Smartfix video rental service

I've used it.

It's usually a good value.
as a Canadian the extra postage adds to my costs.

Some videos are definitely not worth buying, some are.


If you're in a hurry, it won't satisfy you.
Despite what it may say on the site, you cannot anticipate when you may get it.

I received some fairly quickly, but the longest wait was over 6 months
They may have fixed some of that long wait time.

The only customer service is though email, staffed only every other day of the week.
No phone numbers posted on the site
If that doesn't suit your needs, you may be unhappy with that.


Don't use the "university" they have it padded with poor videos not listed.


The best ones:
Making A Sub-Hilt Fighter...with S.R. Johnson
Custom Knife Sheaths...with Chuck Burrows
Paul Long sheath set

Ed Caffrey are ok too

check other categories too some videos are not well categorized.



Any specific videos you have questions about ?
 
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I'm curious to see the response from the content providers (who are members here). I've read several reports that SmartFlix buys DVD's under a pseudonym and the content provider gets no royalties from the rentals.
 
jawilder said:
is like to see how to videos on folders if any are available
Click to expand...

They have

The Locking Liner with Don Robinson

BUT They don't include any of the paper inserts that you get when they bought the video.

$17 to rent with none of the paper patterns, vs. $45 to buy and get the patterns.


Maybe if you complain immediately they will include them.
I waited too long to complain and they just ignored me.
 
lazlo said:
I'm curious to see the response from the content providers (who are members here). I've read several reports that SmartFlix buys DVD's under a pseudonym and the content provider gets no royalties from the rentals.
Click to expand...


That's true, but the same is true if you borrow it from a library, buy it at a garage sale, or if we lived closer and I loaned it to you in person.


Once you know which videos are the good ones, you will want to watch them several times.
I consider it worth buying those, but most of the ones listed on that knifemaking page - I don't consider worth buying.


I suspect that video makers also use them as marketing to sell more knives too.


For example
http://www.weldingvideos.com/
These are the best welding videos I've seen.
I didn't buy them, I borrowed them through a library.
If I had to buy them, It's likely I would have never seen them at all.
 
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12345678910 said:
That's true, but the same is true if you borrow it from a library, buy it at a garage sale, or if we lived closer and I loaned it to you in person....
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I don't claim to be perfect, but these examples are not for profit or incidental. I'd bet we'd have so much more shared knowledge if the author got credit for his or her expertise, regardless of motivation.

Craig
 
cdent said:
I don't claim to be perfect, but these examples are not for profit or incidental. I'd bet we'd have so much more shared knowledge if the author got credit for his or her expertise, regardless of motivation.

Craig
Click to expand...

If you don't like the service, then don't use it.


It's not perfect, but it introduced me to some very good info.

I don't think it stops sharing of info.
The producers haven't stopped making videos


Until I used that service, I had never seen a knifemaking video ever.
Now I own several and am much more familiar with their work too.


I didn't intend to debate the legality or morality of the service, just to answer the question of the OP
 
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Just to prevent the debate over rental royalties getting out of hand:

In the US, a video that is legally purchased has ownership transfered to the buyer. He can throw it away, give it to a friend, sell it in a store, or rent it out as he desires. It is the same as a book in legal terms. The industry hasn't ever determined a way to control rentals, so they have left the royalties of the rights holder to one royalty per copy sold.

It is illegal to make a copy, or post it online in a file sharing site (like pirate bay).

A few other countries have some other laws determining rentals, but most are similar to the US. Some countries have no laws at all, and videos are pirated constantly there.
 
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bladsmth said:
In the US, a video that is legally purchased has ownership transfered to the buyer. He can throw it away, give it to a friend, sell it in a store, or rent it out as he desires. It is the same as a book in legal terms. The industry hasn't ever determined a way to control rentals, so they have left the royalties of the rights holder to one royalty per copy sold.
Click to expand...

SmartFlix is operating under the First Sale Doctrine. Where things get sketchy is that the Copyright holder can refuse to sell him their DVD. At that point, I've read they use a variety of pseudonyms to buy the DVD ("Travis Corcoran", TJIC.com, ...).

I was interested in hearing Ed Caffery, or Chris Crawford's experiences, since Smartflix has a lot of their videos.

Interesting read:

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?93027-Boycott-SmartFlix!
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?93027-Boycott-SmartFlix!&p=964900&viewfull=1#post964900
 
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