An Open Letter to BluFans, Let's Talk about Kevin

Status
Not open for further replies.

apsmith21

Operations Director
Staff Member
Aug 6, 2010
29,096
USA
Hi members of HiDefNinja, it is with some sadness that I write to you today about the end of an era here at HDN.

Recently a situation unfolded where one of our group buy hubs was accused of stealing a number of copies of a BluFans release, and was told that they needed to repay Kevin over $1,000 to replace the items that were lost.

The items in question represent less than 1% of the total items in a BluFans print run.

Some people would have you believe this is just a "disagreement" between HDN and Kevin.

If you are new to HDN, or perhaps just not aware of how these group buys work with BluFans - the hubs, the persons responsible for shipping out hundreds upon hundreds of steelbooks work for very little (if any) compensation. I would propose that our hubs are some of the most trustworthy members here and a great asset to this site. Often they do their best to combine shipping for you to reduce the cost in general and bring you a great release, safely packaged and delivered - such that you do not have to rely on ebay sellers or other folks that will mark these items up.

Having said that, packages sent from BluFans are done in the following way.

1) They are marked a very low value and as "plastic" cards to avoid customs
2) Tracking numbers, are rarely shared with the hubs.
3) There is no invoice or packing slip that state how many items should have been received.
4) Sometimes members are left off or missed in the creation of the lists. Meaning the count of the total items sent is not always accurate.

Therefore, as a hub on this forum, there is a level of trust that we put in not only BluFans, but also bluraysteel (Kevin) to accurately and correctly convey our responsibilities in delivering these releases to you. To give you an idea, one box (only one!) of BluFans steels can exceed $900 in total value.

These boxes are NOT insured! So what happens when items are lost, not sent, or the records are incorrect? It appears that they will come after the group buy hubs! :(

And as this trust has now been violated, as no hub now or previously (unless they keep very thorough records of every shipment made, to every member that is on their list) can completely disprove the accusation that has been made. We have nothing at our disposal that can show without a doubt what we say is true, despite the pictures on our threads of the items, the posts about when we received them, and the other information we very publicly share with you, our members, to keep you up to date.

To restate this...it has been said that one of us, one of our hubs, is not a person that can be trusted.

I've gone to great lengths to personally investigate this question and provide pictures, posts and other information that show very clearly that HDN nor our hub stole from BluFans.

I think we can all agree that we love BluFans releases. We love the package, we love their thought and care that is put into creating a wonderful collectors items. But it seems as though bluraysteel has decided to take all of his group buys somewhere else in retaliation for not sending him $1000.

I cannot stop you from supporting BluFans releases, and I'm not asking you to not buy their steelbooks. But I would like you to consider that you will not receive the support from moderators and staff members on other forums that you have received here. There likely will not be any quantity per member limits that are enforced. There will not be the hubs you have worked with so many times before. I hope there are not other challenges as well.

I would like to take this opportunity to call on BluFans, to call on Abu to replace bluraysteel as the liaison between our two forums, and to instead use someone that can work with HDN, and will not turn on HDN or our hubs so quickly.

Thank you very much for reading this thread, and I would like to personally apologize to you if this causes any trouble.

For members of my UP 3D slip hub, as far as I'm aware some of these are on the way to me currently - and if they do arrive, I will continue to assist in completing this group buy and bring you the items you paid for.

Best regards,

Andy
 
How much was it earler? $60 or $65?

I am pretty sure there will be lots of subscriptions but BR isn't properly moderated and it is easy for members to make false claims and throw abuses for charging extra.

It was $60 on the GB on here, how much is it directly from Blufans?
 
I just wish Kevin had not been banned already. It looks like he wants to help us with "past group buys", I say we let him do that right here on HDN, and we should leave him a chance to reply in this thread :).

I paid €38 for Up via PayPal on October 22, 2013. That this steelbook was supposed to be ready for October in the first place was one thing, that the 3D slips have been released barely a week ago is another (it's an unacceptable way to conduct business imo, "but Asia is different", blablabla... I'm okay with delays, but not every single time and not 4 months, especially when you pay this much money). But not getting the steelbook in the end (and not being able to get the money back) would be downright outrageous, and since Kevin apparently wants to help, then we should let him back on HDN to settle this ;).

