FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Who created your awesome homepage artwork?
A:   The artist's name is Brian Clarke.  He also goes by the pseudonym of Les Toil.  He's been giving The VIDEO BEAT! a cool vibe since 1998 and we are very grateful for his generosity and patience with us.  We've driven him so crazy with our fussing and futzing over little details that most other artists would have walked away, (but they'd have killed us first).  But Brian takes a deep breath and soldiers on. I think the only way we get away with it is because he's a perfectionist just like us.

In addition to our main homepage graphic, Brian created our logo, discount information boxes, and other assorted pieces.  He also helped us with our website layout.  If you need artwork with an edge, Brian is your man.  Note: please don't drive him crazy like we do, we're sure the first piece he delivers will be perfect for your project.  top

 Q: Do you have...specific titles, songs, artists or actors?
A:   Please use our search.  Our search box is located on the top-right of every page and is designed to search for titles.  If you're looking for specific artists, actors, song titles, etc., please use our advanced search.  Our advanced search looks for your search phrase within our title descriptions.  top

Q: I'm having login trouble.  My password doesn't work. 

A: When logging in you must use the same email address you provided when you originally created your account.  You must make sure there are no leading or trailing blank spaces surrounding your email address and password as you enter them.  Click here if you need a new password. If you requested a new password, after you login please go to My Account to change it to something you will remember.  top

Q: What region, zone, or video format are your DVDs? 

A:  Our DVDs will play in all regions/zones.  We have many international customers.  Our discs are formatted for the NTSC video system -- so if you live outside of the North America or Japan, your DVD player must be multi-system. The great news is that most all post-2003 DVD players manufactured outside the United States are multi-system and can play our discs. If you're not sure, please check your DVD player's owner's manual or look on the internet regarding your DVD player's manufacturer and model number.  For more information read conditions of use.  top

Q: How do I change my address, password, email, other?  

A: To view or change your shipping address, password, email address and other information, simply login to your account.  You must login using the same email address and password you provided when you created your account.  If you have changed your email or password, you must use the most recent.  Then click on My Account (located top right of every page).  Then click the appropriate areas to make your changes.  You can request a new password if you don't remember what you originally selected.  top

Q: How do I place an order? 

A: It's very easy!  Simply browse through title categories or use the search to locate specific titles.  Then click on title, add to cart, and proceed to checkout.  Payment options include credit cards, PayPal, checks and money orders.  Note: to ensure your order gets processed correctly, you must order on our website even if you are paying by check or money order.  We're sorry we cannot take telephone orders.  top

Q: What forms of payment do you accept? 

A: We accept major credit cards, bank debit (ATM) cards, PayPal, checks, money orders and cash.  Payments must be made in $US dollars.  Orders cannot be placed via telephone.  We do not accept purchase orders.  We only accept orders placed via our website.  Please see payment options for complete details.  top

Q: How much are shipping costs / total costs? 

A: To determine the actual cost of your order including shipping and discounts, your shipping destination is required.  Therefore, please add titles to your shopping cart and proceed to checkout.  All costs appear BEFORE you are asked to provide any payment information.  You can get a shipping cost estimate here.  Note: all payments must be in $US dollars.  See payment options.  top

Q: How do I check the status of my order? 

A: To check on the status of a recent order or to view your past order history, simply Login (you must enter the same case-sensitive email address and password you supplied when you created your account) and then click on My Account (located at the top right of every page).  Then click on the link that says "My Orders."  Or, you can click here.  top

Q: How do I receive a discount coupon code? 

A: It's easy!  Simply register here and you'll receive a discount coupon code.  When registering, if you opt-in to receive our short monthly newsletter, you'll receive super discounts!  top

Q: Can more than one discount code be used? 

A: No, only one discount code can be applied to each order.  top

Q: How do I redeem my discount coupon code? 

A: To receive a discount you must enter a discount code into the Discount Code box in your shopping cart. Our shopping cart system is automated and all discounts are calculated and processed automatically. We don't know your credit card details. Credit cards are not processed by The VIDEO BEAT! they are processed by Authorize.Net, our credit card processor.  Discounts cannot be applied after you place your order. If you don't enter a discount code into the Discount Code box, you will not receive a discount. If you want a discount, you must enter a code. If you fail to enter a code, you will not receive a discount.  Read here for complete details.  top

Q: How will my order be shipped? 

A: Orders are shipped via United States Postal Service (USPS) Priority Mail with no package tracking or insurance.  We're very sorry but we don't offer overnight or super rush delivery service.  top

Q: How long before I receive my order? 

Please follow these steps ► Verify your shipping address by clicking here.  If you live in an apartment building, please check with your building manager and neighbors.  If you had your order delivered to your place of business, please check with the mail room and office mates.  If your order was delivered to a PO Box, ask the postal workers if a package was placed in the wrong mailbox.  If you had your order delivered to a friend, have them do the same checking.  99.95% of all packages arrive at their destination.  Please help recover your package by following these steps.  If your package is truly lost in the mail (very rare) you will be sent a replacement but we can't send you a replacement until we've tried the recovery options noted above and we are certain your order is really lost.

If you are a U.S. customer and it has been 4 weeks since your order shipped; or an international customer and it has been 8 weeks since your order shipped, you will be sent a replacement.  You won't be stuck without your order.  top

Q: I have not received my order.  What can be done?
A: If you are a U.S. customer and it has been 4 weeks since your order shipped; or an international customer and it has been 8 weeks since your order shipped, you will be sent a replacement.  You won't be stuck without your order.  You may be asked to purchase insurance on the second mailing.  top

Q: Do you ship internationally? 

