Hidefninja new SteelBook™ Collector Lounge

[digitalbabe]

*For retailer-specific chat, please visit the new Retailer Steelbook Zone here

Welcome all Steelbook newcomers from around the world!

For more Steelbook lists, pictures, and resources visit:
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This is a thread for those new to the hobby or those with general questions about collecting Steelbooks, including retailer-specific questions.

To keep things organized, please keep all trading talk in the Trading forum, and search for specific Steelbooks for more specific title-specific questions.

I am sure our seasoned members are happy to provide assistance, so please don't be afraid to ask-we all started this addiction somewhere. Regardless if your collection is small or large, someone here can probably help.

Have fun!
DB

Steelbook & Collecting FAQ's:

Q: Where can I find a list of Steelbooks released?

A: blu-raysteelbooks.com

Q: Can I play movies contained inside Steelbooks on my Blu-Ray Player?

A: It depends-Blu-Rays are coded with Region A, B or C. Most Blu-Rays are "unlocked", regardless of what region they are, but it's always a good idea to check this forum or web resources before buying, as some are "locked".

Q: What are the differences between Steelbooks™, Iron Packs™, Metal Paks™, Viva Metal Boxes, Tins, etc?

A: Check out pics and discussion in our forum here

Q: What does "G1" and "G2" mean when discussing Steelbooks?

A: "G1" (1st Generation) refers to a Blu-Ray in a DVD-sized case. And "G2" (2nd Generation) refers to a Blu-Ray in a Blu-Ray-sized case.

Q: How to fix a loose disc on a steelbook you want to keep factory sealed that came with a floater?

A: Fixing a loose disc

Q: How do I navigate international shopping sites?

A: You can download a free 'add on' for most browsers called 'Google Translate'. Once you have it installed, the pages will translate automatically.

Q: I have many more questions-is there a general list of links to help me learn about Steelbooks, protecting them, etc?

A: Yes, here

 

[confessor94]

I open every single one of mine. It may be different if I had paid a fortune for some, but highest price I've paid for a single steelbook is £40, which isn't too bad in my opinion. The reason I open them all is firstly to watch them but second because lots have nice inside artwork and I'd like to see it from time to time. Keeping a steelbook sealed can also hide dents and therefore I like to open and inspect all of the ones I buy. With the number of releases ad especially re-releases of the rarer titles, there really is no point in keeping one sealed to try and retain its value.

Me too. I open all my steelbooks. I like looking at the artwork and case designs. After I'm done, I poly bag them to prevent damage.

 

[o0 Deuce 0o]

Well got my a couple SH2:GoS put away just in case. Gutted by this Flopp thing HMV is supporting; what was condition like btw, before we go back to topic.

is this Flopp a store?

 

[snooloui]

is this Flopp a store?

Haha. Not quite, the store is actually called Fopp.

 

[o0 Deuce 0o]

Haha. Not quite, the store is actually called Fopp.

ahh right i dont think i have 1 near me

 

[snooloui]

ahh right i dont think i have 1 near me

There's only a handful of stores I believe.

 

[HUBMUSWELL]

Well got my a couple SH2:GoS put away just in case. Gutted by this Flopp thing HMV is supporting; what was condition like btw, before we go back to topic.

Think, HMV leftovers But the condition is very good.

Haha. Not quite, the store is actually called Fopp.

I don't know why I call the store Flopp

Anyways, Fopp http://www.foppreturns.com/

 

[surfury]

Haha. Not quite, the store is actually called Fopp.

Yeah, them too. LOL

Think, HMV leftovers But the condition is very good.
I don't know why I call the store Flopp
Anyways, Fopp http://www.foppreturns.com/

Think flopp and HMV sorta go hand in hand. Yeah saw the link on hotukdeals and had already looked at the comments. Seems good but is it HMV that have changed returns address ? If so, wonder why ?

 

[thekingpin22uk]

fopp is owned by hmv , so all hmv exclusive can be fond in foop

 

[neilski1963]

How to find out, how limited a steelboook release is.

I would like to know, how limited, steelbook releases are.
For instance, a lot of people are saying that the forthcoming Play.com releases are ltd to 4000 copies.
There must be ways of finding out, which are very ltd and others that are not.
I have missed out on a few very ltd releases, because i haven`t prioritized, when buying movies, because of ltd money. (Ya know....i will buy "that" next week.....then its gone, sold out).
Sorry if its been asked before somewhere, or its in the wrong section. I`m new to this "Forum" lark.
Great site tho.
Cheers.

 

[apsmith21]

Moved your post here neil.

It's very hard to say - often this is based on what the retailer states to us, or what is posted on retailer pages.

Other than that, there is no way we can really tell for sure how limited (in terms of exact numbers) a steelbook is unless the distributor tells us.

 

[neilski1963]

Ok, thanx for the reply.
I guessed i would be posting in the wrong place.
So, when people buy their steels, no-one really knows how ltd, or hard to find they may become??
For the rarer stuff, do you recommend buying foreign versions???
Things like Thor, Ghost Protocol, Star Trek.....i didnt bother with from UK, thinking i would be able to purchase cheap, months down the line. How wrong was i????
What made these hard to buy. Surely, they must have been real ltd, but nowhere did i read how ltd. Would be great to find out which to buy on the day of release.

 

[apsmith21]

Ok, thanx for the reply.
I guessed i would be posting in the wrong place.
So, when people buy their steels, no-one really knows how ltd, or hard to find they may become??
For the rarer stuff, do you recommend buying foreign versions???
Things like Thor, Ghost Protocol, Star Trek.....i didnt bother with from UK, thinking i would be able to purchase cheap, months down the line. How wrong was i????
What made these hard to buy. Surely, they must have been real ltd, but nowhere did i read how ltd. Would be great to find out which to buy on the day of release.