I know one thing : I'm done with BluFans (I wasn't that excited by their upcoming exclusives anyway). I hope I get what I paid for (UP 3D via Masterblaster's EU hub) but after that I will not be getting BluFans steelbooks, at least until we can safely purchase directly from them.
 
I don't think anyone knows what exactly happened here. Many possibilities, but I'm going out on a limb, based on my experiences with Kevin, and HDN forums.

This could be a mis-accounting, or theft during shipping by the carriers/shippers employees. I have total and complete trust in both Kevin, HDN hubs and HDN helpers. I will not jump to any conclusion.

One thing, that for me, is getting old here, is people (the same ones) expecting people to buy shipping/packaging materials, pay shipping and postage, spend countless time/energy packing going to post offices/shippers, spending a lot of their own funds, tying up their own and families money, to ship virtually almost any release all over the world, for free or at their expense "for the community". These same people either never tip or tip a minimal amount to these members that work their asses off. There are members that have given up on hosting group buys, and it's a wonder anyone steps up to take on such a near impossible task.

Anyone that helps out in these group buys deserves to be appreciated for what they do while people sit on the sideline and holler "Group Buy" every time a release breaks out.

Kevin EARNED every penny of profit that he received, so does EVERY ONE that helps facilitate any group buy. Every HDN group buy I've participated in, I received amazing/expert/professional packaging/shipping/service! I just received two Blu-fans "Godfathers" from Kevin... everything perfect!

I've been a member of "the other forum" since 2009 and lurking there since the inception of blu-ray and blu-ray steel books. I've been lurking here since the beginning and joined in 2011. This forum is getting just like that one.

If you don't like a price or release... don't buy it. If you don't trust some one, don't deal with them.

Expecting people and businesses to lie about custom values is going to catch up. I don't know if any group buy shipments are properly insured, tracked, and declared. But they should be... or accept the consequences.

Everyone wants everything for cost and to avoid customs charges, that your country has put in place, as your taxation process and laws. Hey, if you can get away with it, great, if you can't that's the price of importing to you, where you live. Some one, inevitably, is going to pay or lose if this continues.

I will continue to do business with Kevin and everyone I have ever done business with here, until I am given a reason not to.
 
Remember the saying In Wreck We Trust? Same goes to other Staff members who are dealing with this.... so lets give it a few days and see what happens.

In relation to your Hubs:

UP 3D slip version copies
UK Hub - No info yet (was meant to be sent last week)
EU Hub - no info yet
USA Hub - Should hopefully be arriving at Hub within the week?
Asia & Oceania Hub - No info yet
CA Hub - no info yet

WWZ copies
UK Hub - All copies received
EU/ROW Hub -All copies received(?)
USA Hub - All copies received(?)
CA Hub - All copies received

The Monsters Uni and future blufans GBs won't be hosted on HDN unless things are resolved. He's set up shop at the other forum - its up to you if you wish to buy from there - simples :)

KEEP CHECKING YOUR LOCAL HUBS THREAD FOR UP TO DATE INFO - THANKS
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Very sad about this situation, if the trust was broken perhaps a solution will take long to happen or not happen, though we collectors will continue to participate in many GB's HDN because not only Blufans HDN provides GB's and certainly will continue to provide this excellent service.
How to buy on another forum, I think this is a personal decision and not influenced the relationship with HDN or its staff.
A pity that this partnership has suffered this setback, but I believe in the potential of the admins in seeking a solution.

Cheers to all.
 
I'm extremely sad to read this.

I'll not be participating in any further GB releases by Blufans due to now finding out what profit has been made per steelbook by Kevin and with the increase in price to $66 for the new group buy. Also whilst the other forum is good there is appears to be very little recourse should something go wrong unlike the well organised GB's here. Once bitten twice shy as the saying goes.

