Problems with Memorex Media. Where to buy Taiyo Yuden?

[John Shumate]

Hello.

I know there's tons and tons of topics in regards to this, but I've never had this problem until now.

I've been sucessfully buying discs at the store for years at the $24.99 - $59.99 price mark.

Unfortunately, I've ran accross 2 bad batches of memorex, and after reading up, saw that "made in taiwan" was on the label. A mistake on my part. My firmware has already been update to the latest version, checked it on other burners, etc.

Now, I'm forced to buy online, since i need these before christmas, and it seems I can't find a good set of discs at my local staples anymore.

So, here are my questions:

1. Taiyo Yuden Value or Premium? I will say I don't mind having 1-3 coasters in a 100pk, but I was just curious if its ok to buy the value, or to just be on the safe side and go with Taiyo Yuden Premium?

2. I plan to take these memorex discs back to staples, I only used 1 as a test burn. Has anybody encountered any problems returning for a refund at staples?

3. Now, If the refund goes successful, I plan to go online and buy Taiyo Yuden. I saw www.supermediastore.com. Is there any other sites that may be better than this one to buy from, or is this the one to buy from?

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[budz]

buy your TAIYO YUDEN dvd media from www.rima.com.
you can also use VERBATIM dvd media as well. Those 2 brands are the best to use. Anything else is just crap.
memorex's media id is CMC or RITEK. those are the 2 manufacturers that produce for memorex, tdk etc. it's not so much the brand name, it's the media id that's important. you can check the media id of a brand of dvd media by using DVDINFO PRO, DVD IDENTIFIER, CD/DVD SPEED & IMGBURN.

[redwudz]

Another popular mail order company is http://www.meritline.com/

I've used the TY value discs with no problems, but I would still recommend the regular TY.

You can also pick up Verbatim at some popular office supply stores in smaller quantities.

For general media information, take a look here: http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/

[John Shumate]

buy your TAIYO YUDEN dvd media from www.rima.com.
you can also use VERBATIM dvd media as well. Those 2 brands are the best to use. Anything else is just crap.
memorex's media id is CMC or RITEK. those are the 2 manufacturers that produce for memorex, tdk etc. it's not so much the brand name, it's the media id that's important. you can check the media id of a brand of dvd media by using DVDINFO PRO, DVD IDENTIFIER, CD/DVD SPEED & IMGBURN.

Thanks for the reply.

I've never had any problems with buying Memorex Media until now, and I've always known about it being Ritek.

Is Taiyo Yuden sold in any store under a brand name?

Also, is there any other deals on media that are of a good quality? I'm kinda tempted to use www.supermediastore.com because of their free shipping. :P but if I have to, I'll go with Rima.com

[John Shumate]

Another popular mail order company is http://www.meritline.com/

I've used the TY value discs with no problems, but I would still recommend the regular TY.

You can also pick up Verbatim at some popular office supply stores in smaller quantities.

For general media information, take a look here: http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/

Thanks for the help.

Now..I saw that Sony is known to use Taiyo Yuden Media. So, do I just check on the spindle to see if its made in japan to make sure?

[Alan69]

I think Fujifilm had some color packs at Staples a couple years ago that were TY, I've got 9 packs or so in a case. Premium prices though normally so pretty sure they were closing it out since it was reasonable when I got them. If you can find FF that's made in Japan they were always good, but may not be possible any more.

Also if everything is all of a sudden flaky, try cleaning the lens (and blowing under the lens as well since the lens is usually on a hovering platform). Not good to chase media if it really ends up being only a needed cleaning..

[John Shumate]

I think Fujifilm had some color packs at Staples a couple years ago that were TY, I've got 9 packs or so in a case. Premium prices though normally so pretty sure they were closing it out since it was reasonable when I got them. If you can find FF that's made in Japan they were always good, but may not be possible any more.

Also if everything is all of a sudden flaky, try cleaning the lens (and blowing under the lens as well since the lens is usually on a hovering platform). Not good to chase media if it really ends up being only a needed cleaning..

Tried cleaning the lens.

For some reason, when I put in the disc, nero only allows me to burn at 2x, and not gives me the option of doing 8x, 4x, or 2x. When I used a friend's sony disc, it allowed to change the speed.

