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How can you be certain the Disney DVDs online are authentic? There are many fake Disney DVDs circling around the internet. Be wary if you want to buy them online or on auctions sites.

There are 3 types of fake DVDs.

1) Bootlegs DVDs
2) DVDs on import
3) Fake region one DVDs

Bootlegs are burned onto DVDRs and are homemade. They have fake labels printed through computers and their surfaces are often purple and non-standard. Authentic DVDs have gold or silver surfaces.

Majority of imported DVDs have foreign language prints on their covers and discs.

Fake region ones and their printed materials are hard to differentiate from originals and these are the newest illegal DVDs on eBay. They have fake stickers and Buena Vista stamps.

These are created in illegal factories outside the US. Their fake security seals mean that seals and stamps aren’t enough to authenticate the DVDs. Read the following to recognize fake region one DVDs. But first, here are two facts about fake region 1 DVDs.

1) Fake Region 1 DVDs and their cases are lighter when compared with real DVDs bought from stores. Fakes are lighter and have poor physical quality.

2) The fakes have poorly printed covers and printed materials like chapter indexes and booklets.

Unfortunately, you will notice those only after buying fake DVDs. To avoid buying them, read the following:

These tips may help you recognize the older fake or imported DVDs that many sell.

- DVDs with DVD9 in a circle on the cover are not US DVDs.
- DVDs with Chinese, Malaysian, Korean or foreign languages printed on the discs or cases are not US DVDs.
- Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs isn’t a single disc US DVD.
- Disney’s Beauty and the Beast isn’t a single disc US DVD.
- Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is not a single disc US DVD.
- Disney’s Peter Pan, Peter Pan 2, Pinocchio, 101 Dalmatians, 101 Dalmatians 2, Jungle Book, Jungle Book 2, Hercules, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000, etc. were never 2 disc sets in the US. Those who sell single disc DVD’s of movies that are not single disc DVDs don’t know about the DVDs. Often, they sell fake DVDs.

Genuine US Disney DVDs have security seals above or on their sides. Most have thick ink printed Buena Vista stamps behind shrink wraps.

Some DVDs distributed through the Disney movie club don’t have these. Compare DVDs with originals bought from retail stores. Fake DVDs have lower quality discs.

Original US DVDs have excellent qualities – physically and in their video and audio.

How to avoid buying fake DVDs?

- Read the feedback history and purchase from sellers with more feedbacks after reading them. Most buyers can’t recognize fake DVDs. So, most will give good feedback even for fakes. Avoid buying from sellers with private feedback.

- See the location of the seller in their feedback details. Sellers from China, Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines among others won’t have authentic US DVDs. Read registration dates since sellers registered for only 3 months, can be those who get suspended and just create new accounts to sell fakes.

- See the number of their copies of out of print DVDs. Those who’ve sold too many copies of rare Disney DVDs sell fakes; click on the ‘Completed Items’ check box. Old and rare out of print DVDs are hard to find.