A: Yes.  top

Q: I don't see it, but was wondering, do you have...? 

A: The focus of The VIDEO BEAT! is 1950s & 1960s teenage, rock and roll, hot rod, JD, hippie and youth culture related material.  If you're looking for a title that you think belongs in our catalog, please send us an email with some info and we'll try to track it down.  If you are looking for a title that does not fit our 50s & 60s teenage genre, we will not carry it.  Thanks!  top

Q: Can I order by telephone or fax? 

A: Unfortunately no.  We only offer e-mail support and ordering via our secure website.  top

Q: Do you have a paper catalog you can mail me? 

A: No, we're very sorry we only have our website.  You can try printing each page.  And, if you're looking for a specific title, please try our search.  top

Q: Can you give me more information about titles, artists or songs? 

A: We wish we had a lot more detailed information such as running time, aspect ratio, artists, actors, songs performed, and more, listed for every title on our website, but unfortunately we don't.  We're sorry.  The only information currently available is what you see listed on our website.  Do YOU KNOW some information that we don't list?  Please feel free to send us an email and we'll add your contribution to the title description.  Many of the books on this page provide more information.  If you're searching for a specific artist or song, please try our advanced search.  top

Q: Can you tell me the exact running time of a specific title? 

A: Most all discs in our catalog run close to 2-hours in length. Most discs contain more than one program; they contain the main title and bonus selections. These bonus selections include movie trailers and other material that will hopefully compliment the main title ordered.  So even though running time of an individual title is not listed, you can be sure that all discs run close to 2-hours in length.  top

Q: What is your video master source?  How is the quality? 

A: The VIDEO BEAT! serves collectors of rare and never-released or out-of-print 1950s & 1960s rock and roll and youth culture video material.  About sixty-percent of our catalog comes from film-chained 16mm and 35mm masters or TV station broadcast masters.  The rest come from various high-quality sources.  We have regularly upgraded titles to achieve our goal of offering very high quality material.

To prove this point, sometimes we have acquired the same title several times before we actually list it in the catalog.  On the other hand, there are several titles that should be better quality to meet our standards, yet we keep them in the catalog because we haven't located any better quality in over 25 years and the material is just too damn cool and important to leave out.

In most cases the titles in our catalog represent the "best quality that's out there" -- and we've been looking for many years.  Please remember that this material is rare and hard to find.  If you have reasonable expectations and don't expect modern day "Hollywood Blu-ray DVD" quality, you'll be very satisfied. That said, most of our titles are excellent quality!  Here's what our customers think: Happy Customers.  For more information see: DVD remastering and our return policy.   top

Q: Do you offer volume discounts? 

A: We offer discounts to website visitors and customers who have registered.  Once registered, you'll begin receiving a short monthly newsletter that contains discount codes that are redeemable in your shopping cart.  top

Q: Do your DVD cases come wrapped with cover art? 

A:  Yes, look here.  We use an original art, colored wrap-around on the jackets of all our DVDs. By the way, here is something we've observed: we've seen many DVDs that come with color movie poster cover art but the video quality is very marginal or just plain bad.  Sometimes even the cover art is blurry and looks lousy. (Ask yourself if you've seen the same.)  At The VIDEO BEAT! we stand behind our video quality, but we don't have super deluxe, gorgeous, fancy cover art.  But what we have looks nice!  top

Q: Why should I buy from you? 

A: Great question!  For the same reasons you choose to do business with anybody; high-quality product, friendly and helpful service, product knowledge and "extra value" that others don't provide.  
The VIDEO BEAT! provides quality no one else can match.  For instance, we provide:

This means we are not offering the "same" DVD you have seen elsewhere.  We offer more!  Our customers recommend us to their friends, they say terrific things about us, and they come back for repeat purchases!  This speaks to our service and quality.  top

Q: Do you carry CDs, movie posters or memorabilia? 

A: No.  Sorry, we only carry DVD titles.  top

Q: Do you have a store I can visit?  Can I pick up my order? 

A: No, we're sorry.  We don't have a physical store location.  We're internet & mail order only.  top

Q: What is your return policy?  What is your satisfaction guarantee? 

A: This is our official policy: If a disc you ordered is unable to be viewed because it is defective or broken simply send us an email within 30 days of purchase explaining the problem and we'll send you a free replacement immediately. All other sales are final.

Unofficial policy: We want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase, so if you are unhappy for any reason please contact us within 30 days of purchase and we'll try to come up with a solution that will make you happy. And if it's beyond 30 days, we'll try to help you too.

Please know that a very small percentage (about .5%) of the titles in our catalog are of lesser quality than the majority (99.95%) which are very good quality. Also a few films may have been shortened to fit a scheduled running time before we acquired them. In the world of hard to find video sometimes it's impossible to obtain the great quality we all want.

We have an upgrade policy where anytime we upgrade a title you will be sent an upgrade under these conditions: 1) if you place an order your upgrade will be sent free of charge, or 2) if you pay for postage you will be sent an upgrade.

Also, if a disc you ordered from us ever stops working due to freeze-ups or skipping, please let us know and we'll send you a free replacement. If its been several years since you ordered, we many prefer to include the free replacement with a new order--or, we may ask you to pay postage.  

Please ask questions before you order. Please read title descriptions carefully so you'll know what you're ordering. Also, please read our conditions of use to understand video system compatibility issues. Please read our DVD remastering process.  A restocking fee may be applied to returns.  top