I think there is a general rule of thumb you can use.

Is the steelbook going to be release anywhere else? If yes, and the studio is something like Paramount, since the art is usually the same on many of them, it does mean that collectors today can get their copy from Korea or wherever and have the same steelbook.

So in that idea, you might be correct in that assumption. But there is no telling. Maybe everyone loved MI4 and people that normally don't buy steelbooks want that edition. Then it sells out.

I think there is no problem with buying foreign versions, especially if you open your steelbooks - they are often the same after you remove the outside cardboard overlays.

The idea behind premium packaging is to charge a higher cost associated with that packaging and then state that it is limited so more people buy around release time.

Many of the sales for any new title happen in it's first month of release. So if a catalog title might get a bunch of sales if it's in steelbook, it's in the best interest of the studio to create that release, even if the disc was already out.

Of course, that doesn't mean titles won't be printed in a steelbook in a different country at a later point. We've seen this happen a lot with Germany.

So it really depends. But if you missed out on something, and you would like that edition, you can pay a premium for it. However, a similar steelbook or design might be still available from another country for cheap....

 

[Starling]

I would like to know, how limited, steelbook releases are.
For instance, a lot of people are saying that the forthcoming Play.com releases are ltd to 4000 copies.
There must be ways of finding out, which are very ltd and others that are not.
I have missed out on a few very ltd releases, because i haven`t prioritized, when buying movies, because of ltd money. (Ya know....i will buy "that" next week.....then its gone, sold out).
Sorry if its been asked before somewhere, or its in the wrong section. I`m new to this "Forum" lark.
Great site tho.
Cheers.

Another useful method is to add to basket, for amazon 999, then see what it displays as being available. An example would be Jurassic Park Trilogy on amazon.de, there are about 35 you can buy, meaning it's shortly going OOP. Another example is The Dark Knight on amazon.jp, there are only about 450 remaining. Not a fool proof method (as they sometimes order more themselves) but it certainly helps.

 

[apsmith21]

Another useful method is to add to basket, for amazon 999, then see what it displays as being available. An example would be Jurassic Park Trilogy on amazon.de, there are about 35 you can buy, meaning it's shortly going OOP. Another example is The Dark Knight on amazon.jp, there are only about 450 remaining. Not a fool proof method (as they sometimes order more themselves) but it certainly helps.

Assuming, of course that it's actually a title that is carried from amazon.

So with Jurassic Park, since it was a Media Markt in-store exclusive, all you have done above is to show that the amazon re-seller only has 35 copies to sell.

That trick will only work for items that are actually sold by amazon and are exclusives to them, so your TDK example would be more appropriate.

 

[Starling]

Assuming, of course that it's actually a title that is carried from amazon.

So with Jurassic Park, since it was a Media Markt in-store exclusive, all you have done above is to show that the amazon re-seller only has 35 copies to sell.

That trick will only work for items that are actually sold by amazon and are exclusives to them, so your TDK example would be more appropriate.

Point accepted.

 

[Wreck]

The bottom line: The marketers of steelbook are not allowed to publicly state the qty limit. The retailers and/or studio only can. However, many times if a retailer is sharing qty with another retailer its pointless to say "limited to X copies" because in actuality there are more in that market. (Country)

The Studio knows how many.

But take "The Green Hornet" for example ... Idk how many were given to the UK market ... but lets just say it was 8k ... Just cause its limited to 8k in UK doesn't contribute to its rarity when other Countries have the exact same steelbook minus the diff stickers. Germany and Canada also got The Green Hornet.

So first and foremost, once you been around long enough and pay attention to the main steelbook forum here which covers all the releases coming up. It can give you a good indication of "So that Country is the only one releasing that steelbook movie" .... those tend to be more rare as they could even be MOQ orders ... ie. 4k So then those become more rare.

Some retailers who know they have an exclusive and know its low qty will share the print run # as it does help hype the sales and for good reason. So those are always ones that are worth getting, and even doubles/triples etc. for good trade bait later on w members.

 

[neilski1963]

Thanx Wreck.
So do`s that mean the up coming Play.com exclusives, are ltd ONLY to them. As i`ve heard somewhere, (on here) that they are ltd to about 4K.
I still dont understand why some films like.....X Men..First Class, Captain America, Thor etc...become as expensive as they do, when they are released all over the world. (And all look the same). I suppose its the fact that they are worldwide blockbusters, and more (regular) people want to own a special edition, of said film, where as 4K copies of an obscure little movie, may never sell out, because there are not 4000 people who want it??? So it never rises in price or rareness. I.E...."Akira". I bought 2 copies on its (3000???) copies release, one for me, one to trade later. They are still being sold on most sites, for as little as £10. Bummed out on that one!!!

 

[mfc90125]

Was wondering if there's a difference between Debossed and Embossed? I've heard the previous used to describe a smooth cover, and the latter to describe a SB which has a raised surface.

 

[Lone Crusader]

Was wondering if there's a difference between Debossed and Embossed? I've heard the previous used to describe a smooth cover, and the latter to describe a SB which has a raised surface.

*Embossed means there are raised letters/art/cover

*Debossed means there is inset, "stamped in" letters/art/cover

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[surfury]

Following on from AcIdC0R3's post and with info from another post in elsewhere, there are no purely embossed Steelbooks at the moment as they're always debossed first. There are a couple of embossed Metalpacks such as Drive Angry and Mutant Chronicles.