to ship DVDs to Canada.

   All they have to do is check their own forum and they will see it is comprised of a very international group of chaps.

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Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Thursday, January 17, 2008 10:28 PM

I don't know the how and the why of it.  All I know is that I am rather disappointed by the fact.

The issue of license might have some merrit, who knows?  Otherwise I'm fairly certain it is not a matter of Model Railroader CAN'T do it, just that for whatever reason they are not doing it.

Oh well...in the end I suppose it's their loss because I will move on and I will purchase Joe Fugate's videos, where I will be able to choose just the topics I want and in the event Model Railroader does begin offering their DVD's in Canada I will probably not be interested by then.  Meanwhile, I'll tell eveyone I know not to waste their $$ on the Dream, Plan, Build series but to buy Joe's videos instead.

Note:  I am in no way affiliated with Joe Fugate.  I'm just very impressed with his products and even more so by his level of commitment to me as a customer...and I haven't even purchased anything from him yet! 

The worst of it is...for the first time in my life the words Model Railroader leave a sour taste in my mouth.  Thumbs Down [tdn]

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 17, 2008 10:49 PM
 BlueHillsCPR wrote:

Angry [:(!]

So I said to myself.  I would like to dream, plan, build too.  I was advised by a helpful forum member to contact Model Railroader because I was interested in getting the DVD's.  Model Railroaders answer.  ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE US!

Thanks alot.  Gee I'm glad I became a subscriber. Black Eye [B)]

Apparently Canadians and others around the world are good enough to buy subscriptions but only US citizens are privledged enough to be included in everything else.

This really Censored [censored] stinks!  

Sigh [sigh]

 

Are you serious?  You are really crying over these not so good DVDs?  C'mon man if you really wanted the DVDs so bad all you have to do is go to Ebay and do a search and these people will ship to you.  No need to cry about it

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Posted by TheK4Kid on Thursday, January 17, 2008 10:58 PM

Sounds strange!

 I recently purchased DVD's made in Canada that play just fine on my DVD player here in Indiana. I purchased the entire "MAVERICK" TV series with James Garner, and also "TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH" TV series with Robert Lansing.

So why can't MRR send their product over the border the other way?

 

TheK4Kid 

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Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Thursday, January 17, 2008 11:05 PM

 Supreme Line wrote:
Are you serious?  You are really crying over these not so good DVDs?  C'mon man if you really wanted the DVDs so bad all you have to do is go to Ebay and do a search and these people will ship to you.  No need to cry about it

Thanks that makes it all much better.  Your ridicule has helped alot.  Whether the DVD's are any good is an individual matter anyway so your opinion is beside the point.  Why should I have to buy them used from Ebay and potentially end up paying more than they would cost new?  In the past week I have lost half a dozen MRR related auctions because I wasn't willing to pay more than new price or because someone else with far more disposable income wanted the item and would pay anything to get it.

In any event I am moving on.  Perhaps you should too? Smile [:)]

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Posted by superbe on Friday, January 18, 2008 12:05 AM
 BlueHillsCPR wrote:

 Well, sometimes when we can't have something we want it more than ever. IMOP your saving some money that you can spend on your layout.

Sure, some of them were interesting and others weren't worth the money. None of them gave you any information or construction techniques that you can't learn right here on the forum.

Consider youself lucky.

Bob 

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Posted by Pathfinder on Friday, January 18, 2008 12:08 AM

 leighant wrote:
I have done broadcast video production.  Sometimes elements such as music background, talent agreements, etc. are licensed only for use in programs being shown in US.  Producer would have to pay again to be allowed to sell in other markets, or simply not be allowed any price if that is the policy of provider from which element was contracted.  Don't know if this applies.

This may be closest to the answer.  We have DVD's that say for US or Canada only but we also have some that say Canada only, no mention of US.  Also, almost all our DVD's are made (printed, burned not sure how you would call it) in Canada, not the US.  Maybe it is a problem with us?

Stupid free trade, sure working wonders.

Keep on Trucking, By Train! Where I Live: BC Hobbies: Model Railroading (HO): CP in the 70's in BC and logging in BC
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Posted by OlavM on Friday, January 18, 2008 1:22 AM

Sorry but it's friday and could not resist:

Thats why they call it the American Dream!!!

Banged Head [banghead]

Olav

Olav M, Nesoddtangen, Norway HO scale, mid fifties, Eastern U.S., Digitrax Chief
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Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Friday, January 18, 2008 7:30 AM
 OlavM wrote:

Sorry but it's friday and could not resist:

Thats why they call it the American Dream!!!

