But like with almost everything else in Thailand, you can get a good deal or get ripped off. Here’s a few pointers, not that I would ever suggest you participate in the illegal act of buying pirated movies.
DVD, VCD. There is a difference. Though they look the same, VCD’s are a popular video format in Asia that picture/sound quality wise is comparable to VHS tapes. DVDs, as you know, have a much higher quality of both sound and picture. The guys selling these usually will be honest in telling you which they have as there is a hot market for both. But, some DVD players will not play VCDs, so make sure you get the right stuff.
PAL, NSTC. Big difference here, too. Like the metric system, much of the rest of the world uses the PAL standard for video and television display. America uses NSTC. A PAL DVD will not play on an American system. Again, the vendors will not rip you off here (they won’t point out you are buying the wrong thing either, though, so look!). On the back cover it will say whether it is PAL or NSTC.
Region 1, etc. America is Region 1, Asia is I think Region 3, though it might be 2. Doesn’t matter, in order for the DVD to work back home it needs to be either marked as Region 1 or All Regions. The region thing is something the studios came up with to limit distribution times in various markets. Most you find on the streets are either Region 1 or All regions as the hot sellers are for the American market. But check first. (Note that buying in a real store at the mall will almost guarantee the region is not correct for America; these are really for sale for the Thai market).
How new? If the movie has just come out, or will open in the next week or two, the quality of your pirated DVD will be poor. Usually these are copies made from someone going to the theater with a hand held VCR (so you get audience reaction most of the time and silhouettes of the peoples heads that were sitting in front of the cameraman many times. The sound can be pretty dismal too. Might still be a bargain, but note that you will be getting a crappy copy of the movie. Usually a month or so before the movie will be officially released on DVD you can find high quality copies. Some of the more enterprising vendors have TV set ups they can preview your movie on for you if you want to check quality. I happen to travel with a portable DVD player and test them out myself before buying.
Price? How good do you bargain? They’ll usually start around 200 to 250 baht per movie and will quickly discount them when you buy 10 or so. They are more expensive in Patpong, usually a good deal along Sukhumvit, and can be bought cheaply at the weekend market. I’d assume they are all crap on Kho San Road as the Thais just have no respect for the backpacker crowd. I’ve bought them as low as 1000 baht each, but with the newer DVDs usually get them around 1,200 to 1,400 baht. So at $2.50 to $3.75 these babies are a real steal.
Note, however, if you are going to Malaysia or Indonesia you can get them there even cheaper. The going rate in Kula Lumpur is about $1.75 US!
Smuggling them into the U.S.? You won’t usually get a case for your DVD’s, normally they’ll be in a plastic envelope. I’m sure customs will notice 50 DVDs in their cases packed into your suitcase. I tend to throw out the covers and just slip the DVDs into my CD case then make new covers for them when I get home. If you do get caught with a handful, customs isn’t going to throw you in jail, they will just confiscate them. But, by law you get to keep one! Only in America!
Yep, you legally can bring one illegal, pirated piece of each type of merchandise into the country with you. That means 1 DVD, 1 CD, 1 fake Rolex . . . (but you might want to reconsider that transvestite porno movie unless you don't mind the customs guys all giving yoou weird looks).
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