About 50% of the new DVDs I purchase now come with a paperboard sleeve that is slipped over the shrinkwrapped DVD case. (Glancing at my recent-buys pile: the Wonder Woman animated movie, Religulous, Still Waiting, and You’re a Good Sport Charlie Brown all have them). These are single-DVD-case items, not multi-disc sets. In a minority of cases, the sleeve “enhances” the package-- the Wonder Woman DVD has a lenticular 3D cover, which is pretty nifty-- but on most of the sleeves in my collection, the front picture and back information on the sleeve is exactly the same as the DVD insert. In all cases, the sleeve has a die-cut hole that allows the UPS, printed on the interior DVD, to show through.
…in these cases, where the sleeve displays the exact same picture and back cover info as the basic sleeve, and where the UPC is part of the inner DVD package, what is the point of the sleeve? They get banged-up and scratched far more easily than the shrinkwrapped-and-protected DVD case, so a little shelf wear makes the sleeved DVDs look more ratty than their normal counterparts.
Good question. Kinda pisses me off since one of our DVD racks (the other is just shelves) has slots that are wide enough for two single DVDs (which is really handy considering how many boxsets we have–not all will fit, but most will). But, if I get a single DVD with a slipcover, it winds up juuuust wide enough that I can’t fit another disc in with it. Even the metal cases can be fit two to a slot, though it’s a bit of a squeeze.
If they serve no other purpose, they allow collectors (who might care about such things) on the resale market to identify original issues from later re-pressings. Notice that by the time these disks are on the bargain shelves, they usually don’t come with the slip covers any more.
I don’t buy many DVDs that aren’t box sets of some kind anymore, so I wasn’t really aware that this was a trend. But I did find it odd to get Stormy Weather in a slipcase. It can’t be adding too much to the expense of producing the DVD if they’re selling it for $7.99.
Even if it isn’t lenticular, any slip cover at all is generally considered to be more attractive packaging than the plastic case, especially when the whole thing is shrink wrapped.
It’s all a waste of materials. DVDs (and CDs) should come in flat cardboard sleeves 5" x 5" sleeves. Maybe let them fold out the 5" x 10" if room is needed for more information than will fit on the back.
You never know when something is going to be a collector’s item.
I got word that the original Swamp Thing DVD was mis-produced, containing the unrated European cut of the movie but labeled as containing the PG version shown here in the states. I raced out, found one left at Circuit City, and promptly turned around and doubled my money on eBay with it. And even had the gaul to watch it before reselling it. If I’d kept it shrinkwrapped, I probably could have tripled my investment.
Collectors are strange folk with their own values.
I love CD reissues of old albums that come in cardboard “mini LP” sleeves. But a lot of people complain about them. They insist that the disc gets scratched from being drawn in and out of the paper packaging (I personally can’t see how this problem arises if you take any care at all in handling your CDs), and that, unlike a jewel box, the packaging can’t be replaced if damaged (true–so take care of your CDs!).