I imagine due to the continuous delays in getting this steelbook out to all members by Blufans none of the members here will be covered :(

I just hope they do the right thing and ship the steels that have already been paid for.
 
I'm not collecting anymore but this whole scenario upsets me!

But I'll wear my sensible head and say that a lot of lessons can be taken onboard from this.

Such as fully documenting the contents of packages and all relevant postage information.

I love this site for the privileges it provides it's members but in order to protect the site steps should be made.

Trust nobody implicitly..
 
  • Like
Reactions: gbdragon
ps. I dont think anyone will get screwed out of any paid for items ... Everyone involved has all reasons to make sure members get their items. So I wouldnt fret or worry in regards to UP. I'm sure Kevin or blufans will take care of their customer base. At the same time he can quit the sappy story about "its sad for our trusted members" as if we are the cause...

We will always take care of our members as we always have. Actions speak louder than words, he was not "permanently banned" he then runs off and posts elsewhere and disrespects, we posted AFTER ... take a gander at our Ninja Week forum ... over 200 prizes given out for free and shipping cost for free to winners. Oh yeah let me tell you .... we're thieves. :rolleyes:

No one here (staff/mods) has ever stole and its blatant disrespect to accuse such esp when you got 3rd party company shipping your items. If anything the boxes were packed wrong or one was lost or the shipping company employee stole. But that is all just speculation.
 
Last edited:
This is a shame, no doubt about it. I've reached out to Kevin (been around BR longer than I have HDN, much more active here). I trust that between him and Andy, I'll be able to get my copy one way or another.

And as always - thanks to HDN staff for being open and honest. I can't imagine BF won't want to work with us any further given the absurd amount of support and participation we have provided.
 
Last edited:
I don't think anyone knows what exactly happened here. Many possibilities, but I'm going out on a limb, based on my experiences with Kevin, and HDN forums.

This could be a mis-accounting, or theft during shipping by the carriers/shippers employees. I have total and complete trust in both Kevin, HDN hubs and HDN helpers. I will not jump to any conclusion.

One thing, that for me, is getting old here, is people (the same ones) expecting people to buy shipping/packaging materials, pay shipping and postage, spend countless time/energy packing going to post offices/shippers, spending a lot of their own funds, tying up their own and families money, to ship virtually almost any release all over the world, for free or at their expense "for the community". These same people either never tip or tip a minimal amount to these members that work their asses off. There are members that have given up on hosting group buys, and it's a wonder anyone steps up to take on such a near impossible task.

Anyone that helps out in these group buys deserves to be appreciated for what they do while people sit on the sideline and holler "Group Buy" every time a release breaks out.

Kevin EARNED every penny of profit that he received, so does EVERY ONE that helps facilitate any group buy. Every HDN group buy I've participated in, I received amazing/expert/professional packaging/shipping/service! I just received two Blu-fans "Godfathers" from Kevin... everything perfect!

I've been a member of "the other forum" since 2009 and lurking there since the inception of blu-ray and blu-ray steel books. I've been lurking here since the beginning and joined in 2011. This forum is getting just like that one.

If you don't like a price or release... don't buy it. If you don't trust some one, don't deal with them.

Expecting people and businesses to lie about custom values is going to catch up. I don't know if any group buy shipments are properly insured, tracked, and declared. But they should be... or accept the consequences.

Everyone wants everything for cost and to avoid customs charges, that your country has put in place, as your taxation process and laws. Hey, if you can get away with it, great, if you can't that's the price of importing to you, where you live. Some one, inevitably, is going to pay or lose if this continues.

I will continue to do business with Kevin and everyone I have ever done business with here, until I am given a reason not to.


Very well said, MB.

I can understand that everyone wants to save as much money as they can on these purchases (regardless of whether they are for your private collection or re-sale purposes).

But when you get into the situation where people are cutting corners to save money by: 1) lying about the item details to curtail customs, 2) marking a Paypal payment as a gift to avoid certain fees (and as some are learning, doesn't insure you for the transaction), or 3) not insuring and/or tracking (large) shipments, then that surely must make a sensible person realize that perhaps it's not worth it, in the grand scheme of things.

