Demo Request Illegal ?

[PaulBoy]

I contacted my local AV emporium to audition some speakers & asked if they had the following ...
Denon amplification - Yes
DVD-A able player - Yes
Multi-region able player - No - we cant let you put anything on in our shop that isnt R2 (or R0 presumably) as that would be ILLEGAL ...
I appreciate it is illegal to offer for sale non R2/R0 in this country but is it right an AV Retailer cant let you audition R1/R3 etc ?
It is not a problem that I cant get round for my audition but I just wondered if someone could tell me the law in this matter ...
TIA - Paul :confused:

[Phill]

I suppose there is one of two possibilities

1) The retailer is under the mis-apprehension that there is something illegal about multi-region players or disks. This is quite a popular mis-conception.
2) It qualifies as a public showing. Since more than 5 people could see it in a public place. Then anything not rated by the BBFC would be illegal, I think.

Phill

[Urban Tiger]

Had this problem as well. It was explained that other regions films have not been classified by the BBFC. I was also told hi-fi/AV dealers have spot checks done with an instant £10,000 fine for breaking the law.

Can't confirm whether its absolutely true or not, but seems to make sense

[PaulBoy]

Thanks guys ... Those suggestions appear to make sense especially the BBFC angle ... Paul;)

[ljp]

Yes, don't get confused the supplier should have no problem with the actually region free player but he is breaking the law playing a film that doesnt have a rating.

Most decent suppliers usually look the other way in my experience.

[punisher46]

My local dvd swap shop got busteds recently for selling and swapping region 1 dvd's (Another World), and since have seized trading or selling anything but region 2's.

[Phill]

Interestingly, Richer sounds let me try a Region 1 disk when I went to see my marantz 3100 a few weeks ago.

Or maybe not so interestingly, but it's true.