Banged Head [banghead]

Olav

err...or nightmare, depending on where one happens to be at a given moment. Wink [;)]

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Posted by concretelackey on Friday, January 18, 2008 7:43 AM
Blue Hills, if and when I receive that free dvd I will gladly send it to you.....ONLY $9.99 for the dvd and $49.99 for S&H!Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]
Ken aka "CL" "TIS QUITE EASY TO SCREW CONCRETE UP BUT TIS DARN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO UNSCREW IT"
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Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Friday, January 18, 2008 8:13 AM

 concretelackey wrote:
Blue Hills, if and when I receive that free dvd I will gladly send it to you.....ONLY $9.99 for the dvd and $49.99 for S&H!Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

HAHAHAHAHA!  Thanks for that CL.  I needed a good laugh! Big Smile [:D]

I appreciate the thought...however misguided...but I've decided to side with the faction that finds the Dream, Plan, Build DVDs' of little or no worth.  I know I'll be spending money on stuff that can't be nailed to the layout but I think I'll invest heavily in Joe Fugates videos in the future.  I like having good reference material, 10 year old will get lots out of watching them, the wife will enjoy them too, ( she likes making trees...thanking my lucky stars for that) and I have a little engineer who will be able to learn from Joe when he is a little older.  That's why "I" ONCE wanted the MRR DVD's.  Now I want something else. Smile [:)]

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Posted by mobilman44 on Friday, January 18, 2008 8:55 AM

Blue Hills,

  I have all of the DPB DVDs offered, and consider some to be very informative and interesting, some to be "nice to watch" (but don't apply to my field/era of interest), and others are just barely OK - meaning they are about stuff I just don't care about. 

Of course I could have returned those I didn't care for - and saved myself the $24.99 US - but like a lot of MRs, I have the "collector" gene/virus and "have to have them all". 

My point is, financially you would be much better off by purchasing DVDs that are specific to areas of your interest.  Kalmbach does have some nice ones, but they are just one of the producers of train DVDs.......

Also, I hold annual "train stuff" auctions on Ebay (last Christmas had 100 auctions - 80 sold), and sooner or later my collection will go up for auction.  I have serious doubts that even the most interesting ones will go for over $15.  And of course I'm not the "Lone Ranger" here, for I suspect many more will go on auction sooner or later.   

Regarding why they aren't available from Kalmbach in Canada, it could simply be that they don't want to deal with the hassle of extra postage/shipping/monetary conversion.

Hope it all works out for you.........

Mobilman44

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by Fergmiester on Friday, January 18, 2008 9:22 AM

Before we all declare war on each other... Maybe we should consider the possibility of government restrictions regarding the export of certain technologies. I know I can hear the laughter too. But! When I was looking at getting my hands on a Nikon editing software package a year ago I was unable to get it from Nikon USA, because of legalities and export restrictions or so I was told. So I had to go online and purchase it from a Canadian distributer who had copied and burned it under Licence. Does this make sense? Not for me to decide.

 

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=5959

If one could roll back the hands of time... They would be waiting for the next train into the future. A. H. Francey 1921-2007  

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Posted by pastorbob on Friday, January 18, 2008 9:26 AM

I keep forgetting that Canada and America aren't one happy family until I hear about these things.  Too bad government (if that is the problem) has to get in the way of people, but that seems to be one of the parameters for government. 

Sorry Kevin that you aren't able to get the DVD's, I am not sure they are really worth it, but I understand the principle you are stating.

Bob

Bob Miller http://www.atsfmodelrailroads.com/
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Posted by NevinW on Friday, January 18, 2008 9:31 AM
I agree that this is more likely to be due to some form of government regulation or trade law that causes MR to decide to not market it in Canada. It doesn't make any sense otherwise. - Nevin
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Posted by Blue Flamer on Friday, January 18, 2008 9:45 AM
 BlueHillsCPR wrote:

Well, guess what.  Joe Fugate plans to start selling his videos in segments available for download for a very reasonable price, IMO.  He will even help a guy burn the segments to DVD so you can watch them on TV.  Available in HD too!  I think I might just go Dream, Plan, and Build with Joe!Evil [}:)]

BlueHillsCPR.

I bought Joe's Series last fall along with the first operating session. (Operating Sessions 2 & 3 were not available at the time.) In my opinion, it is well worth the money. If memory serves, it cost me just about $120 for 6 DVD's but that was before the Loonie broke par with the US $. I will give you one beware though. The greedy Canadian & Provincial Governments got their 14% when I picked it up at the Post Office.  Censored [censored]  Lots of good tips and other insights.

Blue Flamer. 

"There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"." Dave Barry, Syndicated Columnist. "There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes." Doctor Who.

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