As others have commented, hopefully some changes are made to better protect the process as a whole (buyers, hubs, etc).

The group buy process is an awesome option for those of us who live in countries that don't have direct access to these releases and I am truly grateful to all those who spend their time and energy in facilitating the group buys.

Here's to a bright(er) future...
 
I am also sad to hear this news. I purchased 3 of the BF releases thru Kevin last year, and didn't have any issues, but haven't purchased any for a while.

Obviously, as they say, there can be 3 sides to every story...eventually (hopefully) the full truth will emerge; but I would be confident in putting my faith behind the moderators/staff here at HDN.

Like many others, I am also a member at "the other site", and I would be far less confident to join any GB over there, as there does seem to be far less regulation/oversight/involvement from moderators - it is more or less a posting board.

Case in point is that Kevin was simply allowed to "set up shop" over there when there is a very serious dispute occurring here, which should - at least in my mind - be resolved first. To me, this doesn't seem like a forum that has the best interests of its members in mind - but, hey, we are all adults and assume the risks.

I would also echo the sentiment that Blufans needs to simply get it together and start doing direct shipping around the world like any other Asian site - Kimchi, JSDVD, K-Steelbook, etc. If collectors want the releases, they will pay the shipping charges.

Although many will jump on the GB bandwagon "over there", I would expect this to hurt BF's sales, unless many more of the HDN members also go there just for these GB's. In the long run, it is most likely that BF releases will only be available to those outside China via Ebay - at much higher markups. :(


And, maybe there is a silver lining here - maybe this is the impetus for HDN to become the NEW Blufans, producing its own line of exclusive releases, following on HDN #1 ;) :LOL:


EDIT: Maybe this thread should have been titled - S$*! hitting the Blufans! :)
 
Last edited:
I am not personally affected by any of this . I hope it all gets sorted out and no ninja is left disappointed . I have nothing but admiration for how this situation is being delt with by staff here.

Good luck and best wishes In no way has this put me off joining a group buy IF it was somthing that I wanted. My admiration to ALL members that run them and make it look so easy even though it must be hell.

I love being a part of this community and as other members have stated if it means a donation of a couple of quid to sort it all then I'm in. Fingers and toes crossed it ends well for all partys involved.
 
This is sad to hear but thank you kevin and all the members that made these group buys possible. I know a large portion of their sales comes though HDN so I hope they change their decision.

Worst case I guess it is time for kimchi and ES to step up and fill the void of monthly high quality steels for this community.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: djprodikis
I have participated in various transactions here on this site. Both directly and indirectly. Every member that I have had the pleasure to interact with has been nothing but honest. It is difficult to trust people in an online setting due to the nature of not being able to meet people face to face. That said I have purchased Blufan exclusives that have gone through @apsmith21's hub, and have never had any issues- or reason to doubt his integrity. I have also curried favors from the staff here who have access to foreign steels. @NaughtiusMaximus has also been very kind and honest. I trust these people implicitly and thank them for their kindness and moral code. It is sad to see this course of action, but I understand the reasoning. It is a difficult decision, yet it is one made to protect the members.
 
So the only thing that is UP in the air is UP 3D?

Just got the message from Drum18 saying he hasn't gotten the UP 3D steels yet. :(

I hope to get my copy soon since I paid for it months ago like everyone.

Kevin has been good to me in the past but this will be my last Blu-fans purchase.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: lgans316
I take photos of every inbound and outbound packages with the address printed on it alongside proof of posting receipt. This is to protect myself from fake claims. I would be surprised if such a thing isn't done by senders especially when the package are huge and high valued.EEK!
 
In response to members signing up for that other forum - I'm working on some other avenues that may allow us to have a group buy on this forum for the Monsters U release.

While we won't be going through Kevin, perhaps this would be an option for some of you that are still interested in this release, and the support that HDN mods & staff bring to the table.

No promises, just wanted to mention that I'm not sitting on my laurels and we're actively investigating other ideas.

:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.