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Cheaper VCDs? ~ Written on 21st Jan 2001 under name of FatMan |
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Introduction Good evening ladies and gentlemen, my name is Vayne, Bluce Vayne. I am also known as FatMan, the ultimate super-zero from the town of Gootham. I was engaged by Magus to investigate this strange phenomenon that is occurring on the sunny island of Singapore. Unfortunately, my sidekick, Ribbon, is laid up with a giant hairball in Gootham General Hospital as our last encounter with Feline Female has proved to be slightly more than he could handle :) I managed to interview several people to throw some light on this matter.
NVA I decided the best way to start was to visit the NVA (Neighbourhood VCDs-store Association). So I got into my trusty Fat-Mobile and managed to catch hold (no pun intended) of their representative, Mr Zhang Hai Peng* (Really Cheap in Cantonese). FatMan: Mr Zhang, is it true that the VCDs you see are really cheaper than those in town? Zhang Hai Peng: Of course lah... Guaranteed one... My rent cheaper than those in town what... FM: I don't really understand your English, Mr Zhang. ZHP: I not speaking English meh? My english better than PCK what... FM: But why is it that your VCDs are cheaper by at least $6? ZHP: Easy what... I get cheaper ones from my supplier loh... My supplier very good one... Charge me cheap cheap, so I can sell cheap cheap also lor FM: It seems that your VCDs do carry the label from the Singapore Censorship Board... ZHP: Don't play play eh... Of course got label or else kanna fined and jailed one... I not selling pirated okay... FM: Then how come you are being supplied with such cheap VCDs? ZHP: I... eh... Okay lah, I let you know lah but don't use my real name hor... These VCDs have labels one but maybe not from the original distributor... I heard hor my supplier do parallel import and some of his stocks come from BPO one... So not all are original but can sell in Singapore because got label mah... FM: Then what is this BPO? ZHP: eh... I cannot say one... [This part of the interview is censored as www.yespls.com does not condone with excessive violence] *Not his real name
BPO I managed to 'convince' Mr Zhang to reveal details about this mysterious pirate organisation that sells pirated VCDs in Singapore. Mdm Si Pei Pi* (Really Cheap in Hokkien. Notice anything yet :) is the PR manager of this mysterious gang, Budgeted Products Organisation (BPO). FM: Mdm Si, why do you call yourselves BPO? Si Pei Pi: Easy lah... Don't you think pirated is such an ugly name? Our big boss decided to change the name to Budgeted instead lor... FM: Budgeted? Why Budgeted? SSP: Our products, be it CDs, VCDs or CD-Rom games, are low cost and hence Budgeted lor... We give everyone a chance to get their own copies mah... Some of these companies want to rob people eh... We just give Singaporeans another option mah FM: But it seems that a lot of Singaporeans are buying your products. Why is that? SSP: We never force people to buy one... If they want, we provide... Very easy what... We sell cheap cheap, people will come and buy FM: I've heard that the local police is very strict and conducts regular spot-checks and raids... SSP: Very easy... If got demand then got supply... We all just service providers you know... With the brains of my big boss, I think he should win the annual Entrepreneur Award eh... (The interview ended here as the police arrived to raid the factory ...) *Not her real name
Censorship Board My final stop was to the Singapore Censorship Board. I managed to speak to a spokesperson from SCB but she declined to give her name. I would address her as Mrs X. FM: Is it true that certain VCDs that are sold in Singapore may carry SCB's certification but may not be from the original distributor? X: That is quite true. FM: But I thought SCB does check the VCDs that are coming into Singapore? X: SCB ensures that the VCDs that are distributed in Singapore do not contain any offensive language, violence or sex. That is why the SCB certification is just to ensure the VCDs do not contain any offensive content. FM: Then what about non-original VCDs? X: As long as they do not contain any offensive content, SCB can pass the VCDs but we do not concern ourselves as to the source of these VCDs. We do not authenticate whether the VCDs come from the original distributor. FM: That means I can import in fake VCDs and yet sell them legally once it is approved by SCB. X: Technically yes. However, the distributor can apply for a court order to confiscate such fake products. FM: Thank you Mrs X for your time and contribution.
Conclusion Certain shops are selling cheaper VCDs as they may not be originals but are submitted to the Censorship Board for licensing. They are more expensive than the pirated copies sold in Singapore but are cheaper than the originals. The presence of the SCB's labels do not mean that the VCDs are originals but just that they are certified as non-offensive by SCB.
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