Question about the FutureShop 15pack Maxell spindle

[MadCat]

Has anyone here actually bought the 15-pack that they are advertising on their website? I know from reading other posts that the 15-pack is the spindle version and that the media is Ritek G03, but was wondering what kind of packaging they come in.

I normally buy the 4x Maxell 15-pack spindle that comes in the Blue/White packaging, just like the 5pack jewel case media, even though if you check the media, they show up as Ritek G03 1x- 2x media.

So I was just wondering if the FutureShop 15-pack spindle is the same pack that I normally get, or would it be older stock that does not have the new Blue/White packaging?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

[aggies11]

Well, I just returned mine on the Weekend (Had to fight tooth and nail to get them to exchange it for Jewel pack media, but the guy did it for an extra 5$, heh).

The packaging is an exact Mirror of the new Blue DVD-4x Maxell -R media jewel packs. It seems to be new stock(Although futureshop trying to clear their stock, would suggest it's older). But there is NO speed rating. Only mention is that it's 2hrs. On the packaging you can see a "Made in Taiwan" (As opposed to Made in Japan which is on the jeweled media).

The discs themselves are indistinguishable from Jeweled Maxell 2x Media (Mint Blue/green tops and purple dye layer). The only difference was that, the few I put into dvdInfoPro came up as RitekG03, 1x Media Descripter and 1x Write Strategies.

If one looks at the pictures in oldfarts Fake Maxell thread (pictures are posted by lordsmurf) the spindles looks exactly the same as the blue/white picture he photoshop'd.

I've tried (unsucessfully) to contact Futureshop customer support about it. (The instore people were only able to refund the purchase, but they don't handle the online info). With no response.

They sell for 24.99 for 15, or about 1.66 a disc. But thats rather expensive for just 1x Riteks.

Personally I buy maxell Brand media simply for Maxell Manufactured discs. I have no interest in their rebrands.

They seemed to have moved about 500 units of them already, with 500 or so left. I wonder if any of those 500 noticed that they weren't getting 2x media.

I had heard to stay away from spindled Maxell (Not because they are bad, just because they aren't Maxell manufactured), and if I had known they were spindled, I wouldn't have bothered.

Hope that helps

(PS. If you see any Maxell 4x DVD-R media, that is Maxell Manufactured (ie. MXL RG02) for a good price, lemme know

Aggies

[johns0]

I bought the same type from staples and they burn at 2x in my burner.Its your firmware that needs updating.

[lordsmurf]

The spindled blue Maxell discs are RITEKG03 ... not fakes ... and burn 1x or 2x depending on your burner and/or firmware.

They are normally decent discs, but just RITEK. I consider true MXL (sold in Maxell jewel cases) to be the best media money can buy.

More than 80 cents per RITEKG03 is too much money.

I say don't buy Maxell spindles unless you are just in a hurt and that's all you can find (because it IS still a decent quality disc, just a bit overpriced).

[johns0]

More than 80 cents per RITEKG03 is too much money.

.

In canada where future shop is thats not over priced.

[aggies11]

johns0
wrote:

In canada where future shop is thats not over priced.

You can get true Maxell 2x for 2$(CAD) a disc.
You can get Memorex 4x for the same price (RICHOJPN)

You can also pickup G03's in local downtown shops (or even at several Canadian online sites) for significantly less than that.

The current futureshop price is a good deal for MXL media, but there are much better deals to be had buying from "bulk" retailers who more typically carry this type of media.

Lordsmurf: Just for curiousity's sake, how much do you pay (in $US) per disc for your Maxell RG01 and RG02 discs?

Aggies

[lordsmurf]

Walgreens recently had a sale on MXLRG01 for $15 US for a 10-pack and then regular price at Walmart is MXLRG01 or MXLRG02 10-packs for $20 ... plus tax (about 7-8% depending on which city/town I am in).

So, about $1.60 to $2.15 per MXL disc, after full payment.

RITEKG04 cost me about $0.95 and RITEKG03 cost about $0.80 from online retailers.

RICOHJPN 4x were about $0.43 on sale (Officemax 100-pack "Arita"), paid up to $1.10 before. Good DVD+R, but not quite as compatible as DVD-R, so don't but too many of them.

I am not aware of any legitimate MXL media existing in bulk. The most "bulk" MXL has is 25-packs in retail. They are all branded, not blank on top.

Canadians have special taxes on media, so base your prices accordingly. I'd not exceed the prices I just listed (after adding your own taxes).

For the record, I'd easily still pay $3-5 per MXL disc if I had too, but I always look for the best deal without picking savings over quality. You won't catch me going for the shop4tech or meritline specials anytime soon.

[ampex]

Many months ago I ordered a sample of the following dvds and the media code showed they were MXLRG01 discs. Perhaps they are not legitimate, but if they are, its a pretty good price.

http://www.dvd-rwmedia.com/super2x.html

Has anybody ordered these more recently than I that can attest that they are still (possibly) Maxell discs?

[aggies11]

Well $2(CAD) is about $1.50(USD) so our prices seem pretty competitive. (Even more so if our dollar wasn't so strong, heh. Always 2 sides to every coin *doh*). Ofcourse 15% tax is always unfortunate

Re Ampex: Aparantly there have been in the past, faked MXL coded media. You probably *never* see any MXL media, if it isn't printed Maxell on the top of the disc (aka. "branded"). I had hoped that, with the introduction of 4X MXL, it would cause a drop in 2X price. But it just seems one has replaced the other completely.

Haven't actually seen any of our *very unfortunate* media tariffs in effect yet *knocks on wood*. You can get quality name brand CDR's for 0.50(CAD) and DVDR for 2.00. I still think those things are in legeslative limbo for the moment. I shudder at the day they come into effect. Day trips to Buffalo will be quite common

Aggies

[MadCat]

Thanks for the replies, I normally prefer the 5-pack Maxell media myself, but the cheapest I can get it in my area is $12.95 CDN. I normally only use the 15-pack spindles when my local Walmarts run out of the 5-packs, which happens quite often because they only seem to stock about 10 packages at a time, and it takes them almost a month to restock them.

Lately FutureShop and London Drugs have started carrying them, but they want $16.99 CDN for a single 5-pack, and will not price match Walmarts price as they know most of the time they are sold out. Also, to buy the 15-pack spindle locally costs $34.99 CDN, so its cheaper to order them from FutureShop as they have free shipping at the moment.

[aggies11]

Futureshops *current* price for the 2x 5pks is $12.99. They don't seem to list the 4x 5pks online, and I don't think I remember seeing them in the actual store.

I'm personally waiting until walmart does a 9.99 sale again. But yeah, their stocking practices are weird. They have literally *hundreds* of those dang memorex cdr spindles, but only bring in about 15 or so packs of the Maxell each time (and even at 12.99 they seem to disapear in about a week!).

Luckily there are 3 walmarts near by so I can hopefully scrunge a few together next sale

Aggies

[ebenton]

Two or 3 weeks ago, Office Depot was selling Maxell branded 15-pack spindles of both 4X DVD-R and 4X DVD+R for about $24.95. (I don't remember the exact price.)
I bought one of each.
The DVD-R were MXL, the DVD+R were RICOHJPN.