As I said before, I've never had this problem with memorex, even thought I've heard they're hit or miss. I guess I'm finally a victim.

Would you guys reccomend getting Sony brand thats made in japan?

[budz]

SONY no longer has TAIYO YUDEN manufacturing their dvd media. They manufacture their own w/their own media id. You probably won't be able to find any SONY or FUJI FILM dvd media that's "MADE IN JAPAN" anymore. Just order TAIYO YUDEN dvd media from www.rima.com and you're set to burn.

I've read it's not good to blow any can air in a dvd burner as it can scratch the lens. Just my 2 cents!

[John Shumate]

SONY no longer has TAIYO YUDEN manufacturing their dvd media. They manufacture their own w/their own media id. You probably won't be able to find any SONY or FUJI FILM dvd media that's "MADE IN JAPAN" anymore. Just order TAIYO YUDEN dvd media from www.rima.com and you're set to burn.

I've read it's not good to blow any can air in a dvd burner as it can scratch the lens. Just my 2 cents!

Ok..I'm sold...now I just gotta pay more to get it here for christmas. Thanks a bunch!

[hktor]

Where to buy Taiyo Yuden? FYI:
Purchased Taiyo Yuden Premium 8X DVD-R Media Silver 100 pack from supermediastore.com using PayPal @ a cost of $34.99. Three out of four made great coasters.
I contacted supermediastore.com via phone and arranged for a RMA sending back 75 of the hundred. The customer service rep stated they must be a bad batch & I would get credit for what I returned.
Ten days after shipping them back on my dime my PP account was credited $11.90? Again I called the customer service dept to ask why I was being charged $23.09 because they somehow got a bad batch as shipped them to me. The answer I got was they only counted 40 being returned......I shipped them back with great care and the cake box spindle was 3/4 full and secured with tape for shipping.
Then I explained they must have counted wrong I was told I should have taken a photo of the spindle before shipping them back for proof??? TAKE A PHOTO WHAT BS!!
After my encounter with supermediastore.com they will not receive any more of my $ ! Just wanted to let you know if you buy anything from supermediastore.com and have to return it take a photo and have a witnessed notarized statement enclosed with your return and one for your records.
It's not so much the $ as the principle. Beware and thanks for this forum.

[jman98]

Unfortunately, I've ran accross 2 bad batches of memorex, and after reading up, saw that "made in taiwan" was on the label. A mistake on my part.

"Made in Taiwan" is not necessarily a problem. Verbatim media is sometimes manufactured in Taiwan and their discs are comparable to Taiyo Yuden. For whatever it's worth, the WORST DVD media I ever bought, hands down, is Memorex. I bought a 25 pack years ago before I learned the difference between media manufacturers and had a large number of coasters. I said "never again". Consider yourself lucky that you had such good luck with Memorex, but then again, in a few more years for all we know those discs may begin to have playback problems and they may not seem so good any more.

[orsetto]

Taito Yuden is usually a no-brainer especially when older burners start failing with other media. The problem lately is their quality control has slipped so they are no longer worth the hefty premium some places charge. If you can get the 8x media (not 16x) delivered to you for under $37/100 spindle, its worth it. Make sure the vendor has liberal return privileges if you have problems- on average I've been getting 6-7 per spindle that fall apart but the rest are OK. If you get many that break or fail to burn, you'll want to return them. Otherwise, for failing burners, I recommend Sony 16x DVD-R but only if the wrapper says made in Taiwan (Sony made in Malaysia is terrible). I've burned hundreds of Taiwan Sonys with not a single coaster in my 2004-vintage recorders. Try Staples for Sony Taiwan media- its been on sale every other week for $22.95/100 as they blow out their old stock.

Everything else on the market right now is variable at best and really bad at worst. If you have a newish burner, say 2006 or later, Verbatim still makes excellent media. Unfortunately they changed the formula slightly last February which made it incompatible with the firmware in many older burners/recorders. The Verbatim discs are excellent quality IF your burner can use them: try a small qty on sale before stocking up. If the Verbatim burns well in your hardware, it is the best available media choice other than TY.